Disciplinary knowledge

Carpentry:

• Motors for each truck cost around £35k
• It takes 2 hours to lay the floor
• Raked stages require extra blocking and hurt legs more
• Remotes are extremely sensitive to pressure
• Use 10 x local crew

Sound:

• 100m wires connect from desk, through auditorium to backstage
• Angles & positioning of speakers affects the sound
• Sound responsible for the DSM's desk
• The shape and material of venue affects sound quality and delay
• Audience affect sound because they absorb the echo
• Lasers are used to measure dimensions of each venue
• 'Image' is the term used for getting the sound central

Wigs:

• 'Crinalin' is the lace that is attached to hats for securing
• How you set the wig depends on quality of hair - hot set/wet set
• It takes approximately 3 hours to set all the wigs 
• They are also trained in 'wig making'
• 'Galoon' is the tape used for blocking up and must go half on and half off the lace
• 'Pastiche pins' are the big ones
• Hair grips must go through the foundation of the wig
• You can get different sized blocks for different heads that rotate and can be padded out for styling etc
• Wigs are made in different ways : 'Weft' or 'knotted'
• Trained in make-up and barbering as well
• It is important to get tension in lace and flatten pins to avoid pulling
• Maintenance depends on movement required, sweat, venue humidity

Wardrobe:

• The ironing takes 4 hours
• 2 separate rails required - 1 for stage, 1 for dressing rooms
• They tour 2 washing machine, 2 irons, 2 boards, 1 dryer, 3 hot boxes, 2 steamers
• Plots are adapted to performers personal preference
• They are responsible for sewing microphone packs into underwear
• 2 warehouses for costumes in Lincolnshire
• 'Bobbin' and 'spool' specialist terms for sewing machine
• Washing affects colours and textures
• Pick up 4 x local dressers

Lighting:

• 'Scrollers' change the colours infront of lights
• 'Movers' are modern lights with colour systems inside that can be operated from desk
• 'Dimmers' are traditional light form which is often preferred for its natural output
• They do their own rigging
• Qualified as electricians too
• 'Loom' is where you tape all cables together so they fall where they need to
• A 'relight file' consists of every individual light in each of its positions
• It takes 4 months to train on a new/unknown lighting desk