Theatre Superstitions

[philhaney]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

A technician without acties has marketable job skills.

Back to Sayings and Superstitions:
Can anyone explain the meaning and origin of "making one's 'nut'" as it relates to theater?

There are idiots and geniuses in every field, acting and technical theatre included. It takes just as much effort to be nice to someone as it does to be rude, but if you're nice the gears turn a lot more smoothly.

Besides, I got a lighting gig (LD, gaffer, and board op) because when the producer/director said, "I want to add lights to our annual production this year. Does anyone know someone with lighting experience?" An actie gave him my name. This was in 1997, and I've done their show every year since.....

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As far as "making one's nut" is concearned, one link says:

Achieving average overhead, or reaching the break-even point, is commonly referred to in the business world as "making one's nut."

While this site says, "If you're in business for yourself, the point when you break even is the point when you make your nut. Carny slang, if I recall correctly. The peanut vendors had to sell a certain number of peanuts before they would start making a profit. When they sold the amount that covered their cost, the had made their nut."

As you can see, they pretty much say the same thing. I even found Make Your Nut which has articles about personal finance tips, tricks, and pitfalls.

I haven't found any theatre specific uses of the term unless it means when a show goes into the black.....

[jdandreas09]

i thought it had to do with brakeing the sight line of the legs
or a shortend form of brake a legond

[Pip]

Originally Posted by jdandreas09

or a shortend form of brake a legond

What????

[gafftapegreenia]

I have taken to saying "drop a leko" instead of "break a leg". Seems more appropriate for wishing my comrads a successful show.

Actors are not idiots, they are sheep. I had an actor tell me this, NOT MY WORDS.

[ReiRei]

I learned about theatre superstitions the hard way. My first job was costume crew and someone had left a Macbeth script in the make-up room. It was the the second to last day and I picked it up because we were cleaning and I asked the actors whose Macbeth book it was. Everything went silent and two of the guys picked me up, took me outside and made me do the spitty sweary thing to ward off the evil Macbeth spirits.

Ever since then, I say it before every show... and nothing bad has ever happened... except for the guy who flew in the first electric instead of the sign, and when he flew the sign back in it hit the electric and a gel fell onto the floor. But that's it.

And once upon a time ago, my friend walked under a ladder with an umbrella while whistling and saying Macbeth before a show. In front of actors. I must say it was a bit humorous... and what a concept, nothing bad happened.

And I never knew about the "Good Luck" thing until our Drama club had a movie night last friday and I ran the equipment. We were watching the Producers and after the movie I was talking to one of my actor friends about it and he was like, "yeah, it's legit dood..."

[ReiRei]

Originally Posted by gafftapegreenia

I have taken to saying "drop a leko" instead of "break a leg". Seems more appropriate for wishing my comrads a successful show.

Actors are not idiots, they are sheep. I had an actor tell me this, NOT MY WORDS.

I actually had an LD tell me that actors were bugs. Either they're cockroaches or moths. Moths find the light, and cockroaches find the dark spots.

[Vanndel]

My bosses wife is so superstitious that if you did anything against what supersttion says you were takin outside and performed a ritual involving salt, plus she'd leave you there to wait a bit

[waynehoskins]

Originally Posted by ReiRei

I actually had an LD tell me that actors were bugs. Either they're cockroaches or moths. Moths find the light, and cockroaches find the dark spots.

If there's a black hole anywhere on stage, an actor will find it and feel compelled to be there as long and often as possible.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by philhaney

...As far as "making one's nut" is concearned, one link says:

Achieving average overhead, or reaching the break-even point, is commonly referred to in the business world as "making one's nut."

While this site says, "If you're in business for yourself, the point when you break even is the point when you make your nut. Carny slang, if I recall correctly. The peanut vendors had to sell a certain number of peanuts before they would start making a profit. When they sold the amount that covered their cost, the had made their nut."

As you can see, they pretty much say the same thing. I even found Make Your Nut which has articles about personal finance tips, tricks, and pitfalls.

I haven't found any theatre specific uses of the term unless it means when a show goes into the black.....

As it was told to me by a Theatrical Producer (and is therefore inherently questionable): In days of yore, when a theatre company would come into town, the mayor or other town official would confiscate a nut holding on one of their wagon's wheels. After the engagement, once the mayor had verified that the company had paid all its debts, he'd return the nut so they could leave. Hence "the nut" of a show refers to the "break-even point" or operating expenses. A one-man show has a much smaller nut than a major musical.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by waynehoskins

If there's a black hole anywhere on stage, an actor will find it and feel compelled to be there as long and often as possible.

How many dancers does it take to change a light bulb?

Heh dancer's can't find their light.