I was just back-reading this thread since I left a meeting this morning where we scheduled a paper tech. I know it's uncommon outside of University settings, so I'm just unclear as to why we, as University theatre programs, continue to do them. We should be teaching Stage Managers to glean information from the rehearsal process and communicate them to the design team, and we should be preparing SM's to work quickly and synthesize multiple pieces of information into a cueing sequence. Right?
I'm frustrated by the amount of time designers think they need for paper tech, and am trying to gauge if I'm having an unreasonable response to their requests. When I stage managed professionally, there was never the time or money to make this happen, so I'm interested in hearing people's opinions:
Are paper techs desirable and useful in all environments, and it's the luxury of the University setting which allows for them, and therefore I should support it and foster it and get on board for however long they might take?
Or, since paper techs are not common in professional settings, is it better to eliminate them in University settings so as not to train SM's into that false sense of security of having time to discuss each cue?
I would *love* other SM's and PM's feedback. Thanks.