Thoughts on tech
Tomorrow will be the last day I tech a show at UCB. I started teching in early 2003 and have been getting paid to do it since 2004. It’s the longest job I’ve ever had and I’ve learned a lot. Not just about how to tech a show, but also what kind of comedy I like and what I feel works and doesn’t.
I can’t count the number of unique shows I’ve tech, or how many hours I’ve spent in rehearsals. In the past few years, I’ve stepped in as a substitute director for some of the shows I tech, and the experiences I’ve gained through my years of teching have shaped what kind of director I am.
Below are lessons I’ve learned, advice I was given and will give to anyone who asks, and a few gripes (of course). I will focus on sketch and one person show tech, and leave my opinions on teching improv for another day.
Let’s start with rehearsals. Rehearsals should not be a daunting task. Here’s some things to remember:
1. It’s your responsibility to schedule a tech rehearsal. Your tech person will most likely not track you down and demand a tech. It’s your show, be in charge of it.
2. The tech person doesn’t know your show, and he/she may not know you personally. This is important to remember if you find yourself frustrated in the rehearsal process.
3. Come prepared! Bring a full, current, easy to read script. Write down all lighting and sound cues. Speaking of sound cues, bring a cd! If you can, have a backup cd or a playlist on an ipod. If you’ve got a powerpoint presentation or slide show, have it on a cd, but why not also put it on a usb drive or have it stored in an email? If you have video, bring the DVD! Even if its a rough cut, it gives the tech person an idea of what will be the finished product.
4. Have your director come to the tech rehearsal and let them run it. Nothing slows down a tech like several voices fighting for control.
5. This is a TECH rehearsal. Your tech person is there to learn the cues, not watch you run a sketch 5 times for the actors. Directors have argued this point with me, and I have in the past suggested doing a cue to cue, THEN going through the sketches and working on moments at the end of the tech. This should also avoid the problem of rushing through the tech if you’re running out of time.
Okay. Tech went great. Your first show went well. You’re going to do more shows. Here’s some other things to keep in mind:
1. Are you going to have the same tech person? Do they still have the script? The CD? The DVD? This is YOUR responsibility to find out. All you need to do is email them. I would recommend doing this as soon as possible. Don’t assume the tech person will contact you, that’s not always part of their job.
2. Did you change a blackout line? Maybe swapped a sketch? If you have minor changes, you can probably get away with just emailing them to the tech person. Don’t arrive right before the show with a bunch of changes and catch the tech person off guard. If you’ve made huge changes to the show, then you should probably schedule a tech rehearsal. Again, this is your responsibility.
That’s about it for now. Just remember, I’ll be watching.
