Week Two: A Runthrough of My Duties

As Deck Chief of Barney and Bee it is my job to make sure that everything is working backstage and that everyone completes their preset and runs through the show smoothly. More specifically, my call is an hour before curtain where I vacuum the stage, sweep the floors, set the stage, make sure the prop tables have the correct props. That all the liquids are filled. That all the technical tricks the crew is apart of is working and the way I left it the night before. The biggest trick I have to look out for and maintain is the dining room table. It is set up to perform a trick that looks like all the place settings are going to fall to the floor. All the settings are tacked down and the plates are connected to a metal track underneath the table top. Each week I check the bolts and nuts making sure that the trick won't fall apart. There is a plaster drop that is also used during the show that must be refilled and cleaned before each show. It is important to keep it clean and maintained so that the trick works when my stage manager calls "go." During the show, I have to hand off props to the actors, catch props as they come running off stage into a quick change and be sure that I won't be seen by the audience when they come running through doors. Thus far I think the run is going well. The actors are nice and respectful, we have a good working relationship between us. During tech week the designers and technicians worked reasonable well and the fact that it was such a smooth run probably helped in that matter. My crew works well together, I have known the wardrobe person for awhile and we have worked on many shows together, so it's always a pleasure working with her. Having another person on run crew also makes my job easier; I have another person to help me with my preset, and post show, its nice to know that I have someone who I can bounce off of and we can help each other out.