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Technician Case Study : simon lovelaceA case study provided by simon lovelace, a Technician listed on Stage Jobs Pro. To learn more about simon lovelace you can view their full CV here. |  |
| Question 1: What is the most rewarding aspect of working as a Technician? |
| Being an integral part of a creative process that, if all goes to plan, culminates in a product that brings satisfaction and pleasure to both the team that created it, and the audience that views it. |
| Question 2: What are the key skills required to be an effective Technician? |
| A wide knowledge across the spectrum of skills and techniques required to do the job effectively, and the ability to make on the spot judgements as to what techniques are appropriate to individual challenges. An ability to get on with all types of people, and to keep a cool head in pressure situations. |
| Question 3: Do you see your role as a natural step on a career ladder, and if so what is the next rung? |
| After spending many years as a member of the technical team and team leader, I am now moving into the field of training in order to share my accumulated skills, knowledge and experience with a new generation of technicians. |
| Question 4: How did you work your way into your current role? |
| I began my career in the live side of entertainment - having previously been involved in recording studio's - as member of local crew company Stage Miracles, unpacking trucks and humping. Enthusiasm and the ability to learn quickly propelled me up the ranks and I started being given increasingly intelligent and responsible roles on productions. |
| Question 5: How much do you think networking helps towards landing a job in the industry? |
| Networking is vital. It is important outside the workplace but even more so during working hours. The best way to forward ones career in the early stages is to join a crew company or "cassie" team at your local theatre, be seen to be good and keen by visiting productions, and sooner or later the invitation to join them will come. |
| Question 6: Do you think you will be working in the industry in the next five years, and if so in what capacity? |
| I will never leave this industry. I intend to be running training courses in technical showbusiness for beginners on a regular basis, whilst still keeping my hand in on tours and productions across europe. |
| Question 7: Please describe what a typical day working as a Technician might contain? |
| A typical day will involve an early start, and some elbow grease unpacking trucks and humping gear. This will be followed by the lighting rig fit up(invariably first in), then sound and set load in. Then lunch, tinkering around, focussing etc. Tea then sound check. Doors at 7, show at 7.30. Derig and load out hopefully before midnight. |
| Question 8: Have you done any additional training courses to further your career? |
| I have perforce been on health and safety courses and taken training on various pieces of technical kit. There is no entry-level course in stagehanding or teching, which is a vacuum I intend to fill with my training course. On the job training is becoming a thing of the past, greenhorns need to be of use to the production on their first day in theatre. |
| Question 9: How important is working for free at the beginning of your career? |
| This should not be allowed to happen. I am against youngsters with no experience being allowed on professional stages. They are a waste of time and space, and a danger to themselves and others. Far better for them to invest in some training, and be given modest but genuine tasks to perform from day one, and be paid accordingly. |
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