In the last month, this discussion board has been a lifesaver!  I can't even imagine the valuable information that I have missed out on in the last few years.  I think someone should consider a yearly handbook of topic summaries and ideas that could be purchased as a desk reference.  A how to guide for theatre issues.  There is a ton of amazing, anecdotal, real-life advice available here that I'm afraid I'm going to forget or never be able to find again!  Think about it! Please...

I am certainly willing to be a part of such an intimidating project, especially as a (relative) newbie such as myself will find different things fascinating than a more experienced techie/director/actor/producer.  I can find a hundred books on how to build a muslin or a hard flat or a plywood platform (and I read and research almost obsessively when I'm working on a project), but it wasn't until today that I ever heard of or considered buffering wood with fabric or newspaper to reduce squeaks!  Duh!  Granted, it's a huge project, but my lizard brain is already working on how it could be done...but we'd need a few dedicated people.  I'm pretty swamped right now (who isn't?), but I would be willing to make room for this project if a few people were really interested in working on it...?  Maybe the way to go is to plan the project to "actually" begin Jan. 1, 2008 and use the time between now and then to organize and set up a game plan.  Need to look at liability issues and probably remove alot of the personal banter...I can already see at least 10 topics that can be combined and a couple of purely venting/opinion topics that could be condensed into respect and etiquette reminders.  See?  My lizard brain has taken over.  Great.  Now I'll never get my other projects done...

Harraa wye ynaa ye reet MikeO
 Wye aye drose akendee w'one naal, niva naa oot a'son aboot enywaa?
{Ibelieve you may be correct MikeO.
Of course yes drose I should aquire a copy for my self, as I'm never sure what I'm on about anyway?}

Originally posted by drose MikeO, I agree, the personal banter does make this forum great.  But it does get a little sharp and sometimes off topic enough to confuse the newbies (ie. ME).

While I feel I'm not sharp there has been times when my left hand has taken over the keyboard  [as it has a mind of it's own} & may have unkowingly got up some members noses!
Now those occasions  in particular are...? - I better stay on topic for a change! - 'Least said soonest mended']  with this type of forum I find it is easy to be misunderstood & feelings to blow out, resulting in a lot of dummy's flying around. I know I feel like atempting to add some soap flakes & make it all frothy & bubbly again, Knowing though I will only end up making it worse! So I take the line that ignorance is bliss & it's only an agitation of the tea bag. It will all calm down anyway & there will be all around!
One thing I was hoping for was to hear from Chris & Mike on the idea

So you would envisage, something on the lines of a 'Wiki' with cross reference & updates/ links or just a basic collation of the postings, either cat &/or dogarised to a simple format?
I have a feeling this handbook, while star'ting  out. as just a couple of bits of wood & a few  'gadzooks', may end up with 50,000 extras, chariots & Charleton Heston!
Not trying to be an 'Ocker Knocker' as it is great idea!
But I'd hate it if anyone one was to devote the time to get this to fly, only to find it's a rubber chook!