We're down to the semifinals, y'all!
In the Soup Bowl we've got Paper vs Headset. These two teams are useless without your input, but incredibly powerful in the right hands. Oddly enough, they're also two of the few items that the stage manager is rarely expected to provide for themselves.
Paper's many forms and uses were on display in the quarterfinals as its "thousand cuts" offense brought Gaff Tape to its knees. Flexible, inexpensive, organic and ever the symbol for both frustration and inspiration, Paper has been our unexpected little wood-pulp that could throughout the tournament. However, the stage managers who dislike being seen as paper pushers may be put off by its ongoing popularity and throw their support behind its new competitor.
Headsets were proven two rounds back to base their strength in their ability to save lives. The power switch posse will undoubtedly be out in force to support the electronic team here. With its rock star image it's easy to support. A vote for Headset is a vote for the communicative aspect of the stage manager's job. However, in the wrong hands headsets can destroy a career. From missed cues and overheard gossip to from short leashes to hot plugs, the headset is not without its perils.
Both can be subtle and vicious depending on the situation. Neither is fully irreplaceable, but one could, under duress, get through a show without them. The question, though, is which one is better?
The match runs through midnight CST on Friday.