Step One: Packing

Now, this hardly seems like the highlight of a theatre experience. But it is. Honest.

Not only am I packing for a month long trip, I'm packing to work in multiple professional theatres, of which I have no idea what to expect.

I need my Stage Manager's Bag. That's a given. It has all my tools and precautionary elements. I called Delta Airlines, and they said it would be fine to go through baggage check. So that's settled. One bag down.

But, clothing? Shoes? Linens? Miscellaneous supplies? Here comes the fun part.

I stared thinking back to what I wore at SVSU.

Er...whatever I felt like. I mean, close toed, comfortable shoes - working theatres and lifts and the like are dangerous in other shoes. Long days suck if your shoes aren't comfortable. But...tank tops, basketball shorts, jeans, t-shirts...whatever. I always knew the green room would be open if I wanted to eat or get some water. I could break whenever I wanted. I could stop and go home if I forgot something. It's pretty laid back. 

Now, any normal person would just go with this and pack that stuff. Water bottle since there's not a said "green room." Money for food. But clothing wise, whatever. But me, I worry. I worry that I need to pack "the right clothes." I want to look professional and prepared. 

Susie Preuter said, "work hard, play hard."

I checked the orientation packet. It said plan for hot weather, but plan to be professional. No spaghetti straps, no vulgar images or sayings. Also, bring stage blacks. 

I called the production office. They said sleeve length and pant length didn't matter for stage blacks. As long as they weren't tank tops and shorty-shorts. 

My M.E. emailed me. He said work "shoes/boots." Various tools, which I already had planned for . Stage blacks, and a water bottle. 

Okay, so clothing. I left the basketball shorts at home. I planned for cargo shorts or jean shorts and capris. "Real clothes" as my mom would say. And t-shirts. Comfortable things, easy to work in, lightweight. Got all the bases covered. My biggest worry then became the shoes. "Work shoes/books." I don't have work boots. I don't really need them, nor can I afford them. So I had my black tennis shoes that I always wear in the theatre. And I bought some similar brown ones. I mean, they aren't thick soled, hard toed, heavy duty work shoes. But they are comfortable, closed toed shoes to work in that will protect my feet. Worst case scenario, I will buy new shoes in South Carolina, right? Right. 

Finally, I just started packing. I made a checklist and put stuff in my suitcase and checked things off as I went. I had to take things out - pack for less days and plan for more laundry, but everything fit. The hardest thing was packing my own blankets and towels (staying in a dorm instead of a hotel kind of throws that mean wrench in there). But it worked out, luckily.

Now, all of this seems kind of trivial. Which shoes to pack. How does that matter?

But when you think about it, what happens in the real world? You have a dress code for your job. Certain pieces are required - they are your "uniform." You might need dress clothes for an office, or real work boots for construction. Getting the right things to wear and prepare with means a lot in the business world.

The theatre scene is pretty laid back at SVSU...is it like that everywhere? Does it really not matter what you wear, as long as you are ready t get through a day of hard work? Because if that's the case, I'm ready. And honestly, that's probably the answer. But I over-think and I worry and I want to fit in with the crowd down there. 

So, long story short, working around the rant on the difficulties of packing, my first lesson will be dress codes in a professional theatre. I always think about the clothes first. Priorities, right?

Step two: STOP WORRYING. Just go with the flow. If I show up with all the wrong things, I'll buy new things and UPS the other things back to Michigan, right? Right. They picked me for a reason - they think I can handle it. So I can handle it. End of story. Besides, it's the work I do and the things I learn that count, not the clothes I wear or the things I show up with. So I'm a heavy packer and I have a clothing fettish. I accept it. Aside from that, I work hard in the theatre and I'm ready to have the time of my life doing it professionally. Accept it. 

Next on the list: 

Fly to South Carolina

Check in to work on time

Dive in to the world of Stage Electrics

Work in some lessons on Stage Management

Go through the experience with me here, at South Carolina, Please.