Hughesie,
We've been debating creating some sort of technical certification program. The problem is that it doesn't guarantee you anything. I think you are just as likely to get hired with the degree as without. As Phil said... can you coil a cable? Odds are you are going to get a pretty basic job no matter what and from there you have to prove yourself.
Gaff's rule... There are three factors that go into getting you a good tech job: hard work, education, and who you know/luck. The more education you have the less hard work and luck you need to get a job. However, the more experience you have, the more people you know and opportunities it creates (luck), and the education becomes unimportant. I've talked to professionals in several of the biggest theaters in town. Some have degrees some don't. If you want to be a top designer or get a job at a manufacturer... you should pursue all the education you can. If you just want to work on the
road for a while then get a cool gig at a big
house in town... it's far less important than hard work and who you know.
The T.D.
in one of the biggest theaters in the region started as a summer
stock temporary carpenter with no degree. He impressed them and got a job full time, he worked about 10 years gaining the respect of everyone on the staff, along the way he took a couple of management classes. When the position opened he got the job. No degree. There's a lot of hard work, who you know, and luck involved in his path to that job but education would not have helped him. Clearly many people applied for that job with big degrees. But the inside guy who worked hard got the job.
A little over a year ago I heard that one of the largest community theaters in the area was looking for tech help. A former student of mine was looking to take his tech career more seriously. I put in a phone
call saying, "Hi, you don't know me but ____ (who works for the theater) and ____ (who he knows ) are good friends of mine so you can check my credentials. ____ told me you are looking for tech help. A former student of mine is looking for some work. He's a skilled sound technician and has a very brilliant mind. He's interested in expanding his world into lighting and S.M. work as well. He knows what he's doing in those areas but has little experience. If your interested give him a
call." My former student is now making $16,000 a year at a part time
Production Manager. He's not making a lot yet, but he's 20 years old, has no degree, and that's enough of a
base that he can survive making a few hundred or so working on shows at night. A few years in this position and he'll be able to turn it into a real
production manager job. That's how it's done. No degree... just who you know and the luck of one phone
call.
I work at a college and I always encourage education. It's good for your mind. I go every summer and take some classes to expand my knowledge. But in the case of technical theater, it isn't your golden ticket to success. I like the idea of a certification program because it's short and less expensive than a full degree program. It says you know all the basics now get out there and do it. I think if I was getting a masters degree in theater I would be pretty disappointed to get out there and find out just how many people have no theater degree at all. Oh yeah... I have a Bachelors Degree in History and a Masters degree in Education... yep I'm a college T.D. with no theater degree. Been running sound since 5th grade (that's... crap 26 years) started lights and sets in 9th grade. Spent a bunch of years volunteering in college hanging out with an old T.D. who knew everything. Got a job as a high school drama teacher and from there I've made the transition to college. I've recently added 15 graduate
level credits in tech theater classes to my transcript... but no degree in theater at all.
One more thing... there's got to be somewhere you can volunteer. What about summer
stock. Summer children's theater programs. Go to the nearest theater type place and say "Hi I want to work for you, I'll do whatever you want for free. Can I coil cable? Get you your coffee? Got a floor to sweep? A wall to paint? Screws to sort?" If you are a hard worker and you are good, all you need is a
foot in the door. If they like you you'll find all kinds of opportunities.