-Tristan Bernard, Contes, repliques et bon mots
Most people don't have any idea what goes on behind the scenes. They are unaware of how many professionals perform a variety of tasks in order to make a performance entertaining and successful.
Team spirit is of the utmost importance for the professionals who work together behind the scenes to create performances everyone can be proud of.
JOBS BEHIND THE SCENES IN MUSIC
Those who work behind the scenes include stage managers, sound technicians, boom operators, sound/production mixers, music video producers, record producers, recording engineers, recordists, and re-recording mixers.
Stage Managers
Stage managers are in charge of everything involved in onstage performances whether they are held at clubs, concert halls, state fairs, theaters, or any other arena. All aspects of a performance come under the stage manager's domain-curtain changes, lighting, sound-anything and everything that could have an effect upon the success of the performance. He or she is thus in charge of all technicians, assistants, helpers and the entire staff.
Sometimes important stars travel with their own lighting and sound technicians crews. As a result, the stars feel they can relax in the fact that their crews are very familiar with what needs to be done and there are no unpleasant surprises before, during, or after performances.
Sound Technicians/Sound Engineers
Sound technicians are important members of the behind-the-scenes staff. They answer to the tour coordinator and usually arrive at the location of the performance in advance of the performers. Along with the rest of the crew, sound technicians unload and set up the equipment and the instruments. All of the equipment must be positioned so that the instruments will sound best and vocals, if part of the performance, will blend in a pleasing manner.
Once things are set up, the vocalists and musicians arrive and the sound technicians prepare for a very important event-the sound check. This is accomplished by having each person play his or her instrument or sing, while technicians judge whether or not the sound is coming through properly. Obviously, any changes that need to be made will be taken care of before the show begins.
While the show is in progress, sound technicians are in charge of the soundboard, usually situated in front of the stage. In this position, they can adjust the volumes of voices and instruments.
After the show, sound technicians usually pack up the sound equipment. In some cases they may be responsible for checking all of the equipment to see what is not working properly or is in need of repair. Sometimes sound technicians are capable of actually taking care of the problem.
Boom Operators
The boom is a large overhead microphone that hangs over the set. These technicians make sure that the boom is properly following the performers.
Sound/Production Mixers
Sound/production mixers are in charge of the overall sound quality and the volume of the sound. Required when there is more than one microphone on the set, sound/production mixers make sure that sound is picked up and blended in a harmonious way.
Music Video Producers
Music video producers are in charge of everything relating to the making of music videos. This includes all of the visual effects and interpretations of the songs vocal artists are endeavoring to promote. Producers oversee the entire production team including film editor, choreographer, photography director, and the rest of the team.
Music video producers must be superb problem solvers, have good visual and listening proficiencies, have the ability to work well with others, posess a good business sense, understand the business, and have good contacts in the industry.
Record Producers
There are many people who are part of the process of record production. Perhaps most important is the record producer. Record producers have the responsibilities of handling all payroll tasks, supervising the recording sessions, helping to decide what songs will be recorded, and actually producing the records for the artists. Other responsibilities include finding a suitable recording studio, arranging the recording time, choosing an engineer, picking an arranger, and getting in touch with someone who can find the background musicians and vocalists needed. Record producers also will act as the heads of the operations, making sure everyone meets their responsibilities. During recording, the producer works hand-in-hand with the engineer to create the exact sound desired.
Recording Engineers
Recording engineers operate the soundboard and other electrical equipment when recordings are made.
Recordists
These technicians operate the tape machine and make sure that everything is recorded properly.
Re-recording Mixers
Re-recording mixers complete soundtracks by adding background music, additional dialogue, or sound effects.
Behind-the-scenes technicians may find employment with a local or well-known regional band. The best strategy is to start small and try to work your way to larger and more well-known bands. Major tours usually traverse Los Angeles, New York City, and Nashville, although they may be found in almost any substantially sized city in the United States.
JOBS BEHIND THE SCENES IN ACTING
Those who work behind the scenes in acting include stage directors, stage managers, technical directors, set designers, costume designers, hair stylists, makeup artists, lighting designers, sound designers, property designers, carpenters, scenic artists, special effects specialists, electricians, riggers, broadcast technicians, and wardrobe supervisors.
Stage Directors
At the top of the stage hierarchy are stage directors who read each play to decide whether they are interested in directing it. If they decide to take on the project, they are in charge of coordinating the entire production of the play. Meetings then take place between director and playwright to decide about the best way to present it. Additional conversations will take place with the producer about issues including casting, budgets, production schedules, designers, and other details.
Directors are the ones who interpret the plays or scripts as they see fit. In addition, they may audition and select cast members, conduct rehearsals, and direct the work of the cast and crew. Directors use their knowledge of acting, voice, and movement to achieve the best possible performance and usually approve the scenery, costumes, choreography, and music.
