Raising Well-Mannered Actors

Hi two. Back to the Drama Mamas. I'm Hello, I'm Chris Kristen. I almost said I'm Kathy. Oh my God. Please switch it up. Kathy. I'm Kristen. I'm Kathy. Now you gotta get Jersey situations. Kathy situation. I gotta get the hand movement on there. We got this situation going. We decided, Kathy, hold My favorite word is situation.

You gotta fold my hair in half. Hold on. There we go. Yeah, put your hair, Kathy. Put your hair up. Exactly. Oh, we've already caught up this. We're filming or recording on the same day that we did the previous podcast. Yes. Yeah, cuz we need to get a little bit ahead, I think. I know we're gonna have a hard time recording when the kids are doing frozen this weekend.

Yes. Next weekend's be a little crazy. Yeah. Yeah. So this is like a part two. Mm-hmm. From the first one, part one, talking about theater etiquette. Right. So part one was from the point of view or pov. Again, off fancy, fancy, fancy of watching and like being able to be at the theater. And then this one's gonna be all about etiquette.

When you're, when you're an actor, right, exactly. When you're in the show. Yep. Because we have all seen actors that when they're not doing the right thing, it affects everybody. Mm-hmm. That is true. It trickles down. Mm-hmm. From making rehearsal go longer or all kinds of things. So we wanna talk about if your child is casting a show, here's what they should do.

Yes. Okay. First of all, and it's for adults too. Well, yeah. Anybody. Yeah. It's just life. It is. Okay. Arrive early to all rehearsals and productions. Yes. So you got time to like get yourself settled, put your stuff down. Yes. Don't be coming, running in the door. The second it starts with your Starbucks. Well, whatever.

I see. If you have a kid at all that's in the performing arts, arrive early. Mm-hmm. I was. We've got the Mikayla's concert. Couple of weeks ago we were sitting, we had dropped her off and we went to Publi Scott, you know, pub subs, and then we were sitting in the parking lot eating before the show because we had time to kill.

But like, not a lot of time to kill, right? Yeah. Because she has to be there. I don't know, I think it's like an hour and a half before and it's pretty standard. We see that a lot with like the community theater. Mm-hmm. About an hour and a half before, but I don't wanna sit around for an hour and a half and usually we haven't eaten dinner.

Mm-hmm. So anyway, we're sitting in the parking lot and I watched two kids. That were easily 45 minutes. Oh, geez. Past the call time. Ooh. Yeah. Like pull up. Mm-hmm. And like. Haul, but to go get their instrument, try to wiggle in. And I was like, dude, they were supposed to be on stage a while ago. A dear A long time ago.

Yes. Yes. Because Mikayla's teacher will like post in the remind. He's like, Hey, you're called at this time. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That means instrument in hand and sitting in on stage in your chair, ready to play. Right. And you're walking in the door. That means you're ready to start. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And if you're gonna be late, that things happen.

Traffic, whatever. Yeah. Let let them know. Let's let the stage manager know. Mm-hmm. Don't text the director if you have their number. The stage manager's, the per stage manager's, the person that you need to contact. Yeah. Just, and just let them know you're gonna be running at least, you know, a couple minutes late.

And if you're just gonna miss it all together, absolutely let them know because. Yeah. And then they'll be worried if you make arrangements, right? Like arrangements can be made if you're sick, if you're unable to get there, if an accident happens. Mm-hmm. And you have to go to the er, like stuff happens, especially with kids.

Yeah. Yeah. And we, uh, on the production crew, we are prepared to handle that. Provided you let us know ahead of time. Right? Yeah, exactly. You know? Exactly. I mean, Lily Kate during Rudolph had to do some of that. She had to fill in she almost every time as a reindeer. Yeah. She had to fill in for a dancer.

Yeah, because it happened. She, somebody was sick. Yeah. All right. When you come to rehearsal, you need to come prepared. Mm-hmm. Know if you're working a certain scene and you know you're working that scene, come know your lines. Think about your character and what your character's doing in that scene. Where are you on the stage?

Just come prepared because when you don't know what you're doing, it affects everybody else. And if you don't know your lines, that really. Messes people up. I know the other day in rehearsal, Lily Kate was working with her scene partner and. They didn't know their lines, and she's like, I didn't know when to deliver my line because Yep.

They were so far off that mm-hmm. It wasn't making sense anymore. So it, it's just know your lines and I know sometimes you forget that's normal. Yeah. That's gonna happen. Yeah. But just come prepared. Yeah. If you're supposed to be off book. Yeah. Make sure off book, by that day, if you're supposed to have your jazz shoes on, then have your jazz shoes.

Yeah. And even if your off books still bring your script Yes. Bring it. Because right before you go on, yes. You can re-study and, and know what's going on. Mm-hmm. Yeah. There's a lot of prep that needs to happen when you're not at the theater. Mm-hmm. You know, there's a lot of home, there's a lot of homework.

Yeah. When you're initially Absolutely. Yeah. And like you said, bring your book because your blocking might change. Yes. And you might need to write that down in your book. Absolutely. Have your book have something to write with a pencil, cuz you're gonna have to erase those marks at some point. Oh yeah.

There's lots of times where, oh yeah, you know, I have to bring extra pencils. Is that mm-hmm. An sm for usually for, uh, kids. Right. You know, productions. Yeah. But bring extra pencils just so that you can loan a couple out. You know, you're never gonna get back. Right. And you're not gonna want 'em back. Cause they're another horse kids.

Yeah. Oh god. Kids. They're background. All right, we're gonna head back to the cell phone territory, okay. Because children don't seem to understand that they can live life without their phones. Oh, I know, I know. Plenty of adults in That's true. In that same, that's true. Fear. True. But we should know, like we didn't have them our whole lives.

Yeah, we know there's a difference. I don't think kids necessarily know there's a difference. Like you don't have to answer that text right now. So when you come in, you're ready to start rehearsal. Your phone should be off and put away. Yep. Because if a parent needs to get you, they have the stage manager manager's number.

Why can't I say that word today? They'll contact you. Yeah. So just put, well, there's phone away. I mean, I, I mean, I understand too. A lot of kids have a tablet babysitter. Mm-hmm. Um, especially the young, young ones. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And you know, we, I, I know we do at our community theater, sometimes cast six year olds.

