If you need the lights hung another way, be sure to make a note and represent it visually as best as you can. By default, a light placed “on” a truss or pipe is hung straight down, pointed towards the stage. Moving each light into the plot, you’ll orient them where you’d like them hung. In a pinch, you could even use a graphics program to create a “not-to-scale” drawing. Start by creating a legend, which lists each symbol and names the fixture type.
Ideally, you’ll use some sort of CAD program (such as NanoCAD, LXFree, Drafty, or something similar) to layout each type of light as a unique symbol. In this case, you don’t need to go into tons of detail, but it does make your life easier to include the basics.Ī light plot can be as basic as some arrows on a napkin.
You might even be the person doing it yourself! (I’ve been there!) If you’re working on a smaller production, you’re most likely going to be there for the fixture hang.
#Stage plot pro cost professional#
I’ve designed professional plots, and they take a lot of time to get right!īut, this is key, as most often the lighting designer isn’t present during the hanging of the lights, and it’s got to be done right! While a professional plot can look very complex, yours doesn’t have to be – especially if you are doing community theatre or something similar. It is typically done from an overhead view.ĭoes it have to be fancy? No, it doesn’t. Simply put, a light plot is a plan from the lighting designer (that’s YOU), that shows the crew what types of lights to use, where to place them, and any focus notes. What Is a Light Plot? (and What Are All The Labels On It?) It doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to be intimidating. While I was intimidated the first time I sat down to make a plot, you don’t have to be. And while he showed no desire to design, he also wanted to push us students into a box of “theatrical rightness”…and that was intimidating!įast forward, I never met his expectations, but I learned a lot – especially about making a plot! (and hey – that rhymes!) The school had a tech guy who was supposed to watch over us and advise us. By design, I really mean “tweak” the current layout, but I was excited to do so, nonetheless.īut I had one obstacle. Meanwhile, many Stage Technicians also have previous career experience in roles such as Sales Associate or Cashier.At the time, I was in high school, and I was tasked to “design” the lighting for our fall production. In fact, many Stage Technician jobs require experience in a role such as Internship. You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a Stage Technician. Other degrees that we often see on Stage Technician resumes include High School Diploma degrees or Diploma degrees. When we researched the most common majors for a Stage Technician, we found that they most commonly earn Bachelor's Degree degrees or Associate Degree degrees.
#Stage plot pro cost how to#
Even though most Stage Technicians have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.Ĭhoosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a Stage Technician. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.1% of Stage Technicians have master's degrees. We've determined that 47.8% of Stage Technicians have a bachelor's degree. If you're interested in becoming a Stage Technician, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. Apart from being highly skilled in stage equipment operation, stage technicians must also be able to keep their cool during high-pressure situations, which are very common during productions. Many stage technicians have a degree in theater, but one can qualify for the role with another major or even a high school diploma as long as one has adequate knowledge and experience with technical operations of stage plays. Moreover, a stage technician is responsible for ensuring that the production complies with all safety standards and regulations. That said, this role requires adequate knowledge and skill in troubleshooting various issues of stage and multimedia equipment. In case of technical failure, the stage technician is usually the first one to act. The duties of a stage technician include setting up props on stage, operating the audio mixer, running soundboards, maintaining multimedia equipment, and ensuring that all stage equipment is up and running. A stage technician is responsible for the technical side of a production and is one of the most vital backstage staff members.