HEAD ELECTRICIAN

The Head Electrician is responsible for the technical execution of the lighting design. The HE works closely with the LD and the ALD. The HE is responsible for organizing the electrics crew's time, work, and safety. When technical questions arise, the crew will expect the HE to have the answers. Therefore, thorough preplanning is required.

Responsibilities Prior to Load in:

1. Read the script and familiarize yourself with the production concept.

2. Advise Lighting Designer as to feasibility of proposed lighting design from a technical perspective

This would include

· Advice on rigging: weight. length, availability of pipe.

· set mounts

· practicals

· load

· amount of equipment in relationship to person hours and skill level of students assigned to production

3. Attend at least the last two production meetings prior to light hang and others as deemed necessary by LD.

· Load in and tech schedules are discussed at these meetings you will, need to be an active participant

4. Determine the gel order and cut list, hookup, lighting section, and shop order after receiving the finalized light plot, at least ten days prior to load-in Orders are to be placed through the Light Lab TA, and may require approval by the Resident LD.

5. Devise circuit plots from the above paperwork

· Figure out the twofering at each position and draw this onto cardboards (individual position drawings), leave space for circuit information to be written in

· Figure out which circuits will go to which positions and from where (i.e. circuits for the midbeam come from where? circuits for the egg crate, circuits for additional electrics, etc.) Note this on your master plot. Seek the advice of the Resident Lighting Designer in devising the circuit plot

6. Work with Lighting Practicum, TA and 161 TA on assuring all equipment is available on load-in date

· During the two weeks prior to hang, the 161 lab which meets on Wednesday evenings will work with you to prep the show. Secure the show's inventory from the theatre inventory, check for the appropriate beam spread (PARS) and wattages (all units). Make sure color is cut, and both color and templates are framed, and labeled by position

7. Set deadline with properties master for the arrival of stage practicals. Wire them as necessary prior to load-in;

Work with the 161 lab on this task. The deadline for practicals should be the third Wednesday before first tech.

· Zip cord can only be used on the set; once you are offstage, you must use SO cable. Do not use metal staples with zip cord. See Chuck or Res. Lighting Des. if you have safety questions in relation to wiring. Be prepared to rethink the wiring of the practicals if there is concern. Never hang the weight of a practical from its electric cable.

8. Coordinate load in schedule with technical director. Seek advice of Resident Lighting Designer and Lighting TA if necessary.

· Breakdown load-in time into specific tasks with specific personnel from the crew. The more preparation in this area you do before the load-in, the smoother the load-in will happen.

9. Check all hanging positions against scenic groundplans and existing theatre architecture. Avoid problems before the load in.

· Before the hang, rig any additional electrics. This should be done in coordination with the show's TD.

10. Determine cue light and running light needs with the stage manager

11. Assure that road box contains all tools and equipment necessary for load-in.

12. Execute lighting in the light lab for publicity photo shoot. Ask the stage manager for dates.

Responsibilities during load-in:

1. Supervise crew in the hanging of all lights in their proper positions

· Your role is a supervisory one - you should not leave the deck for any extended length of time. TA's should lead teams to the Egg Crate, Beams, Extension Ladder positions, deck. If needed, the HE can be the direct supervisor of the deck team.

· Set realistic goals and meet them: e.g. finish hanging the beams by 11:00am, hanging on stage elex by lunch break, etc.

2. Supervise the circuiting and patching of those lights

· Flash out each position after it is hung, patch accordingly. Solve the problems while the pipe is on the ground; do not wait until it is up in the air.

3. After all are hung and patched, do a thorough dimmer check; trouble shoot as necessary to assure that everything is working before focus begins.

· Set a time goal for the dimmer check... 3/4 of the way through the day is best, leaving ample time for trouble shooting MEET THIS GOAL.

· Do not attempt to trouble shoot as you go through the channels. Instead, make a thorough list (broken down by on stage, FOH, deck) and have the crew and TA's do the trouble shooting. Check the patch - if patched correctly, start at the lamp and work backward toward the dimmer

4. Supervise and/or execute the installation of cue lights and running lights.

· This can happen on the Monday following the hang, or, on Wednesday evening (although painters have priority in the space)

5. Supervise the installation of designers table in front of house; supervise installation of separate stage manager's table. Provide a monitor for the designer and a VERY DIM worklight for the LD and ALD and SM. Do not rig this light so that it is in the lighting designer's face.

6. During focus, be present to assure that everything is in working order. The designer may ask that you focus

certain positions.

· Again your role is supervisory: Break the crew up into teams. Anytime someone is on a ladder, they must have a partner footing the ladder (and concentrating on doing just that). Set goals with the LD (e.g. by 3:30 finish the beams, etc)

3. Duties during technical rehearsals:

1. Attend dry tech and first tech

· If problems arise, fix them. Be flexible with regard to design changes. (Safety note: Do not work alone in the theatre and do not crawl out onto the egg crate while actors are on stage.)

2. Supervise Monday afternoon touch up call.

3. Be present during the first time the running crew does the dimmer check.

· The ALD will go over the hookup with the run crew. Before they are left on their own, however, you must be confident that should a problem arise, they would know how to trouble shoot

Duties during the run:

1. Check with Board Operator on a daily basis do determine if there are any serious maintenance problems.

· If, for example, a breaker keeps tripping, there is probably a short; it is your responsibility to fix it (with the run crew’s help)

2. Be available at the first dimmer check after a break in the performance schedule (i.e. Sunday thru Thursday, over Thanksgiving, etc.)

Strike Duties:

1. Organize order of strike operations prior to strike date. Provide a written strike list with personnel broken

down by position to the lighting TA's.

· Units which need to be struck immediately: any booms or set mounted units which will be in the way of the scenic strike must be struck immediately following the last performance. If few, this can be done by the running crew.

· strike beams and egg crate first, when deck is clear of scenery, electrics can be flown in and struck.

2. Assure that all equipment is restored to its original state

· If, for any reason, barrels have been swapped around, be sure they are restored.

3. Supervise the return of equipment to storage

· All units should be placed in the appropriate storage area and counted. Report missing units to the res. LD in writing immediately.

4. Supervise the filing of all reusable color

· Do not leave a pile of gel in 1145, please see that it is appropriately filed. This can be done by the work study person on duty during strike.

5. Supervise cleanup of electrics area

6. Supervise and confirm the return of all rented and/or borrowed equipment.

· All borrowed and rented equipment must be returned in a timely fashion. Reserve the truck in advance if you will need it for drop offs.