Technician vs Techie

[Radiant]

dvsDave calls me a Techie. I'm ok with that. I used to be a Junior Techie, but now I'm all growed up.

I don't work in professional theatre, I'm the volunteer lighting director at church. But people ask if I run sound, because they need to convey their suggestions/complaints/hints/gripes/questions/assistance/feedback mimic. Thus, you may refer to me as Techie, Technician, Techer, Stagehand, Gopher... - anything but Sound Op!

[Serendipity]

Good for you, Radiant. My distaste for the "headphone ranking system," and specifically for the terms used at the lower levels, kept me from actively participating in Control Booth.com for at least 2.5 years. Other professionals I have attempted to persuade to join have mentioned similar opinions.

I had assumed the use of "Jr. Techie" and "Techie" in the system were to push technicians who abhorred the term to participate more and raise their level...

[cdub260]

I had assumed the use of "Jr. Techie" and "Techie" in the system were to push technicians who abhorred the term to participate more and raise their level...

For some strange, unknown reason, I was under the same impression. Of course, at first I didn't even notice the headphone ratings.

[tech2000]

Technician, definitely.

[MNicolai]

Depends on the setting. Though, I use techie rarely, it's a matter of professionalism. I don't use "tech" much either. More often than not, I'll say technician, op, operator, engineer, rigger, designer, what have you. I don't much like techie or tech much though. There's an obvious difference though depending on how you use a variation. For example, "I'll send a tech out tomorrow to look at your system," versus "Mark is one of our regular techs."

[len]

I don't care. I may choose not to respond if you say it with derision. Or I may respond in kind. As long as the check clears.

[Thatoneguy]

I prefer 'stage hand' or a job specific one like electrician, audio engineer, deck hand etc.

But I don't get pissed at the others.

[Grommet]

i like job specific titles. They don't have to be formal as i have to explain to non theater folks what i do no matter what i call myself.

I use versions such as "lighting guy" and people will still confuse me with "sound guy".


One show i high school we had a "Director of Miscellaneous"

[HayleySargent]

I think Techie is cute, and as a high schooler, it doesn't bug me. The main thing for me is, that I have the respect of my peers. I'm a SM who does a lot of tech work. I recently went to a workshop for 3 days and was appalled by the "techie/actor" hate. At both of the High Schools I attended I didn't have that problem. Therefore, I preferred to be called a Stage Manager or a technician because I am not "above anyone". We are all together in this thing.

Hayley
I

[NickJones]

The techie/actor hate is huge in highschools, but in bigger shows, you stop hating actors, and just realise that most are just annoying. Without actors well, life would be easier, but, people won't pay money to see you make moving lights look pretty for 2 hours.
Nick

[listerofsmeg]

I'm in high school and I like being called a Technician (or "Venue Technician").

Smarter then a Roadie, More Professinal then a Techie

[church]

a trained person in lighting, sound etc. working in the field is a Technician - often shortened to Tech. Here in Canada using the title Engineer can get you into a whole heap of trouble as it is a protected title only individuals who are licenced by the Provincial licencing bodies can call themselves an Engineer. Anyone else can expect to be taken to court and fined.

[PeytonJr]

I like it!

For the record, I change my vote to Technician. It was a long time ago when i voted techie. Growing up and taking my job much more seriously has really given me more pride then being called a techie can deliver.

True dat. I was ok with techie when I was starting out, now I dislike it. Someone I know refers to them-self and I as techies. Whenever I hear this, I cringe mentally, since I know that she doesn't just take all the work she does for granted.
I take what I do - even when it's for a small school show - seriously, so I generally don't like it when people give me a unsuitably amateur title.

I guess I'm ok with techie, at least for now. Really I'd rather be called a lighting tech, a lighting designer, electrician, somethings that defines the job. Tech itself just seems a little awkward to say, it needs a qualifying word before it.

Indeed. Especially when pluralizing; it lends itself the awkwardness of a word like "sixth."

[MichInDC]

Well, I don't know...as a scene shop assistant working under the TD, I don't get to hear the word "techie" or "technican" when i'm working... "useless" seems to be the word uttered often.

[gafftapegreenia]

PeytonJr, it's funny, at the time I wrote that quote, I was ok with being called a techie, but now, just a while later, I actually don't like being called a techie. I will tolerate the uninitiated called me a techie but otherwise, through no conscious process, I have gained distaste for the term.

[Tex]

The techie/actor hate is huge in highschools

I do my best to minimize this. Since I'm an actor turned technician, I think they all listen when I talk about the relationship between actors and technicians. My point is always that the technical aspect is just another character in the show. Actors need to learn to train themselves to stay in the moment, but also notice when they're not in the light or close enough to a mic. Technicians need to train themselves not just to mechanically throw cues, but also to focus on the show and stay in the moment with the actors. There are no "sides" to take; it's all a vital part of the show.