Once directors have become familiar enough with the play to determine the approach and perspective they wish to take, they meet with designers to begin the process of creating costumes, scenery, sound effects, and lighting. With the aid of a stage manager, directors make hundreds of decisions in order to best represent the piece.
Once rehearsals begin, directors are the ones who instruct the cast about where they are to be positioned on stage, how they are to move, and what feelings and actions they should display. In the process, they rehearse the performers as they practice their lines and make suggestions for changes whenever they see fit.
Upon presentation, directors often like to attend a dress rehearsal or preview and position themselves in different parts of the theater in order to observe the reactions of people in the audience. Even at that point, changes may be made if the director believes it can improve the play.
Directors and producers often work under stress as they try to meet schedules, stay within budgets, and resolve personnel problems while putting together a production.
Stage Managers
Once the director leaves the production, stage managers have the final say on most everything to do with the play and its production. They are the ones who call the casts together to begin rehearsals. They see to it that everyone who is required is present. They send an assistant to inform the stars when they will be needed and when to be ready to go on stage. If necessary, they make arrangements for stand-ins. They are the ones who give the signal for the house lights to dim, signaling the fact that the production is about to begin.
Stage managers maintain a master script or a book containing all details of the play. Listed inside are the actors movements, entrance and exit cues, costume details, and lighting and sound cues. Any changes are recorded in the master book. They also maintain personal records on all cast members and backstage workers including names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Stage managers often have assistants who help with the backstage duties. If so, they are able to be out front to watch the play. In this way, they can stay attuned to changes or improvements that can be made.
Technical Directors
Technical directors are assigned the task of coordinating all of the work of designers and their entire crews. They are responsible for making sure that all of the preliminary work moves forward on schedule and that everything fits together properly. They meet with lighting, property, and sound designers to work out details. Also, they make sure set changes and storage details work as planned. When on tour, technical directors aid other workers to make adjustments to fit the space and layouts of different theaters.
Set Designers
Set designers are entrusted with the responsibility of the physical environment of the play. In order to successfully accomplish this, they research the time and place of the play. Uncovering typical architecture for the time and place, they make sketches and models of possible sets and present them to the director for his or her approval. Then they make detailed drawings and models (exactly to scale) using cardboard, wood, plastic, clay or other materials. The plans must show ways to prepare and move the pieces quickly and safely and how remaining sets may be stored offstage while one is being used onstage.
Set designers may meet with directors concerning details of construction costs and other relevant ideas. On the other hand, they may take their plans to two or three shops for bids. The designers then oversee the building and painting of the sets, whether this means creating stairs, mountains, balconies, or whatever is needed for the play.
Costume Designers
Costume designers also must do some researching about the locale, period, and social background of the play. Libraries and museums are appropriate places to study clothing, styles, and fabrication. Once this phase is completed, they begin to draw sketches of costumes that will eventually need director approval. Once given, they bring the sketches to the theater costume shop to plan how to make them. If the production is taking place in a large city such as New York, costume designers may secure bids from two or three costume shops. They select the fabric, approve the clothing patterns, and oversee their progress as they are developed.
For plays that will take place with a modern setting, costume designers might shop for ready-made garments. Other pieces such as wigs or beards may be needed, and the costume designer will select them from a wig shop.
Once everything is secured, fittings are scheduled for cast members to check that the costumes are right. To make sure everything looks the way it should, a dress parade is held onstage under lights with scenery and props in place.
Hairstylists and Makeup Artists
Hairstylists and makeup artists use cosmetics, pencils, greasepaints, brushes, and other materials to make the actors and actresses look like the characters they play. Makeup also may include hair, clay, or plastics to create wrinkles, warts, bald heads, teeth changes, burns, or scars. Even the actors' hands must be right for the characters they are playing.
Lighting Designers
Lighting designers use lighting fixtures, patterns, color filters, and dimmers in order to create lighting effects. Referring to floor plans of the sets, they decide where to place each piece of equipment. The master electrician and lighting director plan the electric circuits for the equipment. The lighting board operator controls the lights in the theater throughout the play. Cue sheets tell the operator exactly when to turn each unit on and off. In some cases, a computer in the light board handles these details, which expands the effects of lighting designs. In order to make sure that circuits and lights are in proper working order, lighting designers report for work one hour early.
Sound Designers
Sound designers are the individuals who create and direct the making of sound effects: drumbeats, sirens, breaking glass, whirling tornadoes. The designers are faced with choosing and directing placement of amplifiers, speakers, synthesizers, microphones, and other equipment. Once satisfied with the results, cue sheets are made up for the soundboard operator to follow during all performances. One or more sound technicians work during a show. One may work from a place in the audience mixing or blending the sounds the audience hears. Another, backstage, may control sounds the performers and musicians hear. A third worker may be in charge of handling prerecorded sounds or special sound effects. All wear intercom headsets to monitor the work going on at the time.
