Week 8: Focus and Tech Nickel Mines

This week I had to run a focus session as a designer and observe the designer during a tech rehearsal for Nickel Mines. These were both really easy to accomplish since I am the light board operator for the show. Starting with the focus session, designer Brady Jay King and I ran a simultaneous focus session. Since so much was completed the day before, there were only two electrics that still needed to be focused. He started from one side of an electric, and went instrument by instrument to the end with a E-Hang crew member. I did the same with Darrin Wade, and we were able to finish in a faster time than expected. The biggest challenge was learning Brady's systems and focus areas. Once Kristin Neu, the master electrician, gave me the purpose of each instrument, it was only a matter of finding the spot. Once in the spot, I didn't have any problems because I have run focus sessions before when I have designed previous shows. It didn't take long for me to pick up the focus area faster than when I first started. I did learn that designing for an unconventional space, non-proscenium or similar, it is all in how you section the stage and create your areas so they make sense to you. Very rarely will it be run by someone who is not the designer.

A few days later after the focus session, we had our first full day of technical rehearsals. Brady had not slept in who knows how long, but he was still able to manage getting his show programmed. I did everything I could to make it easier on him at every moment I could including knowing which channels he was thinking of using or not using. The moving lights are always the most fun, and I was surprising him with my knowledge of programming them. Whenever I got the chance, I would glance over at Brady, and I would see him looking at his cue sheet or having a conversation with the director, Andrew Palermo about whether or not the look was what they were both looking for. Overall, I think Brady has a good control over his emotions as far as getting frustrated or being rushed go, I didn't see him once get so beside himself that he had to leave or step away. He barely would even break when it was time for breaks. This can be both good and bad. It's good because it shows his determination and dedication to his work. It's bad because sometimes you just have to step away and clear your head and comeback with clearer thoughts, but I do understand sometimes you are just in the zone, and some people work that way.