Tech Info

Welcome to Tech Week

Here’s what to expect if it’s your first time or twelfth time with TIET.  

Move-in 

• Come ready to help and dress to paint. 

• You might not be asked to paint, but it’s good to be prepared for any task.

•  Make yourself available to the adults in charge. 

• Jobs in the dressing rooms and on stage,  props, or more. 

• Periods when all jobs are filled is your time to “Hurry Up and Wait” 

• Wait patiently and socialize until you can provide assistance.

What is tech week?  

Tech week is the week prior to opening night in which all the technical pieces are present in rehearsal for the first time. At this point, the creative process the actor's lines are 

memorized and set, costumes, and props are ready. 

The purpose of Tech Week is to run the show with all technical elements.  Problems with the technical aspects of the production are solved.

Expect the first few rehearsals to contain the frequent stopping and starting of scenes so that the technical crew can get all cues and elements in place.  Everything that goes wrong during a tech rehearsal is expected to be fixed by the next day. 

For both the technicians and actors, tech week can be a hectic and exhausting part of a production. Everyone must work as a team to get timings and cues, set, and costume changes correctly executed. A great tech week is absolutely necessary to mount a great show.

What to expect during Tech Week

Tech Week-Monday to Friday

• Please arrive showered and squeaky clean.

• Hair washed and DRY

• The costume designer will send an email detailing appropriate underclothes and socks to bring from home or purchase. Leave them at the theater.

• If taking socks and t-shirts home to wash, they must come back the next day 

• Get into base clothing as soon as you arrive

• Put your backpack in the theater during tech.

• On performance days, bring as little as possible and stow your stuff in the hallway or under the counter. 

• The dressing rooms cannot handle the extra luggage :) 

Food

• Bring non-messy snacks. 

• You must not eat or drink in costume, except for water.

• Bring water. Everyday. Including performances.

Steaming of Costumes

• During All performances and Picture day, (mostly Thursday) ALL costumes of the entire cast will be steamed.

• On Picture Day and performance days, costume pieces WILL BE  steamed. 

• DO NOT PANIC IF YOU CANNOT FIND YOUR COSTUMES. They will be returned to you before the run 

• Be patient,  there are many costumes to steam

•  Costumes may not arrive in the exact spot you are expecting. Do not panic. Look around. 🙂

• Notify the costume designer IMMEDIATELY if you cannot find a costume piece

• Wait for the costume designer to give you permission to get into costumes

• Bits bags are bags for mic belts and smaller costume pieces that cannot go on hangers.

•  If you need a new bits bag, they are hanging near the back of the dressing rooms.

• Never try on or otherwise tamper with the costumes of other actors 

• The general  rule is -if it is not your costume -do not touch or move it

Props 

• Props are books, weapons, or any other object that is used in the show. 

• Check your props before all runs-props are marked on the prop table.

• You may move your props where you need them for the show.

• Return your props to the prop table after each show.

• You are not permitted in any circumstances to touch or otherwise interact with the props of other actors. 

• If an actor’s prop is mislaid or damaged, it will cause incredible stress to the actor and staff.

• The general rule-If it is not your prop do not touch it.

Hair  

• You will likely need to style your hair for certain technical runs and all performances, 

• Check with the costume designer to make sure exactly what you need to do.

• You may need to apply stage makeup-TIET has stage makeup. 

• Some people bring their own make-up

Costumes

•  Before the first technical run, you will get directions from the costume designer as to what piece to wear and when to wear them

• Writing down each costume changes will help you remember them

• For most costume changes, you will use the dressing rooms. 

• If there is a problem with a costume TALK TO THE COSTUME DESIGNER. LET THEM KNOW SO IT CAN BE FIXED.

• If there is a “quick change” you will use the wings

• If you feel uncomfortable about it or are unsure of how much time you have, please talk to the costume designer or another staff member for assistance.

• Hang up costumes when changing

• If you have a quick change ask for assistance from one of your fellow thespians or perhaps the costume designer 

• If you cannot hang up a costume, because of a fast change, ask another actor for help.

• There are very specific rules regarding how to hang costume pieces. 

• The general costume rule is One item per hanger. 

• Little pieces that can easily get lost go into the Bits Bags

• Bits Bags are hanging on the racks in the rear of the dressing rooms.

• The costume designer and veteran Thin Icer can show you how to hang pants, shirts, dresses, and skirts.

• “Shoe garages” are the spots beneath the costume racks in the dressing rooms marked by tape and labeled

• During any technical rehearsal or show, please knock or otherwise announce your presence before entering any dressing room to ensure privacy 

• Speak well of your fellow ensemble members. 

• Positive interactions keep everything positive!