Property Designers
Property designers are involved in planning and, in some cases, directing the making of pieces needed for productions, anything from palm trees to antique sofas. Other items they may be asked to provide are books, violins, spears, shields, or a wide variety of other items. They also may be asked to construct masks or hands for characters appearing as dragons, monkeys, monsters, donkeys, or any number of other animals.
Carpenters and Scenic Artists
Working with materials like wood, canvas, muslin, metal, clay and other materials, carpenters and scenic artists are hired to build the sets and properties for a theatrical production.
Special Effects Specialists
Special effects specialists are the ones who create, plan, and install the devices needed to make smoke, rain, snow, fog, or the like.
Electricians
Electricians connect and mark the circuits for both sound and lighting effects.
Riggers
Riggers do their work considerably above ground level; they hang lighting, sound equipment, and scenery from wires and ropes. They also are involved in working with pulleys and counterbalances to control the movable parts of any sets.
Broadcast Technicians
Broadcast technicians operate and maintain the equipment used to record and transmit radio and television programs. They work with sound and video recorders, television cameras, transmitters, microphones, and equipment used for special effects.
Wardrobe Supervisors
Once the play opens, wardrobe supervisors are in charge of all of the costumes. Crews are hired to keep shoes polished, suits brushed, broken zippers replaced, hems stitched. Costumes also may need to be adjusted to fit stand-ins. When on tour, the wardrobe supervisors and their helpers are charged with packing and unpacking the costumes and putting them in the dressing rooms.
All of the same opportunities open to actors and actresses are also available to those who work behind the scenes. This would include Broadway productions, regional plays, children's theater, summer stock, radio, television, and commercials.
TRAINING FOR CAREERS BEHIND THE SCENES IN MUSIC
Though a formal education is not required for those who work behind the scenes in music, it can provide you with a concrete background of information and contacts. Many who are interested in this field acquire basic knowledge and experience by shadowing other individuals who are performing this kind of work.
Working as a volunteer in a community, church, or school production offers valuable experience that will help to elevate your marketability in the music business.
It's important for behind-the-scenes personnel to be able to work well with all kinds of people because they serve as a link in the chain that provides the totality of music performances. Other desirable characteristics include reliability; responsibility; a good ear for music; sufficient expertise in the areas of musical and technical knowledge; proficiency with the soundboard, sound equipment, and electronics; and a love of music.
TRAINING FOR CAREERS BEHIND THE SCENES IN ACTING
At the high school level and sometimes the middle school level, many schools have programs in fine arts. Students who plan to work in theater should take part in school plays and musical shows. In high school they should take history, literature, art, and English.
Hopefuls for careers behind the scenes should get as much experience as possible working on productions at school, at church, or at a local theater. An association with a professional company is an added bonus. Working as a volunteer is a good idea. Part-time possibilities include local theater, dinner theater, and special events like benefits or rock concerts.
Candidates for these careers should plan on earning at least a bachelor's degree in fine arts with a major in drama. Those who plan to focus on lighting and sound design may take courses in design, electricity, art, history, computers, electronics, mathematics, physics, and sound. Set designers may decide to place their major in architecture. They should take drawing, art and art history, drafting, and sculpture. Makeup artists must know something about anatomy. They also should take sculpture, portrait painting, and other art topics. Most directors, stage managers, and designers earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in drama or another specialty, or a Master of Arts.
On a more personal level, it is important that directors and designers have a strong artistic sense along with the ability to make decisions and instill confidence in others. Managers who are organized, possess strong leadership skills, and can inspire teamwork are bound for success. Stage production workers need to be enthusiastic, energetic, confident, creative, and intelligent. They also need to have a good sense of humor and the ability to handle successes and failures.
JOB OUTLOOK FOR CAREERS BEHIND THE SCENES IN MUSIC
Since the competition for jobs is so fierce for those behind the scenes in music, even seasoned workers have long periods between jobs. Although stage workers do have more steady employment than actors or dancers, many spend weeks and months at other jobs. It is an advantage if you can fill more than one slot, for example, design both sets and props or make and remodel costumes as well as design them. Your chances of getting work will be greater.
JOB OUTLOOK FOR CAREERS BEHIND THE SCENES IN ACTING
Competition is very stiff for behind-the-scenes professionals. Technicians may often be hired as grips (individuals who move equipment such as cameras, etc.) first and work their way up. The emergence of cable television has produced a need for more technicians.
There are possibilities for individuals to become record producers, but only after they have paid their dues and built their knowledge and reputations. Once this happens, producers can go to other labels that are more prestigious and pay higher salaries.
