RodHouTX (3stage)

[cec080]

:D Rod i noticed on both boards dept.18 and cec you always rave about your 3stage. i would really like to see it! send some pics my way at cecfan334@yahoo.com! i have 3 in michigan and would really like to compare them!
thanks!
:D

[RodHouTx]

Haha, well its not that good. I just try to keep all the movements working and at the right speed, and I have a list of stuff that needs to be worked on (and we don't have a tech right now, so its just me for now on Sunday night). I need some $$$ for cosmetics, though, and you know how expensive those are!! But I'm sure it works better than the show at rockafire pizza!

I am actually putting together some pictures to send to pizzacam and I think he is going to post them here.

[pizzacam]

Wow, I always figured you were the tech. :p

[RodHouTx]

:p

No way!! If I was a tech I wouldn't enjoy working on it!

[YoungCaliHottie]

wow i though u were too

[RodHouTx]

Nope. I have just been working on the show for over 10 years, and I received training by the district tech and store tech way back when because I wanted to know how everything worked, and read through any installation or maintenance manual I could get my hands on. And of course I picked up a lot of it on my own as we all do with things we love, and I've been around through ShowBiz and Concept Unification. The Show is the whole reason I started working at ShowBiz back in 1988. So my passion for the show is to keep it in the best shape I can, as close to Dept 18's show as possible, not just another chore that has to be done. And over the years the techs have given me tons of troubleshooting knowledge that I have been able to apply. And as with all the fans on this board, we know what the show is supposed to look like, so we can easily spot a broken arm, a movement that is too slow, etc. The diagnostic tape is my best friend :-)

"Come for the pizza, and stay for the fun."

[RodHouTx]

Hey guys, I don't want you guys to get the wrong impression. I don't think I have ever raved about my show, I am just passionate about the 3-stage. I WISH I had the best show, but I don't. There are a couple of things we just won't be able to fix, and I don't have a pizzacam (sorry Gabe!) or a Neon sign. I try to address the most glaring problems first when I work on the show on the weekends (any macs that get stuck, air leaks, movements that are going too fast for whatever reason); this keeps movements running smooth and quiet. The tech is still "supposed" to do the PM's.

I know we have all seen the shows that have the jerky or banging movements, one arm hanging down because its broken, or lots of stuck movements. And if a tech is not really "into" the show that much he may not notice or even know that there are some things that need attention, and probably does not use the diagnostic tape or adjust flow controls. Or worse- he has a budget of $10/month for the show ($20 in the Summer). That's the biggest killer! I am very very fortunate to have had understanding managers that let us spend an appropriate amount on the show to keep it operating in a good condition and allow us to spend extra when necessary to replace a broken part.

[pizzacam]

Cool, so what is your official position over there? You just come in an fix it or?

[RodHouTx]

Well, Munch and I have a lot in common! I think I eat my weight in food. I do clock in when I work on the show, but I don't know what my 'title' is. It's probably the same as it was back in the day. I just get peanuts for doing it, but I do it because I enjoy it. I don't have a scheduled time, but its usually one night on the weekend. I am there frequently so I have constant communication with the tech, manager, and district manager. Most Techs are probably overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated, so they always welcome any assistance they can get.

I wish I could make a career out of going around and fixing 3-stage shows with a trusty toolbox filled with parts with you guys since you're scattered all over the US. That would be cool. People notice when you fix things or they see something they haven't seen work before.

"Nationwide MMBB Repair Service"
www.fixmunch.com (http://www.fixmunch.com)

[cec080]

cool info Rod! no you wre'nt really raving about it but yes it sounds like your's looks and works better than the 3 in michigan. last night i was at a 3stage store they recently lost the big screen,helicopter,and pasquallys spot light however it still looks good and has fresh carpeting for the 4th time!

[RodHouTx]

Sometimes I get quite frustrated with my show. I wish I could spend more time working on it. You know there are those things that are just going to take a long time to fix and are buried inside the character. And there are two high dollar items I need (Jasper Mask, Helen Jaw) - depressing just to think about how much that is going to cost (over $700)!
We got a new big screen last year, and I WAS going to get a replacement Gemini light for my helicopter light.

I think I am going to install some token slots on the stage.. one next to each character :hat Or maybe just jump right to a dollar bill acceptor!

[cec080]

:) great idea with the token slot and dollar bill machine! hmm i wonder if cec should add like a tax or something to your food bill that would be put aside for show repairs. add it in so the guest don't realize that it's being put in a seperate account set aside for show repairs. such as $5.00 per everyguest on a large pizza or package.

[chuckrules]

lol. I thought you worked for department 18 RodHouTX. wow a three stage MMBB repair man. Very impressive!:D