Mm-hmm. Um, seven year olds and eight year olds, and when they come to the theater, they're not always on stage, but they, like, there's this balance. Mm-hmm. And you want your kid to be able to entertain themselves when they're not on the stage. Mm-hmm. However, comma, it's actually really tough. When they're not paying attention at all.

Right. And they miss their cute everything. Cause they don't know when they're supposed to be on stage and then mm-hmm. Yep. The stage manager, the assistant stage manager, the director will turn to them and be like, Hey, so and so aren't you supposed to be on stage now? Mm-hmm. And they're like, okay, we're gonna go back.

You know? And that's rehearsal. Well, yeah. When you get to the actual performance, they really need to not have those. Mm-hmm. I understand. They're not on stage the whole time. They're, they need to find another way to entertain themselves. Right. That allows them to still maintain some kind of focus on. The event that they're there for.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. And it's not just the little kids, cuz we've had big kids in the dressing rooms on their phones and missed their cues because they're Yes, that's true. Looking at, at TikTok or something. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And they huddle it, it tends to bring social hour, right? Mm-hmm. So they huddle together, oh, did you see this?

Look what I'm doing, da da da da. And you walk in and you're like, Oh, dude, you didn't know we were supposed to go. I'm like, the monitor's right there. You can't pay attention to the monitor. You're, you're missing that you're supposed to be on right now. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I'm not your babysitter. Yeah. Technology is difficult.

Yeah. Well, and another thing with the phones is, um, taking pictures. So in the dressing rooms, pictures should never be taken. No, exactly. Uhuh because No, no, no pics. No pics and no nobody's picture outside the dressing room without their permission. I know we had an instance one time where kids were taking pictures and posting and.

You know, those students want their picture posted, so just don't, yeah. Just don't, yeah. Your purpose at the theater is for the show. Mm-hmm. And I think if you keep that in mind Yeah. Then you know the rest hopefully will follow. Yes, yes. Doesn't always. All right. When you get your costume, We've talked a little bit about this.

Yeah. I feel like this was maybe something we've said before with the, yeah, maybe in the beginning. Was it Laura's? I think so. Episode. There's a couple of things, uh, added in here. Obviously we've said before, don't, it's worth repeating, right? Don't never complain about your costume. We were okay. You were were you there?

No. I don't know. Uh, yeah. Hello? A person who was in. Oliver? Mm-hmm. Oh, okay. Yeah. No, we didn't do Oliver. Mm-hmm. Was complaining about in waiting to go in and sing to audition, complaining about their costume from Oliver. Oh. Auditioning for something else. Oh, okay. Different show. It's just really No, no. Yeah.

Your, your design team, your director, everybody's come together to decide what your costume should look like. Yes. And that's what you're gonna, you don't get a say in that? No, no, we don't. You don't get a say in that. Yep. If you have a concern about your costume, like talk to your costumer, like, this doesn't fit me.

Right. You know, my pants are falling down, it's forages. Right. You know, bring, I mean, I get it. Have a little, some things. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Just bring it up to them. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, arrive on time for your costume fittings and. Be clean. You know? Be clean. Don't be stinky. Take a shower. Use your deodorant.

Yes. Oh my gosh. How many times have we gone in, especially the kids' productions, but it's not always just the kids. You go in the dressing room and it smells like, it's like a big old armpit. It's bad. Yeah. You know, the worst is like that preteen girl where like they haven't hit that yet, so maybe they're not wearing deodorant all the time, or maybe they put it on the morning and they didn't reapply because like your older girls, they're onto it, right?

Like they got it. They know that they need to use your. But sometimes those pre-teens, I'm talking like anywhere from like. Nine to like 12. Yeah. They You need deodorant. Yeah. You need to do pit checkers because trust me, it's coming up. Chop. Yes. It's it's bad. It's bad. Oh, and wear under eyes water. Do you have that in there?

I do wear proper under and clean undergarment. Yes. Wear undergarment. You should not be getting down naked. Right. There should not be any in the green room of that. Yes. I I think I heard some of that was happening in one of the more recent productions. Mm-hmm. That an adult was in the dressing room naked.

Even if your parent is in there, dear with you, naked. Naked, it should not be happening. Yeah. Nobody needs to see that. No, we're proper. We shouldn't even see, see, like, Panties. We shouldn't even see underwear. Yeah. I don't need to see your bra. You got safety shorts. There's all kinds of options for everyone.

Yes. Boys. Boys too. Boys need to wear because you're gonna be changing. You're very rarely does a person have one costume for the entire show. Mm-hmm. Um, if you have a hairstyle when you're often, when you're cast, sometimes they'll not often is sometimes they'll say, Don't change your hair. Like when you get that call to say you're in the show.

Yes. Oh yes. Don't cut your hair. That's important. Don't cut your hair. Don't dye your hair. Right? Yes. Right. Because that's part of your character. Mm-hmm. And especially once the show is started, don't alter your hairstyle. If the customer said that your hair should be one way, then that's the way it needs to be.

Unless the director has asked you to. Right? Absolutely right. But don't make choices for yourself. You can ask. We've had a couple boys, if you're allowed to change it. Right. You tell them what you're wanting to do. Mm-hmm. They will approve or not approve. Right. Right. Yeah. But yeah, generally they really don't want you to change anything.

Right, right. No. There's a research they casted you as is. Yeah, exactly. Okay, and last thing about costumes, if there's something rips or tears, I kind of already said this, make sure somebody knows before the next show. Tell somebody, like tell the stage manager so they can address it before the next show I'll to fix it.

All right. We're a costumer if they're back there Yes. In the dressing rooms. So we're transitioning from costumes and dressing rooms kind of the same, but, um, they're such a mess. Like, find your spot, keep your stuff on your spot. Mm-hmm. Organized, organized doesn't need to be all over the floor. Mm-hmm. And when the show is done for the night, clean up your area.

Don't leave behind the water bottles and the candy wrappers. Yeah. And then this, that, and the other. Oh, all the hangers and the, oh my goodness. Food and the mm-hmm. Makeup. Like if, oh, and can we just add this in here? You might have this on here, but don't share makeup that goes on your face. That was the next thing on my wrist.

