May, 2019 Issue
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Outside the Comfort Zone

by Sarah Hasker

Sarah    The first time walking into the convention center in Louisville, it really hit me how large the whole space was, the amount of information that was available, and the sheer number of people that were present in the convention center for those few days in April.
    I’ll be the first to admit, crowds of people jammed together aren’t exactly my forte, bumping elbows with people I will never see again. Although, it really is a great way to meet people in a hurry (sometimes, quite literally accidentally running into them, like how I met one of the many awesome students at USITT).
    As much as I dreaded the crowds and lines at USITT, it was an indescribably comforting feeling to see so many people interested in a field that at my high school was brushed aside and only talked about in hushed tones backstage. Standing amongst the lines of people with all the anxiety and tension, there was the sense that all of us were here for the same event no matter our field, inside or out of our comfort zones, that we were there to learn and make connections.
    I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, not only with the crowds but also the sessions I attended. I ended up going to at least one session relating to nearly all of the major areas of tech. All of them ended up hitting similar points regarding communication, collaboration, and the use of objects for an unintended purpose.
    One of the first sessions I went to was about using solar-powered lighting systems and how the architecture of theatrical spaces can interact to decrease our carbon footprint. (Fun fact! Printing 8 sheets of paper has roughly the same carbon footprint as sending an email). The session touched on reusing objects not necessarily for their purpose, such as using broken tombstones as bricks in a house/pathway, or renovating spaces to be theatres without drastically changing the inner structure. I found it interesting how the presenters also focused on how small actions quickly add up for reducing the environmental impact of theatres- making the switch to LED lights, or allowing windows in rehearsal spaces to cut down on electric light usage. (Another fun fact! Generally most of a theatre’s carbon footprint comes from the audience coming to see the performance!).
    I also attended the Projections on a Budget session, which I ended up going to somewhat on accident, but was very happy with the outcome. Even though the topic was out of my comfort zone, it still inspired me as a scenic designer. The presenters provided various examples of outside-the-box thinking for projection surfaces or playback programs. From employing Powerpoint to projecting onto spandex, the session helped me think about the interaction of scenery and projections, inspiring me to incorporate more projection surfaces/ideas into my theoretical design assignments after the conference.
    The session that I expected to be in my comfort zone- the green scenic design session- actually surprised me. The panel presented the idea of starting a design with what you have access to, as well as thinking in 4’ by 8’ surfaces or with whatever props or scenery pieces a theatre might have in stock. They suggested thinking about these self-imposed limitations not as a creative suppression, but rather as just another design requirement. The point was also brought up that sustainable design should be a part of the conversation with technical directors and directors throughout the process. This inclusion almost forces more conversation and collaboration throughout.
    The session most out of my comfort zone that I attended was on special effects makeup. The presenter’s fantastic personality drew me into the topic, which I had never really had that much interest in. It included hilarious anecdotes about different ways to do fake blood on stage, and which blood formula was the presenters’ favorite (because of course in theatre, you have a favorite type of fake blood to use). The presenter talked about how thinking about backstory is important, even when it’s just a bruise on an actor’s face: audiences can tell when it hasn’t been thought through and therefore doesn’t look believable. The same concept also applies to every area of design. I often forget as a new designer to take a step back and think of the backstory, versus just chasing ideas that are neat or compelling, just for the sake of being interesting or new.
    It’s not necessary to always reinvent the wheel. The small town in Wisconsin where I grew up (and where USITT was never mentioned) didn’t include thinking about back stories of fake wounds and scenery, or using existing objects and materials in a new way or with different technology.
    Even though the experience of USITT was outside of my comfort zone, I learned so many new tricks, bumped into friends from years ago and made friends that will hopefully be around for a long time.  I discovered new companies and saw new products that I never would have been able to experience inside the sphere of the small comfort zone.  [ ]

Sarah Hasker is a USITT NBS scholarship recipient and student at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.