"Techies Do It In The Dark"

[MPowers]

but one in the rigging section made me laugh. "Gravity is a Harsh Mistress"[/QUOTE]

Just curious, How many of you are old enough or well read enough to know the reference? Original title, "The ______ is a Harsh Mistress". Extra Credit for naming the author.

Michael Powers, Project Manager, ETCP Certified Rigger-Theatre
Central Lighting & Equipment, Des Moines, Ia. Central Lighting & Equipment

 

[NickVon]

I got a shirt somewhere that says something like.

"TECHNICAL THEATRE: Because Naked Mime in the Dark doesn't sell."

 

[MNicolai]

but one in the rigging section made me laugh. "Gravity is a Harsh Mistress"

Just curious, How many of you are old enough or well read enough to know the reference? Original title, "The ______ is a Harsh Mistress". Extra Credit for naming the author.

Michael Powers, Project Manager, ETCP Certified Rigger-Theatre
Central Lighting & Equipment, Des Moines, Ia. Central Lighting & Equipment

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. (1966)

Wikipedia makes these sorts of questions too easy.

 

[bishopthomas]

You cheater! I looked that up on Wikipedia myself, but didn't want to ruin the surprise. Apparently, also where the phrase, "There's no free lunch," comes from.

 

[ruinexplorer]

Ah, and "gravity is a harsh mistress" is a quote from The Tick.

 

[DuckJordan]

from the origional post.... I would think in high school where they are generally fairly new to the concept of technical theater it is agreed that the more lewd and low brow comedy is acceptable. most of the time the people who have problems with it are the ones who should have better things to care about than someone parading around in a t-shirt. In my own opinion its just the same as some one who thinks when they click a website it means that no one else can use that website. (stupid i know) but it still says the same thing. Until they are educated do not run them through the dirt.


Its better than the shirts a "techie" and yes she is a "techie" (person who thought they could run tech for a show, failed miserably, quit halfway through the run, and proceed to make excuses for why she "couldn't" do tech any more.) came up with

Front:
Techie/Ninja

Back:
Redundancy

It was a complete fail i believe. our jobs as techies is to yes be quiet but not kill anyone in the process (as much as we'd like to).

 

[Les]

most of the time the people who have problems with it are the ones who should have better things to care about than someone parading around in a t-shirt.

True, very true. Except that there is an exception; like when you want to be a part of a professional crew. Part of being professional is looking professional. You should always care about how you are perceived because your reputation depends on it.

 

[DuckJordan]

True, very true. Except that there is an exception; like when you want to be a part of a professional crew. Part of being professional is looking professional. You should always care about how you are perceived because your reputation depends on it.

if you want to be part of a professional crew why did you get that shirt in the first place as it is not the look of others but rather the look of one's self that they are interested in.

 

[Les]

if you want to be part of a professional crew why did you get that shirt in the first place as it is not the look of others but rather the look of one's self that they are interested in.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I never bought a shirt.

More on perception (in response to "the look of one's self"). When you're on a crew and someone is acting unsafe or unprofessional, that reflects on the entire crew. It makes it appear as if that's the norm. I am not saying that if you wear a "Techies do it in the dark" shirt you won't be viewed as a professional, it's just a lot less likely that you will. It makes people think technicians are (I'm sorry) real nerdy, goofy and/or immature. Maybe my standards are too high, but I just like to blend in. I don't want a shirt that advertises "Hey look what I can do", etc. And I especially don't want a shirt with "techie" written on it.

 

[DuckJordan]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I never bought a shirt.

More on perception (in response to "the look of one's self"). When you're on a crew and someone is acting unsafe or unprofessional, that reflects on the entire crew. It makes it appear as if that's the norm. I am not saying that if you wear a "Techies do it in the dark" shirt you won't be viewed as a professional, it's just a lot less likely that you will. It makes people think technicians are (I'm sorry) real nerdy, goofy and/or immature. Maybe my standards are too high, but I just like to blend in. I don't want a shirt that advertises "Hey look what I can do", etc. And I especially don't want a shirt with "techie" written on it.

and neither would I, and on another note, it tends to help me a lot the fact that when i see unsafe things and someone else sees them we immediately go to stop such actions. Also when your in high school most people will not look at a technician and think hey he's wearing a shirt that says something disgusting but rather look at what they are doing. I go by the motto of "Your only as professional as your actions". I have seen several people wearing suits behave like chimpanzees and it also doesn't surprise me at the immaturity of high school students. yes they should not do those things but honestly most people don't grow up until about age 19-32 if even.