Okay. Yeah. Yes. Because that happens a lot. It's yes, and it's very non. Hypoallergenic. Like it's bad. It's all kind. You don't wanna use somebody else's sponge. Yeah. From like foundation, right? Or you know that. Or eyeliner. I mean, yes. To give yourself conjunctivitis. You don't wanna share lip gloss like, or we had where one girl used somebody else's foundation or something.

She had an allergic reaction. Yes. Have an allergic reaction. Yeah. Yeah. So just bring your own makeup. Use your own makeup. If you don't have it, then you don't have it on that day. Don't borrow somebody else's. Yeah. Uh, used deodorant. We said that don't use perfume. Mm-hmm. Another instance we had a girl was very allergic.

Mm-hmm. And somebody was spraying perfume in the dressing room and she got really sick. Yeah. So, you know, it's just, it's important to keep in mind. I think you earn kind of tight quarters. Mm-hmm. Usually yes. Yes. I don't know very many theaters. That have just gobs and gobs of room for you to spread out.

Right. I mean, even on Broadway's, especially on Broadway. Yeah. You know, you're, you're, you're in tight corners. You're, you're with everybody, so just be considerate. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. It always boils, boils down to being considerate. Yeah. Always hang up your costume unless there's like a quick change that a crew member is helping you with, they will can hang it up for you, but, Hang up your costume and now we know to hang it tits to the left.

Yep. Yes. And make sure all your pieces are there. Yes. Uh, so many times like hose or you know, little ears or something they might have get left on the floor and then they don't have 'em. Yeah. Pick up your hose and then the next day they come in and they're like, Hey, did you see my gloves find? And I'm like, did you put them with it last night?

No. Yeah. Oh, and if it's not yours, Don't take it. Right. So, oh, can't find mine. I'm just gonna borrow from Angela. Like, no, because that has happened as well, and that's not fair, you know? Yeah. And it would be smart to check your custom before you leave. Correct. Make sure you got all your pieces before you leave, and so it's not a panic time the next day you come in and you don't have what you need.

Exactly. Um, nothing worse than when you walk in the dressing room and you see costumes on the floor because somebody took a really, really, really long time. Mm-hmm. To make those, you know, put lots of effort into that. I'll just step right on 'em. I know I step over, I know, uh, don't hang out in the dressing room.

You know, there's a green room you can hang out there, get changed, do what you need to do, and then move so that other people can use it. Because sometimes kids are coming in for a quick change and they can't get to where they need to be because especially this next big show, there's like 65 kids in NEMO kids.

Mm-hmm. We're not gonna have a lot of space. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That'll be fun. Yeah. Yeah. For y'all. I'll be in Margaritaville bitch. Wait, so she's not gonna be helping out backstage at all? I don't know, maybe, but I don't know yet. I'll know when we set Margaritaville's schedule. Okay. Just dawn on, I, I reached out to the SAGE manager for NEMO and I was like, Hey, okay, I'm, I will let you know if I can help, because I had already gotten a message from the director about asking if there was gonna be any way that I can be involved.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I was like, I don't know, maybe. Okay. Yeah, you may be on your own. I don't even know if mm-hmm. He'll be able to finagle it or not cuz. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, Dr. J dear, it's down to us. Great. If they even let us. Yeah. I gave a warning that, that we were normally, you know, the crew? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And pj and then you know Juan. Juan usually? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Oh, Juan already told pj. Well, it was funny cause I help, I'll let you know. I was messaging with her do that. I was messaging with the stage manager and I think she didn't realize. Like, remember who I was, which, you know, 65 kids Yeah. And all of their parents.

I can understand how you can get 'em all mixed up. Mm-hmm. Except, you know, I, I helped train her, so that should have gotten me somewhere. But yeah. So anyway, I. And I was like having these messages back and forth with her and I was like, Hey, I feel like there might be some confusion about who I am. Just laying it out there.

Usually I, cuz I was like, I don't know if I'll be able to volunteer this time. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I will let you know as soon as I know. And she was con, she was confused. She's like, oh, well, Becky's handling all the parent. Um, I like chaperone the green chaperones. Yeah. And I was like, oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be confusing about this, but I don't do that.

I'm backstage. I've graduated from that. Yeah. I'm not babysitting kids. Sorry. Been there, done that. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I was like, also you'll have Angela and Kathy and you know, Juan and sometimes PJ and Chris and Yeah. And so I was like, well, that's your crew, just so you know. Yep. Yeah. Yeah, cuz I don't know if she's kind of gotten that far down the path.

Right. I that's, that's doing great. Oh my gosh. The emails and everything are wonderful. All of the organization stuff, but yes, yes, yes. There's, there's some stuff. I don't know what she knows. Mm-hmm. So it was kind of like, here's information you need to know. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Also, I'm not. Fucking S we're true.

Exactly. Be clear. I've moved on. Might wanna check in on with Becky on that one, be like, I'm not doing Yeah, I think Becky is well aware. Yes, yes. I'll have our gifts. It's funny cuz I said that and then she came back. She was like, oh, right. Yeah, no, I, yeah. Okay. I got you. Yeah, I was just kinda like, Hey, I know you've seen a lot of parents this week, but Yeah.

Come on. Exactly. Look at the profile. Pick.

Anyway. Okay. Keep your voice and laughter down when you're in the green room in the dressing room. Oh, because we can hear you. The kids realize, cause you know they'll cluster, the littles will cluster right outside those double doors. Mm-hmm. Man, you can hear everything right on in there. I know it's hard sometimes.

They're sitting for a very long time, but that's important. Yeah. There's nothing worse about being the parent chaperone back there and you're telling 'em all to shut and they just look at you roll their eyes and they just, And they go right back to doing whatever they were doing. They, and they're totally full volume.

Yeah, yeah. No, I couldn't do it. I wouldn't last 20 minutes. These days I get to it used to. I know we did. I don't know, was I younger? Had more patience. That's what it is. Yeah. Covid made me a bit, I just had it too. Great. You're uping your bitch. Oh my gosh.

