Production Musings

Each of us has a certain work set before us. I can be one of the best at procrastinating, being lazy or distracted. I’ve also felt the drudgery of certain tasks that needed to be done.

Stage lighting used to really be one of those things for me. I was a spring chicken in the audio world and knew nothing of dmx protocol, cue lists, hang/follow times, the need to terminate dmx, and I wasn’t real clear on the difference between a par and an ellipsoidal. Over the past 5.5 years a love for stage designs and stage lighting has really begun to mature in me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally in love with it yet…but I’m light years from where I was.

No matter, here is an excellent writing I found regarding whatever work we find before ourselves. It pretty well sums up what my experience has been when I’ve found myself standing in front of a task that I didn’t feel that strongly about to begin with:

…maybe you are just bored. Your boredom may arise from unbelief or something akin to unbelief–lack of vision. You do not have a clearly defined goal ahead of you. You are drifting. Pray about your work. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a definite goal for the next three months. Then drive to that goal.
Or perhaps you do not like the work you are called to do. You feel unfit for it. You could slave at something else, but your own work is too unattractive. Remember the verse, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccles. 9:10). You will be surprised how enjoyable a task becomes when you master it. Make it your aim to do your daily job superbly, and you will turn drudgery into a craft and a craft into an art. Nothing is so boring as sloppy work. – John White

We’ve been working on a new stage design this week for our first series of 2010 called T3.  I’ve been thinking of what we, as human beings, care about and why and how those things drive our behavior and speech. The following quote has been stirring my heart as I’ve been working this week:

A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough going, wholehearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God.

Whether he lives, or whether he dies whether he has health, or whether he has sickness
whether he is rich, or whether he is poor whether he pleases man, or whether he gives
offense whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise whether he get honour, or whether he gets shame for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all.

-J.C. Ryle

whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. yes, whatever.

I’ve gotten a few questions on how the 4×16 panels were actually hung so I took a quick photo of what we did. All of the materials I mentioned in the previous post can be found at Home Depot. The metal ends you see pictured is metal ribbon used for bailing cardboard or other materials and I believe it comes in rolls. Sawyer Scott designed these panels and ran the wire the length of their edges. We drilled holes in each end and used hanging wire at the tops and bottoms.  We hung from the truss and anchored to eye bolts in the stage floor.  Each panel had 4 rigging points.  As you can see, it doesn’t have to be precise or super neat.

Our annual Arts Party took place a few weeks ago.  It may have been the best one yet.  Each year we do an event in the summer and one in the fall for everyone involved in the arts at Blue Ridge.  The summer events are more relaxed.  People hang out.  They talk amongst themselves.  They play disc golf.  Whatever.  Fall events, while relaxed, have a more specific purpose.  We want to be reminded why we do what we do.  Why wake up at 5am on Sunday mornings?  Why park a quarter mile from the building and walk, while dodging deer, in the pre-dawn darkness?  Why sacrifice our Wednesday or Thursday evenings at home watching movies?  Because.  Because of what’s at stake for the hopeless and hurting.  Because of the life that Jesus offers.  We want to remember and refocus.

SO, here’s the scoop on what went down this year.  Dinner was prepared Alex Richardson of Robin Alexander American Bistro and served by Shea Foster and the events team at Blue Ridge.  Soooo Cheesy (made to order cheesecakes) provided some pretty unbelievable cheesecakes.  Mmm mmm mmmm.

After dinner and good conversation we migrated into the Sr. High auditorium for the evening festivities.  Todd Foster got us kicked off.  To his surprise I made a little welcome tag for him:

Todd’s Stage Welcome

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Todd made a few announcements and set up the next portion.  A major change took place this year within the Arts @_theridge.  Nan Torrence has led the Arts ministries for many, many years.  This year she passed the baton to Judson Lee.  In keeping with what we’re given in Romans 13, “⁷Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”  We all wanted to give honor to her for her encouragement over the years and her example of servant leadership…

Nan was totally shocked.  In keeping with Nan’s famous double entendre tradition, we presented her a few little  awards to signify her new role as Director of Communications.  So, as we transitioned into what we endearingly have termed “The Nancy’s” we rolled this little clip.  It was hand crafted by Colin Harman:

The Nancy’s

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One of Nan’s famous lines when she’s recruiting for manual labor is, “I’m looking for a few big, strong, handsome men.”  It’s amazing how many old projects come to mind before answering this question.  The number of things that you remembered HAD TO BE done which is exactly why I don’t know of any big, strong, handsome men.  Reality sets in though and you offer your big, strong, handsome self to serve with joy.  None the less, we thought it would be fitting to provide her with her very own big, strong, handsome men.  This gives you an idea of the nature of the gifts…there were many more.

Following this, Peggy Schaub gave the keynote address.  Rather than write more about it, take a listen for yourself:

Peggy Schaub’s Talk: Or download it here

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