The Global Media Site for Entertainment.
Menu
Stagehands are the unsung heroes of every theatre production, preparing everything needed to make a show a success – props, scenery, lighting, sound and special effects. Of course, they cannot make shows happen with their bare hands only. They are expected to bring tools to every job. In this post, I am going to reveal 11 essentials our crew members usually carry from job to job.
What’s in a stagehand’s bag?
1. Wrench
An ideal stagehand wrench should accommodate the most commonly used bolt heads and T-handles found on theatrical luminaires and equipment.
2. Screwdriver
Like a wrench, a screwdriver is one of the essentials we want to carry from job to job to assemble and disassemble lights, sound equipment and scenery.
3. Tool Lanyard
One of the best tools to have is a tool lanyard because it is important when working over people to secure the tools. This simple safety measure is an easy way to minimize the likelihood of injury or property damage. It also saves us the inconvenience of having to go down and retrieve the tool(s) we drop.
4. Utility Knife including pliers, wire cutters, blades
Equipped with pliers, tiny scissors, screwdrivers, and knives, a utility knife or multi-tool is a perfect accessory for any problem a stagehand may face. This type of all-in-one tool does not take up valuable tool belt space.
5. Safety Gloves
During performing the strenuous tasks, we need a pair of rigger gloves to look after our hands. A high-quality pair of safety gloves are definitely important no matter for loading/unloading the trucks, setting up lights, moving decks and truss, gaffing cables, lifting medium-to-heavy objects, or other general uses.
6. Flashlight/headlamp
Theaters are often dark, so there is nothing better than being prepared for visiting backstage or emergency blackouts.
7. Tape Measure
This one is simple! Without a measuring tape, there are no stage markings. And with no stage markings, there is no set in the right locations. Also, having a measuring tape readily available will help when directors tell us to move a piece two inches to the left or right.
8. Tool Belt
A heavy-duty tool belt can keep useful tools close to us. A padded breathable one offering ventilation while wearing the belt can minimize discomfort throughout the day. We usually begin unloading the truck at 8 am, tear down the stage at night, and leaves by midnight, so we need a tool that increases productivity as well as comfort.
9. Pen & Paper
At any point in time, we may need to take note of direction, drawings or production to-dos. Keep a pen and a pad of paper ready to go for all the essential note-taking.
10. Mark Up Tape
When moving set on and off for different scenes, it can be extremely useful in guiding the crew on where to stop the set. A different coloured tape (or called ”spike”) is used to mark where different set pieces or performers are to be placed during the course of a show.
11. Snacks
A stagehand’s life is always up in the air. We may get cut in some hours or maybe there are times that we go without meal breaks. Snacks help keep us going from bump-in to bump-out. We always have something to eat hiding in our kits.
Besides the above mentioned 11 essentials, one thing cannot be forgotten – Black clothing. We wear black because we do not want to stand out. There are now more supplies than ever of workwear and personal protective equipment provided in women’s sizing for safety concerns. Get yourself prepared and make your work safe and enjoyable!
Female Stagehand: Equality…But Not Really
Get Yourself Back to the Stage: Review Your Protective Equipment
I am currently the SEO copywriter of Mountain Productions where I devote my work fulltime to writing event recaps and creating safety rigging content. Working in the largest staging company in North America allows me to experience amazing staging production work and learn best practices for staging environments.
Read Full Profile
© 2021 TheatreArtLife. All rights reserved.
Thank you so much for reading, but you have now reached your free article limit for this month.
Our contributors are currently writing more articles for you to enjoy.
To keep reading, all you have to do is become a subscriber and then you can read unlimited articles anytime.
Your investment will help us continue to ignite connections across the globe in live entertainment and build this community for industry professionals.
