Stage technician to stage machinist
A stage technician already meets 73% of what the stage machinist role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
40/ 100
1 How much of what a stage machinist is expected to do is already part of a stage technician’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 26 of its required skills as things a stage technician already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adapt artistic plan to location
- adapt to artists' creative demands
- consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production
- draw stage layouts
- draw up artistic production
- follow safety procedures when working at heights
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 45 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 stage technician background worth leading with.
- already held operate stage movement control system working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held operate a chain hoist control system for entertainment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held draw stage layouts communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held set up technical stage equipment communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held draw up stage layouts digitally communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held modify scenic elements during performance management skills
All 45 carried skills, including the 26 the stage machinist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 19 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 communicate during show required
- still to learn interpret artistic intentions required
- still to learn intervene with actions on stage required
- still to learn support a designer in the developing process required
- still to learn attend rehearsals required
- optional, not held adapt existing designs to changed circumstances optional
- optional, not held coach staff for running the performance optional
- optional, not held update design results during rehearsals optional
- still to learn organise resources for artistic production required
- optional, not held manage teamwork optional
- optional, not held update budget optional
- optional, not held lead a team optional
- optional, not held provide technical documentation optional
- still to learn use communication equipment required
- optional, not held assemble performance equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain stage equipment for horizontal movement optional
- still to learn perform quality control of design during a run required
- optional, not held monitor developments in technology used for design optional
- optional, not held maintain moving constructions on stage 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 communicate during show practise this
- 02 interpret artistic intentions practise this
- 03 intervene with actions on stage 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 45 skills that carry over
- already held adapt artistic plan to location skill
- already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
- already held consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
- already held draw stage layouts skill
- already held draw up artistic production skill
- already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
- already held identify technical resources for performances skill
- already held keep up with trends skill
- already held mark the stage area skill
- already held modify scenic elements during performance skill
- already held operate stage movement control system skill
- already held prepare personal work environment skill
- already held prevent fire in a performance environment skill
- already held prevent technical problems with stage equipment skill
- already held safeguard artistic quality of performance skill
- already held set up equipment in a timely manner skill
- already held set up technical stage equipment skill
- already held translate artistic concepts to technical designs skill
- already held understand artistic concepts 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 designers’ work to the performance venue skill
- already held advise client on technical possibilities skill
- already held assemble scenic elements on stage skill
- already held assemble the rehearsal set skill
- already held develop professional network skill
- already held dismantle the rehearsal set skill
- already held document your own practice skill
- already held draw up stage layouts digitally skill
- already held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems skill
- already held ensure visual quality of the set skill
- already held handle scenic elements during rehearsal skill
- already held instruct on set up of equipment skill
- already held keep personal administration skill
- already held maintain system layout for a production skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
- already held manage technical resources stock skill
- already held operate a chain hoist control system for entertainment skill
- already held prevent technical problems with scenic elements skill
- already held store performance equipment skill
11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held adapt existing designs to changed circumstances optional
- optional, not held assemble performance equipment optional
- optional, not held coach staff for running the performance optional
- optional, not held maintain moving constructions on stage optional
- optional, not held maintain stage equipment for horizontal movement optional
- optional, not held manage teamwork optional
- optional, not held monitor developments in technology used for design optional
- optional, not held update budget optional
- optional, not held update design results during rehearsals optional
- optional, not held lead a team optional
- optional, not held provide technical documentation optional
45 held skills the stage machinist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adjust projector skill
- not needed by the target role assemble truss constructions skill
- not needed by the target role assess power needs skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate pre-show checks 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 edit recorded sound skill
- not needed by the target role find a replacement for stage manager 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 hang chain hoists skill
- not needed by the target role maintain dimmer equipment skill
- not needed by the target role maintain electrical equipment skill
- not needed by the target role maintain lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role maintain sound equipment skill
- not needed by the target role manage consumables stock skill
- not needed by the target role manage performance light quality skill
- not needed by the target role manage signoff of an installed system skill
- not needed by the target role operate a lighting console skill
- not needed by the target role operate an audio mixing console skill
- not needed by the target role operate dimmer equipment skill
- not needed by the target role operate follow spots skill
- not needed by the target role operate sound live skill
- not needed by the target role organise stage 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 perform soundchecks 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 prepare sound equipment on stage skill
- not needed by the target role prepare the floor for performance skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role provide power distribution skill
- not needed by the target role read lighting plans skill
- not needed by the target role rig lights skill
- not needed by the target role run a projection skill
- not needed by the target role set up follow spots skill
- not needed by the target role set up light board skill
- not needed by the target role set up projection equipment skill
5 further entries not listed here
Common questions about this move
Can a stage technician become a stage machinist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A stage technician already covers 73% of what a stage machinist is expected to do: 45 skills carry over, 26 of which the stage machinist role treats as required.
What skills does a stage technician need to become a stage machinist?
8 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 communicate during show.
How hard is the move from stage technician to stage machinist?
Its learning distance is 40 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.