Job Title?

[Pie4Weebl]

So I decided to take a crack at updating my resume and I hit a block, I have no clue what my "position" is for the shows I have been working on this summer and what to call them on my resume. Here are two situations which happen frequently which I could use clarification on:

1. A plot for a show is created before I have anything to do with the production. I then run the load in of the show and program/run the show with no input from the designer of the plot.

2. A plot arrives from a tour, typically of the 120K variety. I get the rig gelled, bring it into the venue, run the load in, patch the desk up and turn it over to the designer.

I'm not really sure how to title either of these.

 

[Footer]

For the first one, what kind of show, though I am leaning towards Lighting Director. My question is, you have a person who is sending you a plot and never shows up to work on the show? Is this a one off, industrial, music? If you are actually making some design decisions, I would go for the Lighting Director. For the second one, house electrician.

 

[Van]

Have to agree with Footer, though in a lot of houses your description wpold qualify as ME.

 

[Pie4Weebl]

For the first one, what kind of show, though I am leaning towards Lighting Director. My question is, you have a person who is sending you a plot and never shows up to work on the show? Is this a one off, industrial, music? If you are actually making some design decisions, I would go for the Lighting Director. For the second one, house electrician.

For the first one its a mix between concert one-offs and special events (wedding receptions/etc). A lot of the concert stuff are bands which have no LD, but their plot calls for "moving lights", but the plots come from in house, and the show is mine when we hit the venue.

For the second I thought about house electrician, but I don't think that fits as I come with the rig, I am not with the venue. I always have thought of the house electrician as the guy who ties me in and then spends the day smoking out on the dock.

 

[derekleffew]

...I always have thought of the house electrician as the guy who ties me in and then spends the day smoking out on the dock.

Hey, I resemble that remark, , sometimes. My votes:
#1. Lighting Director
#2. Lighting Crew Chief, especially if you're paid by the equipment supplier and not the venue, and it's R&R. For theatre it would be M.E. or P.E., but for rock it's L.C.C.

 

[Footer]

Agreed with derek, however I would change the title depending on where you are applying. Theatre people don't know what a lighting crew chief really does, for those I would say Production Electrician (I HATE the term master electrician).

 

[TimMiller]

what about system tech

The term Master Electrician makes you sound like you are a licensed master electrician. I hate the terminology also.

 

[Pie4Weebl]

Yeah, what I think I am settling with is "Lighting Director" for when I run the system and either production electrictian or system tech for when I hand it off to an LD. I am not a huge fan of ME and I tend to leave it for theatre use only.

 

[Van]

I agree with you all. I don't particularly like the term ME much myself. I know a lot of theatrical MEs that are realy good technicians but I wouldn't let them reset a breaker.

 

[Serendipity]

Production Electrician

#2


I think Lighting Director is good for the first one. The second, if you go with the rig as opposed to the venue, I think production electrician is more fitting.

 

[HighWattageKid92]

I agree on House Electrician and Lighting Director.

 

[cdub260]

I agree with you all. I don't particularly like the term ME much myself. I know a lot of theatrical MEs that are realy good technicians but I wouldn't let them reset a breaker.

I've known a few licensed electricians who I wouldn't let touch any of my panels. That having been said, those of us who do bear the job title, Master Electrician need to know our limitations. Whenever I'm asked to do something I'm not qualified to do I tell our TD that we need to bring in a licensed electrician. Most recently, I had to replace a breaker in a panel, which is a fairly simple job, but while I was doing that, I found another issue with the panel which I am not qualified to evaluate, much less fix, so I told my boss that while the circuit was repaired, we needed to have the panel evaluated by a licensed electrician.

In February I attended the Electric West show, an electrical conference. On my badge I identified myself as a Stage Electrician, as I didn't think that very many of these licensed professionals would realize that in the theatre world, the term Master Electrician means, "Someone who keeps the lights working."

#2


I think Lighting Director is good for the first one. The second, if you go with the rig as opposed to the venue, I think production electrician is more fitting.

I would probably lean more towards Production Electrician in your situation Pie4Weebl.