“It’s okay to be new,” says Wannebo, “but wouldn’t we all be better off if the new guys had a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of the trade?” Further, several recent high-profile accidents — stage collapses, artist and audience injuries — illustrated the need for a common lexicon of safety that was not being realized.
Realizing this need and believing they could help, together the two formed Tour School, home of the STEADI, for Stage Technician Education and Development Intensive. Along the way they reached out to industry veteran Richard Cadena, author of several industry-standard books and an ETCP-recognized trainer, who joined the organization as technical director.
Launched as a partnership between Tour School, LLC and industry businesses, the STEADI course is a four-day, 40-hour program is designed to prepare the lighting directors, sound technicians, riggers and carpenters of tomorrow for excelling in live events of every sort.
Filling a Gap
“Everywhere I go, production companies say they need better trained entry-level employee candidates” says Cadena. “When I asked myself why, I realized that there are certain disciplines that are not always taught in educational institutions, so we set out to fill that gap. And we’re doing it by offering basic electrics, rigging, and most importantly, safety training — things like why and when you need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). We as an industry need to do a better job of teaching crew how to do their jobs more safely and more effectively, and that’s our goal.” Also among the topics covered are lessons in the language of the stage, to help participants decipher the often incomprehensible verbiage common in the production industry.
The Tour School is imagined not only as a place for participants to learn just technical knowledge, but the practical life skills required on the road: personal and crew safety, financial literacy, and knowledge of the various idiosyncrasies of our industry.
“The STEADI course provides a broad basic knowledge of real life, common skills used every day in the entertainment business” says Wannebo, who also serves as production manager for Kenny Chesney. “The emphasis is on safety. The standards and best practices of being safe in the workplace are critically important. The new people in the business need to get started down the right path with awareness and implementation. The STEADI Course training will help the entrants in the field overcome some of the biggest hurdles, some of which are simply understanding the language, being immersed in the culture and the business, practical knowledge of the activities in the work environment, and the basic skills to function effectively and safely in that environment.”
Small Classes, Hands-On Instruction
Conceived as a series of lectures combined with a very strong hands-on component, the classes will feature two instructors each day, vetted by Tour School, who are recognized as an expert in that day’s topic. To ensure that each student receives the attention and guidance they need, class sizes will be restricted to 15 to 20 students. The school is also partnering with local industry-related businesses to provide a space for the school to hold the STEADI course and to keep the training current with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Training partners also have the ability to hire program participants right out of the program.
The next STEADI course is scheduled Aug. 3-6, 2015 at Solotech, Las Vegas. Tour School staff also have plans to expand to Soundcheck in both Nashville and Austin and have their sights set on Chicago and Seattle next, though they emphasize that the plans for expansion will be undertaken with care, incorporating feedback to ensure that the education provided is effectively equipping the next generation of designers, technicians, and crewmembers with the best possible set of skills for continuing employment. As the Tour School STEADI course expands throughout the US, local production talent will be tapped as instructors for the STEADI program, though Richard and Ed will make regular appearances at all of the training sites.
Tour School, LLC will provide successful participants with a certificate of completion. Tuition for the forty-hour course is set at $1,250.
“I believe the outcome of the STEADI Course will be of great benefit to both those seeking work and the employers who need well-trained individuals,” Wannebo says. “We want to give those choosing this career path to go in better prepared, and to move up faster in the discipline they choose within the industry.”
For more information about the STEADI program or to register online, visit http://tourschool.rocks or call 702.465.9781.
