Erich Presenting at the China Stage Design Expo in Beijing
One of the main goals for our Theatre Education Community is to help theatre students and professionals from all over connect and identify with each other in order to build resources and support the theatre education field. We shine a spotlight on a different member every other week by conducting a simple interview.
Our latest Spotlight Member is Erich Friend, a Thespian Alumni from Troupe 1334 at Lincoln High School in Gahanna, Ohio. Erich now owns a Theatre Consulting company, Teqniqal Systems, based in Texas. If you’ve ever posted a question about theatre safety or technical theatre in the Community, Erich’s likely provided an incredible answer. Erich is currently in China, introducing the Event Safety Alliance’s Event Safety Guide, so that China can begin planning to become another international member of the alliance.
Ginny: First, tell me a little bit more about your job as a Theatre Consultant, I think it’s particularly interesting.
Erich: We assist in the building design team to see that the venue is productive and functional. We spend much of our time educating architects and engineers about how to design facilities and systems that are not counterproductive to the show production and presentation process. This work touches almost every aspect of the building and usually involves design of the stage lighting, rigging, drapes, and sound systems. More elaborate facilities may also have stage machinery and orchestra shells. Our work even includes facilities outside of the traditional theatre like stadiums, arenas, churches, courtrooms, and hotel ballrooms. “All the world is a stage…”
Ginny: Why do you believe theatre is important?
Erich: The creative arts stimulate the mind and emotions in a way that is complementary to the analytic processes. We can use the skills used in theatre in everyday life and business to be more productive. The speech and presentation tools can help us work in collaborative environments to develop better business strategies, lead project teams, and to present ideas to clients. The technology tools that support theatre show production can all be used to explain math, science, physics, and computer operations. There are millions of show production jobs in the worldwide market, and developing a passion to be a part of this industry can drive students to study the supporting materials thy will need to engage in this work.
Ginny: What is your greatest challenge?
Erich: Time management. A wide variety of work tasks are presented to us every day and we must balance out time between travel, design, communications, learning (the learning never stops), and training those we work with (the teaching never stops, either).
Ginny: What is the most common safety concern you notice in school theatres?
Erich: Personnel safety is the most common failing we see. The development of a safety culture has to be supported by the administrators, teachers, building maintenance staff, and students. This involves learning and teaching hazard recognition skills, performing risk analysis on every aspect of our buildings and operations, and then planning safety into everything we do. Adding safety onto a function is not time or cost effective, but integrating it into each part of our operations is very simple and effective. Personnel safety issues apply to the audience, staff, stage crew, and performers, so it is vital that lessons be learned and shared between all groups. In particular, there appears to be a very low level of knowledge about the existing fire and life safety regulations. It is imperative that regulations like the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, NFPA 70 National Electric Code, and OSHA (regardless if is a legal requirement in your jurisdiction) be understood and followed, yet rarely do I ever find someone working in or teaching theatre that has a copy of these available, let alone actually knows what they say. When your students leave your program and travel to other schools, states, or countries, they will be expected to know and obey the safety rules, so not teaching this as a fundamental part of the performing arts is a serious disservice to them. Also, knowing and understanding these requirements, particularly OSHA, will be useful to them in any work environment, be it theatre-related or not.
Ginny: What is the resource you most recommend to others in your profession (or those who want to learn more about theatre safety)?
Erich: It is imperative that regulations like the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, NFPA 70 National Electric Code, and OSHA (regardless if is a legal requirement in your jurisdiction) be understood and followed.
Ginny: Do you have any tips for others considering a similar career?
Erich: Study a diverse range of elective courses – my curriculum involved lighting and acoustics from the Architecture Department, acoustics from the Physics Department, acoustics from the Mechanical Engineering Department, and a range of programing, electrical, and structural engineering courses in addition to theatre classes. Business courses are always a good idea for anyone, as you will inevitably be involved in planning budgets and finance for projects. You have to be knowledgeable about the manipulation of money, costs, profits, and expenses.
Ginny: Tell us about the moment that made you decide to get involved in theatre.
Erich: I’m not sure it was a single moment – I started-out as the ‘AV geek’ in elementary school and was always interested in sound and electrical things. In high school, I was introduced to theatre classes and became involved building the set for a presentation for Neil Simon’s Come Blow Your Horn. During that assignment, I was introduced to stage lighting by some upper classmen. They later purchased some sound and lighting equipment and started renting it to local shows, and then to some regional touring acts. They brought me along into the business. By meeting many people in the region and working hard on shows, I gradually earned the privilege of running lights, sound, and follow spotlights for some national touring acts. I was hired by a local company that manufactured some of the first electronic stage lighting dimmers, so I learned about the manufacturing processes. While I was in college, I happened to visit a local company that I saw listed in the Yellow Pages under ‘Acoustical Consultants.’ The conversation with them worked out well and they hired me part-time. They were theatre consultants, and I was like a kid in a candy shop, learning about all the various aspects of designing theatres and the technical system within them. I found my ‘home’ in this aspect of theatre and continued in this business for the next 35 years. The most fascinating part of working in the theatre industry is that every day brings new challenges and opportunities.
Ginny: Name something on your bucket list.
Erich: Climbing up to Machu Picchu in the mountains of Peru, wandering through the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia…
Ginny: How do you relax after a busy day?
Erich: I enjoy movies and motorcycle riding. People ask me if this is a contrast to the work I do regarding Safety in the Theatre – my answer is no. Riding a motorcycle is just like any other activity – you have to continually do a risk assessment and adjust your course of action to meet your goals (coming home alive). The theatre is one of the most risk intensive environments in which you can work, so the skills you learn to manage those risks are something you can use in everyday life – like riding motorcycles!
Ginny: What is your favorite part of the day?
Erich: Sunsets in the evening (best lighting effects ever!). Watching the stars come out, and listening to the change in the chatter of the wildlife from daytime to nighttime (best sound effects ever!).
Ginny: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Erich: Everywhere, but particularly places where it is warm. I love to travel (I’m writing this interview sitting on the train between Hangzhou and Shanghai, China), so this business allows me the opportunity to visit theatres all over the world and meet amazing interesting and talented people. The theatre community is large and welcoming if you engage it. Become a member of organizations that have international events like OISTAT, and/or your National group like USITT.
Ginny: What toy do you most remember from your childhood?
Erich: Mattel X-15 three wheeled velocipede.
In addition to the wealth of knowledge he shares with our Community, Erich has a fascinating and educational Theatre Safety Blog if you want to learn more about making your theatre space as safe as possible. You can also check out a recent article he wrote for the Fall issue of Teaching Theatre. If you enjoyed Erich’s interview as much as I did, add him as a contact in the Community!
Do you know someone who deserves a moment in the Spotlight? Tell me their name and why at gbutsch@schooltheatre.org. Want to read more Community Spotlights? You can find them here.