TD helping out

[nolhay]

Is it appropriate to have the TD in the booth actually physically helping out with the controls like fading mics and dimmers or are they better just hanging around relaying clearcom info?

In the past it's been just the two tech guys in the back for lights and sound but this year we grew to a crew of 6, 2 for lights and sound, 2 trainees, 1 on the spots on the roof and 1 TD in the booth (we must have adult supervision this year)

[Footer]

Define TD. Personally, with my kids I turn the show over to them for the run. I don't like running shows and I don't think I should be running shows. That being said, the next show it looks like I will be calling because of time constraints in the space. I don't feel comfortable handing a student the show not because I don't think they can do it, but I don't feel it will be a good learning environment for them and could turn them off to other shows in the future.

[seanandkate]

I think the "appropriatness" of the TD being there is already answered in your original post: He is there in a supervisory capacity. That being said, I think that students learn more if they are actually performing all the duties of the board ops. I would imagine that if the TD was actually stepping in and manipulating the controls, then something was either going horribly wrong (or about to), or he was taking advantage of a learning opportunity ("Watch how you can get a bit more gain if I peel this frequency off" kinda thing)

[theatretechguy]

As a TD I try to stay out of everyone's way during the actual show. Ideally I should be in the audience watching the show from an audience perspective, taking notes, and informing techs of mistakes or issues I saw during the show. Unless its an emergency, I should never go into the booth and interfere with the stage manager or techs.

For fun, near the end of the run, I like to sit backtage in the flies and watch the well-oiled machine do its magic.

[nolhay]

See the problems I tend to run into running the old analog 32 channel mixer is trying to fade in 12 mics at the same time like when the peeps start singing.

Thanks for ya input!

[ReiRei]

It's better for them to be supervising. Personally, for the past few gigs I've done our TD has decided he's going to stand over me and try to light design during the little shows we work. It's more stressful for everyone if he's there doing your job. And how are you, or anyone else for that matter, going to learn if he's doing it anyways?

In the experiences that I've had, when the TD comes up into the booth and tries telling us what to do and standing over our shoulders in the middle of a gig, it's really hard to focus and everyone gets stressed out and cranky. I don't know how your theatre works though, maybe your TD is cool...

[Footer]

Originally Posted by ReiRei

It's better for them to be supervising. Personally, for the past few gigs I've done our TD has decided he's going to stand over me and try to light design during the little shows we work. It's more stressful for everyone if he's there doing your job. And how are you, or anyone else for that matter, going to learn if he's doing it anyways?

In the experiences that I've had, when the TD comes up into the booth and tries telling us what to do and standing over our shoulders in the middle of a gig, it's really hard to focus and everyone gets stressed out and cranky. I don't know how your theatre works though, maybe your TD is cool...

If I am up in the booth for a show or backstage for a show I am there to make sure things go smoothly. If things don't go well, I am the one who has to deal with it from my boss. I am not there because I think my students are idiots, I am there to make sure they know what needs to happen next, at least for smaller events. Don't take it as an insult if someone is watching over you. You are at a place in your career where you need that. Think of it as a safety net. You won't have that safety net for too much longer. Use it while you can.

[ReiRei]

Originally Posted by Footer

If I am up in the booth for a show or backstage for a show I am there to make sure things go smoothly. If things don't go well, I am the one who has to deal with it from my boss. I am not there because I think my students are idiots, I am there to make sure they know what needs to happen next, at least for smaller events. Don't take it as an insult if someone is watching over you. You are at a place in your career where you need that. Think of it as a safety net. You won't have that safety net for too much longer. Use it while you can.

Oh, I'm not insulted by him being in the booth at all. It used to be that he would just chill and make sure that everything was going okay and he'd fill out time-cards and stuff. We would talk about what needs to happen for the show beforehand and I would write it down, all would be well. Nowadays, he'll stand over people and without warning or telling us what he's doing, just move sliders. Or he won't tell anyone what's going on, even if he's asked, until we're running the gig. The really funny thing is that he'll move subsliders on the light board that don't have anything programmed into them and be like, "oh, that's much better!" even if I tell him there's nothing in it. It's simply gotten to the point where he's rude to everyone and therefore everyone is uncomfortable.

If he knew how to run any of the sound or lights equipment, then I might qualify him as a safety net. Unfortunately he doesn't.

I'm not trying to be all rawr rawr rawr at you sir, but I don't want you to think that I'm just an ungrateful know it all teenager. And I definitely don't think that all TD's think they're superior to everyone else. But here, that's a genuine problem where our TD is crossing a line with everyone actually. There has been a string of things he has done to get on everyone's nerves. I've got my fingers crossed that it'll get better for kids next year though.

[nolhay]

Our TD seems pretty chill so I was originally thinking I could get help by telling her what was going on and telling her what needs to be done when like "hit that mute button when he runs off stage" kinda thing. Plus with me leaving this year theres really no one in our school that knows the system down pat, heck I still don't even know it and I've been working it for 4 years! So I guess teaching someone how to use it to a degree wouldn't be a bad idea. Plus the fact that shes brand new voids the cockiness factor

[Eboy87]

Originally Posted by nolhay

See the problems I tend to run into running the old analog 32 channel mixer is trying to fade in 12 mics at the same time like when the peeps start singing.

Thanks for ya input!

That's where groups and/or VCA's come in handy.

And was that a pun?