I'm like, I asked you to be quiet. And then I expected, yeah. Did you not hear me? I know you looked right at me. I felt like there was recognition of the words that I said to you. Exactly. And I was like, but quiet. And you were like, look at your eyes. You know? You're getting all bugged out just thinking about it.

I think like, I'm gonna have a stroke. I know. This is why I don't wanna do the kids. You not chaperone, need to be chaperone. No, I do not. Mm-hmm. No, it's hard enough not to, you know, say mommy words like, especially when you have children of your own. That No. When I say something, this is what I mean. Mm-hmm.

Right. That's the problem. Then you, that's the problem around other people, so. Right. I know, know. Do you have a different word? It's obvious I didn't raise you because if I had raised you, you wouldn't be like this. Right. Exactly. Exactly. And if their parents were here, hopefully they wouldn't be like this either.

Right. But you know, you never know. I'm sorry. Yeah. You not all parents said this. I'll tell you what. Yeah. The worst that gets me. And I know we're totally going off here, but we're just gonna go. That's what we do, is like when even the older kids, you ask them to do something and they just look at you.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And they just go and I'm like, yeah. Even kids who have been there for a while have had that happen six years old. Like, listen to what I'm saying here. Yeah. I had the headset on, like authority,

listen to me, you see your headset? It goes up. It goes down. I can talk in it. Yeah, it goes I can. It's a headset situation. I can Guys, guys, guys, these kids don't listen. Flip it back up. Oh Lord. What? Mercy. I know Kathy. Flip it back up. Shut it Kathy. They never listened. No. Did you hear me? They're not listening back up.

That's ok. I listen back up. When they get in front of the fly and it comes down on top of them, it's gonna be that learning experience flip. They're gonna get Juan in there, you know, they'll eventually listen. Figure it out darn quick. Oh Lord have mercy. So, yeah, so bless Becky because she's gonna handle all of that.

I am coordination of that. Yeah. Um, speaking of headsets, we can move into the backstage behaviors. Um, people who are on headsets mm-hmm. Headsets are meant for calls. Yes. For this. Actor's got a problem with this and we need help. It's not for making jokes and talking about what you're doing the chatter this week.

Yeah. The chatter. Cuz it's the chatter. It's actually very dangerous. Mm-hmm. Because I think that's, it's what happened with us hit there was people chattering and uhhuh. The flies couldn't hear and they thought they heard the word go, but they or somebody said, go. Who wasn't supposed to say go and the fly went and it was not good.

No. So, If you get to a place where you have a headset, headset's for business, it's not for no fun and games. And it's also not for holding people hostage and making them listen to you sing something that you were not cast to sing. Oh my God. Has that happened? Yes, it has happened. Oh my gosh. Like just because you have a headset doesn't mean you get to sit with it down and sing along.

Right? It's from the booth or whatever. No, the only person we should have it down is the person calling the show. Yes. And you should be calling the show not singing, right? No. Because that's specifically what I'm talking about. Call the show. Mm-hmm. Oh, wow. We're not here to listen to you sing it. Mm-hmm.

Yeah. No, it's, we'll need more details about that later. Need to know about this. Yeah. I mean, honestly, we joke around a lot, but it is very serious. Yeah. When you're on that. Yeah. If there's a bunch of chatter happening or whatever. Yeah. It, it can mask text. It does like text that needs to go through. Right.

Yes. You know, and people need to pay attention to the show. Mm-hmm. Like just because your part that you're helping out on that show at that point isn't happening at Right. Then you need to still pay attention because even though we've done it a million times this way, you should kind of get the timing.

Yeah. So if you're not paying attention and you hear the go, oh, must be me. Mm-hmm. Here comes the fly. No. If you had been paying attention, you would've known that that was way too early for that to have happened. Can you tell I'm a little bitter? Yeah. Yes. Or if you're paying attention, you might find the missing mustache stuck to your back of somebody's throat.

Oh my God. The mustache. That was so funny. That was really funny. What did they call him? That thing? It had a name. It had a name, but I don't remember. Felipe or something. We could not find him. And then all of a sudden, in the middle of a scene there, it was the back of the dress. A mustache. Yeah. Stuck to the back of her dress.

Just to throw this out there. Wigs and apparently sometimes mustache mustaches get a name. Yes. Yeah, the name will change, but usually you christen them with a name. Mm-hmm. When you get your wig. Oh, our girls need to name their wigs. I don't know. Yeah, I had, they need to, I haven't asked if Pinky has one in mind, but Yeah.

Well, Lily Kate. Names getting wigs, everything. So really, Anna's getting a wing too. Okay. Yeah. No wig. She's getting bangs and a braids. Um, don't eat or drink backstage. You shouldn't be eating or drinking in costume, but, Yeah, don't eat or drink. Sometimes I'll let them, if they have a coverlet, like something to put over them.

Right. But other than that, mm-hmm. Yeah. And then cast and crew. Shouldn't be talking backstage. A lot of times this happens, especially when you get like younger techs, they'll wanna be talking to their friends. Oh. And they should be paying attention to the show. Yes. Yeah. And that's makes people miss cues and it's disruptive to other people.

Or you're standing in the way when somebody needs to get on the stage. Correct. And so if you're not going on, you need to be in the dressing room or the green room while I'm talking. Don't hang out in the wings just to watch the show from the side. Mm-hmm. Exactly. You're just gonna get in the way. Yeah.

Yep. You're gonna be in the way and then safety's an issue. Yep. When you have tech rehearsals. So those are like dry tech and wet tech. Are you the one who told me that wet tech is not the right name for something? Somebody told me it's not dry tech and Okay. Nevermind. Maybe I couldn't bring in a bell, but I don't, yeah, why don't we call it, remember Met that bird?

It's not Right. Everybody does cuz I kind of searched it. I I'm gonna have Google that, but um, yeah, I feel this is ringing a bell. Um, it was when we did another one of these types of episodes. Mm-hmm. Uh, but I don't remember it now. Okay. We'll figure it out. But those days can be really long and you just have to be patient.

Yeah. Because those days are not about the actors, they're about the technicians is the lighting, right. Is the set piece. Yeah. As an actor, you've had the last two or three months mm-hmm. To get your self ready for this show. Right. But the texts only get a week. Right. That's a not a long time. I mean, at least in our experience.

