keep on running...
15.03.2008
The last few weeks have been reasonably quiet with a scheduled
maintenance period in progress. Planning for the next production is
well underway and the rig for that will arrive soon enough.
Just to let you know a fellow friend is running the London
Marathon this year in aid of the charity Shelter. This is going to be
one tough challenge and she has been training hard in the cold and wet
streets of Glasgow. Good Luck!
i'm back, yeah baby, yeah...
09.02.2007
Please hold while we try to connect you... well after a brief
pause I am connected and able to continue my online blog for you lucky
people.
It's been a very busy past month, I've seen more of Scotland (Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness) in the past couple of weeks then I
did in three years worth of study. And the tour isn't over yet, we pay
a weeks visit to Newcastle mid month to round things up.
Already the
next production, Romeo & Juliet is being planned and rehearsals
started.
Scheduled for May it's going to be a modern interpretation.
and now for something completely different...
26.12.2007
The last couple of months have been bit chaotic. To begin I
was
supposed to be working locally but then out of the blue I received one
of those rare moments in life where a oppertunity comes along and you
know you just have to take it.
So I did... I'm now back working in Glasgow and enjoying every moment
of it.
I have a new flat which is great. Although the whole flat hunting
experience is itself quite traumatic and reveals a different side of
Glasgow altogether.
As
you can see from the date I'm writing this on Boxing Day, I hope
everyone had a good Christmas and wish everyone well for 2008.
Future
updates may be delayed, at least until I get my flat sorted and a
working phone line installed.
persistence pays off...
26.10.2007
Its Autumn again and as I write this the leaves are changing
colour and
falling from the trees, how poetic!!
I
have been asked to a couple of more interviews since my last entry,
both local and down south. And low and behold I've been offered a job
local. Hooray! I can't wait to get back into the theatre enviroment and
with panto season almost upon us its probably going to get really busy
quickly.
I've just found out a good friend and ex-tutor has sadly passed away
this last week, my thoughts go out to his family.
Just
spoken to my colleagues from Uni and have been catching up on all the
gossip. I do miss them and funny enough even miss Glasgow to some
degree, well parts of it!
new design...
24.09.2007
Iain's
Homepage has had a makeover. Now made almost entirely using
CSS, the
layout has been improved and simplified by the use of text files for
both the menus and repetitive stuff.
The search bar is now
incorperated on all pages for ease of use and the drop down
menu has been upgraded to the latest version. Groovy eh?
giz a job !
03.09.2007
It's
been 2 months now since I graduated from Uni and as yet I'm still to
gain employment. I have however managed to get a part time job at the
weekend working for a certain local electronics store, but this is only
14 hours a week and the pay is minimum wage. I mustn't grumble as the
income will come in handy and will contribute towards travel costs etc.
During
the few past months I have had several interviews up and down country
but I have come to the conclusion that unless you live locally to the
place of work your chance of gaining employment is slim. I can only
assume this because they don't have to wait for an local applicant to
move.
As
usual I've been keeping myself busy
with jobs around the house and I've been climbing again at the
Sunderland Wall. This has taken a lot of effort since the last time I
had been climbing was in June.
...its all over.
09.07.2007
Well that's it...It's all over. 3 years of Uni and I 've passed. After a total of 5 years of being a student I need to maximise effort into finding a job. Despite the odd low it's been a fantastic 5 years and I wouldn't take any of it back. I've made some great friends and can only wish them well as they too step out into the big wide world of employment. Anyway it's back to 24, how come I never watched this on Sky? Still it's better on DVD you don't get the adverts. Enjoy your summer.
arhhh stress!
05.06.2007
To say the start of the last term has been slightly stressful is a mild understatement. 8000m has finally been conquered and boy has it been an uphill (mountain) struggle. I guess I didn't know how much responsibility you undertake as a Technical Stage Manager and as such have learnt the hard way that I'm not management material. There's just to much to think about. Graduation is just a month away and depending on my grade for 8000m I will have a BA to my name. This years final production is "Don Giovanni" (Opera 3) and it's mammoth. With a huge mirror suspended above the stage it's a TSM knightmare. Lucky I didn't pick that slot....
one term and counting.
