(3 Students)
All 3 timekeepers will time each play. Practice using your stopwatch.
Before Festival, get a program or make a chart of all shows in performance order that you will keep for the entire Festival.
Copy into your program or chart information regarding the starting and ending moment of each play. This information should be provided on the pre-registration forms returned by the participating school be fore the festival begins. It should be updated with the festival stage manager during the technical rehearsal.
When starting your stopwatch, use common sense. Do not begin when the house or stage goes black. Start at the first dramatic moment. This could be with lights, sound, music, a cast member entering the house or speaking in the dark.
At the end of the show, stop your watch, BUT DO NOT RESET IT! Meet with the other timekeepers and the house manager to confirm the time. Each of you should write your time in your program or on your chart.
If any of the timekeepers have a show running over the time limit listed in the festival rules, take your stopwatch to the President of the NHETG or another NHETG Board member, just so the time can be confirmed.
If asked about any times, please respond that you cannot discuss timing with anyone but the show’s director.
Don’t forget to reset your watch before the start of the next play.
(1-2 Students)
All schools at a festival must have the same amount of technical rehearsal time. This time is typically 30, 35 or 40 minutes and is determined for the entire festival by the host depending on overall festival scheduling. Countdown timers as opposed to standard stopwatches can be helpful here. Most often people want to know how much time is left. If countdown timers are not available, the time keepers should use stop watches and be quick with subtraction. The question of "How much time is left?" may be asked at any moment. A slow response can generate a great deal of tension. Countdown timers might be borrowed from the photography teacher, the NHETG board or another host. They can also be purchased at Radio Shack. Try to get 2. They also ring an alarm when they reach zero which is an indisputable signal to all.
NOTE: THE SCHOOL MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE THE SETUP/STRIKE TIMED DURING TECHNICAL REHEARSAL TIME OR JUST PRIOR TO AND AFTER THEIR SHOW.
Each school may use the stage for the same allotted time and the stage must be clear at the end of that time. Start your stopwatch when the Host Stage Manager says the rehearsal has begun. Your job is not to "catch" someone going overtime, but simply to help the Festival stay on track. Ask the guest director how often you should announce the time and to whom, quietly to the director or loudly to all, etc. At minimum, announce as follows:
When there are 20 minutes left, please politely announce to the director, "You have 20 minutes left in your rehearsal."
When there are 10 minutes left, if the strike is to be timed at the end of the rehearsal, say, "You have ten minutes left in your rehearsal. Please be prepared to strike your set in 5 minutes so that the stage is free at the end of your allotted time."
When there are 5 minutes left, say "You have 5 minutes left."
When there is no time left, loudly announce, "Time is up. Please leave the theater."
You should also inform the host stage manager when it is time to begin a technical rehearsal according to the festival schedule. This will help to keep the festival on schedule.
If there is a failure of host systems, the host stage manager may ask you to stop the clock till the situation is resolved.
Get a program ahead of time or create a table with all shows listed in the order of the technical rehearsals. Mark this with your name and use it to record times. Each school has a total of five minutes to setup all of their scenery, including props and set decorations. They have 5 minutes to strike everything. You MUST work closely with the Host Stage Manager and the guest director to determine if the director wishes setup and or strike to be timed during the technical rehearsal or at their actual performance. At Technical Rehearsals, it's probably easiest for the timekeeper to be in the pit.
As soon as the stage is clear and ready for a tech to start, join the host stage manager to meet the next director. Find out from that director whether you are to time setup now, later or at the actual performance. Make a choice.
The actual timing of the setup can begin when all the scenery is in its preset position and they tell you they are ready or they can be timed from the moment they enter the stage area. Work this out with the host stage manager. Be consistent for all.
The director may wish to do some things on stage first and have you time setup in the middle of their tech. That's fine too.
If the director would like, you can call out at 1 minute intervals, the time left: 4 minutes left, 3 minutes left, etc.
If you are asked to time during the technical rehearsal, and the setup goes over 5 minutes, do not stop them. When they are done, let the stage manager and the director know how long they took. There is no penalty at this time. They will be timed again at their actual performance or they might try again during their tech.
When there are 10 minutes left in their rehearsal the other time keeper will inform the director that there are 10 minutes left. If strike is to be timed during rehearsal, get ready. Listen for when the director or stage manager tells the guest crew to strike and time it. Again, if it goes over 5 minutes, you must tell the stage manager and the guest director that they will be timed again after their performance.
IF THE SETUP AND STRIKE ARE 5 MNIUTES OR UNDER, the school does not have to be timed again at the performance. Record setup and strike times in your program or on your chart. Share these numbers with the host stage manager.
If the school does not want to be timed at rehearsal, or if they go over 5 minutes at rehearsal, then YOU must be with them when they are allowed to enter the stage for their performance and you must time them then. You will have to stay backstage and out of the way during the performance, and then time the strike.
IF THE SCHOOL GOES OVER 5 MINUTES, keep your watch going until the setup or strike is done, then stop the watch. Show the watch to the host stage manager and the NHETG Board member. Write down the time then reset your watch.