Right. They get a week. Yeah. So if you, if you're in the middle of a scene and they call hold. You need to be present still. You need to be paying attention because the director might want you to move a few steps this way. And it gets really frustrating when they're not listening and you have to keep calling their names.

So just be patient. Mm-hmm. And pay attention. And if they say hold. It means stay where you are, right? Yes. Not run off the stage. Yeah. Not keep talking. Take your cell phone outta your pocket, not walk over to the so-and-so and have a discussion with them. Mm-hmm. No, this is called paper tech. It says sometimes dry tech is called paper tech.

Well, I think the thing was specifically about wet tech is not wet tech. It's just tech. It's just tech. Yeah. But every time I search it, wet tech comes up. So I don't know. Um, and then don't disrupt other people. So a lot of times during a dry tech or a wet tech No. Just during wet tech, the actors are sitting in the house or you know, they still need to be paying attention and get ready when their scene comes up.

Yeah. A lot of times you're running the whole show. Right. And don't distract other people who need to be getting up and, and moving. Mm-hmm. All right. Backstage drama. Oh man. Which there's always that, all the. Romances that occur in romance. I mean, these kids are always drama anyway. That's why they're in drama.

Drama. Exactly. Yes. But yes. So I'm gonna read this because I thought it was interesting. The way is worded when you're in a show. The theater becomes a tiny universe. Yes, it does. Remember, it's temporary and there is a real world outside the theater doors. I just crushed my soul. Oh, but it's true. I mean, you're all into this show for Yeah, two months, three months, and then it's gone.

Yeah. Yeah. So it's ripped away from that. I know. That's why you get the post show blues. Yeah, you do. Yeah. Yeah. You get all this adrenaline, you get all this. Yeah, yeah. You know, and everybody's a family. You're kind of a tight knit unit that you're spending a lot of time together. Your dopamine is on overtime.

Yeah, yeah. Because it's so much fun and you're having a great time and then it just, mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And don't, there shouldn't be any gossiping or talking about the person, how they're playing the character, what they did wrong. There's just no room for that, cuz all that does is create. Yeah. Yeah, problems.

It does create a lot of problems, and honestly, and you don't need it. One of the things I have enjoyed the most about my experience with our community theaters, mm-hmm. Plural is that you don't actually, there's always some of it, but you don't actually encounter all that much of it. Mm-hmm. Usually the kids are very supportive of one another.

Yes. Right? Yes. The only real drama that ever happens is people spending time doing things they ought not to be doing. Mm-hmm. Right, right. And then they miss cues and that kind of thing. Problems. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or the occasional actor who gives another actor notes, which is a no-no. Oh, it is a note if you are not a director.

Yes. You don't give notes. Mm-hmm. And our kids will be the first one to tell them. Yeah, don't, don't. You're giving that person note. Stop. Yeah. Well, and actually part of something I read said you should never accept notes from another actor. Yeah. I know. You should like just say, you know, this is not your job.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. It's totally so true. And the times that you ever, and you know, we've heard about this in regular Broadway too. We talked about when we had Hannah on. As those people that are dramatic and are negative like that don't tend to last long. They don't. That is very true. They will get me out. It's that whole, you're always on an audition thing.

Mm-hmm. We've said that a lot in our podcast and we hear it a lot from our guests. Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, I'm in the end. If you're kind of a jerk, nobody wants to work with you. Mm-hmm. Yep. And so therefore they don't. Yeah. No. It doesn't matter what level you're at. And Word travels community because the community is actually quite small.

It is very small, even from area to area. Mm-hmm. Like, you know. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So don't be a Dirk. Don't be a jerk, jerk. And don't gossip. I, you're there. You should wanna do everything you can do to help that show be a success and create that community and that family. Cuz that's what's gonna make a great show.

Mm-hmm. If you're gossiping or you're, you know, talking bad about other people, that's just, it's going against what you want. Yep. Um, props. It's not your, your shirt. My shirt? Yes. Is that your prop? I didn't think exactly. So yeah, two rules. Never move, borrow, or play with a prop. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And always check your props before the shell.

Mm-hmm. So if you. Have to set preset something somewhere. You need to make sure that prop is where it needs to be. If there's a prop somewhere, it was preset by somebody. Yes. Don't, and it's not your prop. Don't touch it. Yeah, don't touch it. Nope. Not at all. Not at all. Don't, don't be helpful in clean. When they come run off sea and they're looking for the thing they preset, now it's not there.

Right. You're gonna be like, oh, that's right. Oh, those cookies were a prop. I thought somebody left their snack out. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So don't touch props. Even if it's yours, you shouldn't be playing with it. No. Before a show, just No. Unless you're on the stage and it's never a bad idea to make sure your technicians know backstage, right?

Mm-hmm. That you have preset something. Yes. So they know not to move it too. Right. Because a lot of times I've made that mistake before. Yeah. I've found a prop that was preset on a piece that needed to go out. Oh, yeah. And I had to move it. I didn't have a choice. And then they came out looking for it, and I'm like, it's over on the prop table.

Mm-hmm. Because you put it on the table. I had to roll out three times between now and then. Yeah. That's the way it goes. You know? So we couldn't live there. Right. You need to find a new place for it. Yes. And the actors are ultimately responsible for their props. Yeah. Yes. As the stage crew, like we will do everything we can to help you and to preset whatever, but there needs to be communication about that.

Mm-hmm. Absolutely. We need to say, Hey, this is where I'm putting this. I will help you make sure that umbrella is where it needs to be. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. If you tell me ahead of time mm-hmm. I will take that responsibility, right? Yes. But there has to be communication. Don't ever assume. No. Yeah. We had an issue with that and a couple pasts.

We've come into a couple of shows before to to do stuff, and the actors had been handling it. Mm-hmm. And then suddenly, because texts were present, it was assumed that we would handle it. And it's like, what? We don't handle the props. That's your crap. Yeah. Right. Yeah, exactly. Unless we have talked about it.

Yeah. Sometimes it's not my job. Sometimes agreed upon it. Yeah. Put sugar in Sugar Bowl, they can't help it. Like they're having to run from one side of the stage to the other. They don't have time. You know, we'll have it ready for them. Yeah. We'll, we'll work with you, but it's ultimately your responsibility.

