Live Performance Technician Training

Lesson 1 • Venue Types and Technical Infrastructure

Examine how different venue formats shape technical requirements and crew workflows. Prepares students to adapt to varied work environments.

Lesson 2 • Reading Production Documentation

Interpret riders, stage plots, input lists, and schedules used in professional productions. Directly supports efficient pre-show preparation.

Lesson 3 • The Live Event Industry Overview

Survey the scope of live performance sectors and their technical demands. Establishes context for all subsequent technical training.

Lesson 4 • Production Crew Roles and Hierarchies

Map the organizational structure of a production team and define each role's responsibilities. Clarifies how technicians fit within the broader crew.

Lesson 1 • Calculating Power Loads

Perform load calculations to prevent circuit overloads and plan power distribution. Connects electrical theory to practical production planning.

Lesson 2 • Core Electrical Concepts

Introduce voltage, current, resistance, and power relationships essential to live production. Forms the theoretical base for all equipment operation.

Lesson 3 • Venue Power Systems

Examine how power is distributed from the utility source to production equipment. Enables technicians to assess and utilize venue electrical infrastructure.

Lesson 1 • Loudspeaker Systems and Amplification

Understand loudspeaker types, amplifier matching, and basic system design principles. Prepares students to deploy and align front-of-house speaker arrays.

Lesson 2 • Monitor Systems and In-Ear Monitoring

Configure stage monitor wedges and in-ear monitor systems for performer needs. Reinforces signal routing skills in a stage-facing context.

Lesson 3 • Microphones and Input Sources

Identify microphone types, polar patterns, and best-use applications for live performance. Enables informed microphone selection and placement decisions.

Lesson 4 • Sound Physics and Signal Types

Explain acoustic principles and the difference between analog and digital audio signals. Provides the scientific foundation for all audio system work.

Lesson 1 • Structural Attachment Points

Evaluate venue structural elements and determine safe attachment locations for rigging. Connects load calculations to real-world venue infrastructure.

Lesson 2 • Rigging Physics and Load Calculations

Apply force, tension, and angle principles to determine safe rigging configurations. Provides the mathematical foundation for all overhead load decisions.

Lesson 3 • Hardware Inspection and Selection

Identify, inspect, and select shackles, slings, motors, and structural hardware. Ensures every component in a rigging system meets load and safety requirements.

Lesson 4 • Motor Control and Automation

Operate chain hoist controllers and basic automation systems for moving scenery and equipment. Advances rigging skills into dynamic load management.

Lesson 1 • Rigging and Hanging Lighting Equipment

Apply safe rigging practices to hang and secure lighting fixtures on trusses and pipes. Directly supports safe overhead load management on any stage.

Lesson 2 • DMX Control Protocol

Understand DMX512 addressing, universe structure, and cabling standards. Connects fixture hardware to lighting console control.

Lesson 3 • Fixture Types and Applications

Identify conventional, LED, and moving-head fixture categories and their stage uses. Enables informed fixture selection for any production design.

Lesson 4 • Lighting Console Operation

Operate a professional lighting console to program cues, groups, and effects. Integrates fixture knowledge and DMX skills into live show operation.

Lesson 1 • Stage Management Fundamentals

Define the stage manager's role as the central coordinator of all technical departments. Establishes authority and communication responsibilities within the production.

Lesson 2 • Show Communication Systems

Configure and operate intercom, program feed, and God mic systems used during shows. Ensures all crew members receive critical cues and information in real time.

Lesson 3 • Emergency Protocols and Show Stops

Execute safe show-stop procedures and communicate emergencies to crew and audience. Integrates safety awareness with stage management authority.

Lesson 4 • Rehearsal Management

Structure and document technical rehearsals to maximize efficiency and crew readiness. Prepares students to manage time and personnel during high-pressure rehearsal periods.

Lesson 1 • Video Signal Fundamentals

Examine resolution standards, frame rates, and signal formats used in live production. Provides the technical vocabulary for all video system work.

Lesson 2 • LED Walls and Display Technologies

Identify LED panel specifications and assemble display surfaces for live events. Connects hardware knowledge to practical installation and configuration.

Lesson 3 • Media Servers and Content Playback

Configure media servers to play back and manipulate video content during live shows. Advances students from passive display to dynamic content management.

Lesson 4 • Video Switching and Routing

Operate video switchers and routing matrices to manage multiple sources and outputs. Integrates signal knowledge into live show operation.

Lesson 1 • Live Troubleshooting Strategies

Apply systematic diagnostic methods to resolve cross-system failures during live shows. Develops the critical thinking skills needed to maintain show continuity.

Lesson 2 • Multi-Department Rehearsal Leadership

Lead technical rehearsals that integrate all departments simultaneously under time pressure. Applies stage management and communication skills at a production-wide scale.

Lesson 3 • Show Wrap and Production Debrief

Execute efficient load-out procedures and conduct structured post-show debriefs. Closes the production cycle with professional accountability and continuous improvement.

Lesson 4 • System Integration Planning

Develop integrated technical plans that align all departments around a unified production vision. Builds on all prior chapter skills to create a master technical strategy.