The Real Heroes

Our show has a rather ridiculous amount of accessories and props, most of which are either huge, heavy, or both. Not only that, but there are crazy set changes and more often than not, startlingly little time to do them in.

And we, the artists, being the spoiled lot that we are, are spared the majority of these inconveniences. Those tedious, cumbersome jobs are left to our stage technicians.

And if I may say so, our technicians are made entirely out of awesome.

All three of them.

That's right, I said three.

Our riggers work so hard, have such long hours (I think that right now they're probably pulling 13 hour days) and put up with so much merde... it's way above and beyond the call of duty. That is why I made them a big honkin' batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday.

I have a huge amount of respect for riggers and technicians. I see how a lot of people treat them as glorified servants. I can't even name all tasks they're charged with. Not to mention all the tasks that probably don't fall under their jurisdiction but they have dumped on them any way. One morning not too long ago, the head stage technician, having just woken up, already had the director on his case for some new development. He had just stepped out of his caravan! Hadn't even had a cup o' joe!

I don't think its intentional, but I feel that very often in the performing arts, those who work on the technical side are treated as second class citizens. I can see how it tends to happen. You have the artists, so used to performing on stage, who naturally take the limelight and (this was particularly apparent when I was in theatre) have a slight tendency to bust out their inner divas.

But riggers and technicians are artists in their own right. And while the public may come to see the artists and the stories they have to tell, the truth is that without the technicians, there wouldn't be much of a show. The transitions wouldn't happen, there would be no costumes, no sound, no lights.

In this line of work, there shouldn't be a hierarchy, only partnership.

While this is slightly off topic, I can't help but share this video. Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs gives an excellent talk about work, how society views work and how things aren't necessarily the way we've been taught.



No matter where you work or what your field of work, there is undoubtedly someone who's role is overlooked and undervalued, despite the fact that without them, there's a good chance things would run less smoothly. If you work in the circus, go thank your technicians, or better still, go talk to them without asking them for anything. If you don't work in the circus, I'm pretty sure you can think of someone who could use a little appreciation. The custodian, the maintenance man, or perhaps the barista who serves you the infusion of caffeine that gets you through the day...

Me? I have a plate of cookies to deliver.