diff --git a/stepmania/src/LuaReference.cpp b/stepmania/src/LuaReference.cpp
index 65a7093c68..85b23bd06c 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/LuaReference.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/LuaReference.cpp
@@ -193,6 +193,13 @@ void LuaTable::Set( Lua *L, const RString &sKey )
 	lua_settop( L, iTop-1 ); // remove all of the above
 }
 
+void LuaTable::Get( Lua *L, const RString &sKey )
+{
+	this->PushSelf( L );
+	lua_getfield( L, -1, sKey );
+	lua_remove( L, -2 ); // remove self
+}
+
 namespace LuaHelpers
 {
 	template<> void Push<LuaReference>( lua_State *L, const LuaReference &Object ) 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/LuaReference.h b/stepmania/src/LuaReference.h
index 1d8eda4b03..d470a8791b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/LuaReference.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/LuaReference.h
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ class LuaTable: public LuaReference
 public:
 	LuaTable();
 
+	/* Get the key with the given name, and push it on the stack. */
+	void Get( Lua *L, const RString &sKey );
+
 	/* Set a key by the given name to a value on the stack, and pop the value
 	 * off the stack. */
 	void Set( Lua *L, const RString &sKey );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/MessageManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/MessageManager.cpp
index ac6fe1c75e..b30cbfd117 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/MessageManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/MessageManager.cpp
@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ const LuaReference &Message::GetParamTable() const
 	return *m_pParams;
 }
 
+void Message::GetParamFromStack( lua_State *L, const RString &sName ) const
+{
+	m_pParams->Get( L, sName );
+}
+
 void Message::SetParamFromStack( lua_State *L, const RString &sName )
 {
 	m_pParams->Set( L, sName );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/MessageManager.h b/stepmania/src/MessageManager.h
index 2002d5a42e..795c6d396c 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/MessageManager.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/MessageManager.h
@@ -156,8 +156,19 @@ struct Message
 	void PushParamTable( lua_State *L );
 	const LuaReference &GetParamTable() const;
 
+	void GetParamFromStack( lua_State *L, const RString &sName ) const;
 	void SetParamFromStack( lua_State *L, const RString &sName );
 
+	template<typename T>
+	bool GetParam( const RString &sName, T &val ) const
+	{
+		Lua *L = LUA->Get();
+		GetParamFromStack( L, sName );
+		bool bRet = LuaHelpers::Pop( L, val );
+		LUA->Release( L );
+		return bRet;
+	}
+
 	template<typename T>
 	void SetParam( const RString &sName, const T &val )
 	{