short courses this summer

[weatherhead]

Hello everyone,

given the normal reaction to this sort of post I'm pretty much expecting just "use the search function". Well, here goes anyway.

 

I am on a year out before uni this year and have just finished my job as a chemistry technician, which has earned me a small amount of money. My degree is nothing to do with technical theatre, but I really do have a passion for this kind of thing and I'm partly considering having a pop at the industry when I have my qualifications etc. Most people around me reckon I should go into research but hey ho,

 

I have the cash and time to book myself in on a few courses this summer, so as a person interested in lighting operation and sound engineering, what would you recommend I look at?

 

On some initial research, I am choosing between a couple of the following:

 

PATesting course

PASMA accreditation

IPAF ticket (for SL category)

3 day rigging course at Birmingham by totalsolutionsgroup

2 week lighting course at RADA (£625 ouch! But I can just about afford it if I don't eat in my first two terms at Cambridge)

 

Given that I'm likely to end up either working in physics research or (god forbid) teaching, or just becoming a bum, and that I'm unlikely to ever actually WORK in the industry, I'm looking at these things partly as just extra education, and partly as things that help you look better to amdrams and semi-pros. I do want to try and get something, because a degree in physics generally doesn't look very arty to people.

 

Looking forward to hearing your responses

[paulears]

Looking at the list, much will be very, very dull - but if you need a particular piece of paper (as is comon nowadays) that doesn't matter. You've said you are interested, but don't see it as your career, then I'd pick the RADA lighting course - there's a big difference in training that you get from industry or education. They have very different needs from the eople who go onto them. Industry is blunt, you might find the trainers are just employees of the company who do their 'training area' for a living and then get lumbered with training because it is often a good income stream. Let's say you sign up on a fork lift course - the trainer's probably been driving the things for years and eminently competent - he'll remove all the padding educationalists use to put things into context, and show you really clear methods of you obtaining the skills you need to pass a test. You won't get the context, so asking questions about "how would you...?" might get blan stares - he wouldn't necessarily know anything about our industry, and this isn't really important. If you take training from a place used to education, they understand that people learn better in different ways, and can cope with it. They are also pretty good at putting in padding that can be removed for some, or maybe 'bent' for others, depending on their needs. The RADA lighting course would, I assume, not assume anyone knows anything when they start, and goes from basic topics through to some kind of 'finish'. This might be fixed, or possibly flexible depending on the group.

 

If you're planing on doing it for general info, and the actual certificate isn't critical - then find out the content first, then go to the one that is most interesting.

 

I hate with a passion industry style courses - they plod along at the slowest persons rate, and I get bored. The trainers are not normally trained in training, and don't have the skills to keep changing level that 'teacher' types do naturally. I did an advanced lighting course once and half-way through discovered half the group were basic beginners who were on this one because the beginners one hadn't run. The trainer suddenly changed vocabulary, delivery style, and annoyingly the technical content to be able to deal with these people, returning to the other half of the group every now and again. He did it quite well, but very few trainers from industry have those kind of skills - they are not normally required.

[Joe Bleasdale]

hi,

rather than a training course, you could ask one of your local hire companies to take you on over the summer. I have done the same and learned alot! Even if you job is just pushing flightcases, I'm sure you will make connections for the future and learn about the topics you mentioned.

 

hth

joe

[ChrisD]

I've spent about a month in my local theatre (a recieving house) and I have a good 8 - 10 months of corporate experience behind me, so I'm not a total beginner, and I've learned more about theatre in my first 3 days than I have from reading books. Not to say training is a waste of time or money, but I would get on the casuals list for your local theatre, or hire company as thetechguy92 suggests. Much more rewarding in my experience (theatre does seem to be more interesting than corporate) and you get paid too! Also, they may then offer you work duing your uni holidays or during term time, if they're based in Cambridge.

 

Hope that helps, and best of luck next year.

[Jivemaster]

First aid at work cert kept refreshed is a pan industries plus point. EVERY employer should have some FAW people on the staff at all times.

 

Anything that adds real life work experience is a plus point too! Employers like to use "have done" as an indicator of "will do"

[Ike]

Working for a hire company would bore the hell out of me. Sorry to anyone who does it but it's one of the ways I'd least like to spend my summer.

 

The RADA lighting course looks like it might be interesting and out of the options you've listed it's the one I'd chose.

 

First aid is always good and quite a few employers will actually pay you more if you have it! Rather than paying for a course you might think about volunteering some time with the British Red Cross or Saint Johns Ambulance. You'll get the training free, you'll be helping the industry (most big events would be screwed without their volunteers) and most importantly you can be sure the person giving the training knows their stuff and has actually used their skills.

 

PAT testing courses are boring and not worth the money unless you need that bit of paper, you could always get hold of the IEE code of practice if you're really keen. The same applies for PASMA, their code of practice is about a fiver. Same with IPAF as well except with them you have the added disadvantages that their tickets run out and you'll always need the one you don't have. Don't know much about the rigging course but I'm guessing it's very truss and motor based, if you're more interested in theatre work you might be best having a look at the ABTT flying course.

[weatherhead]

Thanks for the replies people, very helpful so far.

I already have an FAW, and try to keep it up to date, as I did used to volunteer with the st john ambulance. I think I'm going to try and get a place on the RADA course, it sounds very interesting. I was also considering the hire company/theatre idea, however my local theatres both don't seem very interested, and if anyone knows of a hire company in Teesside please let me know, I couldn't find one!

[Matt Veitch]

Hi -

 

Just a reminder to all that here at Mountview we have launched a brand new one-week introductory summer school for those who'd like to take their interest in theatre lighting to a practical level. Aimed at those with some experience of lighting beit at school, college or amateur theatre the week will cover everything from basic design considerations through rigging, focusing, plotting and getting to grips with the latest moving light, LED and console technology.

 

If interested contact our short courses department either by phone on 0802 826 9217 or email cadev@mountview.org.uk -

 

good luck in your search -

 

 

Matt Veitch

Head of Lighting

Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

 

www.mountview.org.uk

 

www.mattveitch.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone,

given the normal reaction to this sort of post I'm pretty much expecting just "use the search function". Well, here goes anyway.

 

I am on a year out before uni this year and have just finished my job as a chemistry technician, which has earned me a small amount of money. My degree is nothing to do with technical theatre, but I really do have a passion for this kind of thing and I'm partly considering having a pop at the industry when I have my qualifications etc. Most people around me reckon I should go into research but hey ho,

 

I have the cash and time to book myself in on a few courses this summer, so as a person interested in lighting operation and sound engineering, what would you recommend I look at?

 

On some initial research, I am choosing between a couple of the following:

 

PATesting course

PASMA accreditation

IPAF ticket (for SL category)

3 day rigging course at Birmingham by totalsolutionsgroup

2 week lighting course at RADA (£625 ouch! But I can just about afford it if I don't eat in my first two terms at Cambridge)

 

Given that I'm likely to end up either working in physics research or (god forbid) teaching, or just becoming a bum, and that I'm unlikely to ever actually WORK in the industry, I'm looking at these things partly as just extra education, and partly as things that help you look better to amdrams and semi-pros. I do want to try and get something, because a degree in physics generally doesn't look very arty to people.

 

Looking forward to hearing your responses