Hi. I’m the sound designer anon. Thanks for answering my question. this is my first time doing theatre work so I feel way over my head. There’s this guy who works for the prod company and is also a SD who says he will work with me but I just feel so overwhelmed. I don’t even know how to mic up actors or what I will even do come tech. I just love music and scoring and I guess they saw my potential as a composer. I’ve done all the music already but the technical stuff is really overwhelming me.
Hi Anon,
As the composer it is NOT your responsibility to mic up actors. It is the sound designer’s concern to assign people to do that.
The way tech works is in three stages:
Paper Tech: Paper tech is when the Stage Manager, Sound designer, Lighting designer and possibly the set designer get together with the director to go over which cues will be called during the run of the show.
This means: If Bob yells “No!” and a clap of thunder sounds along with a light flashing it is decided where these effects go and when they are called.
This is so we have an idea when and where cues are called.
You may have to come to this so you can get together with all the designers and say “Okay, when Bob yells ‘no’ the tense music will begin.” Etc.
Dry Tech: This is when you take the cues you placed together and put them on their feet without actors.
So you go cue by cue and work through the play so the director is happy with all of the cues
Wet Tech: This is when you take the cues you put on their feet and work them with actors. You start at the beginning of the show like you did with dry tech and work them through with the actors so the actors know what they are doing and when. Along with the director being happy with what they see.
Then you have dress rehearsals to work the whole show, with all the cues and in costume.
It is the Sound designers job to mic actors, make sure all sound equipment works, make sure the sound quality/ volume meets the directors expectations etc.
Your job:
- Present your music to the director and adjust it as the director would like.
- Answer any questions the director has during Dry and Wet tech. Make sure the director AND you are happy with your music.
- Respond to emails and communicate with everyone to the best of your ability.
IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION!
Say:
“I just would like to remind you I am not all that familiar with theatre and theatrical terms can you please clarify X”
“Can you please explain to me what my responsibilities are during this process as I am not all that familiar with the technical side of theatre”
Whoever hired you, should have explained what your responsibilities were for that particular theatre and that particular production. Ask them to go over it again if need be.
Hope this helps
~Admin
