Few ideas off the top of my head if of help:
Doesn’t matter what gear you have or what type of theater or anything else at this
point. With time you will learn such things. It’s not baseball cards in stating the RBI’s of some player, it’s more the concepts learned, the fun had with friends and the magic made. Don’t worry about how many Lekos and what brand of them there is, don’t worry about what light board is in use or how many dimmers you have. Just have fun in learning say the color code in designating one length of cable over another and all other little details like that. Have fun in seeing something you plugged in and focused, than gelled in now lighting an actor on
stage. That kind of thing. Have fun in being part of a crew that kicked
butt. As it were.
-Never do nothing without instruction and full instruction of that lessen.
-Never touch anything - even lean against anything without being told it’s ok or to do so. What you touch could become fouled up and or fall over or get dangerous.
-Ask all questions that come to mind no matter what it is or simple it might seem of your understanding, but ask at the proper time. Before, yes, during - depending on it’s importance or
safety, after always but while not focused upon another task. Asking questions of understanding what is going on say during the focus while the person instructing you is also attempting to listen to directions from the
Lighting Designer would for instance be a bad time to ask. During a quiet moment before or after such instruction however would be tactfully better. On the other
hand, asking a question such as shouldn’t that screw be tightened down during the focus directions, and while the person with you is focusing, that’s important potentially. So would “isn’t that
plug supposed to be plugged in all the way,” or “is that
cord supposed to have wires sticking out of the
plug?”
Safety questions are show or work stoppers and important to ask immediately. Use your judgement on importance and trust in that gut feeling about stuff you don’t know or question.
-Always have your work - all of it inspected by the supervisor who told you to preform the task or those other supervisor that person approved of inspecting it. Continue having your work inspected - no matter if tightening a
bolt sufficiently or programming a
cue, inspected until told that it’s sufficient in quality and no longer need it inspected. Do not just ask anyone to inspect your gear unless told all others can inspect it.
-Don’t climb anything without proper instruction, approval and supervision in doing so. This includes even a simple ladder and or even grabbing a milk crate to stand upon.
Cite all you note that does not seem right or correct, question all you don’t understand - never be afraid to learn, but again tactfully. Good to be asking questions and even follow up questions but at times there is not time to answer them fully - don’t be afraid of the brush off, ask again later.
Point is for you to learn but learn correctly and everything you might assume is in question. Never assume.
-Buy and read lots of books on
stage lighting and electrical wiring. Start with the
book on
stage lighting,
page thru it first and even look at the pictures. If it does not inspire, and or is totally over your head, it will bore you and you most likely will put it aside. Possibly at this
point a better
book to start reading would be a general
stage tech
book that has a chapter or three on lighting, some on carpentry, some on sound
etc. The basic concepts will be taught in such a
book without getting overly complex or detailed about stuff that you might not need to know yet thus might get overloaded in learning. Finish it and than go for the
stage lighting text
book or ten.
-Don’t give up. You will in this first show probably be given the lest of glamorous jobs and at best be only on a crew of people and often the “go-fer.” All put in their time in grade and have to master even going for the gear before they can run the show as it were. In going for the gear it’s time to learn what the gear is. Once you learn what the gear is, than you learn how to use it...
etc. You start small, short of this you miss a lot of the steps between. Patience and perservierence, stick with it even if it is not so much fun on the first show. Gonna take at least a year of productions to get a handle on what becomes more fun. Have fun, socialize with like interest people - don’t screw around, and learn.
-On tools, bring a
Crescent Wrench /
C-Wrench / Adjustable wrench with you, perhaps some leather work gloves and after that what’s required. Don’t loan out your tools, and if you have to borrow any no matter if from the shop or from someone else, as soon as that tool you use you are done with, it goes back into the
hand of the person you borrowed it from. End of the day, it goes back even if not done. Not your tool, consider it theft if it is not in it’s owner’s hands at all times other than when you are actively using it and that’s a fair reminder to not leave stuff or loose stuff you did not pay for. Damage it, tell that person. Damage any gear - even ding it, tell a supervisor. Better to know than be afraid of being caught. Never help yourself to shop or someone else’s tools. Even if told you can help your self, never do so without telling the owner of the tools you have and what specifically you have each time. When stuff comes up missing, all get suspected except the one that ensures that the owner of the tool was informed about it’s use and
return each time. Have respect for other’s tools even the shop tools, consider it as if it’s your math text
book. You paid for it, while you might loan it out, you paid for it and will eventually need it again. Those borrowing it had at best if they have respect for you
return it as soon as they are done, much less
return it in the condition they borrowed it in and if not tell you. Same type of thing with tools and equipment.
-Stay busy. When not busy, ask for stuff to do. Never too good to sweep a floor. Never too good to do anything on
stage - being on
stage is the pleasure of it - other stuff will follow. Your intent is not to be entertained by being there, that will be a part of what you are doing and most often follow hard work. Instead your intent is to help in the production. Sitting around, playing with stuff don’t get that task done.
-Work hard, learn lots. Have goals in mind and known of where you wish to get or what you will want to get to the
level of doing. A lot easer to
gauge where a person is or keep them in mind for doing something when one knows what one wants to do. One of my assistants wants to go out and do shows. She wants to also learn fall protection. Never knew this, thought she only wanted a more or less 9:5 job and wasn’t interested in shows. Want to run the follow spot or even become that person at the top of the ladder in doing the focus? The person matching up the un-labeled gels and filing them? Mention it. Run the light board - patience and remember that there are only so many people that get the chance per year.
-Politics back
stage. Stay away from them as much as possible. All political parties as it were when new are your friends or should become - this includes actors
etc. Take no sides, be friendly but
neutral to all forms of dislike and or alignment. Often the bad seeds of the group will be most active initially in seeking membership. Be nice, find friends in all but do not yet commit to any one group’s politics. You are not there for politics and new friends are abound in places you don’t know yet. Don’t be aloof but also don’t per say give your life history as it were either.