Category Archives: Log

Log, Thinking Out Loud

The Dentist Update

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By some miracle…

I have no cavities! I’m shocked only because…I mean, I honestly thought I would have them.

But no. Cavity-free!!

My gums aren’t that great, but I knew that already and will start working on that (especially since I have to go back for a deep clean and to get the chipped tooth situated).

Anybut, it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

HOWEVER! My previous post on The Dentist still stands! (shameless plug alert)

Log, Thinking Out Loud

Late Night Thought

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Can’t sleep…

To be fair it’s because I’m sitting here listening to music.

Specific music.

Six: The Musical.

It’s a musical about the six wives of King Henry VIII…as rock stars. It’s freakin’ good! Not Tony Award winning (in my opinion) good, but it’s one of those shows that you can listen to over and over.

Somebody explained the history of the musical to me (something about how the creators wrote the whole thing in college and it became a hit…on their first go).

Anybut, I’m obsessed right now and can’t sleep.

I highly suggest checking it out. It’s an interesting mix of history with modern music styles and references.

Favorite songs: Heart of Stone, Get Down, and Don’t Lose Ur Head

But honestly ALL the songs are amazing.

Log, Thinking Out Loud

I’m Procrastinating

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This post is me procrastinating…

A lot of my random posts are me procrastinating, but this one is truthfully me procrastinating.

You see, a friend of mine has asked me to be a beta reader for her book that she’s co-written with another author. I’ve read it twice now. First time to just read it and get overall, general notes. Second time, to get a few more standout notes.

And now I’m going through with major edits.

“That doesn’t sound like procrastination to me,” I’m sure you’re thinking. Well, for me it is. Major edits are rough. There’s a fine balancing act between being over knit picky, grammar correction, mean comments (i.e frustration coming out in the note), and giving helpful, constructive criticism.

I love the book. I enjoy going through and helping fine tune it. I love the story, I love the characters….but I also understand how defensive some people can be about their works.

Especially since my friend told me this was their favorite book they’ve written so far….ooh boy. That means I really have to tread lightly in how I phrase my comments. There are some things I will be harsh about only because they’re repetitive. Repetitive mistakes can frustrate readers and I want to help them avoid doing that.

But I’ve reached the point where I need to step back…..and procrastinate. Why? Because I’m realizing that I’m going to have to read it a fourth time through for continuity. I’ve been editing continuity, but I’m realizing that there are so many that are only continuity issues because: Something is mentioned in one sentence, ONE SENTENCE, and the author is expecting the reader to remember this information five chapters later….no. Especially if the sentence isn’t an eye catching sentence. I, the reader, will not remember this information and will think the author just pulled it out of thin air.

To be fair, my friend also has an editor who is being paid to do the really major edits. But I’m trying to take the side of a reader. What will stand out to readers? What will be confusing for readers? With a few standout grammatical corrections thrown in.

The other issue is, I’m running out of time. I need to get the book back to them with my edits soon so they can make the adjustments they want and forward it on to said editor.

I’m extremely proud of my friend for the hard work she’s clearly put into this book. Writing is hard. And having people come in and be critical of your work is difficult (I know the feeling with my own writing).

Anybut, now I’m going to pretend like I’m going back to book but will actually watch a few more YouTube videos before finally getting the job done. And deciding whether I actually will read through the book again…

Wish me luck.

Log, Thinking Out Loud

The Dentist

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I have to go to the dentist tomorrow…

I’m terrified.

I chipped my tooth a while back (like weeks ago) and the only time available was tomorrow. Why the delay? A) the dentist was out of town and B) their the office on my insurance card.

There’s no pain from my chipped tooth. But I know I’m going to get an earful for waiting so long.

I mean if dentists wanted people to come in more frequently they shouldn’t be so mean.

Okay, to be fair, I haven’t been to this dentist office yet. But almost all offices I have been to I’ve always left feeling like a failure. I understand the desire to scare someone into taking care of their teeth, but that doesn’t work on everyone.

Especially not me. I already know I don’t do a good job at it. What I need is them to tell my why. Am I using the wrong brush? Should I be using a specific toothpaste? Instead, I’m shamed. I’m made to feel like a failure.

And then I don’t want to go back.

“If you were doing a good job it wouldn’t be so bad.”

