Light board operator to stage machinist
A light board operator already meets 76% of what the stage machinist role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
38.4/ 100
1 How much of what a stage machinist is expected to do is already part of a light board operator’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the stage machinist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A stage machinist role treats 27 of its required skills as things a light board operator already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adapt artistic plan to location
- adapt to artists' creative demands
- attend rehearsals
- communicate during show
- consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production
- draw up artistic production
What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 46 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A stage machinist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a light board operator background worth leading with.
- already held intervene with actions on stage communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held interpret artistic intentions communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held instruct on set up of equipment communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held maintain system layout for a production communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held coach staff for running the performance communication, collaboration and creativity
All 46 carried skills, including the 27 the stage machinist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 18 missing skills fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn draw stage layouts required
- still to learn identify technical resources for performances required
- still to learn mark the stage area required
- still to learn prevent technical problems with stage equipment required
- still to learn set up technical stage equipment required
- optional, not held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue optional
- optional, not held draw up stage layouts digitally optional
- optional, not held ensure visual quality of the set optional
- optional, not held handle scenic elements during rehearsal optional
- optional, not held prevent technical problems with scenic elements optional
- still to learn operate stage movement control system required
- optional, not held maintain stage equipment for horizontal movement optional
- optional, not held operate a chain hoist control system for entertainment optional
- still to learn modify scenic elements during performance required
- optional, not held assemble scenic elements on stage optional
- optional, not held assemble the rehearsal set optional
- optional, not held maintain moving constructions on stage optional
- optional, not held dismantle the rehearsal set optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a stage machinist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 draw stage layouts practise this
- 02 identify technical resources for performances practise this
- 03 mark the stage area practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 46 skills that carry over
- already held adapt artistic plan to location skill
- already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
- already held attend rehearsals skill
- already held communicate during show skill
- already held consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
- already held draw up artistic production skill
- already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
- already held interpret artistic intentions skill
- already held intervene with actions on stage skill
- already held keep up with trends skill
- already held organise resources for artistic production skill
- already held perform quality control of design during a run skill
- already held prepare personal work environment skill
- already held prevent fire in a performance environment skill
- already held safeguard artistic quality of performance skill
- already held set up equipment in a timely manner skill
- already held support a designer in the developing process skill
- already held translate artistic concepts to technical designs skill
- already held understand artistic concepts skill
- already held use communication equipment skill
- already held use personal protection equipment skill
- already held use technical documentation skill
- already held work ergonomically skill
- already held work safely with chemicals skill
- already held work safely with machines skill
- already held work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision skill
- already held work with respect for own safety skill
- already held adapt existing designs to changed circumstances skill
- already held advise client on technical possibilities skill
- already held assemble performance equipment skill
- already held coach staff for running the performance skill
- already held develop professional network skill
- already held document your own practice skill
- already held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems skill
- already held instruct on set up of equipment skill
- already held keep personal administration skill
- already held lead a team skill
- already held maintain system layout for a production skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
- already held manage teamwork skill
- already held manage technical resources stock skill
- already held monitor developments in technology used for design skill
- already held provide technical documentation skill
- already held store performance equipment skill
- already held update budget skill
- already held update design results during rehearsals skill
11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue optional
- optional, not held assemble scenic elements on stage optional
- optional, not held assemble the rehearsal set optional
- optional, not held dismantle the rehearsal set optional
- optional, not held draw up stage layouts digitally optional
- optional, not held ensure visual quality of the set optional
- optional, not held handle scenic elements during rehearsal optional
- optional, not held maintain moving constructions on stage optional
- optional, not held maintain stage equipment for horizontal movement optional
- optional, not held operate a chain hoist control system for entertainment optional
- optional, not held prevent technical problems with scenic elements optional
23 held skills the stage machinist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role assess power needs skill
- not needed by the target role cue a performance skill
- not needed by the target role de-rig electronic equipment skill
- not needed by the target role distribute control signals skill
- not needed by the target role draw up lighting plan skill
- not needed by the target role focus lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role focus stage lights skill
- not needed by the target role maintain automated lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role maintain dimmer equipment skill
- not needed by the target role maintain lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role manage performance light quality skill
- not needed by the target role operate a lighting console skill
- not needed by the target role operate dimmer equipment skill
- not needed by the target role pack electronic equipment skill
- not needed by the target role perform first fire intervention skill
- not needed by the target role plan act lighting skill
- not needed by the target role plot lighting states skill
- not needed by the target role plot lighting states with automated lights skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role read lighting plans skill
- not needed by the target role rig automated lights skill
- not needed by the target role rig lights skill
- not needed by the target role set up light board skill
Common questions about this move
Can a light board operator become a stage machinist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A light board operator already covers 76% of what a stage machinist is expected to do: 46 skills carry over, 27 of which the stage machinist role treats as required.
What skills does a light board operator need to become a stage machinist?
7 required skills are missing, plus 11 optional ones. They fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is draw stage layouts.
How hard is the move from light board operator to stage machinist?
Its learning distance is 38.4 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.