Show’s done. Set has beens stricken (?), and the kids got to watch a cool fireworks show. Great success!!!
So I woke up this morning around 8:30 am . . . this bout 2.5 hours later than I normally sleep. I suppose I should expect this after finally falling asleep around just 5 hours earlier, around 3:30 am.
When I woke up, I realized that I had probably left some gear with the production crew. I sent a text out to them and the director of the show, complimenting them on their work (even tho the sound needed improvement), and asked about the equipment.
“Probably in the box with the sandbags .. LOL . .I’ll look and let you know.”
Great, this kinda pissed me off. But not for the reason that may be obvious.
This was semi-pricey equipment, for sure, but the production manager and I had gotten into a good natured tussle the night before a little bit. It was getting late and I was standing on top of the truss system, 20 feet off the ground and heard the production manager instructing the crew to put sandbags in the case with the green straps on top of it.
After completing my task up top, I hopped down and looked for something to do. Something I think all good stagehands should do. (Yes, I do stagehand work as well.) Breaking down a set that looks like this:
Takes FOREVER and there is no shortage of things that need done. I grabbed all the sandbags I could find and threw them in the case with the green straps on top.
Two hours later, the production manager says,”Where’s all the sandbags, they aren’t in their home.” I explained I put him in the case instructed and he said , “Well that’s wrong, here’s the case with a sandbags label, right on it!!! (dumbass).”
He didn’t actually call me that name, but it was implied.
I asked if he wanted me to switch them and he made some comment about no time. Whatever.
Obviously, it still bothered me when sent the text back this morning, but then I got thinking about it.
Could the “SandBag” box have had a greens strap on it at the same time I was looking at another case with a green strap on it and he was looking at there right one??
Absolutely!!
So from his perspective, the production manager was right. From my perspective, I was right. In fact, we were BOTH right!!How can we BOTH BE RIGHT and still get the incorrect result?
Perspective, that’s how.
The situation could have been resolved simply by verifying which case was which before loading them. To be fair to all parties, it was the end of a long day and no harm, no foul.
Thinking about this situation from the other person’s perspective, allowed me to chalk it up to experience and move on from the situation. And most importantly, I DID NOT respond negatively to the text and make things worse.
VERY VALUABLE to me!
Do you have any good examples of a shared or changed perspective being impactful?
Just a Dude 