GCSE's and University choices

[dowd42]

Hi everyone,

 

I am currently in year 9 at my school and I am choosing my GCSE's this year. The job I am heading for is a sound technician for theatres and live applications ect. Should I focus my GCSE's on the music and drama side of things, or take the traditional route of humanities, languages and stuff like that? I'm not a big performer in

those sorts of "academic" subjects. I was planning on taking a 3 year course of Stage Management - BA (Hons) at Birmingham City University. What is the best course/uni for an all-rounder degree in sound? I've been told that experience is gold dust to employers in the live sound industry, but I'm sure degrees still help too? I've already had a lot of experience in sound. For instance I have just finished our school production of "Grease" using the Behringer X32 and some Line6 XD - V75HS vocal mics as well as some boundary mics for the pits. I also did last years performance of "Guys and Dolls" and many others.

 

Cheers,

 

Max Dowd

 

 

[Whiskers]

Maths Physics and if you aint good at them change your plans

[vinntec]

Start by looking up the course you are interested in pursuing at university and check the entry requirements. For the one you mention it says:

 

"You should normally have an A-level or equivalent in drama, dance, performance or a related arts subject. We also welcome applicants with practical experience in the performing arts. You will normally need a range of GCSEs including GCSE English Language at grade C or above plus a minimum of one of the following:

• 240 UCAS tariff points
• Two A-levels at grade C (including Drama) plus two AS-Levels both at grade C
• A-Level Drama or related subject ©, and CC in two further A-Levels
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (MMM) in Performing Arts or related subject
• BTEC Level 3 Diploma (12 units) (DD) in Performing Arts or related subject
• BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma when studied alongside other qualifications"

Look up several courses as places are limited. You should include at this stage any courses you might want to pursue. There are several sound engineering and general technical theatre courses available which you will need to research for yourself, not all of which are at Uni like "Rose Bruford College" and RADA etc.

 

You will also probably find that experience you have at school doesn't count for a lot by itself so you need to make yourself a stand-out candidate if the course you want is oversubscribed. Look for chances to become more involved outside school with the local amateur group, bands, etc - opportunities for which will be limited before you are 16 (as you will have to be chaperoned). Not only does this get you experience much closer to what a career will be like, it also leads to having independent referees to support your applications. If you are still smiling after doing hours and hours of the less glamorous wide, such as a day's get-in from a blank stage to rehearsing in the evening or an all night get-out after perhaps two performances earlier in the day then you are heading towards an enjoyable career, although one that might not pay very much especially in the early years.

[Jivemaster]

As you say you do not perform well at academic subjects, consider whether a degree will be viable, it's NOT necessary to do a degree and it's three (+) years more away from earning.

 

As GCSEs look at English Language and Maths as essential add English Literature, physics, and something from the woodwork/metalwork/design group.

 

Remember that as a young person you should have OK hearing! Do all you can to preserve that, it's far too easy to kill your own hearing by exposure to loud noise. My particular item; get the earbuds OUT, don't live your life with you ears being battered by noise or your hearing will not survive into your attempt at a career in sound.

 

Start looking now for the essential experience you will need assisting with sound but it will be hard to impossible before you are 16 and from 16 - 18 still not easy due largely to child protection issues.

[dowd42]

Hi,

 

I also forgot to mention I mainly do theatre work outside of school at places like the Altringham Garrick Playhouse and The Urmston Musical Theatre. It was just the first time our school had hired in some decent equipment to play around with. I will have a look for some more courses at uni. You will be surprised at the level of

independency I get at the theatres I work at. They practically treat me as a unpaid member of staff! I have yet to come across a place that, once they see my skill level for my age (which the sound techs are always surprised at!), still have to chaperone me.

 

Thanks for all the replies,

 

Max Dowd

 

[kurzweil_dude]

Going to uni is my biggest educational regret. Don't do it. Spend the time actually working for audio companies learning whilst doing it, not learning from a textbook about it and then having to catch up 3-5years behind your peers.

[TomHoward]

I think that might depend on the course. I did Sound Technology at LIPA and the study of digital protocols and the like doesn't seem to me something you would ever be able to pick up in the field. Whilst the hands-on experience can be learnt and come from either, when it comes to fault finding there's things you'd use that I don't see how you could have learnt on the job reasonably within anywhere near the same tome frame.

 

That said it's still not for everyone

[J Pearce]

I learnt a lot at university that developed me as a person, developed my craft and developed my intellectual understanding of the underlying theories behind what we do day to day. That underlying knowledge will last a lifetime, a training course on this months shiny new toy lasts a couple of years at best.

 

I think looking at being ahead or behind others is a rather shallow way of looking at things, but if I look at my peers from my course most of us are in fairly decent roles in the industry. Could we have got there sooner? Maybe, but I know we're all better developed and have more doors open for when we get bored of pushing flightcases and working silly hours than if we'd only ever mixed rock shows (for example).

 

That said, if you get to 18 and can't bear the thought of 3 years more of assignments and exams - get a job. You won't do well at uni if you're not enjoying it. Find the route that works for you as a person.

 

I now work for a university, so what I will say is - look around, get a feel for what works for you. Are you a BA or a BSc type student? Practice based or lecture/lab based? Where do you want to live? Do you want a small drama school or a big city university?

 

GCSE wise - do what you enjoy and are good at - no point in having a miserable two years to get crap grades! External experience and a good personal statement can usually make up for a missing subject - not all schools offer every subject anyway.

 

Disclaimer - this is general advice not targeted at any one course at any one institution. Whilst I work at a university my role does not include admissions.

[MarkBarl]

For my 2p worth. You have to take the very long view. There will probably be a time in your life when you do not want to be out on the road all the time, when married or with a young family, you may want to look for something more steady in the industry. At those times, qualifications as well as experience will be useful. As previously mentioned, Maths, English Language and Sciences at GCSE A*-C (Or whatever the equivalent is these days) Heading in the direction of a music technology degree will probably stand you in good stead. Competency, passion and a good attitude go far in the industry, being able to back that up with relevant qualifications will help. Try to get a broad range of experience, being able to turn you hand to other things such as guitar, keyboard or drum teching could help you get or keep you foot in the door. Be humble. You will always meet people who know more that you, aim to learn from them.

 

good luck.

[ImagineerTom]

Quite aside from the argument about whether you need a degree to be in this industry I think it's much more important to point out that the concept of degree education in this sector is so new that there isn't now (and won't be for another 10 years at least) any historic preconceptions about "good" or "bad" universities or courses in the same way as there is about more traditional degree subjects - there aren't enough graduates out working and the courses themselves are still settling down so precisely which university you go to or which course you take is going to have basically no direct impact on your future career prospects. To be honest if you're hooked on getting a degree you'd be better off choosing a different subject that opens up other related industries (animation, computing, physics, electronics) and continuing to work as a freelancer / am-dram during the course as that will give you a qualification that could have some benefit in the long term whilst also ensuring you have the experience, practical knowledge and contacts you would need to undertake a career in theatre.

[S&L]

a few random thoughts to add to the wise words above:

1. this industry is full of freelancers - it's a universal truth that freelancers in most professions are hired for their experience cv not their academic cv.

2. my eldest lad is just finishing a music performance degree, having studies music and music tech at college. the course seems fine but plenty of his contemporaries went on to study music tech degrees of one sort or another and have been bitterly disappointed by their lack of usefulness - if you choose uni, talk to those that have taken the course recently or currently to get candid views.

3. I passed through the Garrick, Altrincham as FOH engineer for a single night show last year. lovely place - all the back stage staff seemed to be volunteers who were, shall we say the wrong side of 55, - lovely people and incredibly helpful. they seem to get a wide variety of shows through there. I can't imagine a better apprenticeship for the next 4 years than to be working there along side them, in all your spare time, learning from their lifetime of knowledge and watching each production coming through the doors - helping shift boxes in return for watching how they go about their load in, step up, checks, show, strike and load out. year nine makes you around 14 - at 14 I didn't know such a world even existed beyond the curtain - to sit and soak up what happens for the next 4 years, while passing through college and working on college productions, is probably the best informal apprenticeship one could wish for.

