Theatre technician to stage technician
A theatre technician already meets 59% of what the stage technician role asks for. The move turns on 19 required skills not yet in the profile.
58.9/ 100
1 How much of what a stage technician is expected to do is already part of a theatre 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 technician role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A stage technician role treats 29 of its required skills as things a theatre technician already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adapt to artists' creative demands
- adjust projector
- assemble scenic elements on stage
- assemble the rehearsal set
- assemble truss constructions
- assess power needs
What stands in the way is 19 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 52 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A stage technician role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a theatre technician background worth leading with.
- already held operate dimmer equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- 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 operate follow spots working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held adjust projector working with computers
- already held assemble truss constructions constructing
All 52 carried skills, including the 29 the stage technician role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 38 missing skills fall into 8 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 perform soundchecks required
- still to learn plot lighting states required
- still to learn run a projection required
- still to learn set up light board required
- still to learn set up projection equipment required
- still to learn work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision required
- still to learn rig lights required
- optional, not held maintain dimmer equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain sound equipment optional
- optional, not held operate a lighting console optional
- optional, not held operate sound live optional
- optional, not held maintain electrical equipment optional
- still to learn work safely with chemicals required
- still to learn use personal protection equipment required
- still to learn work ergonomically required
- still to learn work with respect for own safety required
- optional, not held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems optional
- optional, not held work safely with pyrotechnical materials in a performance environment optional
- optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
- still to learn read lighting plans required
- still to learn keep up with trends required
- still to learn use technical documentation required
- optional, not held document your own practice optional
- optional, not held keep personal administration optional
- still to learn organise stage required
- still to learn find a replacement for stage manager required
- still to learn prepare personal work environment required
- optional, not held manage signoff of an installed system optional
- optional, not held manage consumables stock optional
- still to learn hang chain hoists required
- optional, not held manage performance light quality optional
- still to learn pack electronic equipment required
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a stage technician role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 organise stage practise this
- 02 find a replacement for stage manager practise this
- 03 hang chain hoists 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 52 skills that carry over
- already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
- already held adjust projector skill
- already held assemble scenic elements on stage skill
- already held assemble the rehearsal set skill
- already held assemble truss constructions skill
- already held assess power needs skill
- already held de-rig electronic equipment skill
- already held dismantle the rehearsal set skill
- already held distribute control signals skill
- already held draw stage layouts skill
- already held draw up lighting plan skill
- already held ensure visual quality of the set skill
- already held focus lighting equipment skill
- already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
- already held handle scenic elements during rehearsal skill
- already held identify technical resources for performances skill
- already held mark the stage area skill
- already held modify scenic elements during performance skill
- already held operate an audio mixing console skill
- already held operate dimmer equipment skill
- already held operate stage movement control system skill
- already held prepare sound equipment on stage skill
- already held prevent fire in a performance environment skill
- already held prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
- already held prevent technical problems with scenic elements skill
- already held provide power distribution skill
- already held set up equipment in a timely manner skill
- already held understand artistic concepts skill
- already held work safely with machines skill
- already held adapt artistic plan to location skill
- already held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue skill
- already held advise client on technical possibilities skill
- already held consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
- already held coordinate pre-show checks skill
- already held develop professional network skill
- already held draw up artistic production skill
- already held focus stage lights 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 operate follow spots skill
- already held plan act lighting skill
- already held prepare the floor for performance skill
- already held prevent technical problems with stage equipment skill
- already held safeguard artistic quality of performance skill
- already held set up follow spots skill
- already held set up technical stage equipment skill
- already held store performance equipment skill
- already held technically design a sound system skill
- already held translate artistic concepts to technical designs skill
- already held write risk assessment on performing arts production skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held instruct on set up of equipment optional
- optional, not held draw up stage layouts digitally optional
- optional, not held work safely with stage weapons optional
- optional, not held set up stage lights optional
- optional, not held edit recorded sound optional
19 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held instruct on set up of equipment optional
- optional, not held document your own practice optional
- optional, not held draw up stage layouts digitally optional
- optional, not held edit recorded sound optional
- optional, not held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems optional
- optional, not held maintain dimmer equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain lighting equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain sound equipment optional
- optional, not held manage performance light quality optional
- optional, not held manage signoff of an installed system optional
- optional, not held operate a lighting console optional
- optional, not held operate sound live optional
- optional, not held work safely with pyrotechnical materials in a performance environment optional
- optional, not held work safely with stage weapons optional
- optional, not held keep personal administration optional
- optional, not held maintain electrical equipment optional
- optional, not held manage consumables stock optional
- optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
- optional, not held set up stage lights optional
12 held skills the stage technician role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role assemble performance equipment skill
- not needed by the target role coach staff for running the performance skill
- not needed by the target role communicate during show skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate audio system programmes skill
- not needed by the target role develop drama production process skill
- not needed by the target role follow time cues skill
- not needed by the target role install lighting skill
- not needed by the target role intervene with actions on stage skill
- not needed by the target role organise resources for artistic production skill
- not needed by the target role perform quality control of design during a run skill
- not needed by the target role support a designer in the developing process skill
- not needed by the target role support audio system installation skill
Other moves recorded from theatre technician
Common questions about this move
Can a theatre technician become a stage technician?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A theatre technician already covers 59% of what a stage technician is expected to do: 52 skills carry over, 29 of which the stage technician role treats as required.
What skills does a theatre technician need to become a stage technician?
19 required skills are missing, plus 19 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is organise stage.
How hard is the move from theatre technician to stage technician?
Its learning distance is 58.9 out of 100, which is the substantial 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.