Fri Sep 10 2010

Lighting Technician

Lighting technicians are responsible, both creatively and technically, for lighting interior and outside scenes or performances and for the lighting effects seen in theatres, music venues, and film and TV productions. By arranging the equipment and adjusting the intensity of the light, they achieve a variety of effects to dramatically alter the mood and shape of the visual image for audiences. Effects range from basic stage lighting and spotlighting for plays or musicals to strobe, searchlight, and special effects lighting for outside concerts or helping to provide the relevant lighting and power supply for television or film productions.

Their main responsibilities are to set up and operate lighting equipment during concerts, theatre performances, television broadcasts, films or video productions, under instructions from lighting directors.

Television outside broadcasts usually require more complex lighting than television studio productions. Film work can involve highly-complex lighting designs and may also require many special lighting effects.

Hours of work are usually long, antisocial and unpredictable. Working environments vary enormously - from working in theatres, concert halls or TV studios to working outside on location in streets or other open spaces.

Salaries range from £9,500 to £24,000. Overtime payments may be available during productions.

Lighting technicians must:

have an aptitude for electrical work and electronics
have creative flair
be able to work quickly and creatively as part of a team
have patience, stamina, physical agility and a head for heights.

Employers include theatres, concert venues, television and video production companies, film producers and facilities companies. Lighting for special events, road shows and rock concerts is a growth area.

This is a skilled technical role, and all lighting technicians must be fully-qualified electricians. It is possible to qualify as a lighting technician by doing a vocational qualification or a degree. Relevant work experience, paid or voluntary, is a definite advantage. Adult entry is common, since experience is highly valued.

Most training takes place on the job. Lighting technicians are expected to undertake additional training throughout their careers to keep their knowledge up to date.

Career progression depends on skills and experience. Gaining qualifications could lead to a career in lighting design and eventually to becoming a lighting director. Some lighting technicians move into special effects or production design.

What is the work like?

Lighting technicians are responsible, both creatively and technically, for:

lighting interior and outside scenes or performances
the lighting effects seen in theatres, music venues, and on film and TV productions.

By arranging the equipment and adjusting the intensity of the light, lighting technicians achieve a variety of effects to dramatically alter the mood and shape of the visual image for the audience. Effects range from basic stage lighting and spotlighting for plays or musicals, to strobe, searchlight, and special effects lighting for outside concerts or helping to provide the relevant lighting and power supply for television or film productions.

Depending on the production they are working on and their particular experience, lighting technicians may be involved in all or some of the following:

liaising with lighting directors and designers to agree the lighting design
establishing lighting requirements
plotting the lighting
co-ordinating the equipment and the technical crew
assembling all required lighting and filter equipment
ensuring all lighting equipment is in working order
arranging for any additional lighting equipment, eg for special lighting effects
rigging the lighting
ensuring all cables and wires are safely concealed
loading automated colour change systems
programming lighting consoles
supervising the focusing of lighting at rehearsals
liaising with the floor manager, producer and sound technician throughout each project
de-rigging all equipment at the end of each broadcast or production
ensuring all equipment is stored or transported back safely from locations.

Hours and environment

Working hours vary according to the type of production. Lighting technicians usually work long, antisocial and unpredictable hours. Theatre daytime work might involve installing equipment for use during rehearsals, while evening shows may finish late at night, and lighting technicians are among the last to leave venues. Touring productions and road shows may last for months, involving travelling long distances between each venue.

Television, radio and outside broadcast work can be equally demanding, involving long hours during set ups, rehearsals and shoots, and sometimes travelling long distances to and from locations.

Working environments vary enormously and lighting technicians may work:

in theatres, which may be hot, cramped, dark and dusty
on walkways at heights above a stage, on ladders, scaffolding or cranes
in TV studios, where conditions can range from warm and well-lit to stuffy and oppressive
in concert halls which are usually warm and well-lit
on locations in streets or open spaces, in all weathers
in the open air organising the pyrotechnics (firework displays) for rock concerts.

Overalls, boots, hard hats and sometimes tools are normally provided for those in permanent employment.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Trainee lighting technicians with no previous experience may start on about £9,500 a year.
New entrants with previous experience may start on £12,000 to £15,000 a year.
The salary for experienced lighting technicians could eventually rise to £24,000 a year.

Senior technicians, and those working on major productions, can earn substantially more. Overtime payments may be available during productions.

Many lighting technicians are self-employed and work on short-term contracts. They are usually paid a negotiated fee for each contract they undertake.

