If "Technical Director" is your title, you should:

a) Not be afraid of, or uncomfortable with the use of key shop tools, such as the table saw, the hammer, and cable ties.

b) Know that Duct Tape and giggles, as charming as the idea may be, are ineffective and costly solutions to fixing most things.

c) Not assign your one skilled technician to the task of sweeping the wings with a toothbrush when there are lights to be hung, and things to be rigged.

d) Know that a carpentry bit will not drill through a steel screw, and that drilling a hole through a screw will not get it out of a wall.

If you are a unilingual francophone technical director, in my opinion, you should not take a job in an anglophone environment, but if you must,

a) Learn and retain the English words for basic shop tools, theatrical machinery, lighting equipment, basic theatre terminology (ex: fly, up-stage, down-stage, in, out, proscenium) and commonly used action verbs (ex: fix, attach, cut, screw, build, carry, go, start, put, and load)

b) Keep an interpreter on staff, and use them when dealing with anglophone staff.

c) Speak french to those who understand it, especially when asked.

d) Not, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, attempt to instruct or direct a student in the performance of a dangerous task at a high elevation in English.


I was upset when my former TD pulled me into a corner and told me he resigned, but pleased to hear that the school had hired a female replacement.

Only women work in the shop, and I figured Great! She'll fit right in.

Yeah, no. I don't know where they found 'er, but don't let the salt 'n pepper hair fool you. They didn't hire a woman, they hired a girl.

It's litterally dangerous.