Term of the Moment: Road Whore

Road Whore: A stagehand who stays on the road, moving from show to show, with no plans to settle in one city. No sexual connotations, should be used for both sexes.

Term of the Moment: Regime Change

Regime change: Regime change just doesn't happen in Libya. When a long-time head is fired or abruptly retires, his or her crew may be thrown for a loop. What may have seemed like years-long or lifetime employment for extra men and women may suddenly end.

Item of the Moment: Stagehand Nap Blankets

Stagehand Nap Blankets-- I can sleep on any surface, including the concrete floor of an orchestra pit covered with a cheap fireproofed carpet, or on the bench of a radial-arm saw. I am in true stagehand heaven when I get ahold of one or two trucking blankets, which I recently heard referred to as Stagehand Nap Blankets.

Term of the Moment: Adult Supervision

"Get adult supervision"--find a supervisor, a head or even a designer to detail the work that has to be done. When a small crew of extra men needs direction, sometimes a loudmouth in the group will start barking out orders. A saner crew member might say, "Let's get adult supervision," meaning get the person responsible for the project to sign off on it or to explain what has to be done.

Term of the Moment: Children Driving Box Trucks

Children Driving Box Trucks: At one of the TV stations, a certain producer tries to save money by throwing in interns to carry out stagehand duties, like loading box trucks and driving them to digital remotes. The 20-year-old interns often screw up and adults (i.e. union stagehands) have to step in, costing more money with additional labor to undo the screw up. My boss will sigh and say, "Ah, children driving box trucks." The producer will have her wrist slapped, but will do it again when she gets the chance.

For the Whiner on Your Crew: Weeping Willow

Weeping Willow--constant complainer, a name given to the old scenic at East Coast Theatrical Supply in the 1980s. Another good choice includes Debbie Downer.

Expression of the next moment: "Heard it on the Erie"

"heard it on the Erie"--to discuss gossip with someone, often the subject of that gossip. "I heard it on the Erie that you got the head's job at the Booth." The Erie reference is to the Erie Canal.