INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Click or double-click the grey elephant app icon to do so. You should see the MAMP dashboard window appear. On a Mac, you can find the MAMP app icon inside the Applications folder. This will allow MAMP to skip using port 80 in favor of using the next free port. In virtually all cases, MAMP will use port 81 if port 80 isn't free. Doing so will allow MAMP to use its selected port. If you're on a Windows computer, Firewall will ask for permission to let both Apache and MySQL through. Click Allow on both prompts before you proceed. Skip this step on a Mac.

SUMMARY: Open MAMP. Click Use next free port when prompted. Click Yes when prompted. Confirm any Firewall requests.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Are all the actors and crew present? If not, call 'em. If so, great. Now you have to make sure the deck is swept and mopped, everything is preset for the top of the show and it's all ready to go. If there are any hitches, people will probably come to you. It'll change every night. You're still the clock, even though you're out of rehearsals. Keep everyone posted on the countdown. Let them know at a half hour before that the house is open. Let them know it's 20 to places. 10 to places. 5 to places. And, finally, places. And make sure they say, "Thank you, 10!" (for example) before you assume they've heard you.  You'll also probably be letting everyone know when the stage is open and closed (for things like flying and whatnot), when physical and vocal warm ups are, etc. Basically when anything happens, you alert the masses. If you have a crew of veterans, this won't be that big of a deal. But the odds of everyone being seasoned aren't great! Assume they could all use a brush up and go over headset protocol. Here are a few things:   You will say "warning" and the cue number and whom it affects ("warning on deck cue 16," for example). The affected person should then say "Thank you, warning." After a warning, you will say "standby," as in "standby deck cue 16." The affected person should then say, "stage left," or "lights" or whatever their department is. When a standby is called, there is no more talking. When it is time for the cue, you call "GO." There is no response to this. You are the only one allowed to call the final go. Headset banter is a natural part of working backstage. It's a great part. Just know when it's appropriate and when it's not. Every night you'll have a front of house info sheet to fill out about ticket sales and box office issues. Your house manager and you will work out a system. But for their sake, keep your routine habitual. Try to show up at the same time and place each night so they can predict how things work with you. Co-ordinate with the front of house manager of when to open the house (generally half an hour before) and when to start the show. Do you hold the show by 5 minutes because the line at the box office is huge? Patrons can't find parking? Is it raining? They'll let you know if anything out of the ordinary is happening out front -- it's just as important as what's happening in the back! That headset protocol we talked about? That's the stuff you'll be using to call the show. So at 5 to places, you'll head up to the booth (or wherever you're calling the show from), and your team will assemble. You've talked to the front of house, the headsets are on, the audience is ready, and you're ready to call cue 1. Curtains open! This is used to tell the production team how it went, the length of the show, the house count, and any problems or anything that needs to be fixed before the next show. With any luck this'll be totally repetitive every night and you'll be able to do it with one eye closed and an arm tied behind your back.

SUMMARY: Make sure everything and everyone's safe and ready. Call times. Go through headset protocol. Work with the house manager. Call the show. Type up a show report.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Zamzar and Convertio are both clean, straightforward file conversion services. This should take you to your converter's web page. The information you need to enter for online converters will vary wildly from one converter to the next, but there are a few options you can expect to see across the board:  Upload your PDF. This option will say something like "Upload", "Browse", or "From Computer/Dropbox/etc.". Select your file type. If you choose a PDF to [File Type] converter, you'll just have to choose "GIF" as the file type; a universal file converter will require you to select both "PDF" (as the original file) and "GIF" (as the conversion format). Enter your email address. Many conversion sites give you the option of receiving your converted file by email. Research your chosen site thoroughly before downloading or accepting any files from it. Most file converters will download your file automatically, so you may just have to click the "Convert" button to download the file. Some browsers will ask for a save location; if yours asks, save your converted GIF somewhere easily accessible (e.g., your desktop). You have successfully converted your PDF to GIF format!

SUMMARY: Open your preferred browser. Search for a free PDF to GIF converter in your preferred search engine. Click the link for your selected converter. Set up your converter options. Click the pertinent button to convert your PDF. Click the "Download" button if there is one. Close your browser when the download is complete.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Create a professional social media page where you can promote yourself as a drummer. Take videos of you drumming a few of your best songs and post them online. You can send links to show your skill to interested employers. This will make you searchable online, and increased visibility means a greater chance of you landing a gig. Go around to see if the restaurants, coffee shops, and bars in your area are looking for drummers. If no one is hiring, ask if there’s anytime you can play for free. Any exposure is good for you when you’re starting out. Another good way to find gigs is by checking sites like ThatsMyGig.com regularly to see if there’s been any postings for drummers in your area. Never say no to a gig unless you absolutely have to. You never know where you’ll create connections that’ll land you more jobs. If you want to be hired by the same person twice, don’t be late. It’s disrespectful to keep someone waiting, especially if they’re paying you. Something that impresses people is someone who is consistently punctual. Try being five to ten minutes early. That way, if there’s any traffic, you’ll be just on time.

SUMMARY:
Create a media kit. Find gigs to play. Show up on time.