(OPENING) (HOME) (PROJECTS) (PHOTOS) (FAQS) (TIPS p.1) (SURVEY) (LINKS)
ON TOOLS 
NOTE: Instructions contained herein assume that you have a basic understanding and knowledge of the use of hand tools in order to build or make the props or accessories described, as well as to create your own designs after mastering these. There is not enough room in this text to teach you the use of ordinary hand tools. Therefore, if you feel at all uncomfortable or unprepared to follow the Master’s instructions and make your own props, equipment, and even costume parts, I’d suggest you first teach yourself or get someone to teach you the fundamentals of using tools. You could always go out and find someone to do these things for you, whether for free, or for a price, but as the saying goes, "If you want it right, do it yourself."
The best performers and professional athletes always take a personal hand in their equipment. Musicians would never think of letting someone else tune their instruments; Circus rope-walkers and aerialists personally check the rigging; Marksmen load their own weapons. I could continue here and fill a page with examples like this. The point is, no matter how trusted your friends or helpers may be, YOU are the one who must ultimately depend on your equipment. Like a gun, it is too dangerous to be set up or prepared entirely by others. For your own safety, and that of your audience, as well as your reputation, you MUST have a personal hand in preparing your own equipment. Furthermore, if you can’t make the things yourself, what are you going to do when the day comes that, a half-hour before show-time, you discover a critical prop or piece of equipment is somehow either broken or worn out -or (Oh, No!!) missing? -And the person you depend on to make or fix your equipment is either not there at the time, or due to show up two minutes before curtain?? Don’t say it won’t happen to you. These things DO happen to all of us sooner or later. They’ve happened to me more times than I’m willing to admit, and they’ve happened to the best of performers. Of course, I’ve never depended on someone else to do my repair work for me, so I’ve never ended up pulling hairs waiting for someone. I just rolled up my sleeves and got to work. Yes, I always carry the necessary tools and repair parts for my equipment, just in case. I did learn that the hard way very early on, and that is another thing: You need to not only know how, but you must be ready to, able to, and expect to have to, do emergency backstage repairs at any time. This is one of the little facts of life, having something to do with Murphy’s Law. And it’s one of the things that separate the real pros and troupers from the amateurs. So, be a Boy Scout (or Girl Scout, as the case may be), and "Be Prepared".
Basically, for getting started, about the only tools you are really going to need are a pair of pliers, a pair of scissors, a bottle of white glue, and maybe a screwdriver now and then. Later on, if you want to make fancier torches like mine, you will want to have a tubing cutter to cut the rods to a correct and comfortable length. If you decide your show torches are going to be fancier than the ones I use, then you are going to need the necessary tools for working with whatever materials you choose. It also helps to have some elementary sewing skills so you can do some, most, or even all, of your own costume work. Costumes can be rip backstage; A button will often decide to drop off between shows, rather than at home or at the dry-cleaner’s. So it’s a good idea to know how to fix a tear or stitch a button back on.
Keep in mind, too, the old adage about using the right tools for the job. As a home craftsman and artisan myself, I have always tried to follow and respect this admonition. Tools are made and designed for specific jobs. Think twice about using them for jobs for which they were not intended. For example, don’t use a screwdriver as a chisel or pry-bar; don’t use your claw hammer for digging holes or splitting wood; and don’t use a hatchet or pliers or screwdriver handle for driving nails. Scissors are for cutting paper or fabric, not sheet metal or pins. Take care of your tools and they will probably outlive your show equipment. They may even outlive you!
If you’re concerned about theft or loss or your limited budget, cheap tools ought to work okay. But I personally prefer the quality stuff. It lasts longer and doesn’t fall apart in the middle of a job. You may want to actually keep two sets of tools, Keep and use the quality stuff at home, and have a few basic, but cheap, tools in your backstage emergency bag.
In any situation where there’s other people working around you -be they other performers, stagehands, directors, or whatever, sooner or later, somebody is going to "need" to borrow one or more of your tools. And more likely than not, at least one of those tools is going to get lost or broken. Murphy’s Law, again (as well as personal experience). So save yourself some of my past aggravations and keep your good stuff for yourself only.
(OPENING) (HOME) (PROJECTS) (PHOTOS) (FAQS) (TIPS p.1) (SURVEY) (LINKS)