Agree with Footer, it doesn't matter what you yell as it's going to hit the
ground before you finish saying it. Unless you manage to say it before you
drop it
As for what to do in an emergency, this is what I was taught long ago by a wise old rigger:
1) Analyze which side of the emergency you are on in the upstage/
downstage direction and stay on it.
2) Run all the way upstage or all the way
downstage, whichever is closer... If you happen to be upstage of the emergency
do not run
downstage to try to reach the
safety of the
proscenium! You are safer against the upstage wall than crossing directly under the hazard.
3) Never run to
stage left or
stage right first. When things fall they will tend to fall out toward the opposite side of the
stage, so it's safer to move up or down first.
4) Once against the upstage wall evaluate your
escape routes. Work your way in the opposite direction of the accident if you think it looks safe to do so. If there is any question about the
safety of proceeding, stay where you are against the upstage wall.
5) If you are
downstage work your way out in the
house if possible.
6) Never go back on
stage until a trained person tells you it's safe to
return.
If things start falling or dropping they are more likely to continue to
bounce,
drop, crash between the
stage left to
stage right directions. You are obviously much safer if you can get beyond the
proscenium wall, but it's not worth the risk running under a potential hazard to get there. If you are upstage it's much safer to get against the wall falling things are more likely to hit the wall and
bounce downstage than they are to fall just inches from the wall and hit you.
The best prevention is proper planning... paranoia is your friend! In some theaters the risk of working with crew on the
deck below is acceptable and impossible to avoid. In educational theater it IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE. If there is time to learn there is time to learn safely. In professional world when it is decided that the
deck crew must keep working while loading is going on there are some important factors at work. The people loading have years of experience doing it unlike students. The people loading are probably stronger than students. The people working may be more mature and attentive than students. When you add those up, the risk is less in the professional world than it is in educational theater.
No matter where you are, when someone calls out that things are moving or being loaded stop and think about where you are and where you want to be if things go bad. If you can, get yourself to that place just in case. Also be aware of those around you. Did everyone here the
call? Do you see someone continuing to work in a place you think is unwise? Do you see actors or new people who may not know what they should be doing? Take leadership and help others make safe choices.