Q calling Where, When, Who, What & Why?

This brings up some great points from everyone. I think the biggest thing between pro n Am is attitude, supported by aptitude & empirical know how. This is part of the reason I fired up the 'Stagecraft Guild', quite a few years back. But I was directing Man of La Mancha & A chorus Line back to back. The Guild started off well & we even went off to Albany [South West of here] To do a workshop for a local theatre group. I remember it was great & they were hospitable. the only down side was we got there at about midnight on a Friday night. Went to the hotel, to find the group had forgot to book us in, the hotel of course was booked out. So we drove around for 2 hours or so & the only accommodation open, was a Resort. Which cost me packet paying for 6 people on my old credit card. I never did get the money back from the theatre group or even reimbursed for the fuel & whatever - but that's all another story. The Guild started well but I ended up having a stoke, which I'd realise what it was. Which happened during the Man of La Mancha. The Limes operator hadn't turned for a matinée. So I went up in the box & did the follow spot. All of a sudden the whole of my left sided went numb. I collapsed on the floor & tried to get the light board operator to help me up. But she sat there frozen staring at me, this was her first show at operating the lights. I managed to crawl from the booth & down the stairs, Head first. I kept as quite as I could, because the stairs were right behind the audience. I finally got out side & sat on a bench, until the feeling came back in my left arm & leg. After a quick smoke, I got back up in the box. Just Hywell, who was finishing the song, impossible dream. I gently dowsed the follow spot, which by this time was shinning on the ceiling. So all in all I managed not to miss the cue completely. anyhow following 5 strokes in all, i started up the Phoenix theatre in Cockburn [ Pronounced Coburn, to placate the Edwardian attitudes of the time]. Gawd I waffle on, as what I wanted to say. The Guild evaporated, so now I have proposed to the good folks at Aunt ITA, to put a Technical Advisory Pool together, for member community theatre groups. Actually Graeme [taureen] is helping me out, rounding up a lot of sparkies techies, lighting & audio as well as costumes, set & other ARTiciphers in most theatrical disciplines. As the greatest reusable resource we have is people, I'm sure there are a vast amount of backstage people, who for what ever reason have been discarded or pulled the pin &/or whatever. [even still doing 'it'] Who can assist groups with production problems, mainly on a hands in the pocket basis - so they don't get burnt out! actually this idea came about from Don's post about the enactment of the WA Health Act, concerning public buildings & community theatre. So after I have just gone around the world, for a tra bit. I think you would have guest, I can't throw any light on the fact if teaches know how to cue or not, except they are on the receiving end.

TOI TOI TOI CHOOKAS

[May you always play to a full house] Hear the lights & see the sounds.