Yeah. It's not our, and if you should check that your prop is working properly, if it needs to before the show, and if something happens, you need to make sure mm-hmm. That the stage manager knows so it can be fixed before the next show. We don't remember if something broke on stage. You gotta make sure you communicate that.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yep. Or if you drop something on stage when you're coming off, tell us. Mm-hmm. Hey, I just dropped such and such. It's over there in the center. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah, that's actually a good point. If you are on stage and you see that something is there, that's not, normally there be a, what we call a smart actor.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And. Get it off the stage, pick it up. Mm-hmm. Do it enchant. Mm-hmm. Subtle way, you know, if you're in a dance and you could just kick it off. Right. Go for it. If you are, you know, able to, to bend over and grab it and stuff it in your pocket, you know, go for it. Yeah. Be subtle. Mm-hmm. But be a smart actor and try to help get that out of there because you know it's not supposed to be there.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, exactly. Jude was super helpful and shitty. We had a couple little Oh thing he would picking him up. Yeah. I'm like, did he just put that in his mouth? Like it was like, like a marble. Oh geez. Oh my God. Oh my. No, he sun right through it. Yeah. Oh, that's so danger, Chris. Remember that? Yeah. It was something and he just shoved it him out.

I was like, oh wow. Okay. Okay. Thanks Jude. I'm not sure I'd put it in my mouth. Yeah, that's, its great. I'm not sure I would recommend that. No, no, don't do that. It's, there's a lot of faith. You got pockets. Well, yeah. There's a lot of feet on that stage. You got bras, shove it in your bra. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know why he chose that mouth, but works.

That's so weird. You know? Yeah's so weird. All right. When you were in the performance, the actual performance, if you have one person in the audience, or you have 300 people in the audience, Everyone deserves the same show. Yes. Everyone deserves the same energy. And talk about that consistency Yes. Is key.

Right? Don't ever switch out. Right. So when you are those three months before it's showtime mm-hmm. That's your time to make changes. To try and tweak and make mm-hmm. Your role, your own. Mm-hmm. You get it, you know, the stamp of, of approval or whatever. Mm-hmm. From the director. And you move on. Once you get to Showtime, it is now locked in.

Mm-hmm. All of your decisions up to that point were yours to make. Yeah. With the director approval, but once you hit that spot, those were approved. Anything you do from that point on is not approved. No. Don't, don't change anything unless you talk with the director and you guys have decided to change something.

Right. But don't make not on your own. It does happen. Yeah, it does. Yeah. Like sometimes in, um, in Chitty, him and his team partner, they made lots of little tweaks and stuff to be funny, but they. PJ always ran everything. Mm-hmm. Yeah. By the director. Yeah. Like, Hey, did that go okay? Did you like that? I can do it this way next time.

You know, because you might have a great idea, but Right. You have to get it approved. Absolut never make changes and a lot of times on the last performance, people start getting real silly and wanted, you know? Yeah. Adlib hard not to wanna do something real funny that, you know, I've, I've seen this happen too, where, um, I think it was like during Beauty and the Beast mm-hmm.

There was a picture. Oh yes. That was, was that, was that one of the ones? Well, practical jokes are not appropriate. Yes. So go ahead and tell that story. Well, okay. I, I mean, I think I remember it anyway. So somebody had put a different picture. Picture. It was just On's picture. Yeah. And they changed it, right?

They took, they put like a different picture in there or something. I can't remember that. Or they hid it in the castle like where it wasn't supposed to be. So they would see it when they were doing a scene. It was something Oh, it was something like that, I think. Yeah. Yeah. So they were practical joking, which is really not appropriate.

Yeah, it's not appropriate. Cause then they can throw the actor off, they could, you know, miss their line or something like that, so. Yeah. Yeah. It's hard when, like you said, it's the last show and you're wanting to like, yeah, just you wanna have, I don't know, like a good time with it. Right. You know, you've been doing it for however many weeks, right?

But the first audience should see the same show was the last audience. Absolutely. Don't make changes. All right. Um, wait a minute, I'm missing my heading. Oh, behavior. Okay. Was on the wrong page. A lot, a lot of papers there. All right. I know. Not etiquette. Be courteous. Always say please and thank you much.

Just life. Okay. Yeah. But. It's especially important to your technicians. Sometimes actors come in and don't always treat technicians. Yeah. With the respect that they deserve. So you need to be on good behavior and use your manners and everything. Mm-hmm. With your technicians. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, hold on. Just to add to that, while you're looking at your page there mm-hmm.

Like, uh, sometimes your technicians are also actors. Mm-hmm. Yeah. They understand what it's like to be on stage. Don't act like a diva. No. And like you're better than they are. Mm-hmm. Exactly. We're all the same. And it takes all of us to put that show on. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And just because I was willing to be somebody pushing out a table this time.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. It doesn't mean, doesn't mean I'm many less than you. Right. Or the fact that I'm tying your shoes for you. Mm-hmm. Or, or helping you with a quick change closet. Yes. Don't be a diva. No. Yeah. Keep it together. Yeah. Just respect, be kind. Yeah. When the stage manager or whoever is calling, you know, 15 to places, 10 to places you should respond with.

Thank you. 15. Thank you. 10. So that they know that you heard them. Yes, because it happens over and over again. Well, I didn't hear the call when you know they missed their cue. Oh, nobody told me that last time. I'll say right to your face and if you don't tell me thank you, 15. I'm like, okay, we're good.

It'll drive me crazy. I'll keep saying it. I'm sorry. I walk in the dressing room and I'll say, tend to places and nobody will say a word. I'm like, anybody hear me? Thank you. 10. Yeah. Yeah. We really need, should be responding. Yeah. With enthusiasm that I heard you. It's like one person who said it, but there's a little cluster mm-hmm.

Of people over there that I know aren't paying attention. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Hey, did you hear me? Because I know you didn't reply. Right, exactly. Sometimes I wanna just let them miss their cue. To be like, I told you so, but I know you gotta, it's hard. Not wanna have that learning experience. Yes, yes. But the nine times outta 10, they're still not gonna take accountability for it.

