[cpaton1993]

I'm currently doing my first year Degree in Tech Theatre, but I can't but help thinking that when I leave I'm going to need more experience then what I do with Colchester Institute.
I'm not really sure what side of theatre I want to go into yet, but it is looking like lighting or sound at the moment.
I'm not even sure how I would go about setting up a CV or portfolio.

Any advice and help would be appreciated, ta.

[paulears]

The thing to prepare for is your experience while at the Institute counting for pretty well nothing. What you need to do is make contacts - so you need to start filling up your contacts with useful people. If you don't know yet what to specialise in, you're a bit stuck - so probably not a great deal you can do. Work, work, work is the key - on as many different types of events as you can get. Don't turn down jobs because they might not be your favourite - so many people think that one genre will be for them, then discover the available work is in areas you paid little attention to. So if you fancy lighting - do not only consider music of a certain style. If an opera project comes along, grab it. Same with different music strands. Learn as much as you can.

When you leave, your course will have prepared you for work, but getting it depends on being good, not having the qualification.

If you don't have a CV or know how to build a portfolio, then have a quiet word with your tutors, because that's a bit worrying!

Technical Theatre means very little, because there are so many areas. Maybe working out what you will be able to get involved in will help focus the mind. Ask them what projects and productions are coming up so you can plan.

[peza2010]

You want to be deciding your main direction, and focus heavily on it - but at the same time, keeping your skill in other areas at a reasonable level. To me someone who lists themself as a sound AND lighting engineer, seems to me that they might be okay at both, but not great at either, but a lighting engineer that can help set up a pa system is useful - especially in the lower levels of the industry (which you will have to work your way through

[trussmonkey]

As Paul said experience is everything a certificate is nothing. When I left GSMD ( I was in the first batch of students on the new degree course) I had a honors degree in technical theatre but im pretty sure I haven't got a job solely on this. Yes employers ask for qualifications but that is just par for the course what they are looking for is real world experience. The greater variety of experience in a given field is better.

I started working as part of the house crew at the Royal Albert Hall while on my course. This had a couple of benefits.

1)Real world working experience
2)Extra cash which is always nice when your studying
3)because I was at college in the day time then worked over night I got used to long hours. that is something very real in our industry and can not be taught.

Im not sure what is available in your neck of the woods but I would defo recommend getting in with your local theatre either for work ep or part time paid work (you can also try local crew companies that provide work local labour for concerts and the like. It will help to pad out your CV as you wont have much else to put into it.

Remember having a certificate of training is always nice but you are only as good as your last job. Its a big wide world but our industry is REALLY small. So if you are a bit of difficult bugger to work with then that label can stick with you. The opposite is also true.

Im an employer now and when putting together crews im looking for numerous things in this order.

1)Do I like the rigger and their personality/demeanour to work I.e. always moaning,happy,willing to get stuck in,willing to work late if needed etc
2)Do hey have the correct skills for the job
3)how do they work within the team im setting up


Good luck with your course. be a sponge and soak up every piece of info you can. Not just in your chosen field but in others too. it will make you better in your field if you have an understanding and appreciation of other discipline's. Ive been a lighting tech and stage manager before settling down into rigging. I was project manager and now Assistant head of Dept and I can say 110% that knowing a little about carpentry, lighting, sound, SM, wardrobe has made me much better at what I do. When im planning a job I can foresee problems that might be flagged by other depts and head them off before they arise.


Best

TM

[Junior8]

Last week I went along to an alumni networking evening for creative arts students, from Fine Arts through to Broadcast Technology, at the Uni where I did my masters. The idea was to allow current students to meet up with ex-students in various fields. Alumni included everything from a BBC producer through PR to the Freelance Hack (Me). At the end of the evening there were some very thoughtful third years who'd received a bit of a reality check but also some opportunities to gain valuable experience. I really would suggest you ask your institution to put on a similar event. If nothing else you'll get an insight into the real world from the horse's mouth. For my part I was astonished at the lack of awareness that virtually all of them were going to, forceput, end up as freelances of one sort or another and I felt, given this, that a lack of basic business training in some courses was inexcusable.

[DrummerJonny]

Hi Chris.

I'd suggest the following:

• Working at any Venues your SU may happen to have, and being nice to the senior crew, and working all the nasty shifts.
• Working on shows at local theatres and dealing with disorganised sound designers well.
• Being nice to Jonny.
• Looking for work experience with any of the local hire companies, theres actually a fair few more than appear at first sight...

Welcome to the Blue Room I'll probably see you at some point this week