During Production Seasons (June Season, Spring Season and Festival of Emerging Artists) the Technical Operations department is on site to assist within the venue spaces.
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Equipment loans of NIDAs on-site equipment (via Cheqroom)
Advice on systems and equipment NIDA has and how it might be used within a production
Technical Specifications for venues, and guidance on keeping within the venue limitations
Provide guidance on how to integrate equipment into venue systems
Venue familiarisation & inductions into venues and processes e.g. Fly line Operation
System safety checks as required
Provide technical support on for NIDA’s in-house equipment (to ensure it is functional) and venue-specific systems. Technical Operations are not on-call for show specific or externally provided systems
Counterweight fly system reweighting
Provide Camera System for SMD monitoring including IR monitoring
Comms Programming
Archival Recordings of Production
What we don’t do
Whilst Technical Operations is a service department, there are some things that whilst we are always here to be helpful, it is innapropriate for us to assist with within the learning context. We may direct you to your mentors, tutors or course leaders if we believe your request relates to learning outcomes. If you do get to the point where you need assistance the first contact should be mentors and tutors, then course leaders. It will then be at the course leaders discretion if tech ops can assist.
This includes things like:
Anything directly related to learning outcomes, e.g. help with scheduling, creating paperwork or system design
Show programming (unless arranged by the Producer/Production Manager prior).
System design
Support for show-specific equipment or systems e.g. externaly hired equipment, systems designed specifically for the show, or use of the venue in a non-standard manner.
Prior to Venue access, if you would like to arrange some tutoring on console use and programming, or advice around your system please talk to your course leader first and with their approval Technical Operations can provide some console or equipment training and familiarisation. e.g. Use of DLive, ETC Gio,
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Technical Operations is the last resort for troubleshooting show-specific systems. Please ensure you have gone through normal troubleshooting steps first, then your mentors, tutors and course leaders are available for the initial support and troubleshooting. Basic troubleshooting tips can be found here! |
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Once set it clear, de-rig all lights and bring to the stage floor
For the playhouse, all fixtures that are standard can stay in the catwalks but please still de-rig
Separate venue standard equipment from borrowed equipment (leave in two separate areas) The venue coloured equipment is to stay, even if it is the same fixture type.
Notify tech ops that you are ready for check in
Tech ops will be busy during this time and if we are occupied in another venue, we wont be able to help. Best practice would be to book the check in the day before via an email to help.techops@nida.edu.au
Before items leave the venue they are to be checked in by a tech ops staff member, once checked in, immediately return the equipment can then be returned to its correct storage location. The time for the the check in needs to be booked with tech ops in advance and can take up to half an hour.
Equipment locations can be found in Cheqroom, L1 storage location indicates broad location and L2 storage location indicates the room - please do not just leave equipment outside tech prep/lighting cages unless directly instructed to by a member of tech ops staff.
Any Broken equipment noticed on check in, please flag in cheqroom with details and let the tech ops staff member know.
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All equipment will be checked prior to pick up and should be in good working order. If you have any problems with the equipment please let AV store know immediately, we can probably provide a replacement before you use/install the damaged equipment. |
Venue Supervisors
During the production season Venue supervisors are on hand to assist, this is either a member of the full time team or may be a casual staff member.
More information will be added here soon about who they are, how they can assist and how to identify them.
Venue Modifications
During general venue access week modifications are made to the venues in order to facilitate the design. Some of these modifications require Tech Ops staff to either approve, do or lead the team of students.
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Screwing or bolting into wood structure (e.g. floor) with large fixings (e.g. larger than 10mm)
Screwing or bolting into non-wood structures of any size. e.g. brick, plasterboard, metal or concrete
Removal or installation of additional scaff pipe or rigging overhead
Modifications, installation or removal of standard lighting grids or booms
Modifications to flooring either via direct paint/scenic work or change to floor surface or structure (e.g. traps)
Modification or relocation of Operating Positions
Relocation of show relay microphones, or reprogramming feeds to dressing rooms or SMD
Relocation of Venue cameras or any standard venue equipment of a fixted nature (requires tools to remove).
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PLAYHOUSE THEATRE | |||
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Modification | Details | Time and Labour | Tools Required |
Vomitory Installation or Removal | Removal or installation of Vomitory section of seating bank | 2 hours 1x tech ops lead + 2 Student crew | tbc |
Ligthting Boom Installation or Removal | Removal or installation of side lighting booms | 1 hour 1x tech Ops Lead + 2 Student Crew | Drill Philips head bit shifting spanner/socket set |
Mezanine Seating Modifications | Removal of Mezanine seats or hand rails | 3 hours (all seats and handrails) 1x Tech Ops Lead + 2 Student Crew | tbc |
STUDIO THEATRE | |||
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Modification | Details | Time and Labour | Tools Required |
Mezzanine Handrails | Removal of handrails on mezzanine. Either top section for audience viewing or entirely for design requirements | 1 hour + 1x Tech Ops lead + student crew | tbc |
Seating Bank | Installation or Removal of the Studio seating bank in it’s standard configuration | 3 hours 1x Tech Ops Lead + 6 Student Crew | Hex Head Coffin Lock Key |
Floor Traps Installation or Removal | Must be compliant with building code and returned to normal post production. Designs and merit require executive approval for structural modifications. | to be estimated based off plans. | |
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Reweight fly lines
Swinging Bars
Operate Pit Lift in Parade
Venue Standards
Venue tech specs can be found here Venue Information - Technical Specifications
It is best to check these documents prior to bump in as they are continually updated.
It is the ongoing expectation with the use of theatre spaces that the room is returned to standard at the conclusion of every production, regardelss of how the room was found. There may be some things that are either pre-done or requested to vary from standard to maximise efficient use of the venues. This is standard industry practice and good to replicate.
General Guidelines:
Leave the room how you wish you found it (not how you actually found it)
Technical Operations may ask for modifications to standard on bump out in order to make the next bump in quicker. This work would be the equivalent to or less work than returning to standard. e.g. modify seating bank rather than complete strike.
Modifications may be made by the previous user to the room prior to your arrival to assist in your bump in. Every attempt will be made to communicate all changes when possible however minior variations may not be noted, however shouldn’t have an impact on bump in time except make bump in quicker.
Always refer to the venue standards when working out your bump out checklists, do not base it off how you found the room.
Whilst every effort is made to keep tech specs up to date for each venue, there will always be minor corrects, please email anything you notice as incorrect or missing to techops@nida.edu.au so we can update the files.
Contacting Technical Operations
During production season each venue can book a radio in Cheqroom and collect it from Consumables. There is only enough radios for there to be one per venue.
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Each night the radio should be returned to Consumables to be charged. Technical Operations cannot guarentee spare batteries if you forget to charge your radio overnight. |
What channel to be on:
Channel 1 - Technical Operations
Channel 2 - External venue Hirers (do not use)
Channel 3 - Facilities and WHS
Channel 5 - Front of House
Use the radio to call for Technical Operations support. Please do not assume we can immediately respond as there are often multiple requests happening at the same time. If the radio call is for troubleshooting please make sure you have followed the troubleshooting guide first.
In your radio call request please tell us which room you are in and if you are after specific assistance also mention e.g. “Tech Ops Lighting, Tech Ops AV, Tech Ops Audio”