The biggest issue I have now is actually getting non-theatre/actor kids in the class. I've got a lot of interested parties (mostly seniors who have room in their schedule for a "fun" class and will be gone in 7 months 
), but our tech crew is about 16 and I feel any more than that I can't train at one time. I usually break them into groups and take four upstairs at a time, but then I've got 12 rambunctious actors screwing around on the deck while I'm trying to explain how not to drop weights on their heads. This year I really feel the emphasis is going to be on professionalism more than anything else.
I like the idea of a large crew, but I need to find those quiet, tech-nerdy kids instead of the loud, gregarious actor kids. We currently only have one class of stagecraft, and everyone cross-trains on everything. Everyone helps in the build. I try to let the stronger kids design our children's show (set, lights, sound), but other than that design decisions are made mostly from myself or more regularly the drama teacher. When it comes time for a school show, I hand pick the run crew based on experience or need for experience (e.g. putting a weaker sound kid on A2 so she learns the ropes from a strong A1). But this also is decided after they've already been cast, so when the majority of my tech class is advanced drama kids it's looking grim. I'm pretty impartial on the whole "ageist" thing though. I've had freshmen that were green as a shamrock but would listen and follow through and I'll take that kid over a senior who thinks they've got it figured out.
My big target for now is to create a means for recruiting 8th and 9th graders into the program, so I can catch them before they've been pulled into a dozen other areas and really build up a culture in the tech crew. I feel like if that were the case then I could rely more on the older kids who have 2-3 years in to lead the younger ones and potentially have a larger class that I know I can trust. I had a decent crew last year, but not much leadership from the kids this year. At least so far.
), but our tech crew is about 16 and I feel any more than that I can't train at one time. I usually break them into groups and take four upstairs at a time, but then I've got 12 rambunctious actors screwing around on the deck while I'm trying to explain how not to drop weights on their heads. This year I really feel the emphasis is going to be on professionalism more than anything else. I like the idea of a large crew, but I need to find those quiet, tech-nerdy kids instead of the loud, gregarious actor kids. We currently only have one class of stagecraft, and everyone cross-trains on everything. Everyone helps in the build. I try to let the stronger kids design our children's show (set, lights, sound), but other than that design decisions are made mostly from myself or more regularly the drama teacher. When it comes time for a school show, I hand pick the run crew based on experience or need for experience (e.g. putting a weaker sound kid on A2 so she learns the ropes from a strong A1). But this also is decided after they've already been cast, so when the majority of my tech class is advanced drama kids it's looking grim. I'm pretty impartial on the whole "ageist" thing though. I've had freshmen that were green as a shamrock but would listen and follow through and I'll take that kid over a senior who thinks they've got it figured out.
My big target for now is to create a means for recruiting 8th and 9th graders into the program, so I can catch them before they've been pulled into a dozen other areas and really build up a culture in the tech crew. I feel like if that were the case then I could rely more on the older kids who have 2-3 years in to lead the younger ones and potentially have a larger class that I know I can trust. I had a decent crew last year, but not much leadership from the kids this year. At least so far.
