Job Descriptions

[DomB]

Hi All,

 

I am drawing up a full list of Job Descriptions of the Theatre Industry from the lowest of the low to the highest positions.

 

So far this "little" task has taken me days of trawling the Internet and reading dozens of different websites only to find that many different sites contradictory each other or have different job titles for the same job information.

 

Does anybody here have a good reference site I may not have found yet? Or maybe you have a good list yourself hidden away.

 

Once the List is done I will be happy to post it here for people to "improve" or "dispute" it.

 

Any help gratefully received.

 

DomB

[Bryson]

Wikipedia? Beware of US-centric bias, but there's some good stuff on there, if you select carefully.

 

Start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:WikiProject_Stagecraft

[Psychedelic Theatre]

This may be a little basic for what you want, but it gives a good description of the common job titles.

 

http://www.aact.org/people/

[Suzette]

The Internet is NOT the only reference source available.....

 

There are several very good stage management books with job descriptions in - the ones that come to mind are

Stage Management, The Essential Handbook by Gail Pallin

Production Management, making shows happen by Peter Dean

Stage Management A Gentle Art by Daniel Bond

Essential Guide to Stage Management, Lighting & Sound by Scott Palmer

The Staging Handbook by Francis Reid

 

All of these books have a section on theatre jobs with descriptions.

[DomB]

Thanks everybody who responded so far, hopefully I can get this long list sorted out soon.

 

DomB

[w/robe]

I am drawing up a full list of Job Descriptions of the Theatre Industry from the lowest of the low to the highest positions.

 

The Creative & Cultural Skills Council are currently spend a lot of time and money doing exactly the same thing.

[Tarqs]

When I worked for a rather large F100 company we attacked this from a different angle. We asked people to write their own, then we took all the good bits from the documents supplied and gave it back to then in a uniformed structure.

 

Start with a template documents with headings that describe their job function, what they think they should be doing and what they actually do. You can include where they sit in the organisation, reporting structures, decision making authority etc,etc.

 

It’s also important to offer help and assistance as some people will be comfortable to do this whilst others will see it as a threat or a complete pain. You may have to sit down with some and write it with them, whilst others will provide you with documentation that will kill off a rain forest.

 

The advantage of doing it this way is that it gets people to buy into it, but it is important that they fully understand why you are doing it, so a note from your CEO or director would be helpful to kick things off.

 

Don't forget that things change, and you should also include a review of this on an annual basis.

[JimWebber]

I am drawing up a full list of Job Descriptions of the Theatre Industry from the lowest of the low to the highest positions.

 

DomB

 

Are you actually going to present the list in order lowest - highest? Could be very controversial...

 

Seriously though, I dont envy your task, there are so many titles, and I suspect that with so many companies, venues and organisations out there, in several case, one position may have several titles, and vice versa, one title may be used by several different positions...

 

For example some companies may refer to a certain position as a Production Manager, others a Company Manager, wheras elsewhere a company manager is totally different?

 

As an aside, I've lost count of the times I've seen "Theatre Technician" jobs advertised in the local press and have got very excited, only to read the advert a bit more closely to discover it had been placed by the NHS...

 

I'm very interested in seeing the final list though!

 

Jim

[DomB]

I am still working on this Task but as expected it is taking longer than I first planed.

 

Currently trying to find a good Job Description for "rigger"

 

This is what I have but if anybody can help me flesh out this description that would be great !

 

Rigger

The ability to work at height is a must, with a working knowledge of health and safety. You will primarily be working with electrics, sound and carpentry departments rigging up lighting bars, lights, sets, sound equipment.

 

?

 

DomB

[woody74]

Rigger

The ability to work at height is a must, with a working knowledge of health and safety. You will primarily be working with electrics, sound and carpentry departments rigging up lighting bars, lights, sets, sound equipment.

 

I would recommend talking one-on-one to a rigger to get their take on what they need a working knowledge of and the correct names of the gear. The job varies from show to show, but more than health and safety is a working knowledge of physics.

 

And purely for my own morbid curiosity: why did you decide to create this list?

[w/robe]

I am drawing up a full list of Job Descriptions of the Theatre Industry from the lowest of the low to the highest positions.

 

I just wondered why you were undertaking this thankless, possibly impossible, task?

[DomB]

To cut a very long story short I used to work in the Industry and now I am trying to run my own website "see my signature" and I want to make a Guide to Working in the Theatre Industry, I want to make a "good" list of job descriptions but I don't just want a basic list, I would prefer it to be a comprehensive list so it can be as informative and helpful as possible.

 

The idea behind my website is that many many Theatre companies refuse to Pay for adverts for the lower paid jobs and just use Internal Advertisements, but if there was place on the Web that is "cheaper" than some other mainstream websites/newpapers they may consider advertising with me.

 

Its a long shot but it is worth try, my site gets around 50-100 visitors per day so far and mostly from the UK and London Areas so if I can make my website more interesting and informative maybe the Big Theatre companies will take me more serious (most have ignored my marketing letters so far).

 

The frustrating thing is I hear about 3-4 jobs a week via friends in the industry but I can not advertise them! even for FREE unless I get permission from the main Theatre companies involved.

 

 

It maybe a thankless task but I will get it done and hope some people (cant keep everybody happy) will find it useful.