[ReiRei]

Back in the day, and by that I mean a few years ago when I first started working in theatre, I didn't mind being called a techie. Then I was talking to someone and said, "I'm a techie." It sounded stupid and unprofessional. So I started calling myself and my coworkers technicians. It really doesn't bother me when they call themselves techies but I just think "technicians" sounds more professional and less childish.

Also, this whole tech/actor hate thing in high schools is so unfortunate. I usually got along with all of the actors I worked with, except for one but that's an entirely other story. It seemed that whenever another tech would complain about actors being "stupid" or whatever that it was totally unfounded. There was this whole thing between new/incoming actors and younger/inexperienced techs where both groups thought that they were better than the other which is completely untrue. In an attempt to stop this I reprimanded every tech who decided to bash actors because that is unacceptable.

However, I was lucky to have a few technicians work with me who knew the value of actors. There was also a good number of vet actors, and some new, who realized that their job cannot be done without technicians. With the help of these people the problem of tech/actor hatred was almost completely dispersed by the end of the year. I trust that the people who are staying next year will do the same thing. Or at least I hope that they will. Being in theatre isn't really all that fun when you can't get along with people you work around.

[edmedmoped]

Without actors well, life would be easier, but, people won't pay money to see you make moving lights look pretty for 2 hours.

Well.......

[Sayen]

I let a little bit of good natured joking go on, but I won't tolerate the actor/tech hate thing with my crews and casts. When the two groups are separated we talk about supporting the other group. I pitch it as the technicians need to respect the actors and help them feel safe because onstage, it's the actor themselves that gets judged, not their work or a particular skill. For the actors, I teach that the technicians don't get a bow or public praise for their hours of work, and unless the actors are going to do all of their own work they had better learn the words "thank you." I think it also helps in high school to get everyone together to work on projects (sets), so they're working side by side.

[briancon7]

At my school we call each other by the title you have for the show (LD, TD, Sound Engineer, etc.) but the cast calls us techies. One of my friends came up with a very good response to this name which is "Actie". Lets just say that they have stopped calling us techies. I have a few cast members that work with us on lighting and set building, but for the most part they have nothing to do with us until the week before the show. The last time someone told me that tech does not matter in a show, he broke his wrist during opening night of our performance of Anything Goes.

[Pie4Weebl]

At my school we call each other by the title you have for the show (LD, TD, Sound Engineer, etc.)

Wait, let me get this straight.... so your saying conversations go something like this...

A: Good morning Lighting Designer!
B: Hey Assistant Sound Engineer how are you doing today?

For my other response above... I like to be called by my name

[cdub260]

For my other response above... I like to be called by my name

I actually prefer not to be called by my name. That's why I use my initials.

[gafftaper]

I actually prefer not to be called by my name. That's why I use my initials.

Hmmm... I wonder what his name is...

[shiben]

I actually prefer not to be called by my name. That's why I use my initials.

Same here. Although i actually just combine some of my initials/names and make something that works.

Wait, let me get this straight.... so your saying conversations go something like this...

A: Good morning Lighting Designer!
B: Hey Assistant Sound Engineer how are you doing today?

For my other response above... I like to be called by my name

That would be hilarious. Maybe I will make people start doing that on my crew... "Hello Master Electrician Shiben..." Doesnt really come out real good tho...

[mstaylor]

It has to make calling cues somewhat cumbersome.

[chris325]

Even though I'm in high school, I'm still a huge advocate of refering to my type as technicians. "Techie" seems really unprofessional, but there's really no changing the use of it around my school (directors, actors, and some fellow technicians use the term.) In my opinion, just because it's a high school theatre production doesn't mean that the technicians should be thought of as "being there simply because it's kinda fun" (even though some are there for that purpose.) A lot of us, such as myself, are actually interested in continuing on to a more professional aspect of technical theatre, and high school is the starting point.

I just spent 5 hours rehearsing with you [actors]. Do you think I might have earned enough respect for you to refer to me in a somewhat professional manner?

[shiben]

Even though I'm in high school, I'm still a huge advocate of refering to my type as technicians. "Techie" seems really unprofessional, but there's really no changing the use of it around my school (directors, actors, and some fellow technicians use the term.) In my opinion, just because it's a high school theatre production doesn't mean that the technicians should be thought of as "being there simply because it's kinda fun" (even though some are there for that purpose.) A lot of us, such as myself, are actually interested in continuing on to a more professional aspect of technical theatre, and high school is the starting point.

I just spent 5 hours rehearsing with you [actors]. Do you think I might have earned enough respect for you to refer to me in a somewhat professional manner?

We should start calling the actors acties or something... course, they might not have an issue with it... I did get called the lighting b**** by one actor on this show... Guess who gets an IR lamp right above them every scene next show? Actually, I dont care enough to bother, but i thought it was funny and worth sharing

[blackisthenewblack]

I find that Tech works the best. People ask me what I do and if I try to explain it to them, it just gets returned with a confused look. Because I do lots of things, its all encompasing.

