1. What are the duties and responsibilities of a lighting
technician?
I am researching the job of a lighting technician. I have found that this job can be applied in
lots of different areas of theatre and that “Lighting Technicians' responsibilities vary
according to the size of the
production”. For example it can
be in a west end theatre to a
dance show in a stately home.
Also the responsibilities are the
same but the duties are very
vast. For example in a west end
show, a lighting technician
would have a very modern
lighting desk but whilst in
smaller theatres and small shows the equipment won’t be as modern. I know this due to a
job on the stage.com newspaper. One of the jobs required to be skilled in lighting
equipment. Whilst another job in a smaller theatre didn’t require a lot of experience in
lighting equipment.
One of the responsibilities of a lighting technician is to prepare, rig and operate lighting
equipment. I would carry this out by attaching specific lights e.g. CCT Fresnels on booms and
putting lights on a rig. I would prepare lights by making sure they work and if they don’t
troubleshoot the light and see what needs to be done. Also to prepare the lights I would
need to put gels or specials in the lights. However, this would be dependent on the
hierarchal structure because the lighting designer would tell me if gels or specials were
needed.
On external shows, shows not in theatres, lighting technicians have to de-rig and return the
equipment to where you got it. For example, at a dance show at Arley hall, all the
equipment needs to be returned to college. I would carry out the responsibility by using
tools such as spanners and wrenches to take lights off booms. I know this by previous
experience of rigging and de-rigging. I can also support it by the quote “Some Lighting
Technicians are engaged in setting up the lighting equipment before a shoot starts (referred
to as Rigging Electricians)”. This is also adapting roles to the size of the production.
Once I have completed these roles I have to liaise with the assistant technical LX manager
and then he liaises with the technical manager.
Lighting
technician
Assistant technical manager
Technical manager

2. Finally, this is the
same for all the
roles, lighting
technicians have to
assist when needed
elsewhere. For example lighting technicians have to have some experience in sound
equipment because they might have to cover for the sound technician if they are absent or
if they need help. I know this because of the job vacancy profile of the stage.com newspaper
I mentioned in the first paragraph.