omnis- as long as I have you here- what is your actual job title? We have a student master electrician who does lights, and the student who does sound and video is called the "audio-visual engineer" . I am thinking there is a more official title?

At my current job it is Sound Supervisor. At my old job, where I did the same thing for a different company, it was Audio Engineer.

Thanks! Sound is sort of a mystery to me, as a costume person!

and the reverse is true for me as well.

Thank you omnis. I think Sound and costumes are the most divorced from each other-- except when people have microphone packs!

I'm watching Sober House, a Celebrity Rehab show. It really seems like "on national TV" is probably the worst possible way to do rehab. Definitely seems like the sort of thing that could use some privacy.

Anyway. One of the patients is the drummer from Guns n Roses. Voiceover said, "Guns n Roses invented sex, drugs, and rock and roll." Um. I'm pretty sure that sex and drugs have gone along with rock and roll for pretty much as long as there's been rock and roll.

Sound is a bit on it's own in general. It's the only non-visual of the design elements. The only other group that has some understanding is typically lighting, but that is only because we both use wire. After that, many lighting folk are all "huh".

I can see that omnis. I always feel like costumes is on it's own (with props) because we deal so closely with actors and fabric, so it is interesting to hear another perspective. It would be funny to hear that set and lights felt isolated too!

ETA The sound designers are usually my favorite designers that come in, though, beause they tend to be mellow, relaxed and kind.

Why is watching Celebrity Rehab making me want a beer?

Since starting the new job, slowly getting to know the various production department heads, the Scenic Artist was griping how the information he is given is always incomplete for his task. He was dumbfounded when I revealed just how few Sound Designers ever give me any drawings or paperwork. That I generate all paperwork for shows. "How do you know what to draw?" "I talk to them. iChat. E-mail. Gather bits and pieces of information over a bunch of communications, and then present them with paper work". "I don't want your job". It was rather funny. The TD was rolling, and later told me why. "I"ve never seen [Scenic Artist] stop griping so fast in my life. That was brilliant!"

I have the most respect for costumes. Dealing with the personalities of actors. Nuances. Annoyances. From hygiene issues, to "please don't go 'commando' when doing a fitting", to "I don't look good in that". Your not supposed to, your playing a homeless drunk down on their luck! Not to mention just MAKING the costumes. No clue. It's a dark art, I say. All a mystery.