Specialist for event technology

The specialist for event technology or event technician (Austria) is a state-recognized training occupation with a focus on setting up, dismantling and holding events of all kinds.

job profile

A specialist for event technology takes care of the assembly and dismantling as well as the operation of stage and scene structures as well as lighting, projection and sound systems. The training occupation has existed in Germany since 1998 and the occupational profile was reorganized in 2002. The electrotechnical qualification was anchored more firmly (electrical specialist for event technology). Furthermore, the focal points or specialist areas “Construction and implementation” and “Construction and organization” (exhibition stand construction) were introduced. Since the change in the training regulations in August 2016, the profession of event technology specialist has been one of the mono professions . This means that specialization does not take place as part of the actual training, but can only be undertaken afterwards. After successfully completing the training, the examination to become a master for event technology can be taken, the focus here is on the stage / studio , lighting and hall . The job description in Austria differs only marginally, but the apprenticeship has only existed since 2005. In September 2011, a revised state curriculum came into force.

education

Training takes place in Germany and Austria as part of the dual training system in the training company , i. H. in companies of event and event organization, theaters or trade fair organizers as well as in vocational schools. The training period is three years in Germany ( Section 2 of the Event Training Ordinance ) and three and a half years in Austria. After the final apprenticeship examination , Austrian apprentices can also complete further training to become a master craftsman or take the vocational school leaving examination.

tasks

The tasks of a specialist in event technology can be summarized as follows:

• efficient, professional handling of technology
• economic and customer-oriented action
• creative and design skills
• Ensuring the safety of events
• Working in a team at changing locations and at unusual times

Efficient, professional handling of technology

One of the essential tasks of a specialist in event technology is the assembly and dismantling as well as the operation of the technical equipment and stage technical parts that are required for events. These include mixing consoles , spotlights, signal boxes, microphones, amplifiers and other stage technology systems such as platforms and, above all, scaffolding, trusses and exhibition or scene structures. Due to the increasing technical development, the specialist for event technology is forced to keep their knowledge up to date.

Economic and customer-oriented action

Event technology specialists must carry out their tasks professionally and efficiently. They work with expensive equipment and usually with tight deadlines. The clients or customers expect careful, speedy work in compliance with all safety-relevant regulations. Cost-conscious and customer-oriented work in this environment means further orders and also securing one's own job in an environment that is characterized by fierce competition.

Creative and design skills

Even if you don't look at the job straight away, a creative and creative ability is required. The use of lighting technology, the sound reinforcement desk, etc. generally requires good empathy for the concept, the intention of the event. The venue often has to be redesigned accordingly, e.g. B. by architectural lighting or lighting of theater scenes or rock events.

Ensuring the safety of events

Event technology specialist is a profession with a high degree of responsibility for the safety of organizers and the public. First of all, there are two security areas to be distinguished, which concern the specialist for event technology.

• The technical and static safety of the structures in the air and on the ground
• Fire protection, construction law and, to a limited extent, health protection, also known as meeting place safety or event safety.

Due to the new Assembly Ordinance (VStättV) and the professional association regulation BGV C1, the responsibility of the specialist for event technology is transferred. Since 2008, there has been a practical change with regard to event safety in the public visitor room, since the evacuation and application of the emergency plan can only be effectively carried out by the security service in an emergency, which means that the tasks and liability areas are sensibly divided, and the tasks of the specialist in the area of ​​the stage , Electricity, flying loads and emissions (noise, laser). Electrotechnical safety is also in this area of ​​responsibility. Not least because of this, the content of the profession was changed in 2002 and training to become an electrical specialist for event technology was integrated into this job profile.

Working in a team at changing locations and at unusual times

Working with (sometimes) changing teams is typical of professional reality. Especially at larger events you work with many external and auxiliary workers, with other companies and with many other professional groups, especially with actors and artists. Everyone is under pressure. Therefore, the ability to work in a team, sensitive but task-oriented interaction with everyone is of great importance. Changing places means frequent travel, life out of the suitcase, etc. Unusual times means being the first and last at the event, with correspondingly long periods of service. Working at night, on weekends and on public holidays is a matter of course.

Business premises

Specialists for event technology in the theater

The distribution of tasks in the event-related professions there is often as old as the theater industry. At the moment only a few theaters have their own "event technology" department, so that specialists for event technology who are employed in theaters are permanently employed for a department (stage technology, sound technology, lighting, props) and work (almost) exclusively there. Since many event technology professionals specialize in one or two professions after completing their training, this is often not seen as a disadvantage. There are advantages for trainees, as a large part of the professional content (handling lifting gear, audio equipment, spotlights and signal boxes, stage equipment and stage construction, etc.) is usually available. The trainee typically goes through the individual trades of the theater business and thus gets to know the different working environments depending on the sector.

Event technician in the "rock and roll" area

The event technology companies in the "rock and roll" sector have often specialized in large cities. I.e. that some companies only cover a sub-area at major events. Company A makes the light, company B provides the sound system and company C takes care of the video projections. But mostly larger companies are also able to equip smaller events in all areas themselves. In contrast to event technicians in the theater, they are still employed in all areas after their training, although here too in most cases a specialization in one or two areas can be observed.

If a training company is too fixated on one area (e.g. the company only does video projections, only stage set-up, only rigging , only light, etc.), there may be deficits in training, which is why such trainees often do so after their training find it difficult to get back into work at another company with a different focus. To reduce this deficit, z. For example, the Technical Training Center in Bremen, which organizes vocational training for event technology specialists in Bremen, Bremerhaven and the surrounding area, founded a training partnership. In this training partnership, trainees are given the opportunity to temporarily switch to other companies so that they can also get to know other areas.

Event technician in event venues

These venues include B. town halls, concert halls, stadiums or trade fairs. Event technicians there often have the task of supporting the technical staff on a tour that has guest performances in their house as technicians who are familiar with the area. But you also organize events yourself.

Event technician in broadcasting companies

In recent years, more and more professionals for event technology have been trained in public broadcasters (e.g. in the NDR ). After completing their training, the specialists work - sometimes across the board - in the areas of lighting technology , stage construction or sound reinforcement . Since the departments are traditionally mostly organized according to the division of labor and the collective bargaining agreements have not yet been adjusted, the areas of application are still subject to a certain degree of ambiguity.

Web links

Germany:

• Event Specialist Training Ordinance of June 3, 2016 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 1307 , pdf)
• Specialist for event technology in Berufenet the Federal Employment Agency
• Information from the Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft e. V. on the training occupation . Retrieved August 26, 2014
• Eventtechniker.de - Comprehensive portal of event technicians from the fields of light, sound, media, pyro, stage and security . Retrieved August 26, 2014
• Information on training in the NDR . Retrieved August 26, 2014
• Eventtechniker.de - the portal for the event technology industry . Retrieved February 9, 2011

Austria:

• Vocational school for electrical engineering and event technology in Austria . Retrieved November 27, 2011
• Professional and industry information from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Training to become a specialist in event technology. Retrieved January 5, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Framework curriculum of the specialist for event technology on the KMK website ( Memento of the original from January 2, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 138 kB). Retrieved February 9, 2011 
3. ↑ Training ordinance of the Austrian Ministry of Economics  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 162 kB), accessed on July 27, 2010  
4. ↑ BG regulation BGV-C1 ( Memento of the original from March 12, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Event and production facilities for scenic representation from April 1, 1998 (PDF, 100 KB)  
5. ↑ Training partnership ( Memento of the original from May 29, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.