Venue Technician

Company Overview

Theatre Orangeville is a charitable organization that began its journey in 1994, bringing the magic of live professional theatre to the Town of Orangeville and Dufferin County. Our artistic vision guides every aspect of our company and through our commitment to enrich the community with a theatre experience, that showcases the development of new Canadian works; to provide youth opportunities to transform their lives through the performing arts; to provide creative opportunities that grow the cultural experience through community partnerships; and to nurture diversity, promote acceptance and celebrate all abilities.

Through our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment, we serve adults and youth of all ages, races, ethnicity, ability, and income level.

Every year we produce mainstage productions that are 100% Canadian content, created by Canadian playwrights and delivered by Canadian actors. We provide over 250 youth unique mentoring opportunities to transform their lives through our grassroots Youth Academy programs including after school, performance choir and Young Company. Approximately 5000 school-aged children come to watch live theatre through our Education on Stage program.

We are proud to offer skill and performance-based programming to members of our neuro-diverse community through longstanding partnerships with Community Living Dufferin, Branching Out Support Services, Kerry’s Place, and Dufferin Child and Family Services.

Job Description

Reporting to the Technical Director, the Venue Technician assumes the primary responsibility of running the daily operations of the Orangeville Town Hall Opera House, including operating lighting and/or sound consoles for events, rentals and show-runs. They are a generalist with competency in multiple areas of technical theatre and will be self-motivated in seeking to develop additional competencies over time. They will be adaptive thinkers, and take initiative to calmly and effectively handle unexpected, stressful and emergency situations. They will have excellent interpersonal skills and show consideration toward others. 

The Venue Technician is responsible for the technical execution of all events in the Opera House including Theatre Orangeville production and rentals of the space. They will communicate with companies and consult with the Senior House Technician and/or Technical Director to determine the in-house equipment and additional supports required for events and performances presented at the venue.

This Position Requires:  

• Working at heights on ladders and occasionally on self-powered working platforms.

• Physical work including repeated lifting, pushing, pulling

• Working a flexible work schedule with evening, holiday and weekend work

• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate clearly and consistently with all theatre and event space users, especially non-technical users

• High attention to detail, executing productions and events in a fast paced and product focused environment.

• Candidate to be highly organized with successful experience in meeting deadlines and managing conflicting priorities

• Attend production, company and staff meetings as scheduled and participate in season planning and scheduling meetings in conjunction with PM and TD. 

• Hanging, focusing and programming standard LED and conventional lighting rig, using ETC Ion operating console. 

• Experience analyzing, lighting plots and executing lighting hang and focus. 

• Sourcing, programming and editing sound files, using Qlab for show programing and additional editing software. 

• Experience with live audio mixing *experience with Allen & Heath digital sound consoles considered an asset

Responsibilities:  

• Inventorying, maintenance, housekeeping and upgrading of equipment and supplies

• Proactive maintenance of theatre venue and work spaces

• Proactive upkeep of paperwork such as reports, manuals, work lists and cue track sheets

• Oversight of stage workers, including casual technicians and rental users

• Setting up, operating and dismantling theatrical equipment such as lights, sound, projection, sets, props

• Ensure all equipment is stored safely and is accessible to others when absent

• Liaise with relevant departments and individuals to ensure support is anticipated and provided

• Execution of emergency procedures

• Work with the PM to maintain and follow workplace health & safety guidelines

• Attend training as required and maintain awareness of health and safety regulations specific to the spaces and equipment used

• Assist the TD in researching, ordering, and picking up technical supplies & equipment

• Participate in production load in and teardown of sets and equipment

• Provide technical support to Theatre Orangeville activities such as online readings/meetings, offsite presentations/pop ups, galas/fundraisers, outreach initiatives/partnerships

• Support Theatre Orangeville productions with procurement, editing and programming of soundscapes as assigned

• Act as SD and/or LX board operator for technical periods for mainstage rehearsals, technical calls and performances as assigned

• Makes recommendations to AD and GM regarding capital purchases of technical equipment

• Manage and execute rentals

• In conjunction with TD and/or PM liaise with rental clients on scheduling, technical needs and performances

• In conjunction with TD/SVT ensure all equipment is available or procured for rentals

• Act as supervisor in absence of TD/PM or SVT as required

• Liaise with rental clients to ensure venue safety protocols are followed

• Liaise with the FOH Manager during rentals to coordinate audience entrances and exits and ensure that events remain on schedule

• Provide technical and creative support to all users of the theatre and performance spaces

• Provide basic lighting and sound support as per rental agreement

• Regularly update and advise all users of the theatres and event spaces on the safe use of the area and equipment

 Education/Experience/Skills Required:

• Three years combined: 

• Post-secondary training in Live Events and/or

• professional experience as a Head, Chief or Venue technician. 

• Competency in multiple aspects of technical theatre. 

• Proactive, professional comportment with excellent customer service skills 

• Working basic knowledge of general stagecraft including scenery, stage equipment, lighting, sound and projection. 

• A commitment to proactively identify and acquire Bonus Assets (see below), with management support. 

• A commitment to mentor others on the job site. 

• Experience with Lighting Consoles such as ETC Ion

OR

• Experience with digital sound consoles such as Allen&Heath SQ

Assets:

• A valid Ontario driver’s licence and able to drive a cargo van. 

• Familiarity with computers including; using network or cloud based file servers, computer aided drafting or sketching, spreadsheets and word processing. 

• Working at heights training