Creative Venue Technician
Creative Venue Technician
Occupational Profile
Provides technical support to performing arts and screen industry productions, from conception to delivery, in a range of creative venues including, for example: theatres, studios, stages, galleries, on location, cruise ships, community and cultural venues.
Job roles covered
Theatre Technician, Stage Technician, Lighting Technician, Sound Technician, Video Technician, Automation Technician, Studio Technician.
Attitudes and Behaviours
The dynamic and diverse nature of creative venues’ product means that Technicians will need the ability to work withinvarious team environments, under pressure and to tight deadlines. A safe working attitude and anappreciation of the needs of other disciplines operating in the same workplace is crucial.
Other required attitudes and behaviours include:
- Ability to work as part of a team, which may vary in size and dynamic, may be touring or resident in a venue
- Drive and determination to complete the job on time
- Ability to work and remain calm & safe under pressure
- A safe attitude - specifically regarding working with electricity, work at height, manual handling & noise
- Ability to adapt to change with enthusiasm
- Ability to demonstrate problem-solving abilities
- A willingness to work unsociable hours in varying locations for extended periods
- Punctuality, reliability and personal responsibility
- Self-motivated with a positive ‘can do’ attitude, clear goals and ambition
- Ability to be an effective communicator
- Ability to self-promote and network effectively using appropriate channels and etiquette
- Willingness to stay up to date with technological developments and apply new ideas and techniques to practice
Skills
- Preparation, test, maintenance and use of equipment such as amplifiers, speakers & sound controldesks; sound reinforcement and communications systems;production lighting, dimmers & lighting control desks; video screens, cameras,projectors,switchers, mixers & scalers; rigging equipment, tracks, cloths and gauzes
- Assembly of systems from component parts
- Fault finding in components and systems
- Appropriate use of techniques and technology to optimize sound during a performance including live mixing, balancing,editing and playback
- Operation of specialisttechnical equipment and tools, including those for safety and access
- Setting and changing scenes, running flats and operating stage machinery
- Use and maintenance of automation
- Flying, including hemp, counterweight, powered and show flying
- Knots and splicing
- Safe operation of hand and power tools within a workshop environment
- Bench joinery, scenic construction, welding and fabrication techniques
- Scenery fixings and repair techniques
- Stage and production management including supporting the rehearsal process, compiling and using a prompt script, cueing a performance, sourcing and making props, budgeting and managing finances, setting targets and monitoring performance, using subcontractors, allocating and checking team members' work
- People management and interpersonal skills
- Risk assessment techniques and procedures, including preparation and use of a rescue plan for working at height
- Computer literacy including specialist software systems such as CAD
- Venue systems and associated maintenance techniques including painting, decorating and basic plumbing
- Preparation and interpretation of system specifications, rig plans and drawings
- Customer Service - dealing politely and respectfully with customers, ranging from freelance, touring and venue staff to production managers, performers and the public
Knowledge
- Principles and practice of designing scenery, lighting, sound and visual effects to meet creative and production requirements
- Selection of the correct tools and equipment for tasks
- Housekeeping
- Electricity,fixed andtemporary electrical systems; theory, practice and safety
- Management structures within a venue, etiquette and culture, including communication protocols and interdependencies between departments
- Knowledge of health and safety including manual handling, work at height, use of work equipment, noise, first aid, workinghours,fatigue and related legislation
- Lifting operations; theory and practice
- Industry bodies and their roles
- Code of Conduct for get-ins, fit-ups and get-outs