Headset Etiquette?

[Blah067]

Two nights in a row now, our SM has been distracted by things in the booth or on stage, (and consequently been talking about it on the headset) and has missed cues.

Can we review basic Headset Etiquette on here so I can review it before our next show?

[derekleffew]

Have we seen the glossary entry: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/g...etiquette.html ? Perhaps a printed version anonymously left on the SM's promptbook?

[Blah067]

Well obviously, a fake bird, irrelevant to the plot, falling off of a wall BACKSTAGE is more important that sound effects.

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Blah067

Well obviously, a fake bird, irrelevant to the plot, falling off of a wall BACKSTAGE is more important that sound effects.

That's funny, I don't remember you doing a show in my amphitheatre.

Oh wait! Our fake bird lives on a sprinkler pipe. Dont get me started on the mouse, the moose, and the alien.

[TimOlson]

your SM really dropped the ball - repeatedly! if the talent on stage is able to focus and perform, then the talent that's backstage needs to do so as well. if he can't hack it, he should give it up and let someone else have a chance.

if this is a school, then everybody is expected to make mistakes and learn from them. more than one mistake means that person is NOT learning.

in my experience, if someone that was being paid repeatedly missed cues, they might get yanked from the show but most definitely would never work for that entity again.

peace, Tim O

[WestlakeTech]

Originally Posted by Blah067

Two nights in a row now, our SM has been distracted by things in the booth or on stage, (and consequently been talking about it on the headset) and has missed cues.

Can we review basic Headset Etiquette on here so I can review it before our next show?

1. Booth distractions should be non-existent. If the crew(/booth monkeys) is(/are) having trouble focusing, the SM needs to get serious with them and tell them to cut it out. Works for me.
2. Fake bird. It didn't just randomly fall. Either someone caused it to or it was never stable in the first place. Either the crew/performers need to be told to watch where they're going, or someone needs to be put in charge of making sure the bird is in such a position that it will not fall.
3. Headset, if it's not a cue or something to do with one, it shouldn't be mentioned. Save what you wanna say for when the show's over.


Really, I agree with Tim on this one. However, as a high school student, I'll say that in my opinion, one mistake is 1 too many. Even taking into account that we learn from our mistakes, we should also look before we leap.

[WestlakeTech]

For one thing, it should go w/out saying. For another, it's in the glossary... then again... so is not "passing wind"...

[WestlakeTech]

Originally Posted by Charc

I meant as opposed to no chatter, ever, as you implied.

Didn't really mean to imply that, but for the most part, I stick with it. Not meaning to sound harsh or anything. Just think the entire crew needs to stay focused on the show while it's going on. The 2nd to last thing I wanna do is suck the fun out of a show. The last thing I wanna do is mess up a cue because I, or anyone else, lost focus.

I'm not going to reprimand anyone for saying a few senteces back and forth, but if people start to lose their focus (or get loud as my last sound board op was kinda bad about), I'll put 'em back on track and ask 'em to be quiet.

[Raktor]

Originally Posted by WestlakeTech

Didn't really mean to imply that, but for the most part, I stick with it. Not meaning to sound harsh or anything. Just think the entire crew needs to stay focused on the show while it's going on. The 2nd to last thing I wanna do is suck the fun out of a show. The last thing I wanna do is mess up a cue because I, or anyone else, lost focus.

I'm not going to reprimand anyone for saying a few senteces back and forth, but if people start to lose their focus (or get loud as my last sound board op was kinda bad about), I'll put 'em back on track and ask 'em to be quiet.

Not that I stage manage, but I agree more with WestlakeTech. Comm chatter should be related to the show 95% of the time. A few lines here and there are fine, not* during standbys, but excessive unrelated chatter shouldn't happen. Full stop.

* - Edit. Whoops.

[soundop]

i agree, talking up to the 5 minute warning in shows, and during intermission is acceptable, however talking on the com system during the actual prefromance is only acceptable to give cues, or state that there is an issiue. our sm and asm got yelled at for discussing callsigns last night, which also are not used during shows.