Hey all, the
venue I work for is about to go through some massive changes and I will soon be in charge of a lot more than I previously have been, including working with the local union. What are useful certification programs to go through as a
venue TD to add knowledge under my belt as well as certifications. My executive director is asking me to start coming up with a plan to further my education in preparation for the coming years.
I appreciate any advice you all may have to give.
Set up a lunch meeting with your
IATSE Local's business agent, and show up having read the
current collective
bargaining agreement. Also review any technical materials the
venue provides to producers and presenters regarding the
venue and labor covered under the CBA. Really, really understand when things like meal penalties and premium rates apply...
Certification is for specialists, and at some
point you'll identify specific crafts, trades or skills more relevant to your
venue than others. My
PAC is lucky to have a former TD as administrator so getting funding for safety-related issues (or things that will be a
safety issue) are dealt with fairly quickly.
I'd take an inventory of how many masters there are to serve, and how many different "hats" you'll wear. All of that stuff changes depending on the use of the
venue that day, that hour. From deciding if the
producer can marry two battens/arbors or dealing with housekeeping issues in the
lobby... So a Dante audio certification would be pointless, but being intimately familiar with your
counterweight system would be important *at that time* and having maintenance on the walkie (or using the mop, yourself) has guest/customer impact. And some masters cannot easily be served simultaneously (real world example): wigs and hair need really hot water and they're far away from the water heater so they run the hot continuously starting 2 hours before doors. This created/revealed a drainage problem in a dressing room and a public rest room. There was no good solution and hair & wigs held the political
power so maintenance was shop-vac-ing the restroom and the Equity rep was storming mad about the dressing room situation. The required cert in this case was 'de-escalation of tense situations'.
Other suggestions about crowd management and similar training are spot on. Add active shooter, fire, and natural disaster planning/training. Training on various life
safety systems (fire, fall arrest, intrusion/burglary/hold up alarms), training and certification on any aerial work platforms or lifts, lift trucks, and similar equipment. Classes on management of workers and establishing performance metrics.
Good luck!
