Interview Questions for hiring a stage technician

wow, thanks everyone for the great responses. I am happy that the thread gained some momentum.

I understand the stage technician is a broad topic, However that is exactly what I am looking for. In this house we have no use for a one trick pony, they must be flexible, adaptable, and have an expanded knowledge of all operations. I wear multiple hats and always get my hands dirty which is what I expect of the ideal candidate. We are not looking for an audio engineer or a video tech, one trick ponies will not do. I need a guy or girl who can see the full show and execute with limited assistance. You may laugh but I have been doing for 7 years so far so just to have someone to help is a big step forward.

A question I came up with is as follows:
The situation is video playback during a corporate event. You have to cue video, lighting, screen, audio, and projector. You are by yourself, in what order would you set your cues?

Footer said:

Personally, I would try to narrow it down a bit then throw a gig at each person and see how they do. I have had people that look great on paper crash and burn and I have had people go the other way as well. What kind of job? What kind of clients?

Click to expand...

gafftapegreenia said:

Well, what duties are you expecting this person to fulfill? "Stage technician" is a pretty broad job title.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Click to expand...

gafftapegreenia said:

Well, what duties are you expecting this person to fulfill? "Stage technician" is a pretty broad job title.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Click to expand...

I understand that it is a broad title, but that is exactly what I mean. I need a stage tech that can work with audio, lighting, set, management, video, ect. We are a very understaffed facility and finally they are allowing me to get a stage technician. I originally set the job description as Assistant Technical Director but HR changed it Stage Technician. Right now my crew basically consist of Financial Aid students who can do basic labor for me. Most of the time my operating crew consist of volunteers supplied by the client unless they will pay for me to bring in operators which is few and far between, so flexibility and being able multitask is a must.

ScottT said:

From Google:
"You are shrunk to the height of a nickel and your mass is proportionally reduced so as to maintain your original density. You are then thrown into an empty glass blender. The blades will start moving in 60 seconds. What do you do?"

It is an odd question though (there is no right or wrong answer in Google's mind), and it's used to judge the creativity of the applicant.

Click to expand...

If I was the height of a nickle and was in a blender? My answer based solely on the fact that there is nothing in the blender with me . I would duck.

lapro63139 said:

If I was the height of a nickle and was in a blender? My answer based solely on the fact that there is nothing in the blender with me . I would duck.

Click to expand...

I agree with your answer (actually I'd probably lie down). I'd also be worried about the aerodynamics of the blade moving through the air, so I'd be looking for handholds and probably preferring to be as close to the center as practical because the speed would be the lowest there. After finding as secure a position as I could, I'd probably start to worry about the person who started the blender adding things to it.

Try some equipment specific questions:
We have an ETC Element can you show me how to write a cue on it? If you don't know that specific board, what would you look for?
We have a GLD 80 mixer can you show me how to add reverb to a microphone? If you don't know that specific board what would you look for?
You are running sound for a small rock band performance. As sound check starts you hear a hum. Where would you first check to find the hum? What would you do to stop the hum?
If I asked you to take an ETC Source four and bench focus it to be a flat field, what would you do?
We have _____ follow spots. How would you go about changing the gel? If you don't know this particular fixture, what would you look for?
You have the following microphones in your inventory to choose from__________. What would you use for a bass guitar amp? What would you use as a drum overhead?

gafftaper said:

Try some equipment specific questions:
We have an ETC Element can you show me how to write a cue on it? If you don't know that specific board, what would you look for?
We have a GLD 80 mixer can you show me how to add reverb to a microphone? If you don't know that specific board what would you look for?
You are running sound for a small rock band performance. As sound check starts you hear a hum. Where would you first check to find the hum? What would you do to stop the hum?
If I asked you to take an ETC Source four and bench focus it to be a flat field, what would you do?
We have _____ follow spots. How would you go about changing the gel? If you don't know this particular fixture, what would you look for?
You have the following microphones in your inventory to choose from__________. What would you use for a bass guitar amp? What would you use as a drum overhead?

