Interference and 'jobsworthness'

[paulears]

I got called to one side by the head dresser who told me that she was concerned that my ASM carrying out the Foy flying was creating a serious safety issue. The scene was this. A dancer, clipped up was waiting to be flown. The elevation rope was in the hands of the ASM, as the dancer was on the ground there wasn't any tension on the rope, and in this particular Foy install, there isn't a counterbalance shot bag in the system. The ASM simply walked downstage in the wings to talk to one of the turns. This I was told, was a safety issue. I enquired on what grounds was this statement based on? "The rope could get tangled" was the answer. I pointed out that letting it dangle free was more likely to cause this problem, and there are no obstructions it could foul on, and I considered his actions perfectly safe as no person was being supported. She wasn't happy at all and told me she will take it further. My show reports this year are full of complaints by the venue and band - amazing! I don't tell wardrobe when they let a hem drop or rush a change - I don't tell the musicians how to play, yet they seem to think it is their duty to complain about everything under the sun - somehow expecting me to actually do something about it? Most of the staff here are simply great - really helpful and friendly - but some seem to eat a rule book for breakfast each day. I can't alter the lighting cues as I wish to for all manner of technical reasons which I know are totally made up - it's run from a 500 series Strand and I could do it myself in just a few minutes. What is the problem? Copying a sequence to another place so it happens twice. Plenty of ways to do this - however, I've had all sorts of reasons why we shouldn't do it, and to be honest, I'm fed up and really don't want the hassle of forcing them to do it. It appears to be my fault somebody in the house crew left something sticking out which bashed one of the wardrobe people in the head. Quite what this person was doing at that location, in the dark, I don't know - but it's my fault. The trumpet player just told me he that when he plays the last note in the end of Act 1 music, he breathes in snow. I've told him not to play the last note - he went away happy.

 

Is this just happening to me? I really hope this isn't a trend that's developing - I've always had a few whiners everywhere I go, but here it seems kind of institutionalised.

[Ynot]

A sad reflection of everyday life.

 

CYA and risk assessment to death.

 

It's always SEF (coining the HHGTTG SEP) - Somebody else's fault.

 

Re the LX changes.... Would the board op notice if you snuck in during the day and modified the cues...?

Re the dresser... WTF is she doing worrying about dancers anyway???

Re the wardrobe person and the banged head - suggest you offer to sue the individual for potential damage to the set, and add a claim for possible theft of materials.. After all, they probably walked away with a splinter belonging to the venue, right?? :)

As for the trumpeter... If he's breathing IN snow when PLAYING a note, I reckon he's doing something wrong....!!

 

:) :P :D

 

/tongue in cheek/

[lightsource]

Is this just happening to me? I really hope this isn't a trend that's developing - I've always had a few whiners everywhere I go, but here it seems kind of institutionalised.

 

I assume that here refers to the whole UK :) . Unfortunately they've been crawling out of the woodwork for a few years now. :D . Mostly due to peoples inability to think for themselves in a logical manner.

 

It's sort of like a real life zombie film, but they don't go away when you shoot them in the head :P

[AndrewR]

Maybe its just a sign of people who have been in the same venue for too long? :)

 

I believe that some people can become quite unreasonable after too many years.... (nothing to do with age, just finally running out of patience with things and becoming grumpy)

 

Oh, and maybe the opp doesn't want to change the show out of fear of b*ggering it all up, but doesn't want to admit it. :P

[GridGirl]

She wasn't happy at all and told me she will take it further.

 

I think in this case I'd tend to be extremely over-helpful; if it were me, I'd phone up whoever you're dealing with from Foys, let them know what the situation is, then give the head dresser their phone number and tell her to talk to them about it, with a suggestion that if she won't take your word for it, maybe she should speak to the experts. Hopefully this ends in the dresser being told to stop interfering in things she knows nothing about...

[Modge]

It's sort of like a real life zombie film, but they don't go away when you shoot them in the head :)

Oh I'm sure they would :) , just try it and see. In fact did the character in Zombie films ever do an RA for shooting poeple in the face? Could really hurt some one like that.

 

Actaully I think it just makes people feel better. Say you've noticed something someone is doing is unsafe and clearly you're better than them. Not like it's never happened on this forum....

