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Professional stage lighting

Creative Venue Technician

Providing technical support for the construction, rehearsal and presentation of live stage and music events

How this role makes a difference

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.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Assembling and installing stage scenery
  • Maintaining scenery, equipment and props
  • Working with the creative team to deliver staging ideas
  • Programming lighting, audio, video and automation
  • Carrying out repairs to a venue
  • Working with a group to deliver projects on time
  • Interacting with a diverse range of technical and creative people
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

A passion for performances and putting on a show.

An interest in how to make things that will bring a creative idea to life.

A positive and disciplined approach to your work, with great attention to detail.

A natural desire to solve challenges, thinking through all options before deciding on a solution.

The ability to work with other people and communicate your ideas and solutions to them.

The drive and determination to complete a task on time.

A willingness to travel and sometimes work unsociable hours.

A desire to learn all aspects of your trade.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- building, making and fixing things

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Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

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*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

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.

How to get into this role

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:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

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.

Other job titles...

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

Discover
technicians who
do this role

Creative Venue Technician

Daisy Seaman
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