Term of the Day: underminer

underminer--stagehand who will undermine other members of the crew for personal advancement or because he/she can't help him or herself.

Term of the Night--"Anyone Can Tour"

"Anyone Can Tour"--a reference to the ACT card that is an IA card given out when a production company offers you a job and sends a letter to the International. The real meaning of the acronym is "Associated Crafts and Technicians." Some stagehands keep their ACT cards for decades, others join locals to hide their ACT roots.

Term of the Night: to 'Beau' a stagehand

to 'Beau' a stagehand-- when a stagehand refuses to leave a job they are stiffing and for revenge by the head, he or she is stripped of all extras, including presets, rehearsals, work calls and special events. Term comes from an annoying stagehand named Beau, who refused to leave a mega-hit Broadway show when the original stagehand who held the position asked to come back. He kept the job for several years until the show moved to another theater, but never earned another extra penny.

Term of the Day: anger management issues

anger management issues--sudden explosions from (usually) older stagehands. "Him? Don't take it personally when he suddenly starts screaming. The old carpenter just has some serious anger management issues."

Stagehands I Have Known #3: Le Miza Bob

 Le Miza Bob--a miserable stagehand named Bob, always complaining and sucking the life out of those he works with. A takeoff on the title of the never-ending musical “Le Miz.” In Local #1, we have a Le Miza Bob working Legit and one at Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Show.”

Term of the Day: the long knives are out

the long knives are out--an imminent, quick and brutal end. "After the psychotic soundman turned on the electrician who had protected him, the long knives were out and he was out before week's end.

Overheard Stagehand Line #63: "Geniuses don't make good stagehands..."

Old Roadman: "Geniuses don't make good stagehands. They get bored easily and die young."

Overheard Stagehand Line #49: "I haven't been this hated..."

"I haven't been this hated since third grade"--marveling at the rage and hatred of some older stagehands.

Term of the Day: out-assholing each other

out-assholing each other--when two stagehands ramp up attacks on each other. "At a job once, I was caught between a drunk and a dry drunk. They hated each other and spent all their time trying to out-asshole each other." 

Overheard Stagehand Conversation #44: "I don't hit emotional cripples."

Stagehand #1:"I hear the old carpenter wants to take you out in the alley for a fight."
Stagehand #2: "He's out of luck. I don't hit emotional cripples."

Term of the Day: house of pain

house of pain--theater with abusive heads or a hostile crew, or a theater famous for big, brutal load-ins.