Stagehand

Stagehand (from the English: stage = stage, hand = auxiliary force, work force), usually abbreviated to hand, referred to the German-speaking person, reporting to trained event technicians in building a stage itself and / or the stage equipment. Synonym to the terms stage or construction helper in use, especially in theaters and opera houses, in which the expression Stagehand is frowned upon. In Anglo-American countries, the term Stagehand also includes technical professionals in the film and theater area, which is mostly unionized ( Stagehand Union ). In Europe, often outweigh Stagehands freelance work conditions - only a few companies have large contingents of regular employees, they come mostly from the event industry or other craft-oriented professions ( carpenters, blacksmiths, etc.). As is well respected here by employers on compliance with all safety regulations and the training of staff, the quality of these crews is often very good.

Vocational

Stagehands integral part at concert events and industry events, and in many areas are active.

• Loading and unloading of the truck
• Cabling the sound and light elements
• Stacking the speaker towers ( " stacking " )
• Assembly of the trusses ( " rigging " ) and headlight
• Privacy ( " backdrops ", " sidemasking " )
• Floor coverings, decoration and in the area of the set
• For setting up and dismantling of the stage elements, seating and safety barriers
• Operation of the tracker and reconstruction work during the event ("Show Crew" )

When setting up and dismantling of stands and FOH towers (scaffolding ) are stagehands as the construction of scaffold platforms, Steel Hands called (german steel = steel).

In areas of work at height, and commissioning of technical systems and the control of commercial vehicles forklifts or cranes, a certificate of competency is required.

As untrained staff, the professionalism of the stagehands may differ regionally strong. So there are local crews from specialized technicians that full- Stagehands and students or the local fire department. Some productions also take Stagehands on tour or book cases only with the local crew. In practice, a differentiation of stagehands, roadies and technicians depend on their area of ​​responsibility.

Criticism

Since many of the independent stagehands do not self-insure, but very often happen in this area accidents and workers are underpaid on so-called Booker partly translucent and employs self-employed, this type of employment of the trade unions, often comes under pressure. Even the customs searches from time to time event agencies, since the employee indicates that they are in large part to independently lead a trade, only an agency can demonstrate as principal.