Box Hill Tafe, Melbourne

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knew how good the Live Production ( Thechnical theatre) course at Box Hill Tafe was? More in the respect of a) if you have this qulification are you at a higher chance of getting a job in the industry? ie. Do people in the industry actually recoginse this diploma? or b) Is it possible it would be a better step into Nida? Thanks

I don't know anyone who has done it, but as far as I know it's got a good reputation. I would head to www.alia.com.au and ask around their forums; someone there might have done it. (If you don't know, the site is run by the Australasian Lighting Industry Assoc. and is frequented by techies) I don't know if the course would get you more employment, but hving some sort of qualification is definitely a must, given that you're working with a lot of equipment that requires knowledge of safe working practices. I don't believe though that it would be easier to get into NIDA with that kind of qualification though: you'd need the TAFE course plus lots of professional/amateur experience too. Have you considered other more well-known courses? Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

Thanks for your comment. I have looked at all the normal courses, like nida, wappa, vca, and qut, but i would really like some more experience before i go for one of the bigger courses, and i also like the flexibility of just doing a one year tafe course ( as you can't defer as you start the other ones- and i want to do some travel).. have you heard of any other 'short' courses? Also do you have any suggestions on ways to get into small productions or whatever to get experience, because i tried lots of places in melbourne this last year and noone seems to want me! thanks once again for your help.

Can I recommend something else? Swinburne and NMIT run courses that do tech. Granted, it's a combination of tech and acting, but I did it (I'm a tech and knew going in I'd have to suffer through certain aspects of Swinburne's course) and it was an excellent way to learn. They are full time, but very in depth. I started not knowing any lighting or sound design and came out being able to work professionally in a number of local venues doing both. (Again, I haven't heard much about Box Hill, but have heard a little about Holmesglen. I don't know enough about either to compare to either Swin or NMIT, but my guess is the latter are better known) Otherwise, you can look into various short courses (certificates if I recall correctly) run by some of the production companies. If you visit Julius Media for example, they run courses; Showtech does some too. As for having more experience before entering a course, there's not a lot of ways except for amateur shows and doing a certificate. However, if you sign up as a general stage hand with larger production companies (again, Showtech comes to mind), they are generally good places to start. I'm pretty sure though, that doing that would require a fairly decent background doing amateur shows. In terms of getting into small productions: I recommend highly going and volunteering for bump ins, front of house, and whatever else at the upcoming Melb Fringe Festival. This is a good way to get your face in the crowd (some of the festival people still recognise me even if I've met them once several years before seeing them a second time), experience what goes on, and make some good contacts. I did a few years of volunteering and eventually ended up being one of their paid stage managers one year, so it's definitely worthwhile checking out. Also, look into doing volunteer work with local companies. Generally it means doing FOH or admin stuff, but if you offer yourself up as a bump in/out volunteer, then you'd definitely get some experience that way. I do think perhaps that no one is willing to give you a go, because as mentioned before, tech roles require working with a lot of expensive equipment where you'd need some training in safe usage. In fact, I recall my lighting lecturer stating that legally, to do rigging you would need some formal training to do it (don't quote me on that). You might want to look at getting a rigging licence or other such licence (test and tag, etc), which would make you more employable. Again, other than having training, the best places to get experience would be with amateur groups. There's no reason why you can't travel, and then return and apply for the university/TAFE courses. Most of them prefer people with 'life experience', and all of them accept mature age students too. (The oldest person in my class - I was one year out of school at the time - was in their mid 30s) Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

Wow, thank you so much for your time - that infomation is so helpful!!! I really really appreciate it :)

Glad to help: most of the techies I've worked with were kind enough to share their experience/info, so this is just paying it forward :) Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

LittleStef, Box Hill TAFE has an excellent reputation. Continue to exammine the possibilities. For many, many years I lived in Melbourne. I have technical qualicications in radiocommunications, a hobby as a FoH sound engineer and am reasonably good as a handyman. While in Melbourne I worked with an (outer-eastern suburbs) amateur theatre company as a "set-builder/scene-shifter/props-maker/sound-tech" person. I had good practical experience but no theatrical qualifications! About four years ago, I moved to South-East Queensland. I joined a local amateur theatre company. That company has a working agreement with the near-by TAFE and we host a dozen, or so, Certificate IV (Live Theatre, Production and Events) students each year. They are taught about all the legislation, dangers and precautions; planning, rigging, and operation of sound and lighting systems that the wonderful world of theatre involves. To formalize what I already knew, I put myself through the TAFE course. (I was the oldest person in that class -- mid 50's. Now, I can do lighting as well!) So, as a teaching theatre, we benefit. Those students do a significant amount of our productions (six shows per year; about a dozen performances per show). The result is: they are technically qualified and have real, practical experience! As an aside: a some have gone on to professional gigs (a couple to Cruise Ships, one was a follow-spot operator for a Cirque du Soleil Australian tour). What this is trying to say to you is that, in my opinion, you need a mixture of practical experience -- join an amateur theatre company, or two. Do the hard yards -- and go to the TAFE to get your qualifications. You'll be able to add a very informed perspective to your life as a theatre technician. Also, to answer part B of your post: I think that you'll find entry into NIDA a really tough call without any history of practical experience. Above all have fun! Enjoy this crazy world!

haya im doing that course atmj. its pritty good it covers pritty much the important stuff u need to know but if u do it properly it is great for networking. if u want to know more there is a face book site for this years class. my mates will be able to give u heaps of info on it and perspective. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=64968395928

The course is good for networking and that's about it. I can't figure out if it's reputation is good or bad, considering there are a lot of ex-box-hillians out there now working professionally, but the amount of people you talk to who say, "oh, so you're a box hill student... just go gaff those cables over there would you..".

I'm currently doing the Live Productionn Theatre and Events (Technical Operations) course at Holmesglen TAFE, though its only a Cert 4 in my view its better than Box Hill, there are better placements and industry opportunities in my opinion, like working on the Melbourne Internatial Comedy Festival for a month as ASM and roving and also operating We are also about to do BARNUM at the Comedy Theatre for Joining the Chorus, i have also dont kew and knox festivals and got lots of industry contacts etc its an AWESOME course! and iv learnt heaps!