mac.calder Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 No, 25% are useless, 75% are good. However, 25% suck to work with because they are pricks - but that does not change the fact that they still do the work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzette Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Previous to my current job I was Technical Manager at a 600-seat venue for several years. The current Technical Manager there is also female... Pay was/is bad for everyone. Hours are still long ... but maybe (lights blue touchpaper and gets ready to run!) females are able to multi-task better and can therefore juggle the demands of the job better ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theatregurl Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 there's some on here - getintotheatre.org - so they must exist - I've even seen the pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boswell Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Fully agree Suzette, but you have to stop them gossiping first!! :o I'm in the bunker ready Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul the paranoid lampy Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 having worked with women who have kicked bigger mens butts when it come to breaking Ice rinks on the touring ice shows, better at packing trucks and been better lampies than the guys, I have no issues with giving them a go at the job.some guys who I have worked with have voiced concerns about having women on the crew have been the 1st ones out shined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzette Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 but you have to stop them gossiping first!! But most of the men I have worked with/do work with seem unable to "talk and work" whereas us "gals" can keep working whilst talking!! :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T*ny Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I used to work with a female technical stage manager. One of her pet hates was when the amdrams were in - because they always tried to be helpful by picking up the trailing edge of the 20' (6m) high flat she was running across the stage. She proved it was possible to work and talk simultaneously - usually only four letters at a time though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 The place I'm at at the moment has a large number of females in the LX department, and a lady technical manager. It is very odd though - all the usual blokey banter is missing. I'm told PC is the norm - so no comments about the rows of bike racks when leaning over into the stage edge traps - that kind of thing. everyone is really nice and they are well skilled and helpful - but the atmosphere is just a little 'dry' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deranged-angel Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I work in a venue with a female tech manager. There are 5 technicians in total, 3 are female. There's a good amount of banter that goes on and maybe a bit of gossipng but we get the work done and to a good standard. I have always felt that the presence of a man does stop some of the bitching that women can get into. Ive worked in a lot of offices and the worst thing is to work with an office full of women. Maybe that's just me but I feel that men can just prevent the bitchiness getting too bad.I generally havent experienced any problems with getting a job because I'm female but do feel the same as others have said that it's annoying when people insist on carrying stuff for you leaving you without a job and looking like a spare part. I think it's sweet when people offer but once I say I'm fine then I do expect people should trust my own judgement and leave me to do it. Some people keep on about it though and it drives me mad!I have experienced a few funny looks/comments from the older generation when I tell them my job. I get the questions: "Ahhh, but you don't climb ladders though do you?" or "But you wouldn't deal with the electrical side of it would you?" They seem to think I just design stuff. It doesnt bother me too much as theyre just not used to a woman doing that type of work.Now, the way I got in to tech theatre was like this. I always wanted to be in the school plays and was up until my last year when I didnt get in. I still wanted to be part of it so was asked to do followspot. I never dreamed that this could be a career, just that it was fun.I went off to do other stuff after school (was a travel agent for nearly 2 years) when I decided I hated it and wanted to do something that interested me and ended up going to uni to do drama and theatre studies and english. As part of my drama and theatre studies, I had the option to do a module in tech theatre. it seemed interesting so I gave it a go. At the end of my second year - 2003, I looked in to how to have a career in tech theatre and felt discouraged from it by people I asked. I was told it was difficult to get work, the pay was low and the hours were long. This was a woman in an office telling me this though so I went to the Edinburgh Fest to see if I'd actually like to do the job and if it was worth pursuing it. Well, as you can prob tell, I did like it and pursued it and I'm glad I did. Ok so I don't earn massive amounts of money but at least I like going to work everyday (not like being a travel agent!!) So there you go. That's me. :) Em Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troutie Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks for the swift response. I agree with you, in education there is a pretty well balanced ratio of girls and boys. Usually though, the girls start off interested in stage management rather than lighting or sound, and only discover these options through practice. In our college, the course in which I teach requires all students to achieve lighting, sound, construction and stage management.In my experience as resident technician at Unity Liverpool, where the touring companies were small scale, gender here also seemed well balanced. However, I wonder if this is the case in large scale theatre? I'd be curious to find out how many female technicians are employed at the Liverpool Empire for instance.Can I ask, was there ever a time prior to studying that you thought theatre tech was predominantly for boys? What was it that attracted you to this career?Opps, I almost spoke too soon. Just checked out the Empire's website and guess what? predominantly all management positions are occupied by women. however, Sandie the technical manager is a male.http://www.liverpoolempire.org.uk/content_...CategoryID=2342Hi Female Tech Manager here! Currently working at Arena & Convention Center Liverpool previously Liverpool Empire. Not many of us about however I have been in this industry for a few years. Tech manager for the last 14 years and chief lx before that. Worked here, there and everywhere! Met many good tech's both men and women. I don't care about gender if they can do the job & do it well. The reason I do this job: some fat bloke in the early 80's told me women should not be in theatre - :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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