Them: "What do you do?"
Me: "I do tech for the theatre."

It works better than a lighting designer, who gets confused for someone who does interior design.

Then there is the whole "Tech, Tactor, Actie, Actor" debate

[chris325]

We should start calling the actors acties or something... course, they might not have an issue with it... I did get called the lighting b**** by one actor on this show... Guess who gets an IR lamp right above them every scene next show? Actually, I dont care enough to bother, but i thought it was funny and worth sharing

Oh, there are other ways of torturing actors who don't do as they are told... "Oh yeah, that super dark blue gelled par that's right in your face the entire show? Yeah, that's completely necessary and there's no way the show can go on without it."

"Stupid Innovator decided to 'crash' during your special scene. Sorry."

"By the way, we've moved those 4 groundcycs to be right in front of you for... uh... special effect."

If I ever got called that or anything similar... I'd definitely be tempted.

[shiben]

Oh, there are other ways of torturing actors who don't do as they are told... "Oh yeah, that super dark blue gelled par that's right in your face the entire show? Yeah, that's completely necessary and there's no way the show can go on without it."

"Stupid Innovator decided to 'crash' during your special scene. Sorry."

"By the way, we've moved those 4 groundcycs to be right in front of you for... uh... special effect."

If I ever got called that or anything similar... I'd definitely be tempted.

Meh. This person is already in the light all the time an in a VERY heavy costume (something like 8 layers) and cant move by themselves at all... They need a lot of water at the end of the show. Wouldnt want it to be more painful... oh no that ray gun is critical to the show... No, if its making you feel funny you should just sit down for a bit...

[LXPlot]

I don't really mind if peopel who are uneducated on the subject call me a techie, but theatre people should at LEAST refer to me as a technician. Even better would be if they called me what I am: Lighting Designer, Electrician, Etc. Basically, I want to be known in each show for what I do.

Also, rather than calling actors actees, I call chorus and minor roles meat puppets (because that's what they are, essentially) and leads Egos (because that's often their most apparent trait)

And I mean no offence to actors who actually know what they're doing and respect us. Youg guys are actors or whatever you desire to be called.

[Pie4Weebl]

I was thinking about this earlier today and I realized, I dropped the -ie from it, when I switched from drinking mountain dew to drinking coffee.

[cpf]

I find that real names are rather effective after introducing yourself to all the relevant people as "the person who'll be making you sound/look good tonight/some other date."

[ArthurRiot]

I lobe that this is even being debated Neither term is disrespectful. It's like having a solid opinion whether you want to be called 'mom', 'mommy', or 'mother'.

Typicily I'm called a theatre tech or techie or stagehand. Rarely am I called a technician, though when it's a formal introduction That happens too.

Let's not get too bogged down with high and mighty titles and just enjoy what we do.

[mstaylor]

I have never liked techie or roadie, it just sounds uneducated. It's one thing for somebody not in business, quite another from fellow techs. If it doesn't bother you then it is no big deal. I am a professional rigger, you wouldn't call me a riggie.

[Les]

For me, it's not as much about respect as it is professionalism. I find 'techie' unprofessional, and I highly doubt you will find any "techies" on professional tours. If you call me a techie, I will find an annoying nickname for you, and call you that until you change your ways

[ArthurRiot]

For me, it's not as much about respect as it is professionalism. I find 'techie' unprofessional, and I highly doubt you will find any "techies" on professional tours. If you call me a techie, I will find an annoying nickname for you, and call you that until you change your ways

If you highly doubt that then you would be mistaken. I've met quite a few. It's just not that big a deal.

[DuckJordan]

If you highly doubt that then you would be mistaken. I've met quite a few. It's just not that big a deal.

I think this has reached a point where people are seeing it said from tech to tech, it originated at least in the area i'm from an actor calling a technician a techie. IT brings up the old argument you wouldn't call an actor an actie would you? it is a form of respect and honestly if you don't think so how many people can build and do the stuff we do just off the street?

you wouldn't call a police officer, a piggy to his face would you? its respect to me and it always will be, call yourself whatever you like but I prefer to use respect when talking to people.

[meghanpotpie]

For someone who has made the effort to be taken seriously in my field I always prefer the term Technician. "Techie" almost always has the highschool/ community theatre connotation. In most theatres you are referred to with your proper title, ie: Technical Director, Master Electrician, Sound Engineer, etc.

[MPowers]

I wonder if there is a generation bias here? When I first morf'ed from being a performer to a technician (early '60s) the term techie was considered a badge of honor. Later in life, early 90's, I wrote a monthly column for an e-zine called "Techie's Corner". I was proud of the column and the title, and at the time noone seemed to resent the term. Likewise, in the 60's a Roadie meant a hard working stagehand who toured with a show or tour. Is it because "talent" and directors and producers et. al. have begun to use the term "Techie" and Roadie" in a derisive or "put down" manner? I have noticed that in the last few years, I dislike being called a techie by anyone who is not a techie themselves.