Being a theater technician is never easy work. Over the past four years I've been heavily involved behind the scenes of my school's theater department slaving for directors and actors who don't seem to appreciate me or the work that I've done for them.

Here's a list of ten things that made me want to saw my own hand off rather than work with actors.

1. It's "hell" week, and you're complaining:

Tech week, more commonly known as "hell week" is one of the final weeks before the opening night of a show. It is the last week that techies get to finish anything and everything that hasn't been done yet. At my school, the actors have to show up for tech rehearsals so they can stand in place for their light cues; the rest of the time, they get the privilege to sit down and basically do nothing while we are running around like chickens with cut off heads.

2. If we tell you not to touch it, you probably shouldn't:

Being a scenic charge artist, I work with tons of paint on a daily basis. There have been countless times where I have just finished painting a set piece and actors have touched it... even if they've been watching me paint.

3. When our tools have been touched:

Just don't do it. If we don't go into your bags and mess with your scripts then why would you come into the shop and mess with our tools?

4. When the director or stage manager says that they have to help:

High school theatre is an all-hands-on-deck experience. Sometimes we are way behind schedule and need everyone to pitch in to get things done. We would rather the actors not touch any of our things, but if its a must, could they at least take care of them? I've lost so many paint brushes, paint keys, rollers, and even an entire can of paint this year because actors were told to take matters into their own hands and then decided not to clean up after themselves.

5. All of the "But why?" moments:

There have been too many times when actors have approached me and questioned what I was working on. If you don't like it, take it up with your stage manager, I'm just following orders from them and the director; I don't actually know why what I'm doing is the way that it is.

6. Everyone is supposed to strike:

Strike and cleanup is a big job. When the director says that everyone is supposed to help out, that also means the actors.

7. We have deadlines too:

As a techie, we do a lot to make you look good. If we ask you to bring us something, then you need to do it when you're asked. If not, you may be on stage naked.

8. We actually won't hesitate in letting you on stage naked:

This is a simple one, really. With the amount of hours that techies put into rehearsals, actors should appreciate their sets, costumes, lighting, props, and sound effects just a little more than you do. We could just give you a dark and empty stage to work with.

9. If we tell you to move then you need to:

Scene transitions! They are supposed to be quick and easy and move the story along. But in rehearsals, there are sometimes people who don't pay attention to anything around them. Maybe instead of yelling because you've almost been hit in the face with something, how about listening when we ask you to move?

10. The world doesn't revolve around you:

Just because the techies aren't on the stage, that doesn't mean that we don't matter. Please don't make us feel inferior just because we don't have a spot light like you. Last year in my department there was too much drama off stage concerning how the actors were talking behind our backs.