New York Stagehand Glossary

 janky --extremely poor quality. "The props from the regional theater rental show were quite janky."

 poking the bear --to provoke a stagehand known for explosive responses or tantrums. "I wouldn't wake that old timer up. It is bett...

canary in a coal mine --when someone or something indicates that there is a change of mood in the theater.  "When the young ASM is upti...

big muckity-mucks --important people, VIPs. Can be sarcastic.

too many brains on stage -- when there is a crisis during production or during the load-in, and several self-proclaimed geniuses are cluster...

grabby --adjective describing a head who claims jurisdiction on things outside his/her department.

make a hole -- move out of my way. When moving through a group of stagehands, you say this to get them to move.