Click to expand...

I really like those questions. Lots to take away from your post.

When looking for lighting/electrics technicians I really like to ask "So why do 120V and 120V make 208V?" One of the hiring managers I know really likes "How do dimmers work?" Both are questions with pretty complex, multi-layer answers, and it's unlikely that the average candidate will have a good concise answer right off the top of their head. You aren't necessarily looking to get a right answer, but to shake them up a little and see how they respond.

I have actually done the same with what does DMX stand for and what is each pin on a 5 pin data cable do? Its good to see how people react on the spot to something they weren't expecting.

In reality that is our industry, you have to react all the time to stuff you were not expecting.

The ultimate power of survival in any technology-based industry is the ability to recognize when you need to seek out new information and then going out and doing that, and until then, knowing how to improvise based on what you already know.

MNicolai said:

The ultimate power of survival in any technology-based industry is the ability to recognize when you need to seek out new information and then going out and doing that, and until then, knowing how to improvise based on what you already know.

Click to expand...

“Never memorize something that you can look up.” - Albert Einstein

"The half of knowledge is to know where to find knowledge." inscribed above the entrance to Dodd Hall at Florida State.

Google + Smartphones make this task much simpler. Google-Fu needs to be a required HS course.

I worked as production manager for a large summer stock company. Most of the people I hired were either college students or recently graduated. The one stock question I had was "what do you want to be when you grow up?" It helped show me how much people would be dedicated to the job as it is or as a stepping stone and not just something to fill the time.

gafftaper said:

Try some equipment specific questions:
We have an ETC Element can you show me how to write a cue on it? If you don't know that specific board, what would you look for?
We have a GLD 80 mixer can you show me how to add reverb to a microphone? If you don't know that specific board what would you look for?
You are running sound for a small rock band performance. As sound check starts you hear a hum. Where would you first check to find the hum? What would you do to stop the hum?
If I asked you to take an ETC Source four and bench focus it to be a flat field, what would you do?
We have _____ follow spots. How would you go about changing the gel? If you don't know this particular fixture, what would you look for?
You have the following microphones in your inventory to choose from__________. What would you use for a bass guitar amp? What would you use as a drum overhead?

Click to expand...

I like these! Great idea, seems like it would help to see how the candidate critically thinks in a practical way, something they would actually use in your facility.

chawalang said:

I have actually done the same with what does DMX stand for and what is each pin on a 5 pin data cable do? Its good to see how people react on the spot to something they weren't expecting.

In reality that is our industry, you have to react all the time to stuff you were not expecting.

Click to expand...

Well, a lot of times the client doesn't need us until they need us, but it's our job to fix the problem before they realize they need us, therefore making it look like they don't need us. Bad cycle! Lol. But the better the technician is at thinking critically very quickly, the easier it is to have a seemless event or show, at least to the eyes of the audience and client.

Victorprusso said:

Well, a lot of times the client doesn't need us until they need us, but it's our job to fix the problem before they realize they need us, therefore making it look like they don't need us. Bad cycle! Lol. But the better the technician is at thinking critically very quickly, the easier it is to have a seemless event or show, at least to the eyes of the audience and client.

Click to expand...

It might be a good idea to share info about the problems you had and how they were overcome to make the event "seamless" with the client at some point shortly after the event. That would help the client know your worth and possibly plan to avoid some of the problems in the future. Just make sure it doesn't come off as complaining - after all, in the clients mind you were paid to take care of it.

Victorprusso said:

I like these! Great idea, seems like it would help to see how the candidate critically thinks in a practical way, something they would actually use in your facility.

Click to expand...

To me the most important factors are determining critical thinking skills, ability to adapt to the unknown, and thinking under pressure. I don't care if you know how to use my facility's gear before you arrive. I care if you have the ability to quickly master it.