Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish

[winston89]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#1

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:13pm

So I just came out of the Neil Simon box office, getting a student rush ticket. When I was walking in, it looked as if they were still loading things in. Now I'm wondering, is it uncommon for shows to still load in a few hours before the first preview? It seems to me that if they are still loading in that they have yet to tech the show. Should I be concerned?

"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll

[Visceral_Fella]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#2

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:14pm

They may have been getting things cleaned. Remember this had an out of town try out, so they may have recycled some set pieces for tech, had them cleaned on their off day, and are now loading them in permanently.

[Jon]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#2

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:21pm

Exactly - repairs or paint touch-ups.

[winston89]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#3

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:24pm

So I take it I shouldn't worry and that this is me being my usual worrying self? I mean, I do expect hiccups here and there since I am attending a first preview, but I didn't expect anything like what I saw lol.

"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll

[StickIt]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#4

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:29pm

Was there an invited dress last night?

[Jordan Catalano]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#5

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:30pm

You should probably freak the fvck out and punch your fist through the box office window and grab whoever is there by the nose and pull them out through the glass shard lined opening, dragging them into the theatre demanding that they point out to you exactly what was in those boxes and how it will be used in the show and if they can't, then it's not your fault that you're going to have to scalp them to make the point that its unprofessional and just downright SCARY to load or unload items on the day of the show.

And post it on YouTube, please.

[LizzieCurry]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#6

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:31pm

When I saw the first preview of the Book of Mormon (tour in SF), they still had several set pieces in the lobby at about 1. The show was at 7. You'll probably be fine.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

Updated On: 9/5/13 at 02:31 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#7

Posted: 9/5/13 at 2:40pm

Well, the thread title is a bit confusing. Wouldn't you rather be told that it is common and, therefore, not a concern?

Why exactly did you see being moved?
During tech, the front of house is often filled with dozens of tech tables and equipment, some of which has to be moved backstage before an audience is allowed in. You also have the road boxes used by much of the crew as work stations during tech.
You also may or may not have set pieces being moved in and out, if the producers spend the money and time, that may be cut, added, or altered..
Hypothetically, maybe it WAS a new piece. But why would it have to be teched? Is it automated? Then yes, it needs to be programmed, run multiple times, checked for safety, etc. Is it a manually moved set piece that is not potentially dangerous? Then they would have been using a rehearsal version of the piece, know exactly how big it is and where itw ill go and they expect the cast to be professional - they would have a call for the cast to check out the piece, move it, etc before the house opens and the show goes on.
Cute a few "new" things - especially in previews - materialize before a performance and the cast has to go on without spending hours upon hours with it.

[bwayphreak234]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#8

Posted: 9/5/13 at 3:03pm

I walked by the Neil Simon a few weeks ago, and they were loading in. Based on the quick glimpse I got through the loading doors, they already had the deck installed and were programming lights. They also had tons of set pieces crammed into the lobby. This was a few weeks ago. I imagine they are settled and loaded in. They might have just been rearranging set pieces and/or cleaning.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

[suestorm]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#9

Posted: 9/5/13 at 3:07pm

i saw the opposite. I walked by the St James...i saw them LOADING tons of equipment onto the trucks from LETITBE. ALways sad to see that.

FINDINGNAMO, SNAFU, THEATERDIVE, JORDANCATALONO, LIZASHEADBAND, PALJOEY: You all claim to "IGNORE ME" I wish you would and stop constantly commenting on my posts. Thanks ...................................................................................................................................... The MOST POPULAR and DANGEROUS Poster on BWW! Banned by the PTA, PTC and the MEANGIRLS of BWW..................................................................................................................... ...Ukraine Girls really knock me out, they leave the west behind..........................

[Tag]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#10

Posted: 9/5/13 at 3:23pm

Could have been something like boxes of dry cleaning (wardrobe) or even Front of House loading in their own stuff (merch, bar food, bathroom supplies, etc.)
Updated On: 9/5/13 at 03:23 PM

[oasisjeff]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#11

Posted: 9/5/13 at 3:28pm

When I had tickets for the second preview of Footloose (don't judge me!), it ended up being the first preview because the load in was a problem the day before and they had to postpone...

Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.

[Mister Matt]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#12

Posted: 9/5/13 at 3:49pm

This is the reason bomb shelters were built in the 40s.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[Schuyler]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#13

Posted: 9/5/13 at 4:04pm

I am working on the show, load in is OVER, we are in production now. It is called getting ready for previews.

[tazber]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#14

Posted: 9/5/13 at 4:23pm

First world problem.

....but the world goes 'round

[GavestonPS]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#15

Posted: 9/5/13 at 7:12pm

I was once at the Miami International Airport unloading Act II set pieces after the curtain had already risen on Act I of FIDDLER. It was probably the one time the union members not only allowed me to help unload but thanked me later.

Stuff happens.

If you are attending the first preview of any show, you should assume that some parts have not been rehearsed/teched thoroughly. If that isn't part of the fun for you, wait until the following week.

Updated On: 9/5/13 at 07:12 PM

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#16

Posted: 9/5/13 at 9:51pm

Okay, I'll say it: "I CAN'T, WE'RE IN TECH!!"

[ClumsyDude15]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#17

Posted: 9/6/13 at 4:14am

On the afternoon of Ghost first preview, they were loading things in.

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

[veronicamae]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#18

Posted: 9/6/13 at 7:41pm

What is there to be concerned about, really? That something may go wrong? Unless you're seeing Spider-Man, I don't think it's a threat to your person, so other than a "rough" performance, I don't think there's anything for you to be worried about. :)

[Jane2]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#19

Posted: 9/6/13 at 8:07pm

"shoiuld I be concerned?"

only if you're carrying the boxes.

i mean really, concerned about what?

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

[PalJoey]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#20

Posted: 9/6/13 at 8:10pm

Worry.

Please worry.

[logan2]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#21

Posted: 9/8/13 at 9:59pm

Omigod, GavestonPS, that is the coolest story! Tell us more!

[millie_dillmount]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#22

Posted: 9/9/13 at 6:29am

Yes, what exactly is there to be concerned about? If you're so concerned, then why bother going to a preview performances where issues are subject to arise?

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

[GavestonPS]

Please tell me that what I saw is not common at Big Fish#23

Posted: 9/9/13 at 6:10pm

GavestonPS, that is the coolest story! Tell us more!

There isn't much more to tell. Fortunately, Zero Mostel had padded the show so thoroughly with schtick that the trucks made it to the theater just in time to load in Act II during intermission.

Then after the performance, Zero Mostel whacked me several times with his cane because I didn't know where to find the best motzo ball soup in Miami Beach. (A nice WASP boy should know from motzo?)

It was a long day. (No, I wasn't injured. He probably thought he was funny.)

(Note: it's hard to imagine how much freedom we were given at airports in those pre-9/11 (mostly pre-hijacking) days. Driving trucks right into the cargo area wasn't uncommon in the mid-70s, since they dealt with us regularly.)



Updated On: 9/9/13 at 06:10 PM