Skills and personal qualities

Lighting technicians must:

have an aptitude for electrical work and electronics
have creative flair
be capable of showing initiative
be able to work quickly and creatively as part of a team
be confident and have good communication skills
be practical and able to find quick solutions to unexpected problems
have patience and stamina
have physical agility and a head for heights.

Interests

It is important to be interested in:

the performing arts
film and television production
electrical work and electronics.

Getting in

Entry is highly competitive. Jobs may be advertised in local newspapers or in sector publications such as Broadcast and The Stage.

Entry for young people

This is a skilled technical role, and all lighting technicians must be fully-qualified electricians. Relevant qualifications include:

City & Guilds Certificate in electrotechnical technology and City &Guilds Certificate in the requirements for electrical installation (entry requirements for both qualifications are usually three or four GCSEs (A*-C), including English, maths and science)
NVQ at Level 3 in film and television lighting (lighting technician)
Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for Stage Electrics accredited by the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT).

The Diploma in creative and media (available in England) may be relevant for this area of work.

See the British Film Institute (BFI)/Skillset Media Courses Directory on the Skillset website (http://www.skillset.org/) for further information.

Relevant work experience, paid or voluntary, is a definite advantage - for instance, with local amateur dramatic companies or college drama societies. The BBC runs a central work experience scheme, but this is very competitive.

It is possible to qualify as a lighting technician by doing a vocational qualification or a degree. Degree subjects such as electrical engineering or physics may be useful for the technical side. There are specialist degree courses in:

lighting design
lighting technology
sound, light and live event technology
theatre arts - lighting and sound operation
theatre and performance technology.

A degree in stage management may also be useful.

Entry requirements for a degree course are generally at least two A levels plus five GCSEs (A*-C), usually to include English and maths. Useful A level subjects include maths, physics, design and technology and computing.

Lighting technicians need a good working knowledge of other departments within the theatre, stage, film or studio environments in which they work. These skills can be learned at drama schools, which provide training in stage electrics, lighting design and sound. For film and television work, individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. A network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved by Skillset as centres of excellence in education and training for film. Further information is available on their website (www.skillset.org).

Apprenticeships that may be available in England include Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships. These provide structured training with an employer and pay at least £80 per week - £95 per week from August 2009. A recent survey found that the average wage for apprentices was £170 a week. Entry to Employment (e2e) can help to prepare those who are not yet ready for an Apprenticeship. Young Apprenticeships may be available for 14- to 16-year-olds. To find out more, see the Apprenticeship page on this website, contact the local Connexions service or visit: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/.

There are different arrangements for Apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For further information, contact Careers Scotland: http://www.careers-scotland.org.uk/, Careers Wales: http://www.careerswales.com/ or Careers Service Northern Ireland: http://www.careersserviceni.com/.

Entry for adults

Adult entry is common, since experience is highly valued. Entry is possible for applicants with electrical experience in some other area. They should be able to show an interest in theatre, live productions, film or television and the ability to adapt to these work environments.

A driving licence is usually required, and an LGV licence is also sometimes specified.

Training

Once qualified as electricians, most training for lighting technicians takes place on the job. Some specialist courses in lighting design are available (see http://www.skillset.org/ for more information). The BBC offers training schemes covering a broad range of technical subjects.

As the equipment used in, and regulations relating to, working with electricity are continually changing, lighting technicians must be prepared to undertake additional training throughout their careers to keep their knowledge up to date.

Getting on

Career progression for lighting technicians depends on building up skills and gaining greater experience to establish their reputation. With experience and further qualifications some develop their careers by moving into lighting design and eventually becoming lighting directors.

Some lighting technicians move into special effects or production design.

Further information

Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), 55 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JB. 020 7242 9200. Website: http://www.abtt.org.uk/

Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), PO Box 89, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 1ZW. 07817 060189. Website: http://www.ald.org.uk/

Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematographic and Theatre Union (BECTU), 373-377 Clapham Road, London SW9 9BT. 020 7346 0900. Website: http://www.bectu.org.uk/

Skillset (The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media), 2^nd Floor, Focus Point, 21 Caledonian Road, London N1 9GB. Free media careers helpline in England and Northern Ireland: 08080 300 900; in Scotland: 0808 100 8094; in Wales: 0800 0121 815. Website: www.skillset.org/careers

UK Film Council, 10 Little Portland Street, London W1W 7JG. 020 7861 7861. Website: http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/

Magazines/journals

Broadcast

The Stage

Handsworth Wood Girls´

Visual and Performing Arts Specialist College and Sixth Form Centre