Teach lights/sound/box to Hideout classes?

[bradisntclever]

Mike mentioned something in a thread from a while ago that I think is relevant to ask again: can a portion of one of the Level 2 or Level 3 Hideout classes be spent on teaching students how to work lights/sound and sell tickets in the box office? I think people can pick up any of the three relatively quickly, but a quick group briefing session would eliminate some of the emergency lessons before Maestro or other shows.

More importantly, I think students/recent graduates would be more likely to volunteer to work tech or in the booth if they had a basic understanding going into their job. I hesitated to volunteer to work box a few weeks ago because I had no idea what to do before arriving at the Hideout.

The whole training process couldn't take more than 20-30 minutes out of a class, and operating as a lighting/sound improviser is one aspect of performance improv.

[vine311]

I can show you how to do both, just grab me next time you see me. I think teaching this in classes is a great idea.

[kaci_beeler]

I can show you how to do both, just grab me next time you see me. I think teaching this in classes is a great idea.

Me too. I'm surprised it's not apart of the heroes curriculum (the part that teaches improv performance, like level three or four).

[bradisntclever]

I can show you how to do both, just grab me next time you see me. I think teaching this in classes is a great idea.

I've learned both over the last two weeks, just need to start getting more experience doing them. My main concern in creating the thread is for the potential student who doesn't go out of their way to try and learn lights/sound. I think most improvisers learn how to work the booth eventually, but training students early will help to shorten the delay between graduation and their first time working in the booth.

[bradisntclever]

I can show you how to do both, just grab me next time you see me. I think teaching this in classes is a great idea.

Me too. I'm surprised it's not apart of the heroes curriculum (the part that teaches improv performance, like level three or four).

Yeah, I think it's more appropriate early in the third level, because those occur more frequently and some students in smaller classes have to wait for a while to get numbers up for a level four class. The only reason I suggested level two is because it would be even earlier and snag the occasional student or two who decides to wait before taking the last level.

I just thought of something else - in addition to teaching something like this in the third level, there could be a requirement (or really strong suggestion) that each student should work in the box for one show and in the booth for another. They could even team up in groups or work with an experienced improviser who would watch over them and prevent gigantic mistakes. That way, students can gain an understanding of how the Hideout functions before they graduate and they will be more useful right out of the gate.

[arclight]

I wouldn't want to take up a part of a paid improv class to learn basic theater tech, but I agree, there should be classes every few months, definitely within a few weeks of a class graduating. I suspect this will get more emphasis once we get a formalized volunteer program off the ground.

[Asaf]

I think that there are improv skills that could be learned that could easily be applied to tech. Learning about buttons, finding that out, throwing focus on one player over another, etc.

[Roy Janik]

Buckman's hosting workshop was of immense help to me in learning how to MC a night of improv, as well.

[arclight]

There's a definite art to lighting improv, from recognizing a button and knowing when to pull lights to making lighting offers. I don't want to diminish that; I just think that show support (tech, hosting, box) should be taught outside a normal 6-8 week class.

[bradisntclever]

There's a definite art to lighting improv, from recognizing a button and knowing when to pull lights to making lighting offers. I don't want to diminish that; I just think that show support (tech, hosting, box) should be taught outside a normal 6-8 week class.

I agree that there's an art to being a lighting improviser that separates the new people from the seasoned veterans. At the same time, I think 20 minutes of an 18 hour class is not a gigantic time commitment. One could even use the traditional break period that occurs each week during class, in order to minimize lost time.

Hosting workshops sound like a great idea, and I'm sure classes like that are really helpful. I worry that people will go out of their way to learn how to do everything. A quick briefing would give people a fundamental understanding without impeding the class' progress. Saving it for a higher level class would also target those that are more serious about performing in the Austin area.