Right. You didn't tell me my fault. I did tell you. Yeah. When you get to like pre-show, you're waiting your, you know, call time is five 30. Show starts at seven and your stage manager says, all right, get in costume, come to mic check. You need to be in costume when you come to mic check. Yeah. Yes. It means everybody.

Yeah. This is one of the weirdest things I see. And they've been there for 45 minutes. I know. Yeah. What hell have you been doing? I've, I've, I've been in a lot of shows or participated in a lot of shows where mic check, they come out and they're just putting it on and holding it. Yes. And the thing is, is that mic was checked with it at that position.

Mm-hmm. You're now going to take it off and put it back on and instead of it being right here, it's now back here. Right. Or up here. And that completely changes. Mm-hmm. The way that, that sound is level and now your, your sound technician is having to rebalance. Right. And make tweaks and change. They're making their jobs better.

Mm-hmm. And now the audience is having to hear, you know, that person at a different volume than it was intended. Mm-hmm. Yep. They're not mixed. Right. Right. Yep. And it's all because you didn't do what you needed to do. Exactly. Yeah. And just put your costume mind, I don't understand. Yeah. What the world you're to put on a show.

Well, and I think that that goes back to it, right? Mm-hmm. Like how we said in, in part one, it's you're there for the theater. Right. If you keep in mind that that's what you're there for. Yeah. And you're not there to be TikTok and you're not there to be. You know, hanging out with socializing with friends and talking about what happened.

School making a TikTok that day, that's my favorite. When they capture, oh, excuse me, can you move? Cuz I'm making a TikTok. I'm like, what? Yeah. No, could not. No, I can't. I don't know. I've seen some really funny ones though. Well, I know they're great. There was some really good ones from Into the woods. Yeah.

Yeah, the whole cast did a couple of those. Yeah. They were cute. Yeah. Anyway, don't do it. Okay. After rehearsals or run through or something, your director and your stage manager are gonna give notes. Mm-hmm. All right. When you get a note from your director, Be courteous about it. You may not like it, but you need to say thank you.

Okay, thank you. I understand no attitude. Right? And it's not your time to like dive into your character and have a conversation with the director. It's, that's not what that time is for. This is what I need you to do. If you have, you know, questions or something, you can come to the director later because there's a lot of notes to be given and other people are waiting.

Yeah. Especially if there's a big cast, like Right. A lot of kids shows tend to be very big casts. Yes. And um, oh shoot. I've had a brain fart. Oh man, those are the worst. Woo. It's a big one, chap. Hold on, I'm talking about notes. Oh, pay attention. Yes, I know. Oh my gosh. Like they'll be talking, they'll say, you know, this ensemble group, we need you to do this.

And they're all talking to each other, playing on their phone. We're playing on their phone or on their tablet, babysitters or whatever, and they don't do it right the next night because they weren't paying attention. Mm-hmm. The only time you should be on your phone is if you're actually taking the note on your phone.

Yeah. Otherwise, if they're not talking to you, your phone needs to be way, you need to be quiet and listening. And the expectation from the director is that I'm giving you a note once. Mm-hmm. Right, right. They do not wanna have to give the same note over night, after night. They will remember that next time casting comes around like, Hey, that person auditioned really well, but you know what?

They completely did not pay attention to any guidance that I was giving. You know? Right. Mm-hmm. Or they continually changed. The performance once it was supposed to be locked in. Right? Yes. That is another thing I know they'll make note of and remember for the next time. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But it's all kind of that same thing.

Yeah. It's like I gave you notes before, right? Mm-hmm. And then, you know. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And that goes back to having your, your script so that you might need to make a note in your script, you know, at this place, I need to do this. Yeah. Come through portal. So if you, it's a lot to have to remember. It is, but like, you know, be prepared so that you can have a fighting chance of remembering it.

Yeah. I mean, imagine in a perfect world where every actor was doing what they were supposed to be doing at the time they were supposed to be doing that they were paying attention and doing their It's beautiful, harmonious show they could put on. Yeah, that'd be wonderful. That would be, yes. I'm not sure it's ever gonna happen up in our tower right now.

I gotta, I gotta jump off my high horse. Gimme a minute. Gotta dismount. Especially considering you and I have never even, I know, never been. Wait minute. We buble bumble. We had to take a note. We took notes. We took notes. We did notes. Actually. And we did quite well. Yeah, they were, they were taped to the back of Bumble.

Yeah, they were. Because I didn't know what to do. Wait, no, this isn't because we go over here. Yeah, no, your notes wrong. Your notes wrong. No.

Yeah. Constantly be telling Kathy what to do. Okay, now Kathy. Go, go. Get down. Get down. We're falling. Shut it. I know what to do. I appreciated the direction, uh, you know. I like it. I have to make decisions all day long, so I'm cool. When I go to push you around the theater, just tell me what to, I'll tell you what to do.

Oh my gosh. Yeah. There's a lot goes that goes into making a show. Yeah. A lot of moving pieces, a lot of blood, sweat. Was that all your notes? Yeah, that's my notes. All right, cool. That's our etiquette. Yeah. And always ask questions. Mm-hmm. Do you ever have, you know, you're not quite sure, ask a question. Yes.

But don't ask questions that don't relate to what is being talked about. Oh, well, right. Yeah, for sure. For sure. Yeah. Or. When it's like something very personal to you that the rest of the cast doesn't need to hear. Not like a personal matter, but just something about your character or something that, that the rest of the people don't, doesn't need the whole group.

Right. Doesn't need to take their time. That's not for the good of the group. Right. Yeah. Make a special time. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Do a one-on-one. All right. If you wanna succeed and get recast, then follow these little etiquette rules and they'll notice you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally. Be nice. Mm-hmm. All right. Kind be better.

Yeah. Big good little people. All right, we'll, we'll check in after Frozen and see. Yeah. And Mary Pop and see if you know how that the, the experience went. Yes. See if anybody participate. Applied some of this knowledge. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And when they don't, we're gonna say they didn't watch the podcast. I know.

I, I think, I feel like we need to get some like business cards printed out for drama mamas and just be like, you might, you might need to listen to that episode six. This was for you, this for you. You're the person we're talking about. That's a great idea. I mean, it's kind of a dick move to do it that way's a dick move to sit there and talk in the middle of a show.

