Editor’s Note

It is finally December!  I now feel comfortable talking about the upcoming holiday season. I have always had issues with starting the holiday spirit before celebrating Thanksgiving.  As of late, it has gotten even worse, with holiday music and decorations starting before Halloween.  Honestly, who buys a Christmas tree that early? The thing will be half-dead before Santa Claus comes to visit. Not the best way to impress the Big Guy in Red. Are you going to leave him stale cookies, too?

We have all heard it before — “work smarter, not harder.” It has been drilled into our mind set since our school years. Why work harder than you need to, think about it for a moment and figure out the best way to do it. Thinking about it now, were our early years paving the way for us to be lazy? Not necessarily, it means to be a critical thinker, be aware of your surroundings and make the right/smarter choice.

I have said this time and time again — PLSN isn’t about us, it is all about you and the fantastic work that you do.  The news, the Production Profiles, Road Tests — every aspect of PLSN is written with you in mind.  We aim to keep you informed of what is happing in and around our industry.

What is one of the most important aspects of touring, and also one of the things we’re most likely to take for granted? It is something that every single one of us requires, at a minimum, two times a day. Did the title give it away? That’s right, food!

For Justin Lang’s video introduction to PLSN’s Sept. 2013 issue, go to www.plsn.me/201309ednote.

Last month, I mentioned how I visit a number of production coming through the Washington DC area. This summer, I went on a working vacation and visited even more tours and productions around the country.  When I visit these various tours, I am primarily there to cover the tour and provide you, our readers with interviews and photos. A bonus for me is that I get to talk to all the stage hands, crew and locals about what is really happening out there on the road.  I live and work in a bubble back at the office. You can only learn so much about what is truly happening by reading countless web pages, Facebook and Twitter.

During the course of the month, I talk with a wide range of folks from the industry. From leaders, manufacturers reps and the guys out there on the front lines — those who make the magic happen on stage night after night. Over the course of just this past month, I have talked with a number of people about what’s going on throughout the industry and their views in general. There were a few comments, questions, and ideas brought up that struck a chord with me, and I want to share them with you to get your opinions as well.

Safety concerns have been a hot topic in the industry lately.  Accidents happen. You can never be prepared for them, but you can help protect yourself. There are a number of safety guidelines and practices available, but one that is not really talked about is insurance.

One of the difficulties of life as a freelancer is figuring out how much to charge for your services. They say time is money, but they don’t tell you how much money it’s worth.