A working day behind the scenes...
How a typical production run looks for you
Production is rarely the same from day to day, but the rhythm is usually similar. You work your way from an empty hall toward a performance, a concert or a conference — and afterwards it all disappears. The better you plan, the smoother the execution.
§Before you touch a single box
The first work happens on paper and screen. You read drawings and lighting plans, check which equipment is needed, and lay out a schedule. A good list of equipment and cables saves you hours of searching later in the day.
§Build-up
During setup you rig hang lamps and speakers pull cables and set up the scene. Here the order is important: what needs to hang highest often needs to go up first and power and signal must be laid so it does not get in the way or create danger.
- 01Rig and suspension typically come first, while the floor is clear
- 02Power is distributed before signal cables are pulled
- 03Sound and light patches and marked so faults can be found quickly
- 04Everything is tested before packing up and tidying away for the test
§Testing and winding down
When the technique is in place, come the tests. Here you find errors, program lighting situations, and adjust sound to the room and those on stage. During actual performance, your most important task is often to do nothing wrong—hit the right cues at the right time, again and again.
Cues and communication
A cue is an agreed signal for something to happen: lights down sound up a curtain that goes. In large productions cues are controlled over an intercom where a runner calls out and technicians respond. Clear brief communication is golden when things move fast.
§Disassembly
Finally you pack up. Good removal means the equipment comes home in the same condition it left, cables are rolled neatly and everything is labelled again. The person who will unpack it next time is often you.