Design 101

How to do Technical Design: 

When you are creating sound, projection or lighting design, you need to be aware of the process. Here's the basics of what you need to do!

A) Read the SCRIPT! Each time with a different purpose:

    1) First, make sure you understand the story

    2) On your second reading, read with a pencil and identify the following:

             a) What are the light/sound/projection REQUIREMENTS for the script? (For example, does it say you need to play Patsy Cline's "Crazy"? That is a requirement.) 

             b) Think about MOODS in each scene (and when they change). Identify the specific moments for specific sounds, lights, projections. Jot these down in the margins or on a DRAFT Sound Cue Sheet. 

B) Create a DRAFT Cue Sheet. Here is a folder of sample cue sheets. Make a copy of the cue sheets, keeping in mind that you will need to have someone else (your Stage Manager) read and understand it! The actual #s, letters will change. Focus on getting the description of the cue down, along with the timing. Notice:

• LETTERS (A, B, C) are for SOUND cues 
• NUMBERS (1, 2, 3) are used for LIGHTING cues
• P1, P2, P3 are a hybrid of Lighting cues

C) Meet with the director & find out what her/his vision is for the show. What types of images, lights, music, sounds and mood does s/he want to bring out? Refine and complete your Sound Cue Sheet accordingly (your planned cues).  

D) FIND or MAKE your Cues! 

Projections: Try not to find very detailed images, as they will not read on the big screen. 

Make a PowerPoint Presentation (be aware web-based is problematic...you will need to be able to download the final presentation!)

Royalty Free Images Sites to try: Creative Commons, Unsplash, Pixabay, Life of Pix

Royalty Free Video Sites to try: Pexels Videos, Pixabay & Videvo

Sound: 

1) Decide which cues are going to be "LIVE" and which will be recorded! Pay attention to using sound which you have the right to use! Be aware of copyright laws and the fact that artists work is not free. You must have permission to use work!

Some open source sites:

SoundCloud

Jamendo

Audacity is a great program for recording any sound and mixing it together;

GarageBand is helpful for making your own music and tunes, but only available on Macs.

LMMS is an open-source program that those with Windows can use. (Those interested in more programs can check them out here)

2) Save your edited sounds into Google Drive. Make sure you label them correctly. For example:

A.PreshowMusic.mp3 (CueLetter.Description.mp3).

3) Once you have all of your sounds/music recorded, import your sounds to a theatre playback program. MAKE a playlist in order of the cues you made on the Sound Cue Sheet. (Make sure all of your sounds are the correct sound files--MP3 or WAVs.) Many people use programs like iTunes, but for theatre shows, programs like MultiPlay (PCs) or QLab (Macs) allow better flexibility for our needs.)

4) Make sure you have several DOWNLOADED copies, especially on the sound board operator's computer.

Lights:

1) Create a lighting plot (a diagram that shows where all light will be)

2) Using the lighting plot, write the cues that explain what type of light you will see. Be sure to be clear where the lights will be placed.

      a) Wash - General light that is soft that spreads over a large surface; diffused

      b) Focus - Light that is sharp and precise (usually a spot)

      c) Special - A light that you don't use frequently; sometime colored lights, moving lights, gobos can be considered specials.

E) LOAD IN

Lights

1) RECORD CUES: With your lighting board operator, you will sit with them while they pull up the desired lights until the lighting is in the correct placement, with the correct intensity. The cues will be then recorded. It's essential that you go IN ORDER from the first to last cues! 

Sound

Try it out in the space!  Check the levels and run practices with speakers, microphones & levels--using the device that will be used during the production.

Projections:

Try it out in the space!  It's important that you set the keystone of the different projections to ensure that it is correctly aligned with the projector. 

Again, make sure you are using the device that will be used during the production.

G) REHEARSE--Tech Rehearsal!

The Stage Manager will use your cue sheets to call the cues. Practice with actors to get your timing!