Matt567 Posted June 29, 2005 Posted June 29, 2005 Ok guys, its that time of year again, the Edinburgh Festival. What are your thoughts on working up there? Personally I found it invaluable to my career, but I'd welcome you opinions. Where are you all working this year?
robloxley Posted June 30, 2005 Posted June 30, 2005 Depends whether you see working there as a career step (getting experience, making contacts etc.) or purely a job (for which it's generally underpaid & overworked, sharing small smelly flats with too many other people etc.).
Russ Posted June 30, 2005 Posted June 30, 2005 Depends whether you see working there as a career step (getting experience, making contacts etc.) or purely a job (for which it's generally underpaid & overworked, sharing small smelly flats with too many other people etc.).<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Dunno about you, but I just see it as a lot of fun :o. If I were in charge of hiring technician types, I wouldn't see Edinburgh as much of a plus point experience-wise, because usually the most technically challenging aspect is finding your way home from the pub at 5am.
gnomatron Posted July 1, 2005 Posted July 1, 2005 I think it's great, edinburgh makes my job. But then I live here. More seriously, worth the experience, I'm told, and a good laugh. I've never done the festival properly, maybe next year - though I said that the last 2 years running. Where you going? I'm faffing/freelancing/doing the day job (edinburgh uni students union, aka pleasance/gilded baloon over august).
techinleeds Posted July 1, 2005 Posted July 1, 2005 I'll be working at Pleasance this year in the Cavern.
smeggie Posted July 2, 2005 Posted July 2, 2005 for the experience of it you cant beat being a venue tech - 9 shows to plot, tech, [dress - ish] all in 3 days. after 1/2 days to learn the venue and the whole rig [and new lx board] inside and out before the companies come in and expect you to know why it isnt doing what they wanted it to. a great test of endurance, but for gods sake, make sure you remember to eat properly and keep hydrated - I didn't and it took its toll on me after a while by starting to make stupid mistakes. it is bloody hard work, but a great feeling to have all the shows up on time and all that usual stuff. only part of it that is lame is if you are in a largish venue - they dont need an op as the companies bring their own, but also the space isnt large enough to need multiple ops either- gets Very dull sitting outside the space on call waiting for something to go wrong. and the same 9 shows each day gets wearing. but if you like it... ;) have fun.
Nick S Posted July 2, 2005 Posted July 2, 2005 I'll be working at Pleasance this year.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Me too...which venue are you at?- as Smeggie said, it's a lot of fun...but if you're in a large venue, you will find it extremely tiring for the actual festival bit, because it's basically just sitting around for an hour either, followed by ten minutes of hectic turnaround, followed by sitting around for an hour etc. etc. Probably best to bring a hammock and string it up under the seating ;) Although the one thing I remember last year was Pleasance switched from ETC to Zero88, and all the larger venues got Illusions, which were extremely buggy (including problems with the mover profiles meaning sending a light to home would turn the bulb off, using the mouse for anything would cause an instant crash...) - to the point where the on-site Zero88 technician ended up staying an extra week, the company wrote an OS revision specifically for the Pleasance boards, and the venue I was at got through three different consoles during the month, and we had about four re-techs...
deranged-angel Posted July 2, 2005 Posted July 2, 2005 If I were in charge of hiring technician types, I wouldn't see Edinburgh as much of a plus point experience-wise, because usually the most technically challenging aspect is finding your way home from the pub at 5am. Sorry Russ, I completely disagree with you. It depends on how much experience you have as a tech and what venue you work in. When I went, I had hardly any and I learned more there in 7 weeks than I did in 2 years at uni. Also, if people are used to working in a nice theatre where all your equipment is already set up then the festival can be pretty challenging. I worked for CVenues and we kitted out empty halls to make them into theatres. So, from scaffolding to installing a lighting rig and a sound rig and laying all the cables. It's not just about rigging lanterns-it's about getting everything you need in there. Learning where it all goes and what it links to and why it links to it is extremely valuable. Certainly helped me, anyway! Good luck to everyone who goes this year. I'm not going to be able to make it but you will have a lot of fun and meet lots fo fab people. Enjoy it Emxxx
Russ Posted July 3, 2005 Posted July 3, 2005 Somewhere along the line we (or maybe I) have lost the distinction between working for a venue and working for a company in Edinburgh. Working for a venue is great experience (and personally I love building that sort of stuff from scratch). Working for a company isn't usually as good, because you just saunter in and do the whole thing.
Nick S Posted July 3, 2005 Posted July 3, 2005 And ironically, it's the company technicians who generally get paid far more than the venue technicians...
gnomatron Posted July 3, 2005 Posted July 3, 2005 Actually, the OP didn't make it clear if he was gonna be a venue tech or a company tech.
Dexter1210 Posted July 4, 2005 Posted July 4, 2005 I know it is a bit late this year. but could anyone recommend someone to contact for work at the festival.
smeggie Posted July 4, 2005 Posted July 4, 2005 give C venues a shout. always seem up for new staff. [but the implications of this are your own business. :unsure: ]
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