What to major in?

[MillburyAuditorium]

Hello,

I know this isn't the right site to ask this one, but I know there are a big group of professionals here that could help me out,

I am graduating soon, and so, looking for a suitable college.

Let me start off by telling you what I would like to do,
I would like to have a job as the Light Board Operator or in some smaller theatres the job is a combination of Light Board Operator, Lighting Designer, and Master Electrician.

So, I was reading course descriptions for some, courses, and they were a little fuzzy, So I was wondering if you guys could tell me what I should do to achieve that job position.

What are these theatre owners looking for?
Should I try and get a Technical Theatre Major?
Or after college, just try to apply with my 10 years of experience, plus a year of a sort of apprenticeship?

I was reading the description of the Tech. Theatre Major courses, and like, I know all the stuff that they are going to teach me, so I was wondering if it really meens anything to have it, or if its something that these people will be looking for.

Thank you in advanced : )

~ Looking forward to joining the work force.

[cprted]

Here are my thoughts, for what they are worth ... If you're going into a tech theatre program, try not to focus too much in just one area. If you come out of school and you are only a lighting designer, you'll probably have a lot more trouble making ends meet than someone who is an LD, but can also do audio, carpentry, props, stage management, etc ...

Of course, my degree is in History. Go figure that one out ...

[MillburyAuditorium]

Thanks cprted,
Yeah I was thinking something like that,

Thinking to get Technical Theatre Major and do all the courses, and then at least try to get a lighting position somewhere.

But like you said, even now I know how to run the audio as well as lighting, I just prefer lighting.

I also have knowledge int he field of stage management.

[Soxred93]

My suggestion is this: Major in a stable field such as electrical engineering. That not only gives you a good knowledge with theater lighting, but it also is a safety net in case the theatre industry goes belly up right when you're looking for a job.

Minor in theatre tech, or some other theatre minor, that way you get the knowledge to specifically learn lighting.

Finally, while in college, look at internships at summer stock theatres. The first lighting tech I worked with did summer stock at Mt. Holyoke, and he ended up doing 12 major shows a year. Classrooms are all well and good, but you will never be able to become a professional without hands on experience. If the thought of internships makes you gag, just remember: you're learning, you're doing what you love to do, and you'll make up for it later on in life.

And I'm just going to reiterate what's been said earlier. Don't only try to learn lights. Learn management, sound, set design, anything in the theatre. The more versatile you are, the more jobs you'll get and the more money you'll be paid.

[JChenault]

Let me humbly suggest that if you are about to graduate from high school, you do not know what you will be doing with the rest of your life.

This is not a knock on your or your passions - but at this point in your life I would recommend you find a school that will expose you to a large set of possibilities. Sure - go in as a technical theatre major, but take lots of other courses as well and see where your passions lead you.

And remember - if you want to do lighting - you don't have to have that is your career. There are a lot of unpaid gigs out there that can be just as rewarding as being an electrician ( if you have some other income stream).

For myself - when I started college, I was sure I wanted to be an actor. I soon switched to technical theatre. After grad school I:
Worked as a TD in a major university.
Sold lighting equipment for a major manufacturer.
Worked as TD / Lighting designer in a small college and tried to be a free-lance lighting designer.
Worked as a circus Roustabout.
Became a software engineer.

At this point, I am retired, write software to control moving lights, and design lights for six to 10 productions a year at various community theatre / small professional theatres in my region.

The point is - keep your options open. It is highly unlikely that you will end up being a LD / Electrician for the rest of your life. Get trained in as much as you can so you can do what you want.

Good luck. This is an exciting time for you. Make the best of your choices and enjoy the next few years.

[Footer]

As per your previous threads, if you know everything right now that a future college will teach you, you are either looking at the wrong schools OR you have no clue what you still have to learn.

If you want to go into design for theatre, you need a degree. The degree is what gets in the door. If you want to go light rock concerts, start hanging out in clubs and go work in a shop.

Most places that need an LD/ME/Board Op don't pay well enough to live on if they are doing legit theatre. Those positions do exist in some performance venues and are the norm in most community theatres. Most places like to keep the design staff and the technical managers apart. Simply put, some designers are good for certain types of shows and most theatres do not like to niche themselves like that.

I am the M.E. at my current theatre. I am also the TD, Master Carp, Carp, Electrician, Sound Designer, lighting designer for at least one production this season, Production Manager, and garbage taker outer. Now, we open a show every 2 months and I don't have to run shows so its doable.

That being said, if I was just an electrician I would not have my job. Because I have experience doing a lot of things I can get continuous work. Don't go out into the world only wanting to do one thing.

Go to school. Work at much as you can. Do as much as you can. Do new things. Don't ever say no to a show or a new experience. College is about trying new things. Try new things. Your not a LD or ME right now. Reach out into the world and become a theatre artist.

