Scrawlings in a Jar: Stress Management

To: The World
From: Connie

Is it weird that I am writing about this particular subject during Spring Break? Not in the least. Because a play is a play, and anyone who knows anything about them knows that there comes a time in every production that requires a bit of special attention. It is the week before the play's opening night: Hell Week.

Or, as we've affectionately called it: Tech Week. Because we have little children in our play who don't need to be learning profanities. That is the director's job at this stage of the production.

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE STRESS DURING HELL TECH WEEK:

1. Breathe - Remember, especially if this is your first day of tech week, that you should never hold your breath for an extended period of time. The pent up frustration will go to your head, and you will do one of two things: A.) Pass out, or B.) Blow up. Like...literally...you'll explode.
2. Count to 10 - Take 10 seconds of your time to just calm down. You must always remain calm during tech week.
3. Eat - Remember to pack yourself something so you don't become anorexic, lose 36 pounds in half an hour, and die.
4. Never Lose Your Temper - Because tech week can be managed, and there is nothing to lose your temper about, cry in frustration about, or roll your eyes about. If you follow these simple steps, you'll be well on your way to the last and most important step of all...
5. Give Up - Because Tech Week is easy enough to glide through when you're acting, and extremely difficult to handle when your directing all the actors, ensuring the lights work, proofing costumes, acquiring last-minute props, fixing up make-up and sets, and checking that the backstage hands are not  tripping over hundreds of small people who insist on getting in the way. 

You will not remain calm, so forget counting to 10 (seriously? Who ever even does that anyways?). You will not have time to eat, but you won't notice so much because of how many other things are on your plate. You will Will WILL lose your temper. Even with the best crew, cast, venue, costumes, sets, and helpers that you can possibly find: there WILL be some reason for you to become frustrated and cry, get angry/upset, and roll your eyes...possibly all three at the same time. The important thing to remember is that it's ok for this to happen. If anything, the only thing you need to worry about is not having a mental breakdown in front of your actors. I've seen directors do that. It didn't help us act better.

The one thing on this list that holds true is the breathing. Because you seriously will pass out and/or explode if you don't. Of course...that holds for pretty much every occasion.