Stage writers

[Rye Miles #13621]

 I'm curious do you stage writers always use starting lines from movies or tv shows or do you sometimes just make up your own? 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Media is a good source of starting lines.  When I hear a useful phrase, I record it for match use.  Country & Western music has good phrases too.  I've found websites with lists of Old West insults that work too.  I've written matches where all the starting lines had a theme like horses or money.  

Edited March 25 by Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Movies/TV shows/Western novels/Historical Western Quotes.

Most Western films offer enough good quotes for a single match

Never liked stages where the writers just made up their own -- does not sound "right" to me

--Dawg

[Lucky R. K.]

Think "The Outlaw Josey Wales". You could do several matches with quotes from it, and we have.

Lucky 😁

[Marauder SASS #13056]

I use a mix.  No need to limit it.

 

Used to have a short story and the line was based on that.  As SASS has changed people don't go for the story is not included.

[Go West]

I absolutely hate lengthy starting lines and generally substitute "Ready." I used to be better at remembering the lines, but not so much now if they're the first chapter of the story. 

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

34 minutes ago, Go West said:

I absolutely hate lengthy starting lines and generally substitute "Ready." I used to be better at remembering the lines, but not so much now if they're the first chapter of the story. 

I am all in for this.  I too substitute "READY" but as age is creeping in, remembering how to shoot a stage is more of a priority than remembering a lengthy starting lines.🤠

[Jackalope]

I usually include a bit of background on why the shooting is about to happen and draw a starting line from there.  For example:

I complimented my friend’s moustache yesterday.  It made her pretty angry.  That’s what started the gunfight.

Indicate ready by saying, "Nice moustache."  At the beep...

 

Hoss said, “I was fired from my job yesterday.  They said I lacked passion and intensity.”  Little Joe replied, “I guess they never saw you at the all-you-can-eat buffet.”  That's what started the gunfight.  Indicate ready by saying, "Let's eat!"  At the beep...

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Both 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

A "line" is there for TWO reasons:

1.  To signify the shooter has finished staging their guns and is READY to engage the stage.  As such "shooter ready" is fine.

 

2.  And (if the shooter desires to use it) to get them enthused and create more "ambiance" for the stage.

 

But either way - the line is for the shooters usage; and however they choose to make use of it (or not make use of it) is acceptable.

 

If I am writing a themed match - I will try to make use of quotes (or paraphrase) from the source material and generally use ones that tie in to the action/ prop use or shooting sequence that follows the "beep".

 

For instance; if I am doing High Plains Drifter - shooter might begin with paintbrush in hand, with a line something like, "Paint it all red".  

This would be standing next to the city sign of Lago crossed out and renamed Hell.

At the BEEP, discard the brush and do...

 

But sometimes you want to do something that doesn't come directly from a specific source - then you have to make up your own lines.

 

You place shooter specific "Wanted" posters on a wall. 

When that shooter comes to the line - their starting line is "That don't even look like me"

At the BEEP, tear down your poster; then do...

 

My stages were probably about 50/50 using original lines versus quotes.

 

But again, I only write the line to greater immerse the shooter into the story; but it the shooters option to do or not do so.

 

And if the shooter comes up with something more clever or more comfortable - that's their choice as well. 

[El Chapo]

I'm a doofus and I can never remember them anyway.  "Let's do it" is probably my most popular line.

[JackSlade]

If the stage has the starting position of "rifle in hands", I use this line from The Quick and the Dead:

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

Both.

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

My goal in one match was one-syllable words.  

 

Draw

Duck

Hide

Run

Smile

Git

 

working on a match:  The Six Foods over Texas

sardine toast (Spain)

Croissant (France)

Tacos  (Mexico)

Barbequed cow (Republic of Texas)

Googer Peas (C.S.A)

Fried Chicken (U.S. of A)

[Rye Miles #13621]

For example in the Saloon, “Leave Kitty alone” , the Corral, “Cattle thieves get em! “The Mercantile, “Don’t be robbing our store”, the Cemetery “There’s a fresh grave for ya” the Marshall’s office, “ Jailbreak!”  The open range, “Geronimo!” This is at Firelands where we have facades and buildings, etc. I like using movie and tv lines but sometimes coming up with your own lines is fun too. This is about fun right?🤣

Edited March 25 by Rye Miles #13621

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

24 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

This is about fun right?🤣

My over riding philosophy of cowboy action - right there.

 

"If we ain't havin' fun - why are we doin' this?"

[Flanigan Flats]

I usually make up my own. Often whatever pops into my mind while reading the stage for flow. 

[JohnWesleyHardin]

I make fun of club members. Especially when I know they aren't going to be there.

Always gets a good laugh

[Elkhorn Ernie]

I wrote the stages for our three day shoot a few years ago. The shoot was based on the movie Winchester 73, and each of our stages were used for certain parts of the movie.  Each of the lines for the stages were either lines in the movie or something that fit with that stage. So with that  I used movie lines and came up with mine own. It should totally be left up to the stage writer.

[Frontier Lone Rider]

I seem to not be able to remember very long starting lines.  I appreciate those clubs that post the starting line at the firing line.

 

When I can't remember the line, usually just say, let the fun begin.

[Woody Shootem, SASS # 24816]

When I write matches, it's always based on either a movie or TV show, or sometimes a character or actor (such as April's "A Tribute to Robert Duvall" or last year's tribute to Val Kilmer.  I confess the lines might be too long for some folks -- they are always welcome to use whatever line they want ("Let 'er buck" is pretty popular) and I take no offense at that, but it seems most people enjoy saying lines like "One twitch . . . and you're in hell!".

