My future career in Technical Theatre?

Question:ok, so, im only in 9th grade and people may think im starting my plans a little too soon. i dont believe i am. i need a path to follow, so ive decided to take a path along Technical Theatre. i just wanted to know what i need to do right now and in the near future, to get a nice job in the technical theatre field.
im taking technical theatre at my high school right now. i havent decided which area of tech i like most, right now im just interested in learning a little bit of everything. im thinking i will end up liking the make-up and costume mostly. so please, inform me on where i should start my future. thank you in advance.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: ok, so, im only in 9th grade and people may think im starting my plans a little too soon. i dont believe i am. i need a path to follow, so ive decided to take a path along Technical Theatre. i just wanted to know what i need to do right now and in the near future, to get a nice job in the technical theatre field.
im taking technical theatre at my high school right now. i havent decided which area of tech i like most, right now im just interested in learning a little bit of everything. im thinking i will end up liking the make-up and costume mostly. so please, inform me on where i should start my future. thank you in advance.

I think it is great you are thinking about this now. Your best bet is simply to get as much experience as possible. Education absolutely plays a role in what kind of jobs you will get when you are ready but experience is even more important. Stay as active with your schools drama department as possible and start looking into community theatre productions. Ask if they need volunteers on any of their running crews or with anything backstage. Most small theatre companies will greatly appreciate the help and you will have an opportunity to try out the various areas of technical theatre as well as a chance to build your resume.

When you get to college most schools theatre departments have a technical theater program and there you will be able to study the essential ins and outs of wardrobe, sets, lighting etc and hopefully solidify what area most interests you.

As a theatre director I am grateful for dedicated techies and hope you stick with it!

In stage work costuming may be more important as a lot of actors do their own make up, but creative make up can also be a good field (making older out of younger).

To think about your future at an early age can only get you ahead in life, so go for it! While you have the chance to explore ALL the different aspects of theatre >DO. In the future you never know where the job openings will be so all experience will be helpful. In high school I took Drama and did 1 play, also performed in the concert, jazz, stage and marching bands. We got to be on national TV in the Gimbels Thanksgiving day parade. I also started singing in church choir and we toured to Vermont and got to perform for Maria Von Trapp (Sound of Music). I even worked as a roadie for a local rock band running the sound board. This all happened while I was in high school.
After graduation, I was working in a cabinet shop in the daytime and at night I was waiting tables when the country club (Pinehurst CC) I worked at started bringing in sound equipment. I inquired who was going to run it and told them I had experience with that type of equipment. They told me
a Professional from California was coming to do the job.
He arrived in the limo wearing cowboy boots, hat and blue jeans doning a pony tail. The manager had him sign the employment papers and told him to get a tux and to cut his hair before the show started and he went right back out to the limo and flew back out to California. The next 3 years I was salaried and produced the sound and lighting show for "The Caroliners", a dinner theatre with 4 sets nightly and $30.00 a plate/2 drink minimum with 180 seats for 6 nights a week. During that time Ben Folds was our bass/drummer/keyboard player (whatever he wanted to play) he even sang >pre Ben Folds Five.
As a bunch of college grads working our first PRO gig we tried anything to see if it would fly > radio, video and even tried to air commercials in the (golf) pro shop. The Buy-Line
for the commercial was "The Future Is Now!"
This experience lead me to work with "RAZZ - MA - TAZZ", a Greensboro City Arts / United Arts Council sponsored Musical Review Company with 15 years of performing in some of the best venues on earth. I received tenure after doing shows all over the US, Canada, England and Scotland.
In my 10 years with "RAZZ" we did shows in places like Disney Fla.), aboard several cruise ships and for groups like the NCAE, ARC, Elks, and the VFW"s national meeting. Before the group dis-banded I even got to sing back-up for Paul Anka at the local coliseum [sold out @ $60.00 a ticket]. (and I'm just a sound/lighting tech and had not sang since church chior during high school!)
Since then I've had the chance working as a freelance tech at shows like Bela Fleck, Ralph Stanley and an Off - Broadway production of Smokie Joe's Cafe. I even got to be acting Stage Manager for the late Chet Atkins, CGP!
I've not had much experience with MU-H (make-up/hair), but all experience can help you > if not now, later in life, as I was waiting tables and building cabinets for a living when my Professional career really started. Remember...
"THE FUTURE IS NOW!"

As well as taking the opportunity to work backstage in as many school/amateur productions as possible, makeup/hair and costume could be a good combination. I have worked on two productions recently where the wardrobe mistress was also in charge of wigs. At the very least, she had to keep the wigs clean and dressed for the show, as well as maintain costumes. Another larger theatre company had a specialised wigs department, where the wigs mistress was also in charge of makeup. This included (depending on experience) making wigs, dressing wigs, making scars, blood bags for gun fights and sword fights, dirtying up actors and sometimes decorative makeup for characters such as fairies, Snow Queens etc. Have you thought about trying for some work experience at one of the larger theatres? Regional Rep Theatres are more likely to have wigs and wardrobe combined, but places like the RSC and National Theatres have separate departments. Unfortunately I have just checked the two websites and you need to be older than you are and already be in college to get on their work experience programmes. Perhaps a local professional theatre might be a better option. Try writing to them, explaining what you are interested in doing (make sure you let them know how old you are as there may be a minimum age). It is worth a try. Good luck.