Production Tech Question

[Anthony12]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 1:30pm

Is anyone familiar with the actual production companies that load-in and load-out the lighting and sets and everything for new shows on Broadway?  I'm looking to find a job with theatrical production companies that work with the directors and designers to make things happen.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 1:47pm

Are you looking for a job with a production manager, a set or lights shop, or are you looking to physically work on load-ins? The first stop for the latter is IATSE as you cannot do this job without the stagehands union. (Many of the shop jobs also require this.) If you want production manager job, have a look online at the playbills for the currently running Broadway shows. That's give you a pretty complete list of the players, and also the major set shops and other vendors. 

[KKeller6]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 1:51pm

The technical directors of the shows are all listed in the playbill, so that's a good place to get a comprehensive list. Of course, some companies might not have a current show running at the time, but might have a bunch of shows in the works. The "techs" also do some off broadway stuff and the tours. You do not need to be a union member to be on staff for a tech.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 3:03pm

KKeller6 said: " You do not need to be a union member to be on staff for a tech."

what are you talking about?

[Anthony12]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 6:55pm

I would love to work with a production manager.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 8:47pm

First off, there is no singular production company that loads a show in or out. It's the crew that will run the show, plus any additional Local 1 members hired specifically to help with load in/out.

And you ABSOLUTELY need to be in the Union.

[Tag]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 9:08pm

Yes the CREW need to be IA, but the general management of a show hires a production manager/supervisor and technical director/supervisor (which can sometimes be a company), that oversea and coordinate everything (and they aren't necessarily IA).

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 10:39pm

Production managers, TDs etc do not have large staffs and when they need someone they want someone with experience. Building a Broadway show is not like anything else, and there is not much room for a learning curve. The way in is through the union, if you can get the gig. We should not be misleading the OP.

Perhaps the OP can tell us a bit about experience and aspirations. E.g., do what working for a production manager?

Updated On: 9/3/18 at 10:39 PM

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 11:46pm

@Anthony12 While you wouldn't be doing any of the physical load in or out, a job with a GM office would give you exposure to that and let you meet those folks.

[KKeller6]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 9:50am

The techs have one or two assistants on each theater. I was assuming this was the type of job the OP was talking about.

Their line about working with the directors and designers made me think that.  The crew loading the show in have little to no contact with those people.  The techs, OTOH, deal with them all the time.  I would imagine it would be a great learning experience, and the assistants don't always need a lot of previous experience.  

Updated On: 9/4/18 at 09:50 AM

[backstage339]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 3:30pm

As others have said, the main production managers working on Broadway are companies: Aurora, Juniper Street, and Hudson Theatricals. Each of those companies occasionally offer internships - see their websites for more details. There are a few freelance individuals who also production manage, but those three companies do 85-90% of the shows in a season.

Personally I have never heard the term "tech" used to describe anyone in that position. They are also known as "technical supervisors," which is the entry you're looking for on ibdb.com

Footnote: while a stagehand working a call on one day of load-in early in the process may have little contact with the design staff of a show, the production carpenter, electrician, and their assistants (all IA positions) collaborate closely with the creative teams throughout the load-in and tech process.

[KKeller6]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 4:01pm

You don't want to be a stagehand to learn the process tho. If by"work closely" you mean, "told what to do" then yes, there's some direct communication. But George Wolfe, for example, doesn't say anything to the stagehands, except, "hello".
He'll tell the technical supervisor, who is known as "the tech" in the theater, and they'll relay the info.

[backstage339]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 4:11pm

KKeller6 said: If by"work closely" you mean, "told what to do" then yes, there's some direct communication. 

 

Speaking only from personal experience, I never tell my production electrician what to do. I present him or her my challenges and they work with me to come up with the best method of execution. It's true that working in production carpentry or electrics is a very different job than production supervision, but I don't think it's any less collaborative or process-oriented. And starting on the ground floor at either track is going to necessarily involve a lot of unglamorous grunt work. 

 

[KKeller6]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 5:20pm

What im trying to convey here tho, is that the creative process doesn't really involve the stagehands. Yes, you may ask their opinion on how to solve issues, but the main point from the OP was to be involved in the creative process and see how it works. I wouldn't suggest being a stagehand for that.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 6:58pm

Nearly every designer has an MFA. Almost all technical supervisors were/are IA stagehands. You need to follow one of those paths to work in the industry, it’s as simple as that.

[raddersons]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 7:00pm

Not to be rude, but it sounds like OP doesn't really know exactly what they want.

If you're really looking at stagehands (load in/load out/other various tasks) or even scenic artist jobs (scene shop production)... keep in mind that Broadway should be the end goal, not the start. And yes, it's all union. Maybe start at a smaller production company out of town, at a university, or in an outer borough to get some experience and work your way towards unionization / the great white way.

