I was on props crew for "Jane Eyre" this weekend.
I was regularly thanked for what I was doing and told that I was doing a great job. This confused me. I was simply doing what I was supposed to do. I was just doing my job.
I don't handle being thanked very well. I just don't ever know what to say. I usually just laughed and said said "oh, no problem. you're doing great, too." Which was most definitely a true statement. I don't think there was anyone who wasn't doing well during this show.
I'm glad to be appreciated and acknowledged, but I feel like I shouldn't be thanked so often.
I'm just doing my job.
Then I stop to think of it as an actress.
I know how important prop people are.
I value them. I appreciate them.
I know that they make my job easier.
I think of it from the perspective of Werby, my ASM.
She has enough to think about without having to deal with getting everyone's props ready.
I help her.
As a prop girl, I do everything I can to make others happy.
I try to reduce their stress.
I often had props prepared several scenes before they were needed.
I hope this was helpful.
I love working backstage. It gives me perspective.
Not as an actor, because there has never been a time when I didn't work both sides of the curtain, but as an audience member.
I go to productions and see how flawless things are, and I can pretend that it just happens that way.
Or I can think about how much work is happening in places I can't see.
I can think about the people dressed in black, on their toes, ready to move set pieces or hand props to actors or help with quick costume changes.
I know that productions take a lot of hard work.
I know that everyone in the playbill has an important job, and that each of those jobs is necessary for the success of the show.
I can't pretend that productions put themselves together.
So, I know that what I did was important and helpful. I know that I did good work.
I know that someone else could have done my job just as well as I did, but I'm glad it was me.
I'm glad I got to work with such wonderful people.
It was a great show.
And in 38 days (yeah, it's 38 days), we will put on another great show.
4 comments:
and I'm glad we knew which things you were doing. We could smile and say "Hope lit that candle. Hope lit that torch."
actually, Jamie lit the torch. I wasn't allowed to.
Natalie yells at me when she says something I've made is good and I say "good" or "I'm glad you liked it" or something like that. She says I'm supposed to say "thank you" and acknowledge that I deserve thanks...but I'm just cooking dinner...or baking something...it's not like I'm doing anything out of the ordinary.
But doing your job well is something of an anomaly in today's world...no offense...especially with people under the age of 30...(please remember, I have context here) doing your job well, regardless of what it is, is what should be done...it's the way things should be, but often are not. Doing your job well is a testimony to what you believe...that you do all things to the glory of God. Whether it is taking the time to learn lines or practice a melody or harmony or create a backdrop or learn a lighting sequence or prepare a prop. And that is one reason you don't expect thanks...because you are doing it not for yourself, or even for someone else...but for God's glory.
That focus...that way of life is a part of you, because you've been taught well and you've made choices. So as your dad would say (I hear his voice in my head sometimes and it's scary; good scary, but nevertheless, scary)when you are saying "I'm just doing my job" you are also saying "I'm just doing my ministry" or "I'm just living in obedience" or "Do you know Jesus? He's really amazing and He allows me to serve you in this way."
Some people light up the stage, you have a unique gift of lighting up the backstage too...and not just because of the candle.
i know exactly what you mean. i felt weird when a person would thank me for doing my job. Hey, I happily signed my life away for this job. :D
Ugh. Don't remind me how short of time we have until Charlotte's Web. :) I am excited, though.
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