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  • 1.  Good time-filler activities for tech theater?

    Posted 01-28-2025 15:11

    Hey all!

    I am a student teacher. My host teacher's tech theatre class is project-based, which is great. Unfortunately, this has led to the team on "paints" just loudly talking while others are trying to work nearby [the set is not built yet, and therefore they don't have much to paint]. I've had them do trash runs, and organize all of backstage. I'm running out of ideas, so I'm just wondering what y'alls suggestions are.

    Thanks in advance!



    ------------------------------
    Bryan Lucchesi
    CO
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  • 2.  RE: Good time-filler activities for tech theater?

    Posted 01-28-2025 18:04

    Hey Bryan,

    They really need a project too - one that actually challenges their thought process and makes them feel as they are contributing to the overall production. I would suggest having them work on 

    A) Signs or signage for the backstage areas, for the scene shop, maybe posters for the theatre clubs. 

    B) Painters can help out with scenery by sanding and prepping surfaces before base coating

    C) Are there prop projects that require "art skills"? ie. paper props or is there furniture that needs to be painted? 

    D) Masking flats that need to be updated or prepped by sanding, cleaning, or painting black.

    E) Cleaning old wood (staples, nails, screw removal)

    F) Making stencils for the back of scenery - school labels, stage right, stage left, down stage, etc

    G) Preparing a permanant brick stencil that can be used over and over. OR preparing any other kind of permanant (will always keep for future use) stencils for wallpaper, flooring, stones, etc.

    This might be a great time to create organization and labels that you have wanted or the school could use. 

    Good luck, hope you find a solution!



    ------------------------------
    Tracie Folger

    Instructor of Technical theatre and design
    College of Lake County
    Grayslake, IL
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Good time-filler activities for tech theater?

    Posted 01-31-2025 08:48

    Something else you could do is have them organize and clean out the paint area to begin with. A lot of paint areas have old brushes and roller covers that are useless, quarter-empty paint cans, empty paint cans, dried-out paint cans, paint sticks stuck together, drops that are all bunched up and ruined, and so forth. Seeing a place like this makes many people think (assume?) that that's how it is and how it should be. Have them learn how to wash brushes and roller covers properly, and have them make a list of stuff that needs to be replaced and get rid of the junk.  



    ------------------------------
    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Good time-filler activities for tech theater?

    Posted 02-01-2025 14:38
    Edited by Douglas Rome 02-01-2025 14:39

    If you have some flats available for painting, chalk-line them each into four tall rectangles, and assign a couple of kids to each.

    Have each "stripe" painted in different ways: brick; wood-grain; sponging; stenciling; which team can do the best job?

    Or, chalk-line them into 1foot squares and cartoon/paint assigned squares into a scaled-up version of a gridded cartoon or something more complicated.



    ------------------------------
    Douglas "Chip" Rome
    Theatre Consultant
    Educational Stages
    Burke VA
    http://EducationalStages.com
    https://bit.ly/RWTEOview
    https://bit.ly/eTeachTech
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Good time-filler activities for tech theater?

    Posted 02-02-2025 22:23
    This is a great time to do a good refresher on safety and PPE, ladder and/or lift usage, how to read a tape measure*, how to select the right square for the job, how to properly drive a screw and remove it without stripping it, selecting the right air pressure for pneumatic tools, how to properly leg a platform (NOT with inset legs and bolts FGS) . . . or any number of things that allow them to work safer and more effectively.

    *BTW, the tape measure training is totally eye opening. First did you all know that different tape measures actually measure differently? Pull 6 tape measures from your box of varying brands and types and pull them all out to about 4 feet and see if the marks line up. . .they will not. Before I let any tapes be used in my shop they must check them against a calibration stick. Also, go to youtube and watch some videos on tape measure tips and tricks - it will change your shop life forever. AND, if you want to start rethinking all the time you wasted in your shop life :-), watch some videos on speed squares.

    Hope this helps!!

    Tracy Nunnally
    Office/Fax: (888) 359-4255 
    Mobile: (815) 762-0181



    Original Message


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