IF you can keep your head when all about seem to be losing theirs,
If you can trust your palette when the director doubts you,
But make allowance for their lack of taste too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or keep the whole crew waiting, inspite of the first AD,

And yet never look too good, leave that to wardrobe :
If you can dream – and put your dreams on screen;
If you can think –even when you’ve had no sleep;
If you can meet with Clients and Disaster
And treat those two inconveniences just the same;
If you can bear to see the perfection of your vision Changed on set until you barely recognize it,

If you can work without break or lunch
And never breathe a word about your bursting bladder;
And risk it all only to start again tomorrow (because the brief has changed),
And lose your slips and go back to every supplier
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your producer even when there is no budget,
And so hold on when there is nothing left in you
And no petty cash left for lunch or casuals

If you can talk to makeup and keep your sense of humour,
Orwork around extras - and not commit violence,
if neither gaffers nor over loving grips can hurt you,
If all production managers love and trust you,
If you can fill the unforgiving stand by
With sixty seconds' worth of focused silence,

Yours is the Set and everything that's in it,
And - what is more - you'll be an Art Director, soon …. ish!