HA! Joke’s on you! Even when I used to go and had no plaque and no cavities I was still shamed! Comment deflected.

Anybut, I’m terrified for tomorrow. I don’t want to cry in front the dentist….again.

 

Log, That's My Job

Performance #3

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That went better…

Nothing was knocked over so that’s good. Had to repair a few things, but nothing too severe.

There was an opening party in the lobby, but I haven’t had a day off from this show for over a week…..so I chose to just go home and take a nap.

Good choice.

Anybut, I’ll have 4 days off now until our next performance.

Hooray!

Log, That's My Job

Press Opening (Performance #2)

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Well, that was an interesting performance…

Live theater is a unique beast. It doesn’t matter how many times you rehearse it, something new always seems to happen.

And sometimes…and actor slips and knocks the entire ground row over.

For those not in the know, a ground row is literally a background set piece on the ground up stage (the back of the stage) to simulate a landscape. Think of the hills of Oklahoma! or for those not in theater, a wooden cutout in the shape of hills, mountains, etc.

Anybut, the actor slipped and ran into the ground row, knocking it all over. Luckily, the show we’re doing is a comedy and our lead came right in with some lines to make the audience laugh….

But this wasn’t any old performance. This was our Press Opening. Which means reviewers were in the audience……well, at least we’ll stand out.

One more show tomorrow and then I get four days off.

Log, That's My Job

Tech Week Day 5….AND PREVIEW PERFORMANCE!!

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Tonight was our first audience…

We had a short rehearsal this afternoon. Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

And then we suddenly had an audience.

And then we made it through the show! The audience sounded very receptive and were very loud at the moments we expected…and a few we didn’t.

Can’t wait to officially open tomorrow!

Log, That's My Job

Tech Week Day 4

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Important rule for actors: Check your props before the show…

Yes, it should always be in the same place. Yes, someone else knows the track of your prop (though that also means that person knows the track of ALL actors’ props but whatever).

HOWEVER!! Shit happens. Things happen that may mean something interfered with the usual pre-show checklist. Crew members are at the theater working hard to make sure everything is ready for the performance.

Things happen.

Set pieces need repair, props need repair, props are being created from scratch, set pieces are being created from scratch, the stage needs additional care, and so on.

New things are thrown at us (the crew) on the daily if not hourly.

Yes, an actor has a lot on their plate for a show. However, part of that should be checking your props before  the audience ever enters the building. NOT one minute before you go on.

This issue I speak of was a unique situation where a prop was being repaired by a professional and we had a backup to use in its place. Apparently they returned the prop to the actress and not to me (the one in charge of props).

The actress didn’t tell anybody the prop was returned and though I asked everyone who saw the person hired to repair the prop, none of them saw the prop.

So I put the backup in place (the setup takes a good amount of time) but literally one minute before she goes on, she realizes she never brought the prop from her dressing room.

Now, I need to be clear about something: Props should rarely be in dressing rooms. There are a few exceptions, but those are case by case exceptions.

The actress ran to her dressing room (in the theater, a good distance away) and when she made it back….it was literally the line she was supposed to enter on. I told her there was no time to change out the prop. She argued with me. But I wasn’t about to hold the show for this.

Anybut, she went on with the backup and was upset. Sorry, not sorry. I did let her use the repaired prop later in the show (even though it messed up the continuity, but whatever it was a dress rehearsal runthrough).

But on the plus side: She’ll never do that again.

 

Log, That's My Job

Tech Week Day 3

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Short day, but a LOT got done…

Today was a short tech rehearsal (only 6:30p-11:30p instead of 11:30a-11:30p), but things that were giving us trouble yesterday were solved. Hooray.

However, I have discovered an unusual phenomenon that is costing me props. Apparently, down stage left of the proscenium of the stage….there is a black/worm hole that is swallowing props.

First, an onion was thrown into a box seat and was never seen again. Then a recorder was thrown (though I was sitting right upstate of the proscenium and heard it land on the floor) and disappeared!

I mean I checked everywhere, even the orchestra pit. And OF COURSE they’re two props that we don’t have backups or spares for..

Anybut, my hope is that I’ll go in tomorrow for our second 10 out of 12 (11:30a-11:30p) and both props will magically be back on my table….because house crew or custodial found them.

We shall SEE!!