Final Reflection--Arabian Knights Backstage

My objectives for participating in backstage crew for the production of Arabian Knights was to gain a better perspective and understanding on how a play production is actually done, and how to work better under pressure. I was in charge of various stage pieces and props, ranging from handing the right actor the right cape, to positioning a massive room that was to be wheeled on stage, requiring a minimum of 5 people. I also had to help calm down nervous actors and help them with their lines and their moods. The outcome was that the final play turned out very neat and polished, people who saw it say that it was good, and all set pieces and props were in the right place at the right time. I encountered many problems in the earlier stages of the production. Many of the props were not polished and broke often. The actors were very riled up and liked to yell at the stage crew. We were very uncoordinated in our set placement. Many of the stage pieces were in the wrong location and in return the actors got very confused. I very much enjoyed this activity. I not only gained an insiders view of how a production was run and a glimpse of what the actors had to go through, but I was able to do it without the stress and pressure of being an actor. The whole activity showed me how a play was run and exactly what has to happen to make the show possible. I have developed how to operate well under stress and even learned various management techniques. I can easily apply these skills to new situations, especially in the workplace. From what I gather, a large part of any job is dealing with stress and managing people, so these skills are highly applicable to any work environment.