 

DomB

[DomB]

I don't know if anybody is still interested in this topic but this is my 1st Draft (please excuse bad grammar/spell and any incorrect information) I will be improving this list and adding Wardrobe, Wigs, Sound and Front of House roles but if anybody is feeling kind and would like to add some useful comments please do.

 

Technical Manager

 

Responsibilities involve overseeing, maintaining and organising the Theatre and all its equipment, staff, resource needs, schedules, budgets.

 

Chief LX

 

Responsibilities involve, to be a Fully Qualified Electrician, PAT test electrical Equipment for safety. The ability to draw up and interpret detailed lighting plans, Organise crews to rig lights, plot, focus, set gels, and organise get outs. Understand what the Lighting Designer needs and find solutions to complex lighting problems, including maxim loads and voltages used at peak show time. Ability to run and program Lighting Desks.

Daily lamp checks and safety checks, working at height and with harness and safety ropes. Ability to manage staff and rotas and day-to-day Electrics department.

 

Deputy Chief Lx

 

Responsibilities involve, Fully Qualified Electrician, Pat test electrical Equipment for safety. The ability to draw up and interpret detailed lighting plans, Organise crews to rig lights, plot, focus, set gels, and de-rig. Understand what the Lighting Designer needs and find solutions to complex lighting problems, including maximum loads and voltages used at peak show time. Ability to run and program Lighting Desks. Daily lamp checks and safety checks, working at height and with harness and safety ropes. ability to manage staff and rotas and day to day Electrics department.

 

Chargehand Lx

Responsibilities involve, semi Qualified Electrician, be able to Pat test electrical Equipment for safety. The ability to draw up and interpret detailed lighting plans, Work as part of the crews to rig lights, plot, focus, set gels, and de-rig. Understand what the Lighting Designer needs and find solutions to complex lighting problems,. ability to run and program Lighting Desks. Daily lamp checks and safety checks, working at height and with harness and safety ropes. ability to manage day to day Electrics’ department.

 

Dayman LX

Responsibilities involve, semi Qualified Electrician, Pat test electrical Equipment for safety. The ability to draw up and interpret detailed lighting plans, Work as part of the crews to rig lights, plot, focus, set gels, and de-rig. ability to run and program Lighting Desks. Daily lamp checks and safety checks, working at height and with harness and safety ropes. ability to manage day to day Electrics department.

 

Lighting Designer

Responsible for designing, focusing and plotting the lighting for a production. In the professional theatre he is not normally responsible for operating the lighting, although he will usually do that in the amateur theatre. Responsible to the Director, not the Stage Manager. Works in close co-operation with the Designer

 

 

Assistant Lx designer

Responsible for designing, focusing and plotting the lighting for a production. In the professional theatre he is not normally responsible for operating the lighting, although he will usually do that in the amateur theatre. Responsible to the Director, not the Stage Manager. Works in close co-operation with the Designer and electrics department and lighting board programming

 

Stage Lx

Plug/unplug practical, plug/unplug trucks, fill dry ice, smoke machines, run smoke cues and practical light effects, general stage show electrics

 

Master Carpenter

The master carpenter coordinates with the set designer to construct the design with the budget. They will identify resources and maintain inventory of all the set pieces and components. This person also manages the installation of the set into the performance space, and ensures the integrity of the set throughout the run of the show. They also return all borrowed and rented items.

 

Deputy Master carpenter

The master carpenter coordinates with the set designer to contract the design with the budget. They will identify resources and maintain inventory of all the set pieces and components. This person also manages the installation of the set into the performance space, and ensures the integrity of the set throughout the run of the show. They also return all borrowed and rented items.

 

Chargehand carpenter

They will identify resources and maintain inventory of all the set pieces and components. This person also manages the installation of the set into the performance space, and ensures the integrity of the set throughout the run of the show

Crew Move scenic art, furniture, sets, and trucks during the performance.

 

Follow spot operator

Follow Actors around stage with different strength lights and colour gels, must be able to work at height and be able to learn the show quickly and learn when to pick up and fade out on Q.

 

Lx Board operator

Needs an understanding of lighting design and lighting board operation, ability to load and override show programs when lighting states fail due to light faults, will spend most of there time operating the lighting desk during shows.

 

Automation operator

Will operator on stage electrical or hydraulic systems, a technical background is preferred with some computer system knowledge always helps.

 

Rigger

The ability to work at height with knowledge of health and safety is a must, you will primarily be working with electrics, sound and carpentry departments rigging up lighting bars, lights, sets, sound equipment.

 

 

Remember this is a WORKing draft so don't flame me if I have things wrong :D and I have doubled up some information until I can more clearly define roles.

 

 

DomB

[the kid]

One thing I think would be good is to do a flow chart, so Production manager is abover / below technical manager who is then below light/sound/set design and follow from there.

 

Esp with a site you can do a flow chart then click on the individual job rolls and get more info.

[DomB]

One thing I think would be good is to do a flow chart, so Production manager is abover / below technical manager who is then below light/sound/set design and follow from there.

 

Esp with a site you can do a flow chart then click on the individual job rolls and get more info.

 

Yes I had a similar Idea myself but I need to define all the jobs/roles in a Theatre first.

 

 

DomB