Common Sense Items

We're working on a new class here: Basic Production Technology & Management. The idea is to get the primitives, the basis issues that would be significant and illuminate one's understanding of what has been an entry level class like Production Planning, Standard Scenic Construction, or Scenic Stagecraft.

On the one hand this is leading us to very cool topics like measurement, force, and distribution or to prioritization, availability, and communication. Talking about these issues in their own context the way in a design class one might talk about color, composition, and symmetry without even beginning to talk about scenic or costume design. Also, very interestingly, we have found that most of the significant topics in an engineering sense also have a meaning in a management sense. For example, the above "distribution" has meanings in both discussion of technical and management issues. In the end it could be very cool.

On the other hand, the exploration is also turning up another list, things that are common sense or things that you pick up while working over a period of time. In some ways, for some jobs, these items are almost more important than some of the higher level topics we discuss, and often it seems that people graduate with a degree in technical production without a mastery of these really fundamental concepts. The problem is that these things can mostly only be taught in the doing, that a syllabus that detailed a complete program of common sense items would be ridiculous.

Which is why I want to write it. I want to write the ridiculous common sense theatrical syllabus both so I can have it for its humorous value, but also so that I can remember what things I can honestly expect to teach and which things I need to model - and how much time is needed in the curriculum for modeling versus instruction. I sense that this is a typical problem with conservatory college programs and I want to make it a priority to deal with in mine. So, its a joke, but like all good humor it has its feet firmly in reality.

Here's what I have on my list so far. Please, please add to it your suggestions.

Ask questions
Balance yourself in odd positions
Be heard over long distance
Carry things on stairs
Carry things on stairs with a partner
Carry things walking backward
Carry things walking backward on stairs
Carry things walking backward on stairs with a partner
Carry things walking backward with a partner
Climb things
Communicate without talking
Concentrate while on fire
Crawl under things
Do math in your head
Do specific, repetitive boring tasks
Don't carry things without a clear path
Don't lift anything without a place to put it down
Estimate distances
Estimate volumes
Estimate weights
Find objects by touch
Gather all equipment before beginning
Gather all participants before beginning
Gather all parts before beginning
Get dirty without caring
Hear over long distance
Hold things in mouth
Hold things with chin
Hold things with teeth
Know what comes next
Label pieces
Lift with your knees
Listen to multiple radios without going nuts
Make determinations by sound
Make lists
Measure without a ruler
Move quietly
Prop open doors
Repeat instructions
See over long distance
Sort objects by touch
Switch carrying hands without dropping the load
Take instructions from obvious inferiors
Tie knots one handed
Use balance to carry things
Use body part to move objects
Use body part to open doors
Use body part to switch lights
Use body part to switch tools
Use dollies
Use leverage to move things
Walk and carry things
Walk and carry things with a partner
Walk in the dark
Work as a partner
Work on a table
Work quietly
Work while upside down
Work with a partner
Work with hands at extreme reach
Work without hurting yourself
Work without talking
Write with non writing utensils