Entertainment
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Job titles and role descriptions
The entertainment industry offers a broad range of employment opportunities. You might use this section to find out about a range of jobs and discover more about what is expected when a person commences work in the entertainment industry.
Assistant Stage Manager
(ASM)
Depending on the size of the show there may be more than one
ASM who assist the stage manager with properties and other activities on stage.
Armourer
Licensed specialist, authorised
to store, instruct, and hire use of dangerous weapons such as stage knives,
swords and guns.
Artistic director
A director with the overall control of
the artistic policy of a theatre or theatre company.
Cast
The members of an acting company.
Choreographer
Designs and creates the dance elements and arrangements for a show.
Company manager
In charge of the overall welfare of all
technical and acting staff, including paying wages, organising accommodation,
and liasing with venues.
Costumes designer
Responsible for the conception of the
costumes for the production and the supervision of their execution within the
agreed budget.
Dance captain
Member of dance group in show, who is
responsible for leading rehearsals and warm-ups prior to the
performance.
Deputy stage manager (DSM)
On larger shows a DSM is employed to
lighten the load for the Stage manager. This includes running some rehearsals,
and calling cues from the Prompt Book during rehearsals.
Designer
Responsible for the conception and
execution of the visual aspects of the production. Separate designers may be
employed for scenery, costumes, lighting etc.
Director
There are many different types of
director. Broadly, the role involves being responsible for the overall artistic
vision of a production.
Dramaturg
Works as an advisor to the director on
the background and historical relevance of the play being produced.
Dresser
Crew member who assists actors with costume care and costume changing during the performance.
Executive director
Manager in charge of the administration of a venue.
Flyperson
Term for the operator of the theatre’s flying system. This system allows
the flyperson to lift an item, such as scenery or lanterns, up or down in the
space above the stage through a series of counterweights.
Front of house manager
The staff member in a theatre responsible
for the audience and FOH facilities such as bars, concessions, programs and ticket selling.
Head Mechanist
The senior staff member in a theatre who runs the staging department.
Head of department
Senior member of a team eg Head of Costume, Head Flyperson.
Lighting designer
Responsible for deciding on, in
conjunction with other members of the production team, and executing the
lighting design.
Mechanist
Crew person responsible for operatingstage machinery and other related tasks.
Musical director (MD)
Responsible for the musical content of the show.
Orchestra
The musicians who provide the musical backing to the show.
Producer
The person responsible for raising the
finance to stage a show and then generally running the business side of the production.
Production manager(PM)
The senior member of the technical team,
in control of staffing, budgets, and liaison with the venues whilst on tour.
Property master
Senior member of the property department
in charge of making and handling props during rehearsals and performance.
Public relations
Department in the theatre/venue, which
deals with the public image and promotion of the theatre/show.
Roadie
A touring technician with one night shows, particularly music groups.
Set builder
Member of the production department who
is responsible for realising the set designer’s construction in timber,
steel or other material as specified by the designer.
Show crew
Backstage staff employed for performances only.
Sound designer
Person employed to design specific
atmospheric sound and music. This also includes sound effects.
Stage crew
Member of the stage staff who is
responsible for moving props and/or scenery during the show and for ensuring all
items under their responsibility are working correctly and properly maintained.
Stage electrician
Member of the electrics staff whose
responsibility it is to set and clear electric equipment during scene
changes.
Stage manager
The member of the production team who is
responsible for the smooth running of the show. Before the production opens the
stage manager attends rehearsals and meetings with other members of the
production. In smaller productions the stage manager uses a copy of the script
to cue the actors and various technical departments. On larger shows the DSM
will perform this last function and the stage manager will lean towards company
management.
Technical director (TD)
In charge of the technical requirements of a production.
Ushers
Members of the front of house team who
guide audience members to their seats and often sit in the auditorium during the
show in case of an emergency.
Wardrobe
General name for the costume department,
its staff, and the accommodation they occupy.
Wardrobe supervisor
Person in charge of the wardrobe, dressers and costume maintenance.
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