In 2022 footage was unearthed in Minnesota’s WCCO film library of Prince at age 11 being interviewed during a Minneapolis teachers strike, in 1970.

While digging around in old news film in the basement of the WCCO TV station for footage of the 1970 Minneapolis teachers strike, production manager Matt Liddy found footage of what proved to be Prince at 11 years old, being interviewed by a reporter, outside his former junior high school Lincoln Junior High School.

I miss you, tumblr.

And I know I know: it’s been about 10 weeks, time for Tiffany to hop on tumblr and talk about how she misses it it and then ghost tf outta there. 

But as all of the world was transitioning to working virtually, I found myself using skills I forgot about. 

I want to tell you all a story of the importance of staying calm:

Two weeks before rehearsals were to start for a show I am currently working. I bumped into one of my ASM’s while heading out to lunch who told me she had to drop from the show due to reasons beyond her control (and they were very valid reasons).

Cue why emailing skills are so important:

First things first I had my ASM email the production manager while I drafted up another email to also tell the production manager I was looking for a new ASM. 

While all this was happening, context for you all:

The week before we had four actors drop from the show, followed by the morning of the day my ASM told me she was dropping, the lead actor in the show emailed me and told me she was dropping from the show for yet again, a very valid reason and it seemed the director and I were the only people who knew.

This I knew was going to cause a ton of emotional distress on our already emotional distressed director (because we now had 5 people drop the show including our lead).

I immediately went up to the costume shop with my other ASM in tow and told the costume designer, costume shop supervisor and costume head to brace for impact when they meet with the director that evening to go over drawings because our lead had just dropped the show.

So here is where the catch 22 came in…is ignorance bliss? Do I not tell the director who is already emotionally distraught because our lead had just dropped the show the same day that we also just lost our ASM?

I send my email to the production manager telling her what just happened, we both agree to wait to tell the director at the production meeting the following week to give us a little time to find another ASM.

Then I start quietly searching for someone who could fill our spot. I email people, send a few people Facebook Messages and send a few texts. Those who are interested cannot fit the show into their schedule due to other shows they are working. A little frustrating but I have not lost hope yet, there are still plenty of people I am asking.

I know I still have my other ASM so I know if we do not have another ASM by the time rehearsals start we will be okay for the time being. A few days before our next production meeting I get an email from our Production Manager. We have someone interested in being an ASM.

Our production meeting comes around. At the end of the meeting I bring up that we have lost our ASM but we have a solid lead on a new one.

The director simply said “Oh no! I’m glad you didn’t tell me the day our lead dropped. That would have been too much. But I’m glad it sounds like we have another ASM.”

Our potential ASM showed up to the first rehearsal about five hours after getting hired. We had an ASM.

Tech week(s) is in two weeks and our ASM is thriving, getting along with the whole Stage Management crew, actors and directors and has become a good friend. :)

Stay calm. Take a minute to breathe. Use your brain and not your emotions to evaluate the situation. It is a life saver. 

Thought I would give some background info on me:

Going into second (sophomore) year of university

Studying performance production

Interested in SM, PM, TD, lighting

Proud Chinese Canadian 🇨🇳🇨🇦

Currently studying French and Mandarin

Love travelling and hope to do so while working!