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The technical crew, often abbreviated to the "tech crew" or simply the "crew" (individually often known as "techies", "techs", or "technicians"), are the people employed behind the scenes ("backstage") to control all the technical aspects of creating a
Theatre technical crew have significant responsibilities in regards to ensuring that a production runs smoothly. A Stage Manager has to give the cue to the
concert
A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. The performance may be carried by a single musician, in which case it is sometimes called a recital, or by a musical ensemble such as an ...
, play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
* Google Play, a digital content service
* Play Framework, a Java framework
* P ...
, musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film
Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
, opera
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
or other live performance
A performance is an act or process of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.
Performance has evolved glo ...
. The technical crew can consist of only a few individuals, or be divided up into a multitude of positions depending on the scale and needs of a particular production.
The roles, composition and number of workers in a tech crew can change significantly depending on the nature of an event, and often evolves as the production does. In a small scale production, the technical crew might consist of a single person, operating the lights and controlling the volume of the sounds and music. In a large scale productions, the technical crew can consist of dozens of different departments and may run into the hundreds of individuals. Each department has their own specific job that pertains to their area of expertise, but they are all part of the technical crew.
Job categories
The technical crew on a performance fall into different categories based on area of expertise and responsibilities. The most common categories (those encountered on the largest variety of productions) include: Stage Manager, Production Manager,Rigging
Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support and control a sailing ship or sail boat's masts and sails. ''Standing rigging'' is the fixed rigging that supports masts including shrouds and stays. ''Running rigg ...
, Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. ...
, Sound
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the br ...
, and Technical Directors. Each of these departments have sub-categories, often breaking down tasks in more detail. These sub-categories include board of operators, assistant stage managers, and special effects technician. As the complexity of modern production increases, the need for more specialized roles also increases. It is becoming more common place to find roles like pyrotechnician, automation technicians, and projection designers, particularly in large-scale performances.
Responsibilities
Theatre technical crew have significant responsibilities in regards to ensuring that a production runs smoothly. A Stage Manager has to give the cue to the Audio Engineer
An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduc ...
and Lighting Technician
An electrical lighting technician, or simply lighting technician, is involved with rigging stage and location sets and controlling artificial, electric lights for art and entertainment venues (theatre or live music venues) or in video, television ...
, signal the performers when they are on, ensure that the stage is all set and safe for the performance. Technical crew members that are in charge of special effects such as pyrotechnics, fog dispersal, and strobe lighting must have perfect and synchronized execution. The responsibilities usually extend into equipment maintenance, tech rehearsals, post-show breakdowns, etc.
The nature of most productions result in the technical crew being on-site for significant periods of time; both leading up to and after a performance.
Sustainability and Innovation
Sustainability has increasingly become a bigger concern in technical theater. This prompts both production companies and educational institutions to rethink how they design, operate, and construct a set. Traditionally, the methods that are used today are very high in energy consumption, use single-use materials, and produces non-recyclable waste after they are torn down. Because of this, technical crews are now in charge of finding new strategies to reduce waste and incorporate sustainable designs, while not compromising on the artistic integrity. Technical crews achieve improved sustainability and reduced waste by using modular scenery, energy-efficient lighting systems(LEDs), and suasible sourcing of materials. Although rare, this approach lead to some productions being designed for the purpose of minimizing environmental impact. This is also done by using recycled lumber, electronics, and fabrics. There has also been a movement that involves donating and actioning set pieces of bigger productions.Identifying the technical crew
Most often, though not exclusively, members of the technical crew will be wearing black or similarly dark-coloured clothing in order to be fairly inconspicuous, so that they are not particularly distracting to the audience in the carrying out of their routines and tasks. Occasionally, larger scale or touring productions will provide clothing branded with the name and/or date of the production. While this tradition of wearing inconspicuous clothing still persists, newer productions started to integrate smart wear and light sensitive fabrics that help the crew coordinate backstage. This helps the crew stay hidden on stage.See also
*Film crew
A film crew is a group of people, hired by a production company, for the purpose of Filmmaking, producing a film or motion picture. The crew is distinguished from the Ensemble cast, cast, as the cast are understood to be the actors who appear ...
*International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, known as simply the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE or ...
*Stage management
Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production. Stage management may encompass a variety of activities including overseeing of the rehearsal proce ...
References
{{Reflist Entertainment occupations Mass media occupations Stagecraft Stage crew Theatrical occupations