A Creative Venue Technician provides technical support for the construction, rehearsal and presentation of live stage and music events
If you’ve ever been to a concert, the theatre or even a show on ice, you probably remember the performers most of all. However, every production – whether it’s live, for the radio, or on film – involves a large back stage crew who take care of the scenery, lights, cameras, sound and smooth running of a performance.
Some members of the crew will be specialists in a specific area while others are multi-skilled, working across a range of technical disciplines. This could be anything from constructing scenery to moving it around set, repairing equipment to adapting venues for touring shows. You could be the technician who helps to create the magic of performances and ensures audiences are fully entertained.
Once you’ve developed an all-round understanding of stage craft and how different teams work together, you may decide to specialise in one area, whether that’s lighting, sound, scenery or stage management.
Even if you choose to continue as a multi-skilled technician, you can progress to being a team leader, responsible for project management, training other people, and the quality of delivery. Eventually you could reach the position of producer and have overall control of how a show is put together.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
There are many kinds of creative venue. Not only theatres and concert halls, but arts centres, broadcast studios, recording studios and festivals. The stagecraft you learn, including carpentry, operating stage machinery, and performing scene changes, will be transferrable to lots of different shows and environments, and could allow you to travel the world.
This role can also be known by some other job titles including:
Venue Technician
Theatre Technician
Stage Technician
Lighting Technician
Sound Technician
Video Technician
Automation Technician
