Expression of the Day: smug rummy

smug rummy-- alcoholic who perceives him or herself as a beacon of moral righteousness,  often given to loud pronouncements about the stage business and judgments on other stagehands.

Overheard Stagehand Line #52: "Nothing more sad than a failed power move"

Two extra stagehands tried to force their head to change his hiring practices. In response, the old head flayed them alive. There is nothing more sad than a failed power move.

Overhead Stagehand Line #53: Matching drinking problems

"I stopped hiring that guy. He and his wife have matching drinking problems. Trouble at work and trouble at home."

Term of the Night: scut work, scut job

scut work, scut job--tedious, dirty work, often given to the youngest stagehand on the crew. "The young stagehand was given the scut job of cleaning old adhesive off the ramp with a heat gun and a spackle knife.

Term of the Day: to flay him alive

to flay him alive-- to torture someone mercilessly, to whip the skin off their body. "That contract propman is a real pest, crossing departmental lines and breaking theater norms. I know a house propman who will flay him alive if that contract man winds up in his theater. I hope they meet." 

Term of the Day: equity lights

equity lights-- work lights that stage managers are allowed to turn on during work-light rehearsals, by agreement with the house electrician. A work-light rehearsal is a rehearsal with no props, no use of scenery, just a bare stage. No stagehands are present.

Overheard Interdepartmental Dialogue #51: "I give you this gift"

STAGEHAND (WHOSE DRESSER WIFE IS LEAVING HIM): "You are leaving me and taking the baby???"

DRESSER: "Yes, now you can hang out with your stagehand drinking buddies and complain about your ex-wife. I give you this gift."