THEA 232: Concert Touring Master Electrician

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 90
Lecture Hours : 36
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 54
Outside of Class Hours: 72
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Prerequisite: THEA 226.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

A course in which students will gain practical experience supervising a crew of electricians or lighting technicians through the installation of power distribution, cabling, data systems and lighting instruments. 36 lecture hours, 54 lab hours arranged.

Course Objectives

  • solve challenges in touring through the ability to interpret working drawings and plots in the set up of staging, lights and sound
  • demonstrate set up and operate a static and intelligent lighting console to include but not limited to ETC express, ETC Insight,ETC expression, GrandMA, HOG, Virtuoso and Avolites
  • demonstrate set up and operate a digital and analog sound console
  • demonstrate proficiency in the skills required for a concert touring lead
  • demonstrate and employ leadership skills to address the technical demands of a concert production
  • execute a technical rehearsal prior to a production run, and strike
  • demonstrate understanding of electrical and data distribution for a concert touring event

Major Course Content

  1. Identify the relationship of the Lighting Designer with the rest of the production team
  2. Identify the relationship of the Sound Engineer with the rest of the production team
  3. Identify the relationship of the Project Coordinator with the rest of the production team
  4. Preparation for a venue walkthrough
  5. Preparation for the load-in and strike of concert
  6. Identify and safely utilize appropriate tools to fulfill production requirements for performance
  7. Technical theatre terminology
  8. Recognize and demonstrate collaborative responsibilities with the promoter, designers, and crew supervisors
  9. Demonstrate and apply leadership skills in running a concert production
  10. Electrical power distribution and maintenance 

Hours Arranged Content

  1. Supervise the hanging, circuiting, rigging and focusing of lighting instruments, audio equipment and special effects
  2. Followspot operation
  3. Assist in the operation of a static and intelligent lighting control console
  4. Lead a lighting crew work
  5. Lead the set up of control protocol signal path
  6. Leading stage lighting plots
  7. Lead the set up of a live sound system signal path
  8. Electrical requirements for a live sound and lighting system
  9. Lead the sound component set up
  10. Sound crew work
  11. Lighting crew work
  12. Reading scenic design plans
  13. Backstage etiquette
  14. Backstage responsibilities
  15. Stage crew work
  16. Backstage safety procedures
  17. Electrical power distribution and maintenance

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

PLSN (Projection, Lights and Staging News) industry magazine

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

A minimum three page critique on each concert production for that semester

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time: Research on the use of stage lighting and sound equipment currently used in live concert venues Research to include but is not limited to a variety of operating techniques and abilities of consoles and stage lighting instruments as well as diagnosis of control protocols such as digital multiplexing

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture