Step 6: Make It So

Once you have your sketch, run it by the director, and then discuss it with the folks who will be building it. Be prepared to make modifications at this point - they may see something in your design that just won't work that you don't have any way of knowing about until they tell you. Once everybody is happy with the design and you're sure you're all on the same wavelength, turn it over to the construction crew. If you've never helped build a set before, now's a good time to pitch in and learn a few things - if you consider yourself hopeless with a hammer, at least stop in and watch and ask questions. I recommend being on hand as often as possible anyway as the set is going up - the crew is always going to have questions, and it's easier for everyone if you're right there when they do.

Once the set begins to take shape, verify placement of masking flats or drops by sitting out in the house in the seats with the most extreme sight lines - often this will be most or all of the seats in the first row, particularly those on the far ends where audience members may be able to see into the wings, seats on the ends of aisles up each side, the back row, and (if you're lucky enough to have one - we don't), the balcony. Verify masking placement again after the set is complete.

NEXT: Step 7:Color It
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