Starter Kit

[dvsDave]

We have a tradition in our school that was sort of passed down from a friend of our directors who helps us with lighting design. (He's a professional photographer.. and actor.,,,which means he can come up with some pretty interesting designs)

After the curtain went down on the final night of our first play, he came up to the booth and presented us with 2 things.

• an altman wrench (or you can substitute an 8" wrench instead)
• a book of every gel swatch for Lee and Rosco gels

Since then, we added The Baskstage Handbook to the kit.

Does anybody else have a similar tradition?

[ship]

Nope, nothing but an occaisional card from the stage manager.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

Nope, nothing here not even the occasional card from SM. If I have an intern working under my supervision for a show I like to get them something on opening night. But so far the favorite hasn't been the tools. It is the gift certificate to the "Outback".

[dvsDave]

Originally Posted by Jo-JotheSoundDog

It is the gift certificate to the "Outback".

Awesome... I'll pass that along to our more considerate theater types... who knows what may come?

[delnor]

I used to attempt to get somthing for like the SM, TD, ME, SE, etc. However in the past some people have gotten jelious of others gifts and therfore that tradition has come to a close on my part.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

>Delnor"I used to attempt to get somthing for like the SM, TD, ME, SE, etc. However in the past some people have gotten jelious of others gifts and therfore that tradition has come to a close on my part."

Yeah that is why I only do it for interns that are directly under my supervision for a show. I generally put them through a fairly rigorous process. They assist me from day one with helping with the research for the design, tracking down sound fx, creating new sound fx, learning how to computer edit (so as during a tech I can throw them a disk and tell them what changes need to be made), I also take them through running a show, I drill them over and over until they can run even the most complicated of my designs in a third of the actual running time of a show, then I let them run a couple of shows. I generally know by about the third day if they really want to learn how to do sound or if they just want to work in air conditioning. But if they cut the mustard, and most of them do, I try to do something nice for them. Because if done right they make my job easier and I try to treat them more like an assistant than an intern. So dropping fifty bucks for them to get a decent meal usually doesn't seem like enough, but they are always very happy with it.

[BCOLL]

Yes, I'm compiling an information book for the new techs in my school next year.

[wemeck]

Depending upon the production volume and scale of those productions it might be a good idea to have the technicians buy a few items and be givena few items.
1.) Mini-Mag-Lite with filter cover.
2.) Adjustable C-Wrench with tie-line
3.) Twenty-five foot tape measure.
4.) A pair of set-wear gloves.
5.) Saftey-Glasses.*
6.) Ear protection
7.) Multi-tool*
8.) A belt holster like setwear sells or one from:
http://www.rei.com/outlet/index.html
9.) A motorola talkabout series radio and headset.*
10.) A multi-meter*
11.) Gam-check*

*these items could be reserved for the upper-class people or the house techs that have made a really made a commitment to the program.

[chizle97]

after our production of the crucible which i fabricated a thrust the came from a regular procenium stage. it was a pian but i got it done covered in luan and painted black. my theatre teacer gave me a copie of "stage lighting: step-by-step" i didnt really know what to do with it scince im not really into lights but i read it and not i love lights and effects and have a new found respect for it.

[The_Terg]

Well, the keys to the auditoruim are the proverbial 'torch to be passed'. Containing balcony key, light booth key, and light board key, they are the mark of only the smart techies.

Everything else isn't really tradition. A bunch of my friends and I all bought $140 Kenwood GMRS radio's with earpieces to that we could be slicker then the generic Talkabout. Everything else is usually just personal stuff.