[pete LD]

She wasn't happy at all and told me she will take it further.

 

I love people that "take it further" Where do they take it to? You never here of it again so what happens when they take it? It does sound like your having a panto season to forget!

Pete

[bruce]

In my day job, if someone threatens to "take it further", I find the best response is to reply "Feel free to do so. The best person to talk to would be my line manager, his name is ...., would you like his phone number?"

 

They very rarely take up the offer.

[lamps galore]

...and all whilst keeping a smile on your face!

[Ike]

She wasn't happy at all and told me she will take it further.

Maybe a brief explanation of the story of the boy who cried wolf. Explain that by complaining about things for the sake of it she is unlikely to be listened to if she did spot a serious problem and is therefore potentially endangering the health and safety of cast, crew and punters by doing so. Of course you can vary how condescending, sarcastic or tactful you are depending on the situation. If that fails there's always the shotgun.

[w/robe]

Re the dresser... WTF is she doing worrying about dancers anyway???

 

If I saw something which I thought was dangerous I would certainly mention it to the Production Manager whether or not it was anything to do with my department. Theatre is such a collaborative process that all of us pick up knowledge about other areas and if I thought something was dangerous and did not mention it then I would feel that I was negligent and could not live with myself if anything happened. In this particular case surely it is better to have the ASM and dancer standing together rather than the rope being trailed down the wing so that the ASM can go for a chat. I don't feel that she deserves the wrath of the BR being heaped upon her for pointing this out through the proper channels.

 

Having said that once I had expressed my opinion I would certainly not threaten to 'take it further' it is then up to the Production Manager to deal with.

 

In my day job, if someone threatens to "take it further", I find the best response is to reply "Feel free to do so. The best person to talk to would be my line manager, his name is ...., would you like his phone number?"

 

They very rarely take up the offer.

 

When this happened to me recently I gave them a list.

 

"I'm sorry you feel like that you would need to talk to the Production Manager, who is my boss" knowing full well he would agree with me ".. and if you are not happy with his decision you'll need to talk to the Chief Executive." Who probably has better things to do with his time than talk about your bra.

 

Edited for spelling

[Just Some Bloke]

There is a big difference between pointing something out as unsafe and complaining.

 

If I saw something I thought to be unsafe I would certainly point it out, as I would feel bad if someone got hurt when I could have avoided it. But there's a huge difference between saying "I'm not sure how safe it is moving downstage with a flying rope in your hand. Have you thought what might happen if the rope got caught?" and complaining to the SM and threatening to take it further, having ignored what he had to say. Actually, in this case I agree with Paul: can't see the problem. Obviously I wasn't there, but given the info we have to hand there shouldn't have been any safety worry.

 

The practice of complaining first and going quiet later if proved wrong does seem to be on the increase. Bring back the practice of the "quiet word in someone's ear" when something seems amiss. Why can't we all just discuss things rather than complain about them? Grr. :blink:

 

Anyway,

"I'm sorry you feel like that you would need to talk to the Production Manager, who is my boss" knowing full well he would agree with me ".. and if you are not happy with his decision you'll need to talk to the Chief Executive." Who probably has better things to do with his time than talk about your bra.

Where did that bra come in?

Have you had a complaint about an item of lacy underwear recently?

Seems freudian to me! :(

[w/robe]

There is a big difference between pointing something out as unsafe and complaining.

 

Bring back the practise of the "quiet word in someone's ear" when something seems amiss. Why can't we all just discuss things rather than complain about them? Grr. :blink:

 

I guess I'm fortunate enough to have recently only worked with Production Managers who are also friends so I can say if I think there is a problem and they can tell me to go away, or possibly agree with me, without it being an issue.

 

Anyway,

"I'm sorry you feel like that you would need to talk to the Production Manager, who is my boss" knowing full well he would agree with me ".. and if you are not happy with his decision you'll need to talk to the Chief Executive." Who probably has better things to do with his time than talk about your bra.

Where did that bra come in?

Have you had a complaint about an item of lacy underwear recently?

Seems Freudian to me! :(

 

It's a tough job but someone has got to do it.