Moving on.
Lion's Dens (where we are technically still working through the show, but have invited audiences) have commenced and completed. We've had a couple rough ones with some stops and some ... difficulties, but the show seems to be recieved pretty well. Which is nice, because it is a monster for all involved. Audiences here are very vocal, which is good for a show like this. At least, I think so. After all this time, it's nice to see a show actually coming together. I am still running spot - and will be for the foreseeable future - but it's not all bad. Not exactly what I thought I'd be doing, but I try to make the most of it in general. {See above quote.} Also refer to my life motto: Some days are harder than others. (Especially when you did not think it's what you would be doing.) Be flexible. That's what Jim tried to teach me in school and I like to think I learned some things from him. He's a very wise man, that professor of our's. So maybe I didn't learn them in the timely fashion he expected me to, but they stuck with me.
Jimmy also liked to say "Be a duck. Let things roll off your back." We all know how difficult that is for me, but I try. Lots of things have been getting to me lately, but I'm making a concerted effort to be a duck because I can't change them, so I have to let them go.
So we have press opening tomorrow. Well, rather today. Holy crap, it's the day of the show ya'll. I've only been here two months and I'm tired of this creation nonsense. I can't imagine having been on the project for a year! Although, I say that and I think "It'll probably be nice to be on a normal schedule for like 2 weeks, then I'll get bored." I have never run a show for longer than a month. This will certainly be an experience. The worst phrases I know now are "One more time" - because it NEVER means one more time; it always means at least 3 more times. And "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1, 2, 3, ... 8". Being a dancer I should be used to that one, but it takes on a whole new meaning here. One that is NOT enjoyable in anyway. I guess it's different when you're dancing to an eight count rather than running a spot to one. Sometimes I miss that...
Funny anecdote: I got stuck in an elevator for the second time in a week on Sunday. This time was 740pm, the freight elevator, and four [of 6] spot ops were on our way to places (to sit in our spot chair before starting the show at 8pm) and one automation tech was on his way to start the pumps for the hydraulics for the first scene of the show. We were stuck for 20 minutes and it was some of the more terrifying minutes of my life. I'm not a huge fan of elevators because I have an irrational fear of them falling, and I can be claustrophobic at times, and it was just an all around painful experience. Thankfully we made it to safety by prying the doors open on level 6 and running full tilt to our places via the stairs. Everyone else who wasn't stuck thought it was funny. Apparently hearing our TD over coms telling the SM they were trying to get 5 techs out of the elevator to run the show is amusing. I did not laugh. I hope that is the last time I get stuck in the elevator here, but I won't hold my breath. None of our elevators have a very good track record. Chinese construction... Like everything else in the composition of our building, it leaves something to be desired...
Wish us luck because it's always scary to show your project to the world for the first time...
Love and misses.
Me.
