If you get to shy when in the spot light, and still like theater, becoming a stage technician is for you. In this FAQ I will awnser some questions to help you decide.
It's fun if you are in a good workplace and, if you like what you are doing. The job is really tiring because you work with heavy materials, support weight over the head of people, sometimes your team is behind, so you get rushed by the others or work in your free time. Also, you have a bad sleep schedule. The most important thing in all this is to have the satisfaction of seeing the set you worked so hard for being used by the actors in the play.
The week before the first representation, they place and move the set on the stage, and they place all of the props. They also build and repair sets, maintain the props, wardrobe and see if the show is doing well. Technicians can also operate sound and lights consoles.
Work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., start two hours before the show so that they can check the machinery and fixing the lights and the problems on the set. They also work nights to put back the set how it was, and clean the back stage.
Mostly in theaters, but, after the all the studying, stage technicians may work on television sets, movie sets or even in festivals.
A high school diploma is recommended, but companies searches for people with experience so, you'll need a 3-4 years of apprenticeship and even sometimes, depending on the job, you have to pass a written test.
It depends because your job last as long as the show last, but the pay scale starts low and gets better after the years. Technically, you are on a contract, and could make $50000 a year.
Stage technicians have to look through the CNESST documents every year and sign it. Also, you are always in training because other techs may teach you different technique they found over the years.
Stage technicians could get shocked, fall from high places, lose a body part, lose sight, get stuck under a wall, have a concussion, die, etc. In short, anything could happen.
Very low, the living art industry would lose its purpose if we let robots do our jobs. Also, in a theater, we need specialists in their own domain to do the jobs, which mean that we would lose all the creativity if robots took over.
Typically, stage technicians prefer to create their own agencies or become a teacher to teach their own expertise to others. In other cases, if a big injury occur, Stage technicians may have to retire sooner because of an inability to work.
Being a stage technician is demanding but very satisfying at the same time. The government should really invest more into the Quebec culture before we loose it all.