[Waimea]

When I was writing the stages for the SW REGULATORS in beautiful sunny Punta Gorda Florida the last line of the day was always highly anticipated bc it was always about beer.

The beer ain't gettin any colder.

The beer ain't gonna drink itself.

I think there's only 3 beers in the icebox. 

Was I supposed to bring the beers?

 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I went to a state shoot years ago and there was no theme or lines. It was pretty boring. They never did that again. I think for a 3 day shoot a theme is great, but at the local monthly shoots not necessary but it does add to the fun. Either way I do like starting lines whether they’re fromTV, movies or made up by the writer.🤠

[mean gun mark]

for my state shoot there is a theme and the lines will be related to that. for my monthly matches it is sort of a running gag that the lines are from whatever movie I was watching the night before. I will sometimes use some obscure lines and encourage everyone to guess what movie it was.   I will usually include a gimmie line that everyone will guess.    i.e.: Jaws- "were gonna need a bigger boat"   I have done lines from the godfather, goodfellas, star trek, pulp fiction, smoky and the bandit, any and all clint or john wayne westerns .and many others, once did lyrics from "sink the bismark" on the navy 250 anniversary.    there supposed to be fun!     And if I am the T.O. and you ask me what the line is, I will usually tell you "meangun is my hero"    typically the shooter needs a moment to compose after the laughter

Edited March 26 by mean gun mark

[Chief Rick]

For monthly matches, the starting line I write in the shooter package I email out and post online is "State when ready".

 

For an annual, sometimes a movie/TV line, sometimes something I make up.  But, for an annual, I post the starting line at all starting positions. 

 

Oh, and keep the starting lines short/simple.

 

The longer the starting line, the more likely I am going to say "let 'er buck".

Edited March 26 by Chief Rick

[Null N. Void]

Unless it's posted to read, I'll forget as I'm concentrating on the stage.  Then it's "I'm Ready."

[Colt Laredo]

I never write starting lines. It's distracting to the shooter. Seen too many come to line asking what the line is and not concentrating on the stage.

I've seen plenty of shooters substitute their own lines for "ready" and I think that's pretty cool what they come up with.

[doc roy l. pain]

I think it’s a shame when a shooter can’t say something cowboy to signal they are ready for the beep. Giddy up, or draw, or something to that effect sounds a whole lot better for our sport than just “ready”.  

[John Kloehr]

I just invent something when I forget the line, I like the lines. It is a bit of the color of this sport. 

 

Just off the cuff now...

 

Won't hold your water with that story

Time's a wastin

Not in this town

Not givin that no never mind

...

 

 

[KingSnake]

In memory of Celtic Rover, I sometimes use “Release the Krakens”  🤠

Edited March 26 by KingSnake

[Sheriff Dill]

I remember the first year my son shot. He would only say shooter ready. At one point Doc McCoy and Dakota Joe both looked at him as they were the TO’s at different times and asked if he knew how to say anything different. After that he said the lines. He just needed that little friendly nudge to get out of his comfort zone 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

3 hours ago, doc roy l. pain said:

I think it’s a shame when a shooter can’t say something cowboy to signal they are ready for the beep. Giddy up, or draw, or something to that effect sounds a whole lot better for our sport than just “ready”.  

I think we all play the game for different reasons - As long as a shooter is safe and within the rules - their level of participation with "fluff" (costuming, reciting lines or social aspects) is their choice.

 

While I think it is more fun to "play" cowboy; it doesn't really affect anyone else at a match if a shooter chooses to not fully embrace all aspects of the game.

[doc roy l. pain]

20 minutes ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

I think we all play the game for different reasons - As long as a shooter is safe and within the rules - their level of participation with "fluff" (costuming, reciting lines or social aspects) is their choice.

 

While I think it is more fun to "play" cowboy; it doesn't really affect anyone else at a match if a shooter chooses to not fully embrace all aspects of the game.

That’s the sad thing about the way the game is changing. Shooters are trying to wander farther and farther away from the game as it was originally designed to be. That was playing cowboy. The clothes, accoutrements, firearms and just the general cowboy attitude and lingo were all a part of the original way the game was set up. 

[Eyesa Horg]

1 hour ago, Sheriff Dill said:

I remember the first year my son shot. He would only say shooter ready. At one point Doc McCoy and Dakota Joe both looked at him as they were the TO’s at different times and asked if he knew how to say anything different. After that he said the lines. He just needed that little friendly nudge to get out of his comfort zone 

And now he's off and runnin' ! An absolute pleasure to shoot with.

[John Kloehr]

1 hour ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

I think we all play the game for different reasons - As long as a shooter is safe and within the rules - their level of participation with "fluff" (costuming, reciting lines or social aspects) is their choice.

 

While I think it is more fun to "play" cowboy; it doesn't really affect anyone else at a match if a shooter chooses to not fully embrace all aspects of the game.

I would rather see someone participating even if they just say "Ready!" than not have the participation at all, still would rather see some spirit and participation of these little things just for the fun of it.

 

For myself, I am still wearing blue jeans which is admittedly minimum compliance with the rules and spirit, but it is compliance. And in the other direction (and it was not mentioned earlier), I would not want some rule requiring more than "Ready!" or even a nod. I absolutely agree safety comes first.