I would teach the nuts and bolts first. The things that keep the new technician from burning down the
auditorium and the things that keep him and the actors safe.
One of the best ways I have found to teach students in this situation is to have them shadow you and then you watch them.
Tell them that people kill themselves all the time when working around electricity.
Teach the
power formula and the capacity of the dimmers, cables, and plugs.
Show them how to change a
plug.
Show them how to properly change a lamp and show them the inventory so they know what they have and how to tell when they need more lamps.
Show them how to trouble shoot a
fixture that won't come on.
Teach them now to properly hang a light and how to use the
safety cable. Tell them where not to hang lights.
Teach them the different fixtures and what they are typically used for.
Show them how to
circuit and patch lights.
Teach the how to record a
cue on the
console. How to edit a
cue. How to delete a
cue. How to run a series of cues. How to skip and go back in a
cue stack.
Show them the
gel inventory and talk to them about the how and why of selecting colors.
Show them a
gobo pattern and how it is used.
Tell them about the qualities of light and how to use them in a show.
Show them how to create an even
wash. Teach them about color washes. Show them a
gobo wash.
Tell them about specials and how to use them.
Teach them about area lighting and show them front, side, top, back, and set lighting.
Make sure they know what types of things can be put on a
dimmer and the things that cannot.
Show them how to properly coil a cable and how to put things away.
Show them how to hook up the intercom.
Teach them how to talk like a designer/technician.
Teach them to be helpful.
Teach them how to talk to a director/designer.
Teach them how to treat the crew properly.
Teach them to be humble.
Show them how fun and cool it is to light a show.
Teach them to ask questions.
Tell them who to
call if they have questions.
Show them a good
book on lighting.
Just scratching the surface, but these are the things I wish I had known when I took over.