General Training?

[BenHowitt]

Hi. Just wondering what kinds of courses I am allowed to do under 16 and under 18. Talking light/sound/pyro/anything else you think might be useful in a school theatre. Note that in my school, there is noone competent enough (or, indeed, interested enough) to qualify me on site, so it would have to be off site stuff.

 

Thanks for any help and, if the topic is too vague, feel free to insult me about it until I change it.

 

Ben Howitt

[soundo26]

If you are under 18 and your school does not have a dedicated drama dept you may have problems getting any meaningful training. You may want to get in touch with a local theatre or find an amateur dramatics group where you can start picking up experience but you will not be allowed to do anything where Health & safety may be an issue such as many of the tasks involved with rigging although this wouldn't necessarily exclude you from many of the safer areas. You will not be able to be involved in Pyrotechnics either.

Having said this, there are many areas in which you would be able to get involved such as operating sound & lighting desks, learning to program and learning about colour and lighting ststes/effects etc.

 

There are training courses available from many of the equipment manufacturers, some of which is free, some you pay for, you's have to search around to find this. Manufacturers' web sites often have lots of good technical info on them if you search around enough.

 

If you are into sound, you can try getting involved with bands, many of these start at school and would welcome the chance of having help on the technicla side of things.

 

There is also lots of helpful info all over this and other forums.

 

Later on there is also the AV market, as you get a bit older (probably from 18), many hire companies look for freelance help for rigging, by doing this you can learn a lot although initially you will just be loading/unloading vehicles, helping to set up kit etc. By doing this you will identify areas you take most interest in. If you wish to try that you can get in touch with AV hire companies & crewing companies.

 

Basically you need to be patient but inquisitive, identify areas of interest and try to find out what you can about thoses areas, it will take a lot of research and you will have to seek it, it won't come to you by itself. It will be rewarding but very hard work, enjoy, there is so much for you to discover!

[Joe Bleasdale]

Well simply,some people like manufacurers will train you on their product. For example MA lighting laughed at me when I asked if there was a minimum training limit. I have now got Grand MA training coming up. However somecompanys like martin only train you after 16. It really depends on what you want training on. Also if you send an email to a manufactuerer and you ARE under the training age limit,they may set something up for you in a college or university, because it is a education establishment and it is allowed. This also happend to me with my congo training with ETC.

 

Pyro training I doubt you would get, because you cant use them until after 18.

 

hth

joe

[BenHowitt]

Alright, guys. Thanks very much for the help and the recommendations. If anyone has any more ideas, feel free to PM me, as I'm unlikely to follow this topic too closely from now on.

 

Thanks Again,

 

Ben Howitt

[bruce]

If anyone has any more ideas, feel free to PM me, as I'm unlikely to follow this topic too closely from now on.

 

So you ask a question, and expect people to reply, but are (it appears) too lazy or disinterested to follow the thread? So why exactly do you think people will take the trouble to answer you if you display that attitude?

[BenHowitt]

If anyone has any more ideas, feel free to PM me, as I'm unlikely to follow this topic too closely from now on.

 

So you ask a question, and expect people to reply, but are (it appears) too lazy or disinterested to follow the thread? So why exactly do you think people will take the trouble to answer you if you display that attitude?

 

Many apologies. All I meant was that I thought I had mostly got the information I asked for. For this reason, I said I would not be watching the thread too closely. However, if some people have specific suggestions, I would be happy to receive them.

 

Apologies again,

 

Ben Howitt

 

P.S. I am following the topic again, see?

[dedward]

If anyone has any more ideas, feel free to PM me, as I'm unlikely to follow this topic too closely from now on.

 

So you ask a question, and expect people to reply, but are (it appears) too lazy or disinterested to follow the thread? So why exactly do you think people will take the trouble to answer you if you display that attitude?

 

Many apologies. All I meant was that I thought I had mostly got the information I asked for. For this reason, I said I would not be watching the thread too closely. However, if some people have specific suggestions, I would be happy to receive them.

 

Apologies again,

 

Ben Howitt

 

P.S. I am following the topic again, see?

 

I wouldnt be cheeky - you might end up working with one of us.

[BenHowitt]

I wouldnt be cheeky - you might end up working with one of us.

 

True. Sorry to anyone who was offended.