Technician vs Techie

[drouillard8182]

Sure I'm a HS student but at the end of the day I don't really care what they refer to me as because I know I'm well respected, everyone comes to me when they need help. I'm sure everyone else has different opinions but that's just mine.

[MaddMaxx]

Actually, I would rather be addressed by my actual title: TD. Other "Technicians" by their titles, or by other crew members by their abbreviations: ME, etc..
If you are hired as a sound engineer you should be addressed as such. LD, SM, PM, Carp, Rig, etc., should only be used between production members. Actors, Management, and other non-production people should be encouraged to use a production team members' full title. They have earned and deserve repect.

[TheSoundGod]

It depends on the setting, I (unfortunately) haven't done to much with technical stuff as of lately, but when i was doing it in school we were the Techies, thats just how it was. When I did/do something in a professional setting or when the HS would rent out the theater (when I was still there and the on-call student Tech) I went by Technician. So personally I have a soft spot for the title Techie just because thats were I got my start.

[HollyRawls]

During our summer youth program we do our best to beat the term "techie" out of our students' minds. It is a diminutive and disrespectful term that allows the user to remain ignorant of what the technician actually does- ie dresser, light board operator, etc. Theater is a collaborative art form that relies on many different people doing specific tasks. Lumping all technicians under the cutsie term "techie" does not allow for understanding or appreciation of the specificity of that person's tasks- especially of the tasks involve years of training or experience. Besides, can you imagine the screams if we started calling actors "acties?"

[ruinexplorer]

Thank you for your service to the students. It's amazing when I have told people that I am a professional stagehand and they jokingly reply that they were a techie in HS. Not quite the same thing. That's kind of like going to a Congressman and saying, "Oh, I know all about that, I was on student council."

[ratthepoodle]

My thought is that the formal term is technician and techie is more of a slang term. ie Sound Technician in the program but Techie during rehearsal

[BackstageHandyman]

hehe..reminds me of the god-awful movie with Meatloaf called "Roadie"...ugh..



Of course, there is always the acronym I made up a while back for the theater I work in to describe us A-listers: S.E.A.L.S. Stage, Electrics, Audio & Lighting Specialists. But maybe thats just vain? =)

-wolf

Sign me up for THAT crew.