Term of the Day: ungatz

to have ungatz--to have nothing, to have one ball (testicle). Italian slang. Angry disappointment. "Everyone else got on the workcall, and I got nothing. I got ungatz."

Term of the Night: short shrift

short shrift--a quick, often rude dismissal of an idea or a person. "The head gave short shrift  to my idea of painting the deck on Sunday night." Fascinating etymology...shrift is a 12th century word for the penance given to a condemned man. "Short shrift"  was the inadequate time for such penance to be given.

Term of the Night: jackassery

 jackassery--a bad decision, an idiotic move.  The foolish behavior of a jackass.

Term of the Day: on the fritz

on the fritz--when a mechanism is not working properly. Referring to a machine or electrical item, possibly a special effect. "The downstage blood cannon was on the fritz and was not working during the matinee."

Term of the Night: shotgun side

shotgun side--the passenger side. When loading a truck, the stagehand directing the loading may indicate that certain pieces of scenery or props should be put on the shotgun side or the driver's side.

Term of the Day: bag of tricks

bag of tricks--a place where a skilled stagehand is able to pull out an obscure piece of hardware, a tool or skill that saves the day. "The carpenter pulled out some stage screws from his bag of tricks that he'd kept from working at the Met 40 years ago, saving the day."

Term of the Night: watch your 6

watch your 6--watch your back. It is a military term, using the clock face, where 12 is in front of you and 6 is behind you. "That's a brutal theater to work in...watch your 6."