College help. what major do i take?

Question

i want to do "techie" stuff for movies, live performances/shows or concerts-preferably concerts

like the lighting, sound or set design

i don't want to do directing, that's what i get a lot

what major would that be???

i need to apply for the right college like months ago---so help me please!!!

thanks!

Answer 1

bach, creative arts -

talk to people in colledges about it, but there are lighting/set creating courses. however, for that you dont need a degree, you would be much better going to a tafe or private colledge. a short course of max. 2 years

you need to get out there if its something like that not be inside ALL the time, which is what uni/colledge will do for you

Answer 2

Go to clubs and find someone who is good at stage lighting and get a job or apprenticeship there if you can and figure out if you'd like to be that guy for life.

Answer 3

Does a technical theatre major fit? or Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology....different schools have different names for majors such as this one, because it's so new and not every university offers it.

And you don't need to know what major you're planning on pursuing when you apply for college. And there will be people there who can point you in the right direction/major.

Answer 4

http://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/learn-s...

this one looks like some good info-

http://www.indiana.edu/~thtr/academics/g...

these are two links I figured might help you out..

read them and hopefully it gives you an idea of what your next step should be

good luck!

Answer 5

To do lighting and sound, you need to find a college that has a good music technology and production program... this is a Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis in production, or a Sound Engineering degree.  Some schools have different requirements and may ask you to have some musical experience (like playing an instrument or singing and passing a proficiency audition).  

Berklee (in Boston, Mass) has a great music tech program, but they are VERY competetive (they have less than a 30% acceptance rate and you need Ivy League scores to get in). http://www.berklee.edu/

You could check out Columbia College of the Arts in Chicago... they deal almost exclusively in tech and theatre design, though for some programs they DO require an audition- but not all, so give them a look (http://www.colum.edu/).

Now, if you want to do set design, you can get a degree in Technical Engineering, emphasis on theatre and set design, or a Fine Arts degree with emphasis on stage design.  It also wouldn't hurt you to take a couple courses in interior design and decorating, and make sure you take college math (algebra) courses.  Be prepared for basic architectural engineering classes as well... sets in theatres are often under appreciated.  They have to be structurally sound and able to support a LOT of weight, but also moveable... and many times they have to be able to do more than LOOK right... they may need trap doors, the ability to be set on fire without actually burning, or the ability to explode and then be reset... a lot more goes into set design than most people give credit for, and the result is that getting a degree in set design requires a TON of work.

Most liberal arts colleges will be able to provide you with the classes and experience needed.  NYU has a great theatre and production program, as well as theatre design (http://www.nyu.edu/).  Also, try Northwestern University- they have a FANTASTIC Master's program, but going there for your Bachelor's wouldn't hurt... you would already have connections and the base requirements for the Masters... http://commweb.soc.northwestern.edu/thea...

Above all, try to get as much experience as you can... as in much of the entertainment industry, many jobs that you get will not be based on your education, but on your networking and experience.  When you finally find a college, see if you can work in their theatre or performing center... many times you will get an actual paycheck (and they work around your school schedule), or they apply hours worked toward tuition... plus you learn the ins and outs of the different theatres and performance requirements... it's like a paid internship!

Also, many schools with a decent performing program will be close to the city's performing arts center... try to get internships or jobs at these places too, if you have time!  Any college or university with a good performing program should be able to give you the experience you need, but be prepared to continue onto your Masters once you make a concrete decision about the specifics of what you want to do... it will double your pay and give you larger opportunities.

Try to look at Denver University (http://www.du.edu/), or UCLA (http://www.ucla.edu/)... they are both great performing schools.

Anyways, hope this helped, and sorry if it was a book! :)

Answer 6

As long as you promise me you won't get a big head once you graduate and think that the industry can be owned by you, look into Full Sail down in Florida.  Several good people have come out of that school (mostly its people who thought the industry owed them a favor once they graduated).  Remember, you might have a degree but that salty old guy who didn't graduate high school and has 30 years of experience will tell you the only thing you'll be mixing for the next 6 months will be the dirt water in the bucket that you'll be cleaning the floors with just to get in with that live soudn company, just smile, teak the mop and do what he says.  One day, you will be that old guy...

Answer 7

Relax, most students change their major hundreds of thousands of times once they start school - so not knowing exactly what you want right now is not a big deal.

Most people who are undecided start as a "liberal arts" major - however that is for a general community college or university. Maybe if you're applying for an art school, you should email counselors from the particular schools you're interested in and ask them! That's the best way to get the most accurate information.