Yeah. Maybe I'll leave a blank. I'll leave a ba a blank line so you can just write episode number six. Yeah. Title theater, or whatever episode this is. I don't know what a number we're on. It's 26, 27. Somewhere in there. Yeah. This will probably be 27, I think. So. Episode 27. Okay. Can you believe we've done 27?

No, I, I cannot. I think that's where we're at. Yeah. No, I believe it. I just, Ugh. Can't, yeah, I can't believe it. Mm-hmm. I know. It's been having so much fun. I know. We have a lot coming up. We do. So we have plenty to talk about. Yes, we do. Yeah. Once we get on the flip side of Frozen and Mary Poppins. Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Which we may need to try and eek out another recording. Yeah. Between now and then, but like Yeah. We'll figure it out. Yeah. Yep. We'll figure it out and then we'll be sliding in an email in summer. Yeah. Margaritaville sometimes. Yes. And Margaritaville. Yeah. Yeah. I, it's funny cuz like they used to play, uh, Jimmy Buffett music.

All through the Key West area of SeaWorld when I worked out there. Oh yeah? Mm-hmm. And so when I didn't work there anymore, like I went for years and I was like, I cannot stand Jimmy Buffet. You're like, I don't wanna hear anymore. Yeah. For like years. Like probably a good decade. And uh, it kind of came back around and I was like, okay, yeah.

Now I associate Jimmy Buffet music with like going on a cruise or whatever. Cuz like that's how you always hear it, you know. Now I'm, I'm preparing myself to also not like Jimmy Buffet. I know like three months it takes me back to college. It was super popular when I was in college. Okay. A lot of buffet being cleaned.

Mm-hmm. Lots of parrot heads. Yeah. We'd drive over to Daytona Beach and you know, smoke some weed and No, I did not smoke weed. People around me were smoking weed. You were getting a concert high. I was like, that's in New York. Oh, geez. Yeah. And my first day of Matthews concert. Oh yeah. Oh man. The first smoke played and it was like smoke cloud, like I can't even see.

Did you see it over in Tampa, in that amphitheater? Yeah, that's where we saw him too. Mm-hmm. Uh, I don't know, a few years back, but I had never seen him before. Mm-hmm. They, wow. It was shocking. A lot of weed smoking on that. It was, I was like, holy moly. Yeah. I was like, what? People hangs they were probably enjoying it too.

You they had a great time. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. I guess that's the way to enjoy his music. I, I enjoy it without that, I, yeah. I thought it was pretty good too. What do I know? Yeah. Not doing it right. I, I mean, I haven't done it it the other way. Maybe, maybe Matthew's etiquette get high and listen to my music.

Maybe. I don't know. Or Jimmy Buffet. We just need to, uh, drink some margaritas. Mm-hmm. Well, uh, L CT is planning, I don't know. Um, you know, the particulars of, hopefully they will do it, but they're gonna do an after. Tasting. Oh, margaritas. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know who's running it or how it's gonna happen or how much it'll be or anything yet.

Mm-hmm. But, yeah. Yeah, because that's in July. I'm not a big fan of margaritas. Uh, what's the alcohol in those? It's got tequila, so that's more of a I'm good. I'm good with it's, yeah. I'm a little, yeah. A girl there was like sour. Yes. But with tequila. I've never had a pina clot. I don't care. Yeah. I'm not a big rum drinker.

I've never really liked it. Malibu is like my jam. Oh, okay. I can't put anything with some mouth. Speaking of college, speaking of gold, well I love, I dunno, we did a lot of boons. I shake a lot of boons farm. Oh goodness. Is that, what is that? It's like a cheap, cheap, cheap wine. It's like $3 bottle of wine.

Yeah. Was it a bottle though, or it It was a bottle, like boxed wine. It was a bottle and one bottle of that would. You're good. Do all kinds of things too. Taste it like you need a colon cleanse. Yeah. All sort. Oh gosh. You know, Chris's eyes and we're back to poop. That feels like a good place to end It.

Always About poop. Poop, yeah. Oh my goodness. Anyway, so yeah, so stick with us. We got a lot of other fun stuff coming on. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Some good interviews. Plenty of future poop stories, I'm sure. Oh, plenty of, oh, never a shortage of poop stories. No. Never. No, not when you're working. Kid shows anyway. Oh. Oh no.

Let's hope there's no vomit this time around. Can we try? Oh yeah, that's right. Last show. That was rough. Yeah. I don't do vomit. Yeah, let's hope. And to throw away a whole costume. Yeah. Because if you vomit on your costume, it's You're done trash. Yeah. Well, they're not really usually cleaning friendly. No, no.

Nobody else can wear it, especially steamed or dry cleaned or whatever, depending on what it is. Yeah, absolutely. But obviously doesn't take home a walk if you vomit at the. It. You know, if you're sick and you have a stomach bug or whatever, clearly you're not gonna be there because you're sick and those germs spreads.

That's, you know, well, that's actually excellent etiquette. Yes. Yeah. To add to your list. Yes. If you are sick, stay, stay home. And this isn't, I mean, I know we're living in this post covid world, and so every, it's gotten a lot more, um, expected that that's how you handle it. But like, honestly, if you're sick, nobody needs that.

And with the tight quarters at a theater, Everybody will end up sick if you come. Mm-hmm. And you can wipe out the entire cast and completely derail a show from actually happening if you send your sick child into the show. Yeah. Yes. So rehearsal or whatever, like they, if they're sick, stay home. Yes. And I mean, like stay home until they're, well, yeah, we don't want diarrhea.

We don't want any of that stuff. Keep it home. Yeah. I'm sorry if you're trying, I know it's just a stomach bug. No, just. Just keep 'em up, and then we'd rather them get rest and get better and hydrate and then come back the next day. Right. Yeah. Ready to go. Because if we lose people, we can't do that. Mm-hmm.

And if you vomit on your costume, you can't wear it again, and then, then, then you're done. Yeah, exactly. Then you're done, which is exactly how that went. You'll exit left very quickly. Yes. So anyway. All right. We did wrap. Yep. No wrap. All right guys, well, we'll see you next time. Audios.