I'm currently a junior in high school and very interested in technical theater. I've been in a 3 man tech crew under a very prestigious choir director for all of my high school career so far. Working with an auditorium built in the 60's I have a lot of experience rigging lights and repairing lights and other equipment. I have experience running multiple microphones at once. I have designed, set up, and ran lighting for musicals and other shows. I also have experience in recording and sound editing. I live 40 minutes out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I've been reading a lot about careers in technical theater for a long time now and I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to get into that job field. I am still very interested, but I would like to have a fall back. Along the lines of a fall back or maybe a side job for my first 5 or 10 years of theater experience I was thinking a career in setting up home theaters or maybe even just being a Geek Squad employee. So what I was wondering is what exactly should I go to college for and where. I'll obviously need an education in lighting design and sound engineering. Should I also study electricity? Also, if you could recommend any schools in my area that would cater to my needs it would be greatly appreciated. (Inside Wisconsin or a state over or so.)
I've been reading a lot about careers in technical theater for a long time now and I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to get into that job field. I am still very interested, but I would like to have a fall back. Along the lines of a fall back or maybe a side job for my first 5 or 10 years of theater experience I was thinking a career in setting up home theaters or maybe even just being a Geek Squad employee. So what I was wondering is what exactly should I go to college for and where. I'll obviously need an education in lighting design and sound engineering. Should I also study electricity? Also, if you could recommend any schools in my area that would cater to my needs it would be greatly appreciated. (Inside Wisconsin or a state over or so.)