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Hello theatre thread. I have been working as a stagehand or doing related stuff for the past 15 years. Somehow I never though to look in CC for a thread.
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Nov 27, 2011 03:42
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| # ¿ May 15, 2024 16:41 |
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Honestly a huge amount of tech people are pretty dismissive of degrees and would always rather have someone with experience. Doing free or poorly paid work is the fastest way to meet (and hopefully) impress people who will hire you for better stuff. I don't think I hav ever met an LD who didn't spend a few years humping feeder.
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Dec 28, 2011 16:39
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You should also be able to leave with a bunch of work contacts. That to me seemed as valuable as the piece o paper. Hell, I only lasted a year in college and I quit because I was getting so much work that first summer I didn't see the point of going back. You also need some balls to get tech jobs, I have never taken a gig really knowing how to do the job I was being hired for. If you are a reasonable smart person and arent a weird troll (which sadly describes a lot of hands) people will often take a chance on you. This post is being typed from an airport bar from which I am on my way to my second ever freelance production management job. Do I know what I am doing? Maybe, but I am here because I did a similar job really well and someone decided to give me a shot. As an aside, always trade money from your day rate for per diem money, airport and hotel bars will kill you over time.
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Jan 2, 2012 21:54
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Oh, as an actor or director it is essential to get that level of training and experience. On the tech side, there is usually an abundance of work so personal connections matter much more. Also a company in DC did a silent Hamlet and it was pretty amazing.
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Jan 2, 2012 22:56
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I just want to throw out a "you dang kids and your newfangled LEDs. Now a 6x9, that was a damm light. " It is really amazing how far poo poo has come in the 15 years I have been doing this. This morning I did my first non theatre lighting call in like 3 years and other then the S4s, didn't recognize any of the other fixtures. I still dress cable better and faster then you punk kids.
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Mar 23, 2012 07:56
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Named Ashamed posted:I'm looking for some advice on a prop for a One Act I'm directing. There are some very realistic props of the type you are talking about, but they are a bit expensive. I believe Rosco makes/made a good one. You could also get some small DMX controllable fixtures, g el them up and write a macro to make the flicker effect. Small speakers could provide the sound. You could also do this with a tablet computer if you can figure out how to program the flickering lights. I mean, a red glow is lighting 101 but without knowing your budget it is hard to offer specific advice.
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Apr 15, 2012 23:18
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The difference between a production manager and a lighting designer have now been illustrated.
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Apr 16, 2012 00:39
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Almost any decent folding knife can be made into a prop knife by replacing the blade with either aluminum, hard rubber or even frosted lexan. It does take some skill to make and fit the blade however. Benchmade also makes training knives for some of their more popular lines but they are expensive. Knifecenter.com sells them.
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Apr 20, 2012 02:56
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I typed up a long thing and then read you live in NYC. Local 1 is going to be tough to get into. I semi recently worked with a great non union crewing company up there. Sadly it's name escapes me. If you shoot me a PM on monday I will make some calls and find their name.
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May 12, 2012 03:07
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I may be moving to St Louis in the near future, does anyone know anything about tech jobs and such out there?
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Jun 26, 2012 13:38
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Burger Crime posted:The three places recommended to me when I was thinking about moving to St. Louis were Cool, thanks.
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Jun 27, 2012 00:42
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MildManeredManikin posted:
I did tech for about 10 years and then moved into corporate/special event end of things. I would dearly love to go back to building scenery again but the lure of money is pretty strong. I also am realizing that I am being passed by as more and more automation stuff is being used in sets. This spring I worked for a few weeks in a college shop to help a friend out and I was blown away at how much fancy stuff the kids were being taught. I never learned computer drafting and I think that would be a real roadblock to getting back into shop work.
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Aug 21, 2012 21:26
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r0ff13c0p73r posted:Load in from hell ended up opening great. This is about how it always is, until you work somewhere with a ton of money, then you only need to fix them every other day.
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Oct 22, 2012 01:09
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Hah, doing a refocus during a show is amazing. With that small amount of lights your best bet is to just light the stage with a wash and play with intensity and areas. Maybe safe that S4 looking thing for a special, but if it really is a 50 then you are going to be kinda limited in what it can do. If you have spare dimmers then call every theatre in the area and try to borrow a few source 4s or anything similar. I used to do a ton of no money theatre and generally I found that by staying simple you can avoid looking cheap and let the play take focus. I was always a huge fan of black boxs and acting cubes rather then trying to build a actual set with $300 or what ever. When you have limited money costumes and decent sound are the most cost effective places to put it towards. bongwizzard fucked around with this message at 23:40 on Nov 23, 2012 |
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Nov 23, 2012 23:36
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r0ff13c0p73r posted:Take some process shots and start building a carp portfolio! People do that?
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Aug 8, 2013 17:34
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r0ff13c0p73r posted:It's not usually required for carp jobs, but it's one of those extra miles that makes employers happy if it's done right. Though more and more jobs are requiring visual aids of some kind with a resume. TDs have their draftings, SMs have their prompt books, etc. Madness. I don't think I ever got a theatre related job through anything other then a personal recommendation or a "gently caress it, we just need warm bodies" type deal. A theatre I used to TD for did a Kickstarter to help fund a staged version of "Neverwhere" they are doing and I gave them a hundred bucks. And then realized that only by abandoning art and doing event poo poo was I able to afford it. I think I am going to give them more and see if I can help in the build or something. I really do kinda miss it.
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Aug 16, 2013 00:59
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I don't know poo poo about dance but dance lighting is my favorite thing. No one else lets you use saturated colors and darkness. I almost think I enjoy dance more not knowing much about it, I can walk into a show with no expectations.
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Aug 20, 2013 16:44
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SatansBestBuddy posted:Director bailed due to a death in the family. Producer has heart surgery for a pace maker right before we open. The set foremen didn't tell us he hosed off until we checked on the sets and found none of them built or painted. The props master had to replace the actor we couldn't find. Oh and another actor was hospitalized and needs to be replaced. Write in a children's choir in the first act to get grandparents in the seats then add a nude scene in the second act to bring the perv crowd in. At least then you will make some money.
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Dec 15, 2013 16:07
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| # ¿ May 15, 2024 16:41 |
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r0ff13c0p73r posted:You should take pictures. I'm always looking for new ideas. One of my favorite things about my boss is that as long as it works and isn't/doesn't look dangerous, it's fine (The looks part only holds true for AEA). I've known a few too many scenic carps worried about the "proper" way of doing things, and I've only been in the business for a couple of years. I worked as a non union hand in DC for like 13-15 years and know a decent bit about 22. I am on my phone now but shoot me a PM or email and I can dump some info on you.
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Dec 16, 2013 18:45
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