I recently read a great blog post by Callam Rodya, where he lists 32 things he wished he had been told in theatre school. It’s a great post, and you should definitely check it out here, but it is geared toward the performer. I decided we needed one for technicians too! I’ve been working in theatre as a technician of one form or another for 15 years and there are definitely a few things that all aspiring technicians should know before they head out in the big bad theatre world.

A majority of your work won’t be theatre. Concerts and corporate events will be your bread and butter. Don’t expect compliments from the audience on your work. Never stop learning and never stop teaching. “An actor without techies is a naked person standing in the dark trying to emote. A techie without actors is a person with marketable skills.” Marketing yourself is the best strategy. You will probably be poor. Make peace with that now. A job is a job and you won’t have the luxury of choosing what play you’ll be working on next. Getting a job as a resident technician/designer is harder than getting cast in a show. There’s never enough qualified and talented technicians. One job can always lead to another, don’t turn anything down. Directors and producers talk to each other. No detail is too small. Except for the details the audience won’t see. Always be willing to work. Be easy to work with. There are no stars backstage. 12 to 18 hour days are normal. Always know how to stay calm in a crisis. As a tech, everyone will look to you to find out what to do. Never expect anyone other than theatre technicians to understand what you do for a living. Get to know the tax laws for freelancers intimately. Learn everything you can about every aspect of technical theatre. Be indispensible. Carry glow tape, gaff tape, and a multi-tool at all times. Know when to speak up and when to shut up. Stay out of the drama, both onstage and off. Leave the rest at the door. Always push your boundaries. Murphy’s Law will always come into play. Learn to hurry up and wait. Be creative at problem solving. There will always be a problem that you will have to solve without the right equipment. Have faith in the process. The show will go on.