20.04.2007
Well it's finally arrived - The last term of Uni. After almost 3 years theres only 10 weeks left, officially. I will actually finish before then as I'm not involved with Opera 3, "Don Giovanni". 8000m is my final hurdle and I'm the TSM (Technical Stage Manager) which means rigging, flying and shifting stuff. My task now is to try and source the equipment to enable the team to assemble the set. I've recently added some more photos to my album of my visit to the Cobbler so go take a look.
ctp fun.
29.03.2007
Well it's Easter again and a year has passed from when I started posting this blog. The CTP shows (all 8 of em) were successfully completed but they have given me a stressful couple of weeks. The very nature of the performances means that they are still changing things and exploring other ideas right up to the last minute. 8000m is now on its 3rd re-design mainly due to budget costs, I'm expecting to hear from the Academy during Easter regarding the next production meeting. Easter also brings with it a stack of Birthdays so if it's yours in April, Best Wishes.
west end for one night only...
17.02.2007
Another one bites the dust...19 weeks and counting.
Showcase:
Done
Grad Project: Done
CTP: Pending
A3
Summer Term: In planning.
Showcase went surprisingly
smoothly
considering the non-existing support from other
TPA departments. The shows both here in
Glasgow and London were very warmly received
and several actors have already been contacted
by agents.
At last my Graduation Project is handed in.
The last 500 words were a struggle to come and
at one stage I found I was repeating myself.
Overall the project has been greatly received by
fellow technicians, mostly via the Blue Room
Forum. Cheers Chaps. As to the projects future
on-line, this is undecided. It will depend upon
wether I want to give it a new webspace away
from the Academy.
happy new year.
17.01.2007
Back to Uni already, although I did manage to score for an extra week off. Only 24 weeks left and then it's out into the big wide world. After 5 years of unemployment I can't wait to start earning some well deserved money. This term I have both an electrics and a designers role for two very different production styles. One is a showcase for the actors, to be seen by possible agents, the other is a CTP (Contemporary Theatre Practice) performance which will be challenging due to its unpredictable nature. Meanwhile the Grad Project is progressing and near completion. I reckon another couple of weeks will see it done.
home for christmas.
22.12.2006
Back home for Christmas. It's been a relaxing couple of weeks back home so I have been able to continue my Grad project with gusto. Since putting a post on the Blue Room forum it's received a very positive response and many questionnaires have been submitted which is giving me the feedback I need. Still a way to go before the deadline looms. I can't think of anything more to write so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
panto time.
04.12.2006
The last four weeks have dragged so slowly since Puntila finished that I have been assisting with the Academy panto rig to keep myself busy. I also volunteered to film the panto get-in and rehearsals for panto party. This initially started enthusiastically but after a couple of weeks it also lost its buzz. The weather hasn't helped much, it's been raining non-stop for weeks now and as I type this there's a howling gale blowing outside. My Grad Project has taken a good leap forward and is now on-line in all it's glory so hopefully the feedback will be better. Christmas is just a few weeks away and I've done no shopping, Mum, Dad, Doug & Sarah if your reading this send suggestions!
no more puntilla :-(
05.11.2006
Wow I can't believe it's all over... after 4 weeks of preperation, brainstorming and stress it's all over. The Brecht play "Mr Puntilla & His Man Matti" was a great success. The set design was great, the lighting did it's job and the whole team worked fantastically. Praise came from the academy principle, the director, an outside lighting designer, and 3 stars in The Herald. So what was all the worrying about...that's just me I guess. So whats next? I now have some free time, supposedly to work on my Grad Project, which is well started but I need to start collating my research as that is more important than producing a final product.
designers block?
