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[Rafi Singer]

Hey all!

So, I primarily am a sound engineer and I get the vast majority of my work in that field. However, I haven't taken an attitude of exclusivity. I've done concert lighting out of necessity for a number of years because my old venue didn't have a staff LD. I've programmed and addressed moving fixtures, done focuses,worked as a follow spot. I've also been put on the electrics team when working larger union gigs and was able to hang with no major issues, but then again, the touring crew is supposed to be preventing blunders on some level.

I'd love to be able to put "electrician" on my resume at some point, but because I don't actually seek out lighting gigs at the moment explicitly, I kind of feel like a fake doing that. Therefore I have to ask you guys: What would be some landmarkers in your mind that would deem someone able to call themselves an electrician?

[Josh Daws]

someone with the actual qualification...its one thing to "KNOW" about electical stuff and safety but you aren't an electrician until you have had formal certified training...

[Zachary Zimmerman]

someone with the actual qualification...its one thing to "KNOW" about electical stuff and safety but you aren't an electrician until you have had formal certified training...

I agree formal training is REQUIRED not optional to call yourself an Electrician for your safety and the venues safety and anyone around you as well.

[Lee Buckalew]

I agree formal training is REQUIRED not optional to call yourself an Electrician for your safety and the venues safety and anyone around you as well.

I have never seen any formal training required to call oneself a lighting technician which may be what's being referred to here.  In many locations that is termed an electrician ie. the master electrician may run lighting console in many houses but is always in charge of the lighting plot hang, the deck electrician takes care of the lighting fixtures associated with the stage level, etc., etc.

Lee

[Josh Daws]

clarification is indeed required here...

[Steve Milner]

Good question here... I've absolutely been on jobs where the LD is listed as the "electrician" ... Yet I know that in various cases, these people hold no formal electrical training or certification.

I've seen them do tie-ins, and on one case a really dodgy hot tie-in that I strongly protested and then sourced my power from wall outlets in order not to be a part of the situation.

I'm competent with electrics, and have been asked occasionally to take on these roles, but have always turned them down and suggested finding an actual certified electrician. There is a HUGE difference between knowing some shit, and holding the actual accreditation.

Hell, I refuse to use the term sound engineer, as I don't hold any actual engineering credentials. Just doesn't seem fair to use the title at all.

[Lee Douglas]

someone with the actual qualification...its one thing to "KNOW" about electical stuff and safety but you aren't an electrician until you have had formal certified training...

And even then...  Until you have a valid 01 in the jurisdiction you're working crumpled up in your wallet.  I don't know what's required for live production work but an appropriate certification with up-to-date CE credits goes a long way in inspiring confidence.

[Jordan Wolf]

I'd love to be able to put "electrician" on my resume at some point...

Rafi,

I, too, would like to be able to list that on my resume.

You might want to look into ETCP/ESTA training for electrical.

[Rob Spence]

Hey all!

So, I primarily am a sound engineer and I get the vast majority of my work in that field. However, I haven't taken an attitude of exclusivity. I've done concert lighting out of necessity for a number of years because my old venue didn't have a staff LD. I've programmed and addressed moving fixtures, done focuses,worked as a follow spot. I've also been put on the electrics team when working larger union gigs and was able to hang with no major issues, but then again, the touring crew is supposed to be preventing blunders on some level.

I'd love to be able to put "electrician" on my resume at some point, but because I don't actually seek out lighting gigs at the moment explicitly, I kind of feel like a fake doing that. Therefore I have to ask you guys: What would be some landmarkers in your mind that would deem someone able to call themselves an electrician?

There are professions and job titles. Not the same thing.

Electrician as a profession requires a 6 year apprenticeship followed by an exam.
In theater (or event production) you can hold the job title of any of several "electrician" titles without being a licensed electrician.

So, if I wanted to put the information on my resume, I would be careful to properly qualify it.


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[Randall Hyde]

I'd love to be able to put "electrician" on my resume at some point, but because I don't actually seek out lighting gigs at the moment explicitly, I kind of feel like a fake doing that. Therefore I have to ask you guys: What would be some landmarkers in your mind that would deem someone able to call themselves an electrician?

If I were you, I'd take Richard Cadena's "Entertainment Electrician" course.
It's not enough to allow you to call yourself an electrician, but it's enough to teach you about the basics so you know better than to call yourself an electrician

It is a very useful course, btw. I took it. I highly recommend it.
cheers,
Randy Hyde

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