Author Topic: PEOPLE: What do you do with a fidgety assistant?  (Read 6691 times)

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smejs

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PEOPLE: What do you do with a fidgety assistant?
« on: Jun 26, 2005, 01:29 am »
So the current show I'm working on has a director who REALLY needs it quiet in the room.  Sometimes he seems to get thrown off just by the scratch of a pencil as my assistant and I write notes (as we've been very much chastised about ANY whispering - and trust me, this is not my first time in a rehearsal hall).  Anyway, the ASM fidgets.  Big time.  For a while I can keep her occupied with a squishy stress ball thing I have...and sometimes even just try to get her to bounce the OTHER leg (the one farthest away from anyone else).  

Anyone have any suggestions?  I think this is something you learn to control over time...

Erin
« Last Edit: Jun 08, 2009, 10:47 pm by PSMKay »

prizm

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What do you do with a fidgety assistant?
« Reply #1 on: Jun 26, 2005, 02:08 am »
I dont know what to tell you i have a leg that just dosent quit and I am never able to stop it, I dont even realize Im doing it half the time. It is a energy release and a rather quite one. However, I think what works best for me is if someone tells me. My feelings arent hurt just remind them.

giabow

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What do you do with a fidgety assistant?
« Reply #2 on: Jun 26, 2005, 11:12 am »
I do the leg thing too.  Its more of an unconsious thing, I think, for me anyway.

If I find I'm being too distracting with my fidgiting, I stand out of the way somewhere. I find I'm less likely to fidgit if I'm standing.

loebtmc

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What do you do with a fidgety assistant?
« Reply #3 on: Jun 26, 2005, 10:19 pm »
It is so much harder to be quiet in a situation like that - wow, good luck! We all need our fidget place to survive!

A few thoughts: first of all, perhaps that ASM is overcaffeinated - she shd make a point of avoiding anything to eat or drink with caffeine for the duration. And she needs to make sure she stays out of the director's eyeline as much as possible.

But this is also a great opportunity for her to find that stillness place inside - because she is gonna need to find the discipline to stand still and hold it in backstage for the sake of the actors once the show opens too. Yoga maybe? Breathing exercises? Even just clenching and releasing to get her muscles to let go and help her learn to just sit still...?

It's a real challenge (and believe me, I know!) but it can be done - but it takes work and constant awareness.

And good luck with tech, when you will all be chattering on headset! (yikes!) - at least when the director moves on and it's your show, you will be able to shift around without getting smacked!

MatthewShiner

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another option
« Reply #4 on: Jun 27, 2005, 04:31 pm »
is there work the asm can be doing outside of the rehearsal hall.  I find when th director is working on an intense scene with a small number of actors, I will excuse the rest of my staff - just to keep things focused.
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amylee

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fidget-buster
« Reply #5 on: Sep 27, 2005, 04:31 am »
a trick i learned in a teacher inservice for kids with ADD:

give him/her a mousepad to tap a pencil against - it doesn't make any noise, and works pretty well at satisfying a fidget.
amy lee
:)  :(

smejs

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What do you do with a fidgety assistant?
« Reply #6 on: Sep 27, 2005, 10:54 am »
Ooh.  I like the mousepad/pencil idea.  Will have to try it if I come across the situation again.  I did talk to that assistant about it, and she did get better, but definitely one of the things she needs to work on.

Erin

groovygert

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What do you do with a fidgety assistant?
« Reply #7 on: Nov 15, 2005, 01:27 am »
i prefer the send elsewhere.

 

riotous