• Do not use unkind or foul language at any time with TIET. 

• Respect your fellow actors.

Personal Items 

• No personal belongings, such as phones, earrings, or jewelry can be with you onstage during a show or technical rehearsal. Leave them at home or in your backpack for the entire time. 

• Cell phones will be taken if seen or used during tech and performance runs.

• Cell phones distract.

• Remember the general rule-Keep your head in the scene!

Picture Day

• On Thursday of tech week, pictures of costumes for record-keeping will be taken

• These are for a costume database 

• See the photographer to take a picture of each of your costumes before or after the run.

Pre-tech run or Show Notes

• Before all technical rehearsals and shows, “check your props.” 

• Go backstage, typically to the prop table, and make sure that your props are all in their proper place

• Place your prop where you want it. It does not have to stay on the table. If you need it closer to you move it. 

• Put your props back on the prop table after each run and performance.

• If a prop is missing notify the stage manager IMMEDIATELY. In most cases, this will be Cheryl Yenter

Microphone Check

• Before every show and technical rehearsal, there will be a mic check. 

• During the mic check, the sound technician tests the microphones. 

• During mic check all actors, with mics or not are to wait quietly,-no loud, disruptive noises, 

• The sound technician will call your name and ask for one of your lines. 

• If your character does any shouting or otherwise has a wide range of vocal volumes, please be sure to exemplify that during your mic check. 

Calling Places and Mistakes

• During technical rehearsals and performances, directors and staff will intermittently say“15 to places” or “30 to house” 

• When a staff member calls “10 to mic check,” for example, they are saying that there are 10 minutes until it is time for mic check. When a staff member calls “[number] to [event],” always respond with “thank you [number]” so that they know you heard them. 

• For example, if a staff member says “20 to house,” that means that there are 20 minutes remaining until “the house” (the audience) is opened for people to occupy their seats, and you should say “thank you 20.”

• During the first run-through of the show in tech week, it is typical for there to be mishaps and stops and starts of the show. This is normal, and nothing to be worried or upset about. 

• These are the very issues that are solved as tech week during tech week. 

• Make the most of your tech week experience by being aware of your job as an ensemble member.

•  Keep your head in the scene and you will be fine.      :)

Stage Terms and Stage Crew

• phrases such as “upstage,” “downstage,” “stage right,” and “stage left” refer to an actor’s position on the stage from the perspective of the actor. 

• That means that if you are on stage facing out toward the audience and are told to move “stage left,” you need to move to your left. This can be a bit confusing since, from the perspective of the audience looking at the stage, “stage left” is on the right side of the stage. Any stage directions given are from the perspective of the actor.

• During rehearsals and shows, you may be required to move set pieces on and off stage, You will be assigned and coached. 

• Please be mindful of the actors/stage crew and get out of their way so that they can do their job.

• Remember the axiom “If you can see the audience, the audience can see you.” 

• That means that when you are backstage but can see out into the audience, they can see you, which is not allowed. SO MOVE BACK :) 

• BEFORE, DURING, AFTER, OR ANYTIME DURING THE RUN NO TALKING BACKSTAGE 

COVER AND HELP EACH OTHER

• Mistakes happen. 

• If anything goes awry, COVER 

• COVER means restore order, and assist your fellow actors. KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE SCENE.

• If something goes wrong on stage, laughter is one of the worst responses, it shows the audience that something went wrong. 

• If someone misses a line but the scene continues as normal, the audience will never know that something went wrong because they don’t have the show memorized! 

• SO HELP YOUR FELLOW ACTORS AND COVER.

NOTES

• After each technical rehearsal, and sometimes after regular rehearsals, the director and costume designer will give the actors notes

• Notes can be directions, instructions, and suggestions.

• It is your responsibility to make the changes that you were given during notes. 

• Your job is to fix the issue by the next day. YOU DO NOT WANT THE SAME NOTE THE NEXT DAY.

• Do not talk during notes 

• Talking makes it hard to hear, hard for the director to get your attention, and is disrespectful to the staff and cast.

• If you have a problem with a note or wish to discuss it further, hold your thoughts, then  discuss it with the director or costume designer individually.

Taking Care of You

• During tech week and performance runs make sure to run your lines and rest.

• Hydrate and eat healthy 

• After each show and technical rehearsal, make sure that 

  • Costumes are hung

  • Props are in place on the prop table

  • Mic was given to a sound technician, 

  • Costumes are checked out

  • Personal belongings are with you.

• In case of illness or other emergencies, please notify the contacts Eileen and Cheryl immediately.

Break a leg, you’ve got this!

Written by Nicholas Bolling 22’ and Annabelle Durbin 23’ 

Edited by Thin Ice Ensemble Theater staff