What To do next!?

[chappy]

im currently studying at school for my g.c.s.e's and I am also the only person in the school that knows how to use the technical equipment that the school owns.

 

anyway.. I'm at the point where I'm wondering what to do next. I am interested in the technical side production and wish to carry this on from school, I have looked my local college and found that the technical theatre course that I wanted to do, isn't going ahead due to 'lack of teachers'.

 

I have looked at the FAQ page that has gave me alot of info but would like to know what others think that I should do.

 

cheers :biggrin:

[lightsource]

im currently studying at school for my g.c.s.e's

 

If you're still studying for GCSE's, then why don't you get some books on the aspects of theatre that interest you. For a small price they may add greatly to your technical knowledge, arming you with more information which may be useful for the course you eventually decide on.

 

I do not work in theatre, so I could not suggest any titles worth looking at, so maybe some other BR members may help out here, or if that fails, why not try your local library.

[Just Some Bloke]

Welcome to the Blue Room, Chappy. Hope you continue to enjoy doing lighting and sound at school and beyond.

why don't you get some books on the aspects of theatre that interest you. ... maybe some other BR members may help out here

Have a look at the 'Useful Books' topic which is pinned at the top of the Training and Qualifications forum.

 

You may also be interested in this thread in which 94% of BR members thought capital letters should be used on the Blue Room.

 

P.S. Merry Christmas! :huh: (bah humbug)

[Ken Coker]

I'd get some A-levels next....good A-levels - including Maths and Physics; after that you'll know not only how the technical equipment works, but why.

 

Then I'd probably go and do a degree in Philosophy at a decent University with a good drama department/technical society. Nottingham or Bath spring to mind; Cambridge would do too.

 

Then I'd go and do an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at Central.

 

(I'd combine all of this with getting as much experience in the world of entertainment technology that I possibly could.)

 

Is that enough advice?

 

:huh: (Aha! That's how they work!!)

 

Merry Xmas

 

KC

[mumbles]

I'd get some A-levels next....good A-levels - including Maths and Physics; after that you'll know not only how the technical equipment works, but why.

 

Then I'd probably go and do a degree in Philosophy at a decent University with a good drama department/technical society. Nottingham or Bath spring to mind; Cambridge would do too.

This is what I've done, but on a Civil Engineering degree (at Bath if my info panel hadn't given it away).

 

During my GCSEs, I had planned on going into engineering of somekind, and decided during A levels that civil, however unglamourous, was the way to go.

 

Although I had an amount of experience, it wasn't enough to think about a career in lighting, but 18 months in, I am very involved with the society, and now plan to finish my degree to give me a fallback career and some decent qualifications, but then to go into the industry, either through extra training,

Then I'd go and do an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at Central.

or something similar, but at the moment I'm building up as much experience as possible, and will see what happens. Even though this may seem like an odd route to take if you're sure what you want to do, but it does show the strength of experience and practice through amatuer groups and university (and the like) societies.

[Bobbsy]

As you can likely see from the range of answers you're getting, there's no one "best route" to get into the technical side of the industry. However, a few general comments can be made:

 

First, there's far more to most of the jobs (the good ones anyway) than simply knowing how to push the buttons or operate the faders. Continuing to study math and physics can be very useful to you when you get down to the nitty gritty of designing sound systems or working with modern lighting controls. Frankly, computer science can also be pretty handy, given the amount of gear which is now computer controlled.

 

It's probably worth continuing to study drama as well (just to show willing) even though at A Level the courses are much more history and acting oriented. If you're lucky enough to be able to do a BTEC, those can be very good, though the quality varies with the instructors.

 

Comments about capital letters aside, an understanding of English Grammar is essential since a good many jobs are under freelance contracts and communication skills are vital.

 

In amongst all this academic work, the more actual production experience you can gain on school and amateur shows, the better.

 

Your big choices will come in two or three years when you have to decide on where to go after high school. There are all sorts of things to consider, ranging from technical colleges to university to trying to learn on the job. However, that's a decision for the future.

 

Bob

[Pete McCrea]

I did exactly the same as Mumbles. GCSE's, A+AS Levels (Geography, Physics, AS Maths, AS Technology), Gap year with church and odds of freelance work, then Civil+ Coastal Eng at Plymouth. Placement year with Jarvis rail in third year, then a job with a local hire co after uni, before setting up my own business. All the while I was at uni I took every chance to get practical experience and do work on shows via the Musical Theatre group and the Union.

 

There is no fixed way to do it. Just make sure that you can get as much experience of all the different areas until you know which you want to specialise in. And be prepared to do the menial task. If someone is willing and can be trusted with the small things then they rate higher in my books than someone who takes the attitiude that making tea is beneath them.

[Tomo]

Going by the people I've met and worked with, the best route at the moment is this:

 

GCSEs

A-Levels (or whatever they're called now), including Maths and Physics.

- Don't bother with A-level Drama, as it's good for actors and directors but nobody else.

 

A science, maths or engineering degree at a good university, doing a fair bit of backstage voluntary and casual work.

 

I know that this route doesn't sound like the way into theatre, however - these courses teach you how the stuff works, and how to think in a logical manner. This is what you need in technical theatre - specifics of the equipment are easy to learn if you understand the concepts behind them.

 

Nobody wants a twenty-year-old who thinks they know everything, and unfortunately this is exactly what many 'technical theatre' degrees produce. Not all of them - there are some very good courses out there - but enough for employers to be wary of these degrees.

 

Also, there are not very many jobs out there for theatre technicians, and the majority of them are poorly paid.

 

Nobody does this for the money - we do it because we love the work.

 

If you want to get rich, be a stockbroker!

[marky]

I don't think there is any right answer to this. There is no point studying subjects you don't enjoy or are not very good at. A career in this industry is not dependant on what A levels you have. Study what you enjoy and are good at, 3 A levels with good grades are better than 3 with OK grades. Just keep getting involved, make yourself available and learn all you can!

[Ben...]

Thirding (fourthing? fifthing?) the advice about getting Maths A-level, with a lot to be said for Physics/Chemistry/Electronics as well: You may never have to integrate anything after school, but becoming comfortable with setting problems down clearly and then working through them logically is fundamental to almost any technical field you care to mention.

 

There is a lot to be said for getting a solid engineering or science degree while spending every spare hour futzing around in theatres (amateur and professional) but, on the flip side, you'll probably end up with a five figure debt and with rates of pay in theatre being what they are, that takes a while to clear. (I took the TV shilling :) ) Can't really comment on dedicated theatrical qualifications, but many others have.

 

From people I've met, I would say that if you're a hard worker, quick to learn, and pretty certain you want to stick with the career for a good few years then there's something to be said for (and against) going straight in from school and working your way up, while taking care not to get sucked into any dead end jobs or cowboy operations.

 

Then I'd probably go and do a degree in Philosophy at a decent University with a good drama department/technical society. Nottingham or Bath spring to mind; Cambridge would do too.

Bristol and Imperial are also good (but expensive) for that sort of thing.

[paulears]

A long time since my exams, but Physics, Maths and Technical Drawing have come in handy over and over again - I'm a little surprised by the suggestion of a Philosophy degree, but what the heck - probably just as useful as some of the other wierd things people read nowadays.