The Headset System

We've got four headsets and a few belt packs for the clear-com. The stage manager can plug his or her headset right into the base station, and the other three can be plugged into the XLR cables hanging in the corners of the theatre. Clear-com is much more expensive than it looks. It's also far more delicate. Don't crunch the cables or sit on the headsets. Please be nice. Headset usage is something that varies from show to show, but it's also something that a lot of people don't really think about. Some good general guidelines are these:

• Remember that your volume knob controls the volume of your earpiece, not your mic.
• Everyone on headset should be speaking at more or less a whisper.
• Never say "no" on headset. It sounds like "go" and can cause an early cue. Say "negative" or "uh-uh" or something else that won't cause confusion.
• Whenever you take your headset off, announce your name and "going off headset." When you come back, say so. This keeps the stage manager informed.
• The golden rule: if you hear the word "clear", stop talking. This word means that whatever that person has to say is more important and needs to be discussed right now.