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September 5, 2008
Wisdom From the Tech Booth
By: Pat Baer
Pat Baer's last day as head of the UCB Theater's tech program was Sept. 4. At the 2007 Emerging Comics of New York Awards, he won "Best Technician" | Photo: Marianne Ways
I started teching in early 2003 at the UCB Theatre and it's been my full-time job 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 teched 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.
Here 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. All of the following assumes you're performing at a place that has tech people available to work on your show.
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.
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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 five 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.
Posted by keithhuang at September 5, 2008 11:00 AM
Comments
Awesome advice!! There's nothing better than a well-teched show. I myself have at times fallen into the pattern of throwing out last-minute requests and suggestions, and then if cues end up getting missed, wishing I had done a better job of tech rehearsing and going over things beforehand.
But then again, it's always classic to watch when a performer stares blankly out at the audience, looking scared and confused, and there's a pregnant pause while he tries to communicate wordlessly to a person across the room what should happen next.
Posted by: soce at September 5, 2008 11:23 AM
Other things to keep in mind:
#3. Pat Baer is a great guy, despite the very real possibility he is a tech monster from the future. We've seen the inscriptions on Pangea 3000.
Posted by: Pangea 3000 at September 5, 2008 11:32 AM
Pat Baer is a god among men. A hairy god, but a god nonetheless.
Posted by: Scott Bateman at September 5, 2008 3:21 PM
Colbert hates Baers...oh, BEARS!
Posted by: Billy Reno at September 5, 2008 3:32 PM
No one does a blackout at School Night better than Pat - the impromptu entrance is pure gold.
Also, he's the nicest. SO NICE.
Posted by: Eliot at September 5, 2008 4:01 PM
Having Pat in the tech booth was like being cradled by a giant. He will keep you safe from the dangers of the world. He will support your head so your neck doesn't flop all around (this is if you are a baby). He will feed you giant foods, such as watermellons that he has crushed open with his thumb and forefinger. He wears he pelt of a woolly mammoth and has a necklace of skulls. He throws you up in the air for fun, but then on the third throw you don't come down and he looks confused and looks up and you are hanging from the chandelier.
The point is, Pat Baer will be missed from the booth. Luckily, now we can see him even more on the stage. Thanks for everything Pat!
Posted by: Blumpkin at September 5, 2008 4:40 PM