Features: Working behind the scenes

Building sets, creating props and operating equipment, the backstage crew helps to ensure the show runs smoothly. Hear from two industry insiders about what's involved…

When you watch a play or go to a gig it can be easy to forget that there are lots of people backstage that helped to make it worth seeing. For many of those behind the scenes, it's this job satisfaction that makes all the work worthwhile.

'The work is hard, and it's not glamorous. However, job satisfaction is absolutely off the scale. If you're working on a big rock 'n' roll tour and you turn up in an empty field and two weeks later you've built Glastonbury, you stand back and go, 'we did that',' says Simon Lovelace, founder of Crewclass, a technical crew training company explains.

Some roles require specific technical skills but there is something to suit everyone, including:

• carpentry - building and repairing props and scenery;
• construction - building the set, including any mechanical or moving parts, and making sure they work properly;
• loading, unloading and assembling scenery;
• operating moving scenery.

Essential attributes include the ability to work long hours, good inter-personal skills, flexibility and problem solving. A love of theatre and rock 'n' roll doesn't hurt either.

Robin Auld is director of operations at The Backstage Centre, a production rehearsal and training facility. He explains what else you'll need to be successful: an inquisitive mind; a good sense of space; basic training in manual handling and a head for heights.

Get experience

As well as skills and qualifications you'll need to have built up extensive practical experience to be successful in this industry. Here are some ideas of how you can build up the experience:

• Help out with bands in local venues or your students' union.
• Watch out for pantomime season as your local community theatre will be taking on casual staff. Be useful on a panto, and you can progress.
• The next stage is to go and work for your local crewing company. There are plenty of them out there - everyone from Rock City (with offices all over England) to Stage Miracles in London. There's always a local crewing company and a small theatre.

'This whole industry works on a 'right place, right time' understanding,' says Simon.

Good advice

Getting a job backstage can be competitive and so you need to think of ways that you can stand out. One way is to train in a niche skill and become really good at something that only a few people can do such as operating a power fly-system. Another way to excel is to hone your soft skills such as people management and communication, as these are always in demand.

Robin suggests that you could increase your chances of landing a job by looking across the different sectors. 'The backstage environment now includes: theatre; live music; live events; festivals; street theatre and cruise ships - so there's a lot more than you might think.'

The job is hard work at the start and is all about building your reputation and getting your name out there.

'Once you're a 'face' and you've been doing it for three or four years, everybody will know you. They'll know how you roll and they'll know your style - then maybe you can start relaxing.

'Never think you've made it and are untouchable. There are 1,000 people behind you waiting for their break. Remember that,' says Simon.