[Jivemaster]

First you must get GCSE English and Maths at good grades then add to that something science (Phys/Chem/Electro) something practical (wood/metal/EngDrwg/Plastics) and something arty (music/design/art etc). This should get you to being ready to chose courses at A Level. Theatre is a wide fusion of art and science subjects.

 

Remember that Theatre has a huge range of skills, in a small establishment one person needs all of them, in a larger crew you can specialise.

 

Remember also that theatre is one of the very restricted places for (legal) children or young people, some places will find engaging you difficult. Whatever you think, legally you are a child til your 16th birthday and a young person from then to your 18th birthday.

 

See what you can find about things like schools and student drama festivals.

[Tregilibob]

One other thing to take into consideration is that although some GCSE and AS/A Level Drama courses do allow for the technical side to be followed (the highest grade last year at the school I work in was a student who did Lighting, Sound and Set design!) a lot of schools and colleges do not offer those options, due to not having the skills, time or facilities to enable students to perform well in these. If you have checked to see which side you will be doing at school, then you can pick other GCSE's/A Levels to compliment this. Also be aware that the outcome is the same, GCSE Drama on your CV/UCAS application, to most people, will mean you have acted. Your out-of-hours education will need to be the place where you show what you have done, as well as pointing out if you have done technical/design options at GCSE/A Level.

[kerry davies]

Hmmm? These topics always get me thinking about "If I knew then what I know now?" and LO! an email newsletter from Star Events takes me back. Roger B is musing on his 40 year career and the answer to my question is; "Nobody knows anything."

 

The majority of those entering this industry will never survive 40 years in it. That is fact. The money, security, progression, conditions and prospects of a family life are such that few manage it. That suggests that a good basic education with as little specialisation as possible gives young people more options.

 

To try to train and educate or to decide on training and education at any point is fraught with pitfalls and hostages to fortune. I never became expert on any equipment and LO! new kit came along just when I decided I should learn. When Star Events started out bands were playing Hyde Park on the flatbeds of trucks and now they are producing stadium mega-shows in China. Another vote for non-specific, broadly based education, I think.

 

There are a million reasons why I think young people need to be flexible, now more than ever. Technology, culture, business, everything is and will change faster and faster with superfast broadband. Equip yourself for life and not a job. Jobs might be irrelevant soon enough.

[Just Some Bloke]

A few comments:

 

Firstly, I totally agree with the point about studying the things you enjoy, whether you're good at them or not. The more you study, the better you'll become and you don't learn so well if you're not enjoying the subject so it's a complete waste of time. I studied maths and physics at GCSE level (it was called O Level in those days!) and didn't enjoy either so dropped them both at A Level, then I ended up being a sound engineer at the start of my career and still do a bit nowadays. I came through the Music Degree route and found I had an ear that meant I could mix well and the rest just fit into place.

 

Secondly, you need to know that, as a Technical Manager, I get a lot of emails asking for work and a good 70% of them are people wanting to be sound engineers. These are the jobs I require the least. Companies coming to us bring their own sound engineers so we don't need our own. There are a lot more people wanting to be sound engineers than there are sound engineer jobs available. I'd learn as much as you can about all the other backstage skills because the people I am looking for are multi-skilled technicians.

 

Finally, please don't expect to earn lots of money in theatre (or Rock n Roll). Rock n Roll -style tours involve a lot of hours (15 hour days minimum sometimes) and when you divide your fee by the number of hours you're actually working then you can easily earn less than the minimum wage (if you're a freelancer that's perfectly legal). The last 2 times I changed jobs I moved to a bigger venue with more skills and involvement required and each time I got paid less than I was before. That would be unheard of in any other industry but in this industry you'll get paid the least they think they can get away with. It's not the fault of management, it's just that margins are extremely tight and if they pay too much then they won't have a company and you won't have a job. As long as you're happy to do the job because you enjoy it rather than because you want to make lots of money then go for it and make sure you always remember to enjoy it!