17.10.2006
Back to Uni. The new term has started and it already feels like I've been here months. The Academy have implemented a new staffing structure which after two weeks is driving everyone nuts as nobody knows whos doing what. Whilst I can see the benefit to incoming first years, it's taking it's toll on both staff and present 3rd years. At the moment I'm suffering from lighting designers block, and can't seem to picture scenes for the forthcoming production. Hopefully a meeting with the director will lay my fears to rest. Everyone involved seems to have a good feeling about the show and I think the redesign is better. So heres to a smooth run.
lazy summer afternoon...
18.08.2006
Halfway though the summer already! It's been a busy six weeks despite not having a job. But I've managed to start my Brecht LD and I have sent many letters off to industry people regarding my research project. Response to my project so far has been very positive, so I'm well chuffed. Lately I've been trying to sell stuff on ebay and not having much luck, everyone wants stuff for nothing! Still it all helps towards funding my last year. Now back to my lighting design, where's that swatch book? Flame Red I think, a bit of L164. Ha Ha
gone fishin !
17.07.2006
Summer Hols...12 glorious weeks of doing...
well nowt basically.
Although I do have a research project and a
lighting design to start but it's to hot too be
slaving over a computer.
Best kept for a rainy day me-thinks.
the arches
18.06.2006
Only two weeks left till the end of the term! The last couple of weeks have been fantastic if not busy. The Shakesphere shows have been a success with both "All's Well" and "The Tempest" drawing good audiences. The CTP (Contemporary Theatre Practice) version of "Oh What A Shame" starts next week and by all accounts should be laugh. With two weeks left I'm already thinking about the summer, all 3 months of it, hopefully I maybe able to pickup a small job. Anyway it's back to the Arches for another week of techie work before my train home.
followspot madness.
28.05.2006
As I write this I'm stuck in lighting design hell trying to write a cue synopsis for a Shakespeare play that goes up in weeks time. Hopefully the plot will go smoothly and the directors vision will be met. Opera 2 went well and was sung beautifully. It was just the set design (designed by a external designer) that let it down. Followspotting is not as easy as it looks especially when you using Super Troupers with stage weights gaffered to them for balance, sudden movements on stage meant instant overshoot as you try to keep the light under control. Next week sees the start of 3 Shakesphere plays performed at the Arches as part of the Academies Shakespeare In The City season. The Arches in case you don't understand are exactly the name on the tin, several railway arches under Glasgow Central Station which are multi-purpose and used for conferencing, club & band nights and theatrical performances.
glasgow art fair.
26.04.2006
I hope you all had a good Easter.
Mine was a little too busy.
I was helping out at Glasgow Art Fair, which
if you don't know is a four day event in which
art galleries from across the UK display their
wares that you can actually buy from them there
and then.
The event is assembled over a couple of weeks on
George Square with the main gallery area housed
in a 50m x 30m Marquee. Not forgetting to
mention the smaller cafe and reception area
marquees and lots of Portacabins to boot.
It seems like a lot of effort for only four
days of show but then thats what it's like in
the world of events and entertainment.
Well the last term of year two has started and
already it feels like it's been 6 weeks.
This term I'm busy with electrics for several
Shakespeare plays outside the Academy but I
first have to followspot for Opera 2 as their
a man down.
It's a hard job but someone has to do it!
pyrotechnics finale.
18.03.2006
For the past 11 weeks I've been busy in classes
which hopefully is going to shape my future
career in theatre. It's been a long term but an
enjoyable one at that culminating in a
Pyrotechnics display to finish our lecture
based training.
The Pyro Display was fantastic but despite
isolation we did somehow manage to trigger the
fire alarm. Doh!
After Easter I'm back on show call and will
hopefully know which shows I will be working on
for the next 15 months. (WOW - 15 months left!!)
Again this will be mostly electrics based but
with plenty of stage variation it's sure to be
hard work.
Happy Easter!