Ergonomics and the Tech Table

[MatthewShiner]

Always prefer standing to call a show (especially a musical) when I have a chance to . . .

[Dart]

I keep sitting and standing, and never being really comfortable either way. I think it's because my booth looks down to the stage and the counter with my light board is low enough that it's most comfortable to sit, but my body obviously wants to call standing. So I spend all show changing position. My surtitle operators have made fun of me in the past!

[BayAreaSM]

When in the house for tech I used to use a buttboard, but it was too painful, so I sit with the LD.

During shows, I'm backstage at a console. I have tried a variety of "sit-ables" but when it comes to calling, I am always standing. It also helps the dancers know when they shouldn't bother me - when I'm sitting I'm relaxed between cues and can chat, if I'm standing - I'm in the zone, so do not disturb!

Yes, this does mean I get up and down a lot, which doesn't bother me - it keeps me moving. As an added bonus, it turns out that my movements also signal the crew to get ready before I start to call standbys.

And my winning choice of seat so far - a medium height (non-rolling) stool with a thick cushioned top that spins.

[dance stage manager]

Standing, whenever remotely possible.  And I work primarily in dance, so always from the wings (as long as there are wings).

[leastlikely]

I like to perch! Ideally on a stool/bar-height chair, resting against or sitting on the edge with my feet either touching the floor or resting on a cross bar. But of course this depends on the height of the desk... cause I'm pretty short, so if I have to bend to reach the desk, then I'd rather have a chair and just know I'm not going to stay seated for most of the show.

Basically, my needs depend on the booth I'm calling from... but perching is my preferred position.

[babens]

For me it depends, not so much where I'm calling from, but what sort of surface I have.  If it's a higher surface then I'll most likely end up standing, as I find stools, even the ones with backs, get fairly uncomfortable for me in a pretty short amount of time (though if there's space for it I'd keep a stool nearby to kind of lean/perch against if there are long gaps between cues).  Obviously if it's something more standard table/desk height then I would much rather have a chair so that I can be closer to the book.

[SamanthaR]

If the booth allows, I prefer to stand. 
My current booth sight lines prohibit standing and that took some time to get used to, especially since I am calling musicals. 

[Aerial]

I prefer standing whenever possible (at the very least for complicated sequences).  I usually end up in a booth as opposed to calling from backstage and I've created a number of different makeshift risers to get my book to just the optimal height for me.  This fall, calling a huge musical, there was no way in the booth set up to get the cue lights to work from a standing position (they were finicky little buttons), so I had to call the whole thing sitting, and I really hated it.