That director sounds like a nightmare, Kiwi! But I suppose Nomie brings up a good point. I hate when people don't say what they mean though. I always try to say what I mean, while still being polite of course. Good luck, Ben!
Someimtes when you try to figure everything out before hand, it doesn't work either. With at traveling show I recently did, we had what we tought to be very thorough plans and were prepared. However, we get to the space ... and the plans were incredebily wrong! Sidelines were completely different, and lighting positions were interesting to say the least. I applaud my light designer so much for what he pulled off. Not only did it look good, but he worked all the way throgh our first performance at the space writing cues since we couldn't import the ones he had written ahead of time. It was extremely stressful to share a booth with him and the ME working frantically beside me, but the experiance was amazing. My favorite part was having to ask the ME if they were OK for me to call the next cue!
With the summer show I do every year, I was always frustrated with the "we'll sort it out" answer. I worked as prop master m y first summer -- at least that was what I was hired for. I didn't receive a script until they moved down to the space, and I was stuck in the shop every day instead of being able to see a rehearsal or check the prop stock. When I asked the PSM for a script, or a rehearsal to view, I was told we'll sort it out, and I can watch a rehearsal as soon as I get x, y, and z done. Finally, they move down the space, so I was able to sneak out of the shop to talk to the director. Propping an entire show in a week was quite the task for a first time prop master! Thankfully, the stock was in good condition and I didn't have to acquire a large amount of the show. I worked the next summer as an ASM and I made sure to keep the prop master involved -- after they were assigned half-way through rehearsals.
