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« on: Nov 20, 2008, 02:23 am »
Usually after I call places and head up to the booth, I do a role call on headset. My ASM will be checking that all the actors who enter in the first couple of minutes are ready to go, and when I get the OK from her, I start the show.
I'd hesitate to start the show blindly, having told the actors that it's their responsibility to be at places. Not to say that actors aren't usually ready on time, but if a show starts and, say, an actor is late getting onstage, that reflects poorly on me for not having made sure that we really were ready to start. I don't think it would do anyone any good to assume that actors are in places and start the show without confirming that. As the SM, part of your job is to do everything you can to make the show a success each night, and making sure that actors are ready is just another part of that job. (Also, if an actor is late to places, there's usually a good reason - costume troubles, etc.)