Stage machinist to light board operator
A stage machinist already meets 72% of what the light board operator role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
43/ 100
1 How much of what a light board operator is expected to do is already part of a stage machinist’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 light board operator role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A light board operator role treats 27 of its required skills as things a stage machinist 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 8 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 light board operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a stage machinist 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 light board operator role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 23 missing skills fall into 7 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 operate a lighting console required
- still to learn plot lighting states required
- still to learn plot lighting states with automated lights required
- still to learn set up light board required
- optional, not held distribute control signals optional
- optional, not held focus lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held focus stage lights optional
- optional, not held maintain automated lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain dimmer equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held operate dimmer equipment optional
- optional, not held prevent technical problems with lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held de-rig electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held rig lights optional
- still to learn assess power needs required
- optional, not held cue a performance optional
- optional, not held plan act lighting optional
- still to learn manage performance light quality required
- optional, not held rig automated lights optional
- still to learn draw up lighting plan required
- still to learn read lighting plans required
- optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a light board operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 draw up lighting plan practise this
- 02 manage performance light quality practise this
- 03 operate a lighting console 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
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held pack electronic equipment optional
15 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held cue a performance optional
- optional, not held distribute control signals optional
- optional, not held focus lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held focus stage lights optional
- optional, not held maintain automated lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain dimmer equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held operate dimmer equipment optional
- optional, not held pack electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held plan act lighting optional
- optional, not held prevent technical problems with lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held rig automated lights optional
- optional, not held de-rig electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
- optional, not held rig lights optional
18 held skills the light board operator role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adapt designers’ work to the performance venue skill
- not needed by the target role assemble scenic elements on stage skill
- not needed by the target role assemble the rehearsal set skill
- not needed by the target role dismantle the rehearsal set skill
- not needed by the target role draw stage layouts skill
- not needed by the target role draw up stage layouts digitally skill
- not needed by the target role ensure visual quality of the set skill
- not needed by the target role handle scenic elements during rehearsal skill
- not needed by the target role identify technical resources for performances skill
- not needed by the target role maintain moving constructions on stage skill
- not needed by the target role maintain stage equipment for horizontal movement skill
- not needed by the target role mark the stage area skill
- not needed by the target role modify scenic elements during performance skill
- not needed by the target role operate a chain hoist control system for entertainment skill
- not needed by the target role operate stage movement control system skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with scenic elements skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with stage equipment skill
- not needed by the target role set up technical stage equipment skill
Common questions about this move
Can a stage machinist become a light board operator?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A stage machinist already covers 72% of what a light board operator is expected to do: 46 skills carry over, 27 of which the light board operator role treats as required.
What skills does a stage machinist need to become a light board operator?
8 required skills are missing, plus 15 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is draw up lighting plan.
How hard is the move from stage machinist to light board operator?
Its learning distance is 43 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.