Fighting for jobs as a stagehand is immensely hard -- when you ask a stagehand how they got into the business, they usually say the started somewhere in the construction industry and "fell into it" by coincidence. It's a pretty physical job that is more on the labor side than on the creative side. Good work will get you a good recommendation and get you another job, and you basically keep picking up gigs until you've been doing consistent work with a company with a collective bargaining agreement for three years. It sounds like only three years, but it's probably more like six or seven, as you can't just start at a company with any cred straight from the start.

[Anthony12]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 7:53pm

You'd be correct in me not know exactly what I want.  I'd say that is because I'm sort of playing a game of catch-up. I have previous experience in the live events industry (concerts and the like).  Freelancing and doing the physical load-in and out of events is what I currently do.  I'm just out of college and trying to figure it all out.

I'd say the ultimate goal for now is getting to assist the scenic team and other creatives within a production to learn.

[Tag]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 9:37pm

As someone mentioned above, but I wanted to reiterate, the term tech or techie is rarely, if ever, used in professional theatre. Technician, crew or stagehand are the common lingo.

[KKeller6]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 9:52pm

It's certainly no big deal, but in every single Broadway theater, the technical supervisor is known as "the tech".

[trpguyy]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 12:35am

Nah, tech supers are referred to by their first name, and everybody knows who is being talked about.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 12:53am

I confess I haven't been in EVERY theatre during load in but I have never head anyone called a tech. The word is of course used to refer to the "event" and in that context is formalized in some contracts. 

It sounds like we have some folks who know a little bit about something and think it extrapolates to Broadway. As anyone who arrives at their first Broadway load in and tech will tell you, it is nothing like anything else they have ever done. The first thing a designer who has never worked on Broadway does (or that is done for them because no producer or general manager is gonna let a noob loose otherwise) is engage someone who knows the ropes. 

[KKeller6]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 4:09am

Maybe the term is just used by stagehands? I don't believe so, because stage managers as well are very aware who the tech is. It's just short for technical supervisor. I wasn't attempting to act like I know something special. It's just a common term when referring to these men and women who run the load-in process of a show.
Yes I get that all shows have a "tech" and I suppose that's the more common use of the word.
But, upon hearing a show has booked a theater, the first question out of most crew members is "who's the tech?.
Most techs have an somewhat adversarial relationship with the local crew. So, it's an important part of the whole process for everyone. And you can get a feel for how the load in is going to be run by who this certain tech might be.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 7:47am

"Maybe the term [tech] is just used by stagehands? I don't believe so, because stage managers as well are very aware who the tech is. It's just short for technical supervisor. I wasn't attempting to act like I know something special. It's just a common term when referring to these men and women who run the load-in process of a show." 

I have never heard stagehands in any Broadway theater use the term "tech", and it is not a common term for anyone in a Broadway theater., much less "the tech".

 

eta: If OP wants to work on load ins and loadouts as a stagehand, they can "shape the hall", meaning report to the Local One union hall on W 46th st at 7am, M-F. Have tools, a good attitude and a willingness to take on any call given. Since OP is not a local one member, it may take time before  they are sent on a call, but shaping the hall is a valid way to get into the union. Bear in mind, OP may be sent to a TV show or industrial event instead of a Broadway show, but if they are persistant and perform well, they will get more work. It takes patience and hard work, but it isn't a bad way to get ithe lay of the land. Good luck!

Updated On: 9/5/18 at 07:47 AM

[NY Road Carpenter]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 9:53am

So much wrong information out here.

"tech" - as in "Who is the tech?" - Technical Supervisor, aka Production Manager.  A term exclusive to Broadway and certainly understood by anyone who has worked more than 3 days in a Broadway Theater.

"tech" - as in "when does tech start?" - the period between load-in and performances, when the show is in rehearsal on stage.  May include "dry tech", which is technical rehearsals without the cast.

"techie" - derogatory term for backstage crew.  It isn't "actie" or "dancie" or "musie".  Say "Stagehand" or "crew"
The original question has been answered above - look up Aurora Productions, Hudson Theatrical, or Juniper Street Productions.  Those are the production management firms (technical supervisors) who work on the majority of Broadway shows.  They all have apprentice programs, usually pulling from colleges, and lower level entry jobs.  There are a handful of smaller production management companies working broadway that do 1 or 2 shows a season.

[Anthony12]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 12:31pm

Thank you NY Road Carpenter.

I don't think we should be getting caught up on the word tech.  It's a word I hear in the events industry and thought it would transfer over.