A couple of people set me off last night …
I do the graphics/typesetting for the theater and this person was left out of the program for the upcoming show. I can understand being miffed about being overlooked … but take it out on the director who submitted the information to me and not me who (contrary to my wishes) is not psychic and can’t know everything and everyone that is involved with the big summer musical.
Another person’s name was misspelled (albeit consistently) and they weren’t happy either. Please see the above statement about my non-psychic abilities.
Guess what? I just now got an e-mail stating that the Sound Board Operator was left out and there’s another misspelled name.
And all this after the program was proofed by folks at the theater.
Grrrrrrrrr. Certain people need to get their shit together.
The oft repeated event it would seem. Perhaps someone else – like the stage manager, should take the proof copy and have it passed around the cast for their own personal confirmation before going to press. That way, they can only blame themselves. Of course, I’ll bet Steve might still end up misspelling some even after they check it.
Just remember, failure to plan on their part does not constitute a problem on your part.
I disagree, Jeff. The Stage Manager should be responsible for getting the CORRECT copy to Charles – all names included and spell checked – so that all he has to worry about is getting the copy set and the final draft back to the theatre for printing. It should not be up to him (or me, as the prime proofreader) to know if people have been left out or their names are misspelled. If it went the extra step of having each cast member proof his/her own copy, it would never get back to Charles in time to get it printed in a timely manner. The people submitting the copy the first time need to be sure they are doing their job! (And, if the cast members miss the deadline for submitting their bio to get it included in the playbill, tough shit!!) (Can you tell I’ve been both Stage Manager and proofreader??)
YES! kick all asses! did they commit themselves to getting their name in the program or did they commit themselves to “doing their part to make the BIG show come together”. If they have time to whine about how their name is spelled they aren’t working hard enough on their scenes. As one stage manager we know puts it “They need to put on their big girl panties and get over it.” I know, my name has been misspelled so many times in my life I’ve thought about legally changing it so I could recognize it when I saw it in print.
but … thank you Chas for ALWAYS spelling it correctly.
You know, I forgot about that saying! I will have to start using it again! I proofed it, but there have been WAY too many changes to this show, including a schedule change every f***ing night. This show has WAY too many chiefs trying to run things. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am the stage manager for this show. And everybody at some point gets left out of the playbill or gets their name misspelled. I know at least one of the proofers has everyone’s name on her list for costumes, and I am sure nothing has been said about that!
Actually, Mom, you’re agreeing with the point I was trying to make. The stage manager could be the one who gets it to Charles only after things have been confirmed. In fact, HART is the only theatre I know of where no one tells the cast to read their name/bios, etc., to assure that things are right, then initial next to their name that they have seen it. This all happens one night during rehearsal with the SM announcing that “here it is, check it before the end of tonight and if you don’t then tough titty.” Everyone is told up front and if they complain later it’s their own fault.
Case and point – at Parkway right now, my bio has 2 misspellings in it. Why? Because I skimmed it, when we were all asked to check it. Sure, the misspellings are of titles of shows I’ve been in and/or directed, but I have no room to throw a fit about it. Why? Because I signed off on it.
The solution is simple. And if you allow a cast to take forever and waste time not getting it back to Charles, then that’s on the stage manger’s head for not being able to get it done.
Everyone wants to get huffy and complain about it, yet not take responsibilty themselves for making sure things are done properly. For arts people, you’d think they were all modern day Republicans.
They need to hire an editor–yeah, that’s it—ME! *laughing* I’m fairly cheap —
Here’s a hug for you Bad Mood Boy, and for you Stage Manager Person —
now enough about you two, more about ME
*laughing*
okay, just kidding — I was just stopping by to see what was going on — I’ll be at the show tonight –I haven’t looked at the program yet, and even if I did, I probably wouldn’t know anything was amiss–just like if someone forgets a line, the audience never knows….and, I haven’t a clue who should do what or when or where — I just show up and watch and then clap at the end! *laughing* I do know how hard people work – volunteer–for the theater…..I think you all should meet at the theater about three hours ahead of time and hand write in the missing names on all the brochures! yeah! and fix the misspelled name too! How about it? huh? *laughing* ….okay, I’m getting out of here before someone throws something at my haid.
Actually, one of the cast members wanted to have a slumber party to fix the playbills that had already been printed! Or so I was told by Charles! If people only knew that the misspelling of people’s names and people getting their names left out of the playbill, was just scratching the surface of what has really been going on with getting this show up and running!
Printing a one sheet insert with corrections everytime there are mistakes might actually eventually convince Steve and others to not be so lazy about it in the future.