[SML] What is your favorite cue number method?

[Andrew Vance]

I use odd numbers almost exclusively.  If I go a few pages without a
cue, I skip some numbers to allow for something I'll add in later.
LQ1-10 are usually reserved for preset, houselight moves, etc.;
basically anything that happens prior to the start of the show.  Show
starts with LQ11.

I like to start Act 2 with LQ101 [or 201, depending on the complexity
of the show].  I'll back by intermission cues up so that LQx95 is
House/Preset, LQx97 is house to half, and LQx99 is House/preset out. I
do that same thing at the end of the show.

For me, its about being able to find where I'm at in a show without
having to think about it too much.  I also hate point-cues with a
passion, so I do all I can to avoid having the SM call them.

As you can see, I've had too much time to think about this as well. : )


-- 
Sincerely,

Andrew Vance
Lighting Designer

On Sun, Feb 25, 2018 at 3:14 PM, Edward Hunter via Stagecraft
<stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> I've recently been ruminating on different systems for choosing cue numbers
> for light cues (thus proving I probably have too much free time on my
> hands).
>
> I've seen several different methods from different designers and it got me
> curious as to what people consider the pros and cons of the different
> choices. Note this is all about where you start, not where you end up since
> inserting cues and deleting them will throw off any system.  Some choices I
> have see have been:
>    1) Sequential 1-N
>    2) Number by 5's.
>    3) Even/odd where even is the cue number the stage manger calls and odd
> numbers are reserved for things like position moving lights or effects etc.
>    4) Start each scene with the next cue number rounded up to the nearest 10
> or 100 (10, 20, 30...)
>
> What are other methods people like?
> -Ed