[MrsFooter]

I cannot discourage you strongly enough from looking at colleges based on what career you want right now. Even in a good economy, the theatre biz is one with far more potential employees than positions. The more positions you can fill, the more likely you are to find a paying job. And I know it sounds real romantic to "follow your dreams" and hold out for your dream job, but you know what's even more romantic? Eating and paying your rent.

But all that aside, one of the points of going to college is to explore opportunities that you've never had before. So do EVERYTHING! Costume a show, take tap class, learn German. You'll never know where else your interests might lie if you don't broaden your experiences. As a dancer, I asked myself that very same question, "Do I need college?" But if I hadn't gone to college, I never would have discovered tech, which is now my career. I think if you took a poll here on CB, the number freshmen majors that don't match the current career of the holder would amaze you.

My point. Go major in tech theatre. Find a program with lots of student productions. Try EVERYTHING. You might surprise yourself.

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by MillburyAuditorium

Hello,

I know this isn't the right site to ask this one, but I know there are a big group of professionals here that could help me out,

I am graduating soon, and so, looking for a suitable college.

First of all, define suitable. Everyone has different preferences as to what they want in a college. there are many factors to consider, from location, programs offered, size, and many more. You need to decide what you want/need from a school.

Originally Posted by MillburyAuditorium

Let me start off by telling you what I would like to do,
I would like to have a job as the Light Board Operator or in some smaller theatres the job is a combination of Light Board Operator, Lighting Designer, and Master Electrician.

So, I was reading course descriptions for some, courses, and they were a little fuzzy, So I was wondering if you guys could tell me what I should do to achieve that job position.

What are these theatre owners looking for?
Should I try and get a Technical Theatre Major?
Or after college, just try to apply with my 10 years of experience, plus a year of a sort of apprenticeship?

I can tell you, as someone involved in the hiring processes at my theatre, we would not hire someone straight out of high school into a full time position. Your ten years of experience are vastly insignificant compared to someone who comes to us with 10 years of experience after college. Not to mention that in general (not always) people who have graduated college or have "equivalent" experience have a higher level of maturity and are generally better suited to the professional environment. On the other hand, you would be cheaper to employ.

Originally Posted by MillburyAuditorium

I was reading the description of the Tech. Theatre Major courses, and like, I know all the stuff that they are going to teach me, so I was wondering if it really meens anything to have it, or if its something that these people will be looking for.

This is absolutely not true, and this is a symptom of "big fish in a small pond" syndrome. You are just graduating from high school, you may be the best tech in your school and you may know everything that they were able to teach you in high school, but that is certainly not even close to all you need to know or what you will be taught in college. You need to go into college with an open mind. Your first year in a tech theatre major may be a lot of review, but you will find that you really need it. Also, you will find that some kids will come in with a strong design sense, but no tech and some will have strong tech and not design and most first year courses are designed to get everyone to the same level.

Having a college degree is not always necessary for finding jobs, but many times it does put you ahead. This is besides the fact that going to college is kind of a once in a lifetime experience. There are many things that only happen in college, and even if you go back to college later in life, it just isn't the same. You should take advantage of the opportunity to go to school, take classes in anything that seems interesting to you, don't limit yourself to what you think you want to do when you graduate. This goes for anything whether you want to major in theatre or in rocket science, you should make sure that you take classes in anything that interests you.

I know that some of what I am saying sounds harsh, but I am not trying to put you down at all. Can you get into this business without a degree in it, sure, many people have done it. You just make yourself a lot more marketable with some sort of college degree (doesn't have to be in theatre). So, don't get put off by anything I have said, everyone has to follow the path that is right for them.

[mstaylor]

As Alex so aptly said, you do not already know everything college has to teach you. I am 51, started doing tech work in Jr High, got my first parttime paid position in the lighting business at 17 and am still learning. As long as they imporove equipment, you won't know it all. As long as there are guys finding inovative ways of doing an old job a new way. you won't it all. Believe me, I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of theatre when I graduated until I ran into my first real LD and then I started really learning. This isn't a slam on you, just a old guy giving advice to a young guy.
As others have said, take classes in other areas in college. It might even be a good thing to major in business and minor in theatre. I owned a dinner theatre for seven years and could have used the business knowledge without learning OJT.
Good luck in whichever direction you decide to go.

[ruinexplorer]

Adding on to "you don't know it all". There are many threads on this basic topic and I believe even a nice article in the wiki that can give you some good advice. Believe me that the more you learn the more that you will realize what you don't know. What you don't know can kill in this business which is why the TOS forbids us discussing some very relevant issues on this forum.

If you want a theatrical degree, I would suggest finding a school that has a program in technical direction. Most theaters who have full time staff need someone who can fill in most anywhere as well as maintain the space. With this type of degree, you will learn skills to make you a very well rounded technician.

I can't express how much I agree with the suggestion of electrical engineering. It will be nothing but an asset to your career in theater as well as marketable skills if you can't go that direction.