CALLING: Backstage or Booth? (meta-topic)

[Balletdork]

I know I've answered this before- BUT.... I can't stop myself from answering again...

I SM dance, and I am generally alone in my preference to call from FOH- almost all dance is called from backstage... weird dance SM people...

I prefer to have the option of seeing the whole  stage, and smacking the light board op when needed. Of course I must have a great ASM running the deck- which I do! 

Plus, when I'm backstage people come to me directly when there's any kind of problem (ie; I think my vamp is too high- how fo my feet look?) rather than going to the ASM, or waiting for a more appropriate time. (There's that whole dancer- self-absorbed thing...)

I'd LOVE for the other dance SM's on here to weigh in on this topic!!

[BalletPSM]

Sorry my friend...backstage, and backstage it always will be for me.  I'd rather not know that the electrician is actually watching last night's "Scrubs" while running the board.  =)  JK, sort of...he's a very responsible guy.  He might watch TV while running the board but he gets all his cues and I can rely on him to take his visuals when he's supposed to.  =)

Plus....I need Q lights to run the rail and the deck.  And I need maestro vision.  I have to be backstage to have all three of those.  And I'm only a couple steps away from production office.  Plus I get a good FOH shot and can generally see everything I need to see. 

furthermore...I tend (as much as possible!) to call from the music, rather than what the dancers are doing.  In general, that's how our choreographer works (everything is very musical) and I know the music will never change...but who knows what the dancers might do that night (of course...there's some give and take to this). 

And....I like being close to the dancers.    Makes things more interesting.  =)

[Jessie_K]

Another dance SM weighing in.

When I first started calling dance shows, I wanted to be out front.  Better view, less distractions and, since I was almost responsible for the lighting, I could actually see the lights.

After a year with the company, they asked me to move backstage, so I did.  Now I wouldn't want to call a dance show from any other location.

Yes sometimes people approach me an inopportune times, but I am right there if they need me.  Ideally, I have all my cues lights, monitors and page mics in place, but even if I don't have those things, I am much more connected with the performance and the flow of the event.  I can call an entrance cue perfectly because I can actually see the dancer as they enter, not once they are already onstage.

My experiences calling dance from backstage has lead me to want to call theatre from backstage too.  (I have done this a few times always to great success).  Clearly backstage doesn't work for all theatre shows, but when it can work out, I feel the performers appreciate having me nearby.

[Balletdork]

See 

[colum07]

I've only called from the soundbooth, i think i would go crazy backstage with a monitor!

[j-la]

I prefer to call from Backstage .....dance & musicals from Backstage....always.
I will call plays from booth or front of house if I have limited sight lines & a good, experienced ASM on the deck.

[Tempest]

I have a marked preference for calling from the booth.  I seem to keep wprking on shows that have a lot of cues that have to be called on visual elements. Small actions, especially facial expressions (Yes, I've had a note to call a cue when the actor blinks, or drops his shoulders, or other small movements like that) just can't be communicated via monitor.
I'd probably be more comfortable calling backstage in a musical or opera setting, however.  Cues off the score; no problem!

[JDL]

Very puzzling question! ALWAYS IN THE TECH BOOTH CLOSEST TO THE BOARD OPS! From experience, when those headsets decide to go out on opening night, you can still call the show. The actors and set crew should be capable of taking care of themselves during the show. And if the show is large, there should be ASM's that can be on the stage floor for emergencies!

[kiwitechgirl]

Backstage, always!  In my current situation it's impossible to call from the booth as show crew consists of SM and operator, and I often have ropes to pull (we don't have a flyfloor, but our set boys will rig doors and windows to be opened remotely!) or furniture to move in a blackout.  Shortly I go into rehearsals for The Producers, and I believe it's the first time it's been done in a non-flying house; I do have an ASM for the show, but still won't be calling from the booth as I much prefer to be backstage where I can keep my finger on the pulse of everything.  I have a FOH monitor, conductor cam for musicals and a team of operators who I trust implicitly, particularly the one who will be operating The Producers, so I see no reason to change my method!

[jspeaker]

I'm with Scoot.  Always on deck if possible.  I mostly do very large complex musicals and ALWAYS prefer the deck.

[JDL]

House... I love having a full view of the stage and watching a live show on a monitor from backstage isn't my favorite.

[Sparkzxx]

Obviously 'traditionally' a show is generally called from stage left. Has anyone ever called from FOH?

I've done a few shows now where I have called them from FOH (in a theatre venue) and overall I find it much easier to call from this position...

Just wondering if I'm the only one...

EDIT: Merged this and the entire thread after it with the older thread from April of '07. --PSMK

[Britney]

at my college we call from a box at the back of the audience. Don't know if this counts under your definition of FOH. I find it much easier to call from the back of the audience than from a monitor backstage.

[KMC]

I think it depends a lot on the style of show.  If I'm doing a simple play with 4 or 5 cast members, then FOH is my preference (provided I have a trustworthy assistant for eyes and ears backstage).  If it's a large show that has a lot of fly cues, moving scenery, bigger cast, etc.. I prefer to call from backstage.  It's much easier to see the depth of the stage when you're looking at it from the side.  Also, you're much closer to the action backstage if anything happens.

[killerdana]

I also prefer calling from the booth at the back of the house.  I hate staring into monitors and would much rather see the stage live.  As long as I have at least one ASM I can trust backstage on headset, I'm fine with being a little farther from the stage.  I can understand how this wouldn't work as well in a much larger theatre, because you're TOO far from the stage, and in those situations I've always called from backstage (it's actually usually been SR, not SL).  However, given a choice I'm usually calling from the booth.