Carnegie Mellon School of Drama

Job Description

Position: Master Electrician

Advisors: Staff Lighting Technologist and Faculty Lighting Designer

Basic Job Description: The Master Electrician is responsible for the realization of the lighting design for the production, as well as helping to realize the educational process for the Assistant Master Electrician and the assigned Electrics crew members. Working in concert with Artistic Staff and other Production Personnel, the Master Electrician is part of a collaborative team.

The Staff Lighting Technologist supervises production process and progress. The role of the staff advisor is to help guide the student through the design and production process. The Staff Lighting Technologist must approve budgets, schedules, and drawings before any work goes into the shop or theater.

Responsibilities:

Design Phase

• The Master Electrician is available to the production team to consult on design implementation questions.
• The Master Electrician should attend design meetings as requested, consult with the designer on overall scope of show, facilities, or materials issues, and provide estimates as needed.

Budgeting Phase

• The Master Electrician is responsible for assembling a production estimate based on preliminary discussions with the Lighting Designer. This estimate should be distributed to:
• Lighting Designer
• Production Manager
• Each of the following production requirements must be estimated:
• Material Costs
• Equipment/rental Costs
• Build Labor Hours
• Build Linear Time
• Shop Space
• Storage Space
• Hang and Focus Labor Hours
• Load-In Linear Time
• Tech Time
• Run Crew Requirements
• Strike Labor Hours
• Strike Linear Time
• Budget Overlaps with other departments
• The Master Electrician works with the entire team to insure all production items are estimated. Labor and space estimating must respect the needs of other productions. The ME works with the TD, Production Manager and the shop supervisors to identify overlaps between their show and other projects or classes. In the event that the proposed design exceeds the available resources, the ME works with the entire production team to identify strategies for savings.

NO design or technical approach to that design will proceed without budgets approved by the Staff Lighting Technologist.

Build Phase--Before plot due date

• The Master Electrician oversees the build of any elements using practicals in the production.
• The ME must attend production meetings through the build phase to keep the production team advised of progress.
• The ME must be available to answer questions.
• The ME works with the Technical Director to schedule the load in and hang and focus of lighting elements.

Build Phase--Between plot due date and beginning of load-in

• The Master Electrician is responsible for assembling or obtaining the required documentation and resources for the project. Documentation includes:
• Light Plot (including Section)
• Color and template information
• Channel hook-up and instrument schedule
• At this time the production estimate developed earlier in the process needs to be finalized based on the Lighting Design. All budgeting issues arising will be dealt with in conjunction with the Staff ME.
• Production Resources include:
• Stock items
• Equipment rentals/orders
• Shop space
• Build labor
• Production documentation must be available for review by the Production Manager and Staff Lighting Technologist at all times.
• Materials purchasing and equipment rentals are coordinated with the Staff Lighting Technologist.
• Electrics crew requirements are discussed with the Production Manager.
• The Master Electrician oversees the build of any elements using practicals in the production.
• The ME must attend production meetings through the build phase to keep the production team advised of progress.
• The ME must be available to answer questions.
• The ME works with the Technical Director to schedule the load in and hang and focus of lighting elements.

Load-In

• The Master Electrician works with the Technical Director, Production Flyman, Production Manager and other department heads to optimize the time and space available to everyone.

Hang

• The Master Electrician works with the Technical Director and Production Flyman in coordinating any rigging needs of the Lighting Department. The ME is responsible for all necessary rigging materials required by electricians.
• The ME coordinates time and space requirements with the other department heads.
• The ME supervises the installation of all lighting equipment, ensuring that it is installed in a safe manner.
• The ME tracks lighting crew labor hours on a daily basis and provide a weekly labor report to the Technical Director.
• During work calls, the Master Electrician is responsible for providing information and support for the AME and lighting crew in relation to the task at hand.

Installation of all lighting elements should be complete by the end of the hang period.

Focus

• The Master Electrician supervises all focus calls, ensuring that all work is performed in a safe manner.
• The ME, in conjunction with the Production Manager, is responsible for organizing all necessary elements for the focus call. These may include:
• Lighting Designer
• Access to lights
• Rigging/Focus Tracks
• Carps to move scenery
• Automation Tech for moving automated scenery
• Stage Manager for spiking

Focus should be complete prior to the Cue Writing period.

Cue Writing

• The Master Electrician attends all cue writing sessions.
• The ME is responsible for organizing all necessary elements for cue writing sessions. These may include:
• Lighting Designer
• Needed props
• Tech table/monitors for LD
• Board-op
• House lights
• Carps to move scenery
• Automation Tech for moving automated scenery
• Stage Manager for spiking
• The Master Electrican may need to act as board-op if the regular board-op is not available.
• The ME is responsible for educating the board-op and other lighting run crew members regarding their duties during the tech and run of the show.

Cue Writing should be complete before the beginning of Tech.

Tech/Dress

• The Master Electrician is responsible for adjusting the focus, hang or placement of lighting elements as discussed with the Lighting Designer.
• The ME must attend all tech rehearsals.
• The ME must attend all notes meetings.
• After a notes meeting, the ME works with the Production Manager to prioritize notes and staff the work sessions required to complete the list to date.
• The ME compiles all information needed by the run crew and/or Stage Manager and provides them with the information in an organized fashion.
• The Master Electrican works with the board-op to complete a dimmer check and fix any problems before each Dress rehearsal.
• Each night the Master Electrician must make a written report that is immediately delivered to their advisor which details the events of the day and expectations of issues that will be dealt with before or during the next scheduled call.

Production Run

• The Master Electrican works with the board-op to complete a dimmer check and fix any problems before each performance.
• The ME works with the Technical Director to schedule the strike of the show.

Strike/Post-Production

• The Master Electrician supervises the dismantling of the lighting equipment and restoration of the lighting system in a safe manner.
• The ME is responsible for the return of stock, borrowed, or rented items. The facility staff must be included in any strike decisions that affect the use of the shops.
• The ME coordinates with the staff of the next project and incorporate as much "change-over" as is practical.
• Failing any "change-over" agreement, the ME must return the theatre to its "ready" condition as determined by the Staff Lighting Technologist.
• The Master Electrician is responsible for getting a final budget of "Actuals" to the Production Manager and Staff Lighting Technologist.
• The ME must return any keys necessary.

At any time throughout the production schedule the Master Electrician may utilize their Faculty Advisors to help resolve any ambiguities in a particular project's process.

The Master Electrician MUST attend Strike.