Following Alex's post:
As one of those LD's that arrive in town the day before......
Always bring a copy of the
plot you sent, either on paper or on your laptop. Now, I tour with a tablet PC so I can turn my
screen around and
lay it
flat. I usually do focus with the laptop having my
cad program open. A second tool that I cannot live without is my lazer pointer! It's so much eaiser to "show" what I'm talking about in terms of where I see a shadow I want to fix, or where to
shutter cut to, ect...
OH! I LOVE my
laser pointer!!
Okay, make that two essential things! A
headset and a
laser pointer. Good
call!!
As far as the LD being around during hang, when I work at a large regional theater with a full time staff and
IATSE technicians, then I usually
drop in for a few minutes on hang day if I can (you would be surprised how often even large regional theaters don't have the right
gobo, right color,
etc), but in that situation I would be much more at
ease not being there. In any case if I am there, I am just there to answer questions not to poke or change things. But it does put me at
ease to
drop by. That is the way I was taught. I also like an ME to come out during
intermission to ask me if I need anything. That is just me. Your mileage may vary. If I don't have the lights in the right place by hang, I shouldn't be a designer. I never change anything, I am only there to answer questions. It also depends on if I know the ME. I know some MEs will
call me at proper times and with questions and I know that there are some that will think they can figure out what I want and so they end up having to rehang/recolor things that were done wrong. Also not all MEs have your good design sense. I even had one ME "rough focus" a complete
plot without asking because he thought he knew where stuff went. It added at least a couple of hours to the focus. I am sure if I designed at your theater I would have nothing to worry about (except germs on the
headset), but I think ME's like you are the exception rather than the rule (at least down here). It is always good however to see someone who does a good job.
Mike
