Shivvy Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Hey A little aout me; I'm 18 - attending a undergraduate art and design course at Epsom UCA. I am so passionate about theatre but I have absolutely no contacts into theatre. I am trying desperatly to get any work experience in a theatre. I've had amateur experience in areas of set painting and designing. Also in technical areas, including radio mics, sound mixer boards, spot lights and stage managing. Absolutly any help or advice would be so greatly aprichiated. Many Thanks Shivvy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Without wishing to sound rude or patronising, if you've applied in writing for a few things, your theatre vocabulary is a bit shaky, and may well ring loud bells that you are NOT that experienced. Two things in particular - "sound mixer boards" - sound mixers, audio mixer, audio boards, sound boards, sound desks, etc etc - but never sound mixer boards - just a version that isn't standard 'speak'. The other is "spot lights" - again, it's wrong. In fact, we rarely talk of "spotlights" (one word) any longer, taking care to be specific, so it's more common now to break the piece of equipment down into an area you're familiar with so "theatrical lantern" is good, but a bit old - swap lantern for luminaire and you have gone european. Fixture could be good, but usually gets tagged with the prefix "moving head" to denote a mover with a UK bias, although a "generic fixture" could mean a theatrical non-moving head pice of kit - but somehow has an American bias. Best plan is to visit the places you want to work at and talk to them - then they'll be able to judge if you have the background and suitablity - because that's what they're interested in. Don't apply for anything in writing, as your spellings a bit iffy - sort it in word with a spellchecker - which I guess you already do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Theatre is a world where language is used by very skilled people to mean a LOT more than just the words. From Brecht to the Bard of Avon we hear great language all the time. Basic language failure drops your application straight in the bin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzidido4 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Go to uni! Rose Bruford have an excellent scenic course I personally think its the best course in the college and they put you in contact with theatres. I have friends who have graduated from the scenic course who are doing very well for themselves. I am on the lighting design course there after saying I never wanted to go to university but realised that if its what you really want to do people expect a certain degree of experience and/or training. Not to say its impossible to work your way up but if scenic is the area you are most interested in then I would certainly suggest it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamchristuffin Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Rose Bruford have an excellent scenic course I personally think its the best course in the college Might that be because you're there? :) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berry120 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Go to uni! Rose Bruford have an excellent scenic course I personally think its the best course in the college and they put you in contact with theatres. I have friends who have graduated from the scenic course who are doing very well for themselves.Do you mean uni or college? Rose Bruford is of course the latter, and while both may well be viable options they're two very different things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Congresstech Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 The other is "spot lights" - again, it's wrong. In fact, we rarely talk of "spotlights" (one word) any longer, taking care to be specific, so it's more common now to break the piece of equipment down into an area you're familiar with Perhaps the OP means follow-spot, Spot lights is still in use with our American counterparts (and a few local amdrams), as well as a few other nations. As for everything else, I completely agree. Lack of theatrical language irritates the hell out of me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Some Bloke Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Hi Siobhan and welcome to the Blue Room. At my theatre (and on the Blue Room) we come across loads of people who want to work in the industry and there are only a certain amount of jobs available. Having said that, when we have interviews the quality of the candidates attending is not always that high. Put these 2 together and you'll see that there is work out there for people who are good and experienced, but not for those who are just "interested". If you throw yourself into as much theatre work as you can and ask lots of questions of the professionals in the venues, you could quite easily go far but don't expect to walk into a job without lots of experience and knowledge and, when you do get a job, don't expect to be well paid! Best of luck, JSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.