Theater+Tech+Journal+Entries

1/26/11
 * Journal Entry 1**

Today in Theater Tech I got a small introduction to most of the things I will be working with. I was shown a small tutorial on the light board and how it works (how to trurn it on, what buttons bring up which lights in the theater, etc). Then I was shown where extra lights, cords, saftey cables, gels for the lights, microphones and their cords and cases all belong. It is very important that everything goes back where you found it and how you found it because it keeps things organized, neat and it makes people happy when they find what they are looking for. The last thing I did was sit up on the catwalk (metal runway-type thing where the balcony lights are). It is definitely something to get used to and hopefully it can help me overcome my fear of heights.

1/27/11
 * Journal Entry 2**

Today I was shown how to design/create and organize a program for a show and how important it is. I was also taught how to send clear, understandable information out to significant amounts of people. This was important because times and events are always subject to change and when dealing with a large group of people, such as a cast/crew, and it must be made sure that the most current information goes out to everyone so that they are aware.I also learned some basics about set design: different creation techniques, demensions, etc. I also was breiflely introduced to stock measurements of lumber used in set designs. It is important to become familiar with what you are going to be working with.

1/31/11
 * Journal Entry 3**

Today in field study I learned how to use a music editing program. This was used to create a file of snippets from songs that students audtitioning for the spring musical can use to prepare themselves. I was also introduced to what goes in to creating a small three dimensional model of what the set pieces and stage will hopfully look like for the spring musical. These things are important for me to know because if I were to have a job as a director or even as a stage manager it is important that the nessecary audition information or set information gets set up and sent out so people who are auditioning can come prepared and those who would be helping build the set will get a general idea of what is needed.

2/2/11
 * Journal Entry 4**

Today I spent the field study block learning how to clean and maintain the theater. I needed to make sure the seats were secure and cleaned off, the balcony rails were dusted, the stage sweeped and mopped, etc. Although these things may seem like simple house keeping chores it is very important to keep your theater space as clean and organized as possible because there are many times where other organizations or performers from other places will ask to rent the space for a show. If the space is not clean then people will not want to use the space.

2/3/11
 * Journal Entry 5**

In field study today I learned how to make a safety cable from scratch. Safety cables are something we use for lights; they are attached to the lights as well as where the light is hung. This ensures that if something should happen and the light falls from where it is hung, it will not fall onto the stage and risk hurting someone. We also focused and re-focused lights for an upcoming event.

2/7/11
 * Journal Entry 6**

Today I spent the block getting prepared for the musical auditions. I had to go through the entire script and record page numbers, musical numbers and who is in each scene and musical number. I had to do this because it helps keep us organized when we are trying to make schedules for rehearsals and such. I then entered the data into a spreadsheet and sent out that information to our director who will then break each scene into sections and we can then start to create a rehearsal schedule.

2/9/11
 * Journal Entry 7**

Today I continued to work on making schedules for rehearsals for the spring musical. I started to enter the information to the final draft of the schedule. I also made copies of important safety information for light set up and stage set up. This information is very important for me to have because safety is always key when working in a theater doing lights or things such as that because there are many things that could go wrong if the correct safety precautions arent taken.

2/14/11
 * Journal Entry 8**

Today I submitted the official rehearsal schedule for the spring musical to the director. I also did a little bit of house keeping in the theater cleaning off the seats and sweeping the stage off. We will also be fixing and moving around some lights for a small performance during the school day next week. We also did some more studying on the set for the spring musical trying to figure out what exactly we are going to need and what we already have in storage.

2/16/11
 * Journal Entry 9**

In field study today I was up in the theater running music for a performace going on during school next week. We also went through light cues making sure everything was correct and at the right level. It is important to check your light and sound cues as often as possible before a show happens so you can make sure everything works the way it is supposed to so there are so screw ups. Screw ups mean a very unhappy director and unhappy performers.

2/21/11
 * Journal Entry 10**

Today we simply cleaned the theater. There hasn't been much going on because we are in between events. We mostly just are cleaning and adjusting things as we go along. I also helped get some paperwork organized for the spring musical auditions that are coming up next week. -

2/28/11
 * Journal Entry 11**

Today we are preparing for the spring musical audtitions for later this evening. I had to go make some copies of sheet music/lyrics as well as some more copies of sides for the students auditioning, just in case someone needs it. This took up basically the whole block just preparing by putting packets and papers together, cleaning the space and such.

3/8/11
 * Journal Entry 12**

In field study block today I had to clean off the stage (sweeping, vaccume, etc) to get ready for the read through of the show for the spring musical. -

3/11/11
 * Journal Entry 13**

Today we are starting to set up the stage for the Prisms concert. We had to put up some platforms and I was able to learn how to use a saw today (using proper saftey technique). I had to measure out the correct length, mark it, check it (fix it not correct & mark it again and finally check it once more), then I had to set the lumber on the saw and line up the saw and my mark and then I had to make my cut SLOWLY. -

3/15/11
 * Journal Entry 14**

We continue to set up the theater for the prisms concert. We are changing light colors as well as where they are hung or directioned. I learned today how to switch the gels in the lights. Gels are what give us color. They are little almost like plastic papers that are transparent and have any color from blues, greens, reds, yellows, purples and ambers. -

3/17/11
 * Journal Entry 15**

Today in field study we continue still working up in the theater, getting ready for prisms. There has been some construction going on in the light booth so we are able to fit the sound board in there as well as the light board. This not only makes it easier for the technicians but it gives us an extra seat in the audience to fill up during a show. So after fixing and putting the seat back in I vaccumed out the light booth and the stage as well. ---

3/21/11
 * Journal Entry 16**

This week is Prism Concert Mahem! We will be busy mostly fixing lights, adjusting sound and setting light cues. Today we focused mainly on setting up the light cues. there is a science of some sort when it comes to setting light cues. There are certain colors of lights that don't blend well with each other so you have to be aware of that. Also when you are setting a cue, you also have to set the time for the cue to fade in and out which has to align with the rest of the show and the way the show flows. ---