OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 28/08/2026Yesterday we had to say goodbye to my son’s 15 year-old cat (and sometimes inadvertent contributor to this & our previous Twitter account), Benny. He was 3 months old & my son was 8 when we got him, and he was a great cat for a little boy to grow up with. 020
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 23/08/2026“Don’t go in there, Jake. There’s signs! Didn’t you see the warning about the signs?!” 110
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 06/08/2026My wife left these to indicate it was dead, but when I saw it my first reaction was “why is the microwave doing a Mummenschanz bit?” 020
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 05/07/2026Did my traditional walk to the lakeside park to watch the fireworks. Heavy fog, a result of the earlier heatwave and then last night’s & today’s storms, fully obscured them. Not even a glow was visible. Photo taken during the fireworks, which normally would be visible just above the trees. 140
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 04/07/2026"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 250 years, with some ups and downs. 030
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 02/07/2026Gotta love when one of the moving lights starts playing wiggle-puppy at boot-up, instead of, well, booting up. 030
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 01/07/2026It’s important to wash your levels. Just throw them in with your laundry. Or do like I do and just forget they’re in a pocket. Now it’s clean, & HOT! 080
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 25/06/2026And now for a super-exclusive “behind the scenes” photo from my current show. 260
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 07/06/2026Your shortcut between the SL and SR mid-rails is closed on this #StageShotSunday 090
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 27/05/2026Over 35 years in this business, and still having some firsts: first time bringing my laptop to a grid (to do software upgrades on the DMX gateways). 040
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 06/04/2026Some days make this job feel very unimportant.* *Yes, yes, art is important. 180
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 28/03/2026Sometimes you’re programming 60 moving lights, other times this is your entire magic sheet: 280
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 19/03/2026I get what they’re going for here, but “spark” isn’t exactly a word I want to read in anything from my electric provider. 020
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 08/03/2026A first for me (to the best of my recollection) with a 5kw lamp. Not so much with its gel. Lamp was sparkly/fuzzy, and starting to be arc’y. 050
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 15/02/2026Here is the 1000 amp jumpstarter and its tiny charging cable sitting on top of the feeder cables providing (up to) 400 amps to part of the lighting system. In case you were wondering why it hurts my brain. 040
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 15/02/20261000 amp jumpstarter, and its charging cable/power supply. I know that this works. I understand how and why this works. But the visual of this tiny cable being what charges the thing that will (potentially) output 1000 amps just hurts my brain. 1102
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 14/02/2026Problem: 5kw fresnel with scroller slowly drops over time, despite re-tightening. Solution: 290
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 04/02/2026A long, frustrating day, made so much better by this decoration by a co-worker’s preschool age kid on a delayed holiday card envelope. “It’s the iPad Patrick gives me to pick colors [for the stage lights]!” 150
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 08/01/2026Final (probably) post of this series. The fun ads. I want that shirt. 020
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 06/01/2026“How can I be sure these ads are really from 1980?” Well… 220
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 05/01/2026Unexpected holiday train is the best way to ride a holiday train. 070
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 05/01/2026It’s early, my heat has been out for 2 days, and I still need to eat breakfast before the call starts. But at least I didn’t approve this ad from 1980: 150
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 03/01/2026Continuing on this: back when a lighting console was truly a full console, with its own support structure. Also, I want every console ad to have people (real or painted) doing the “ta-dah!” pose. 070
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 02/01/2026Continuing on this, “The Best Choice is Always Kliegl!” 3 ads for the Performer series of lighting consoles (one in color!), and a “Klieglights for the 80’s!” Unfortunately, this period was near the end of Kliegl’s 100 year run. Many of Kliegl’s design concepts remain in use today. 051
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 01/01/2026It’s not a Sawzall, it’s a Cutawl! Seriously, kinda want one, though they do not appear to be made anymore. 250
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 01/01/2026My wife brought home a bound set of Theatre Crafts magazines from 1980, and I thought I’d share some of the ads we found. Some of which (like this one) I swear were still being run largely unchanged in the early to mid 90’s. 171
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 04/12/2025Venting a CO2 dewar (off camera) about 8’ away from the near side of this lift. Vent nozzle is about same height as top rail of lift basket. 410 PSI venting through an opening a little bigger in diameter than a pea. #LifeInTheTheatre 040
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 02/12/2025Me: “I keep having all these important conversations, but I’m not sure anyone is taking me seriously.” Me having those conversations: 040
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 30/11/2025When they say the performance has been canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances,” this is the real reason. #StageShotSunday 0122
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 29/11/2025Booth tree is up. We can have Christmas now. A tradition going back over 25 years. 0160
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 17/11/2025Someone in the lighting shop got fancy with the donuts. #StageShotSunday 1130
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 10/11/2025So… If you are waiting on a reply to your account confirmation request, there seems to be an issue either with my email program or Google at the moment. If you have recently sent an account confirmation request, I likely have confirmed/activated the account. Please try logging in. 120
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 09/11/2025Shovel-based rigging is the only true form of rigging. #ChangeMyMind #StageShotSunday 270
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 26/10/2025Amazingly the first time I’ve seen someone keep a theatre manual in a booth. #StageShotSunday 051
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 17/10/2025Broadway In Chicago looking out for their (largely suburban resident) audiences tomorrow. And honestly, partnering with Metra is a good idea for all productions year-round. 140
OffStageJobs.com @offstagejobs.com · 12/10/2025The things I do for my audience during a playoff run (but only at preshow, intermission, & postshow). 070