DUTIES OF THE CONTROL BOARD OPERATOR

Planning Period
1.    Become thoroughly familiar with the play.
2.    Attend blocking rehearsals or run-throughs with the Master Electrician to observe entrances, exits and major business of the actors.
3.    Obtain a script for your use in the booth from the Lighting Designer.
4.    Obtain enough tracking sheets for each major cue from the Theatre Technical Director.
5.    Learn how to operate the control board from the Master Electrician.
6.    Study the light plot for areas, specials, backing lights, etc.

Working Period
1.    May be required to attend focusing session and heat or dim individual lights as they are called for.
Technical Rehearsal
1.    Set light levels for each scene or for each change of lights within a scene as called for by the Lighting Designer.
2.    Record each dimmer reading on the appropriate form in soft pencil only as each scene is set.
3.    Know what action must be taken to go from cue to cue and record everything you do in the script so that in an emergency the Master Electrician can take over.  Erase old orders and record new changes as they are made, however ephemeral.
4.    You may receive orders to change cues, timing or sequences only from the Lighting Designer or Stage Manager during the show.
5.    Practice on your own in a dry-run situation, if necessary, after the first technical rehearsal until you know your board, the play, the cues and the lights you are controlling.
6.    If headsets are being used for communication among the production crew, keep yours on even though you are not expecting a cue or other communication.  If you do take your headset off, inform the crew members that you will be off headset and when you will be back on headset.  Report same when you come back on.
7.    Lighting alone cannot make a bad show good, but it can make a good show bad.

Dress Rehearsal and Performances
1.    Let no one enter the control booth except the actual control board operator.  Ask anyone else to leave and enforce it!
2.    Maintain as near-absolute silence as possible in the booth.
3.    Do not bring drinks into the booth or allow drinks to be brought in.  One spilled container might short out the whole board.  Cost? $ 7,000.00.
4.    Concentrate on your work.
5.    Be alert.  Don’t get caught napping through a cue.  Always know what your action will be and prepare for it.
6.    Develop a light, delicate tough, e.g., don’t “whomp” up house lights after a dimly lit scene.

Strike
1.    Clean control booth and control board, remove labels and markings that you have made.
2.    Run all dimmers to 0.
3.    Put everything in order.
4.    Assist the rest of the lighting crew on stage.