Cue3Go!

Issue 22, 2023

Techie Tip of the Week

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR HEADSETS - AND MORE

If you have wireless headsets (or mics of any sort!), be sure to stock up on rechargeable batteries and chargers, because you can spend a mint on batteries if not.  Be sure to purchase the chargers at the same time as you purchase headsets.  At one theatre I worked at wireless headsets were purchased as a part of an upgrade, but chargers were not purchased.  When I later inquired about purchasing the chargers, I was informed that the model of headset and their chargers had gone out of production.  Hmm.  Probably why the school district was able to get a deal?  The chargers would have plugged straight into the side of the beltpack.  Consequently, every time we had to replace batteries – I did at least purchase some generic chargers and rechargeable batteries – we had to open the back of the beltpack (a fiddly operation at best, which required a paper clip or penny), remove the “sled”, remove the six(!) AA batteries, replace the six(!) AA batteries… Well, you get the idea – a multi part operation rather than a one part operation. 

This editorial is the express opinion of Beth Rand, and is not intended for substitution for professional advice regarding your specific situation or circumstances.

Leveling-Up

Online courses for school theatre teachers and staff

to find out more about the courses please visit:

Theatre Management Training Course

Theatre Management Tutorials

Lighting and Safety Courses

Safety Webinar for Students

Dear Techie,

I want to add a technical theater class to my schedule, but right now I don’t have an actual scene shop.  I want this class to be able to do the design and construction for the play next semester. I can have crews that work on the production at the same time we rehearse the play in class. What can be done without a scene shop? 

Shopless in NV

Dear Shopless,

Some food for thought about having a tech class.  Kudos to you for wanting to officially add this class!  However, one Red Flag that caught my eye, which was that you said you want to have “crews that work on the production at the same time we rehearse the play in class.”  From this it sounded like your students would be using hand tools, power tools, paints, hanging lights, using the fly system (if you have one?) without supervision??? 

If this is the case, please know that the Department of Labor and Industries says, for safety reasons, that no minor shall be doing the type of labor we do in tech theatre (using power tools, working at heights, working with ‘hoisting equipment’, and so on) unless they are in a bona fide vocational program.  In our case, a CTE class.

Tech theatre is a CTE subject. Regardless of the space, your admin may not be aware that according to the Department of Labor and Industries, everyone should have a certified tech theatre teacher - with a CTE endorsement on their teaching certificate, not just someone who is ‘knowledgeable’. The lack of knowledge about his by admin is the norm I’m afraid.  No minor should be performing the activities that we all have them do in the theatre without being in a bona fide vocational program. 

Given that, my ‘food for thought’ for you is: will the class be a stand-alone class where the students are supervised at all times? Will the school support you in getting your CTE certification, or alternately hiring someone who is ‘highly qualified’ to teach tech theatre?

Submit your Dear Techie questions to [email protected].  

You know you're a Techie when...

- You use glow tape instead of night lights to find your way around your home at night.

- You can tie a bowline know without having to tell the bunny story.

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Submit your Bad Theatre Joke or Funnies to [email protected].

It is PRESETT's mission to provide information to assist in endeavors for safe and functional operations of school theatres. However, PRESETT is not a safety consultant or professional, and any information provided or advocated is not intended to supplement, not supersede, industry safety training. Always consult a theatre safety specialist about your specific situation or circumstances.