While you are not wrong in your statement, i disagree at which standard high schoolers should be held at.

 

[Les]

While you are not wrong in your statement, i disagree at which standard high schoolers should be held at.

You must be under the impression that I'm in high school, thus, work with high school crews. I've been out of high school for years. You guys can wear those shirts all you want.

Thinking back, in my OP I probably did mention high school theatre departments, since they are the primary culprit for these sayings on shirts, but they exist elsewhere, as does the mind set. I'll revise by saying "Fine, as long as you put the shirt away when you venture out in to the pro world" . [Though I still think they should be more creative and professional. Besides, chicks like creative professionals]

 

[DuckJordan]

they also like hot cars, but i drive a '91 ford escort lol, yeah i agree with you they should be more creative about the shirts instead of going for the over used and possibly out of style shock value... and while i work with high school students i hold myself to a higher standard as i tend to work more this the department heads than i do with other high school students.

 

[Les]

they also like hot cars, but i drive a '91 ford escort lol, yeah i agree with you they should be more creative about the shirts instead of going for the over used and possibly out of style shock value... and while i work with high school students i hold myself to a higher standard as i tend to work more this the department heads than i do with other high school students.

It's okay. I had a '93 Explorer. YAYA!

 

[MrsFooter]

I told my mother last year that I needed work clothes for Christmas. My mother, god bless her, got me a t-shirt that says, "Lighting *****," on it. I'm a 24 year old woman in a crew head position working with road crews on a daily basis; wearing such shirt to a call would pretty much guarantee that I get my ass kicked. By first the road crew, then my own crew. Besides, I don't really want to be know as any kind of *****!

I thanked her for it, and stuffed it in the bottom of my drawer, where no one can see my shame.

 

[DuckJordan]

I told my mother last year that I needed work clothes for Christmas. My mother, god bless her, got me a t-shirt that says, "Lighting *****," on it. I'm a 24 year old woman in a crew head position working with road crews on a daily basis; wearing such shirt to a call would pretty much guarantee that I get my ass kicked. By first the road crew, then my own crew. Besides, I don't really want to be know as any kind of *****!

I thanked her for it, and stuffed it in the bottom of my drawer, where no one can see my shame.

you could always just wear it around footer, i'm sure he'd be fine with it . yay for relatives that mean good but have no understanding the "button up shirt and tie" style we must accompany to.

 

[dmx]

From the door of our metalsmith's shop:

"We Screw, We Nut, We Bolt"

 

[Anvilx]

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. (1966)

Wikipedia makes these sorts of questions too easy.

Are you kidding!!! You didn't know that. That is pathetic, Heinlein is one of the best and most well known science fiction writers. And the Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of his most well known books. Seriously you have to read his books.

Other books by him include (from memory):

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
Revolt in 2100
Methuselah Children
Stranger in a Strange Land​

 

[MrsFooter]

you could always just wear it around footer, i'm sure he'd be fine with it . yay for relatives that mean good but have no understanding the "button up shirt and tie" style we must accompany to.

I pretty sure even he would kick my ass, or at least make serious fun of me. No, that shirt will stay in the bottom of my drawer, unless I ever need to mop up some bleach.

 

[Tex]

I am ashamed to admit that in my early days of teaching, I allowed my kids to wear shirts that on the front said, "I'm a Thespian" and on the back said, "Wanna watch?".
In college, as initiation into Alpha Psi Omega we were required to wear an improved stage screw on a string around our necks. If anyone asked what it was, we had to reply, "It's a stage screw. Do you know the difference between a stage screw and a stage kiss? About 15 minutes."

 

[gafftaper]

you could always just wear it around footer, i'm sure he'd be fine with it .

I pretty sure even he would kick my ass, or at least make serious fun of me. No, that shirt will stay in the bottom of my drawer, unless I ever need to mop up some bleach.

No no,no... don't wear it around home just for Footer. Make Footer wear it around home just for you! It's about time he learns who is really in charge.

Shortly after I got married back in 1992, My uncle told me. There are two very important words every man needs to learn in order to keep a happy marriage: "yes dear."