Working at JMU (James Madison University). I’ve been posting about my summer work experience during my college years. Today I’ll be finishing the series with my work study job at JMU.
Getting started
Bill Posey approached me after a marching band practice. Bill was on staff with the Marching Royal Dukes and I liked and respected him. He asked me if I was interested in a work study job.
I was humbled that he thought about me and quickly said, “Yes!”.
Bill told me to report to TP Hearn (What did the TP stand for?) in Wilson Hall. TP managed the performance spaces at JMU. I was excited to learn that I would be working on stage crew alongside my friend, David.
The work
The work was easy. When anyone booked a stage they were assured that stage crew would be there for rehearsals and performances. The work broke down to rehearsals and performances. (The top level guys would work with TP on focusing lights, but I never had to do those jobs. I wasn’t interested in going up high to work with the lights. I don’t like heights!)
Rehearsals were the easiest. You turned the lights on and sat around while a group or individual practiced. It was important to make note of anything they might need for performances. This could include changes in lighting, or configuration of the stage.
Performances were only slightly more difficult. We would dim the house lights to start the show and then open and close the curtain. Occasionally we’d go on stage in between pieces of music because something needed to be moved.
After each performance or rehearsal we’d turn everything off. All done. Easy.
Sometimes we did the job solo. Other jobs required more than one person. When David and I worked together, we had a lot of fun.
Lighting
We were working a Concert Choir rehearsal in Wilson hall. David and I were standing off stage when we saw the director trying to get our attention. He called us over and pointed at the performers.
“We need more light on that part of the chorus.”
David and I looked at each other. We’d have to go downstairs, get the ladder and refocus the lights that were mounted on the walls in the auditorium. AND, we’d be refocusing lights that were red hot. Neither of us wanted to do that! (Remember, I don’t like heights.)
So, while David and I argued, we saw the director motioning toward us. He looked at us, then looked at the chorus and gave us a thumbs up.
I guess he thought we had fixed the lighting. How did he think we did that? The lights weren’t mounted on remote control motors.
David and I walked around the corner and laughed ourselves senseless!
Contemporary music festival
One our best paydays was the contemporary music festival. JMU would have a week of concerts each year that focused on new (contemporary) music. This meant a lot of hours for the stage crew. And, some great fun working together.
One of those times involved a piece that was written for a handful of computers. We were initially concerned that we were going to have to set up the computers. But, the “composer” assured us that he would do that work himself.
David and I were standing off stage when the computer composer went on stage and began his work. The piece was a series of recordings of the word, “yes”. Some were louder, softer, higher, lower, faster, slower. But, always the one word, “Yes”. That was it…the word, “Yes” over and over and over again.
I guess we weren’t musically mature enough to understand. We laughed till we cried.
Another humorous episode involved a member of the vocal department singing the line:
The skull is not white, it is yellow…
What you need to understand is, she held the word yellow while she sung, “oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”. It was bizarre.
Again, cue the riotous laughter.
Wrap up
I worked a few years on stage crew. It was great exposure to back stage issues that must be considered in order to produce a seamless show.
TP was easy to work for. (I never figured out what TP stood for.). He taught us how to care for the equipment (In between cigarettes. The man smoked a lot!) and generally he tried to teach us to be lighting and sound professionals.
And, I got money to pay for a few books and pizza along with some great laughs.
Thanks Bill!