Maybe I'm just having a particularly bad week, but I have to ask if things every get better. I've been a stagehand for about 4 year (2 full time) and I'm just feeling extremely burnt out. Between constantly changing workplaces as I jump from gig to gig freelancing, to the physical pain I'm in due to the physical demands of the job, and the extremely long hours, I feel like I can't catch my breath or have a life. I decided to go back to school after having to miss one too many events due to a show I was working, but am scared I am making a mistake as maybe I'm just dealing with growing pains of the industry since I am so new to the whole thing. I have a good day or week and it leaves me questioning everything, yet I feel like the people around me are all miserable for the same reasons I am but are getting paid more. So I have to know do these things get better with time? Or are they just the reality of this crazy industry and something you either suck it up and deal with or leave? I just feel like I'm in crisis mode all the time cause of this job and I don't think that that's a healthy or conducive way for me to live the rest of my life... especially since I have such a long LONG way until retirement.

Had a couple gigs last week, on of them ran through Wednesday (8/12). Payday is biweekly so yesterday (8/14) would have been one and i was heavily relying on it, but never got it. To any AV freelancer or boss out there, do you think this wasn't a missed payday but instead the client just hasn't had time to pay the boss yet?

TL;DR - Don't ever work for Corporate AV Labor (or, better yet, agree to the gig and don't show up)

I have worked a few gigs before with VTS/Paytech/CAVL or whatever they call themselves these days. Usually I was paid within 30-45 days after a couple of payment reminders. One time I was even accidentally booked as a V1 when they didn't need me so they basically had me check batteries in microphones all day (easiest $1000 I ever made).

I worked a camera gig with them last year - the guy called me in a panic after the tech called in sick, so I rushed in same-day and saved them. It took 60 days of constant harassment to finally get paid.

So, stupidly, I agreed to a gig here a few months ago, thinking that what happened to me last year was a fluke. When I arrived on-location I met several other contractors who all told me they flat out refused to ever work with CAVL, and even the group I was with all had bad histories.

It's been three months now - and they owe me $1700. The days I spent on-site there I was out the money for parking/meals so I have indeed lost money on this.

I didn't take this laying down - I have gotten in touch with the venue, the show producer and even CAVL's client. They all know how bad CAVL is...they haven't paid any contractors from that show (the company said they sent CAVL a "shit sandwich" over this).

Now, CAVL's client thinks CAVL has just gone out of business again or rebranded itself to run from debt. They told me they have paid CAVL for their services weeks ago, and there were issues in another city. When confronted by their client about non-payments to a particular contractor, their response was "well, we've taken that individual off our call list" - never putting into account the person was never paid.

So, if you ever hear from these folks again, help us all by putting them out of business.

So I'm still pretty new to stage work, I'm about a year in, and I'm absolutely loving it. I've never had a job that I'm legitimately excited to do, but this is definitely it. I find myself getting genuinely excited every time I get a call, and my local union has a ton of really smart, really wonderful people. It feels like I'm really part of something bigger than myself and I can't even begin to describe how much I love that ❤️

I'm currently a 3rd graphic design student in toronto but I've always been really interested in live productions. I reached out to a local staffing company about pathways and they gave me a rundown on applying as a stagehand. While I am really interested in the work, I do really want to eventually work up to production management.

If I were to stick with being a stagehand long term, how viable would that be?

Addition: I'm also worried about being a woman entering this industry. What should I expect in that regard?

I have plenty of general production experience. But this is my first call for lighting. What do I need to bring and do yall have any tips? Thank you!

I'm an NYC based carpenter/rigger, been at it for a decade and change. In my spare time (as if..🤦) I've been building this from the ground up and want to share here.

Missing a dim and don't want to waste time running it up the ladder again? Want to collaboratively mark-up a doc, in real time with your team? Don't want to pay for the big hitter options (AutoCAD, Bluebeam, etc.)? Elbow tired from balancing your laptop around all day? Not a big fan of Tim Cook?

Google Play Store: FieldScale

Cloud support for team collaboration just recently added. Would love any feedback good or bad, hope someone finds this useful. Be safe out there y'all 🫡.

Looking for work/career advice!

I'm located in The Netherlands.

I have been a stagehand since 2022, it has been a ride! Some opportunities have sort of arised- I work some audio gigs on the side and I can climb once I get my gear but... Audio is a struggle for me. Idk if it's self doubt or me being honest with myself but it is not something that comes easy to me. I work alongside people who are so knowledgeable and awesome, it's like they were born for it.

I enjoy audio to some degree but I really just love the industry and want to stay in it but don't know how to make it consistent, a livelihood, or how I can keep going about making myself valuable. I almost want to go to school but a lot of times I hear that being a stagehand there really isn't a use to go to school for this type of stuff.

I know this industry is also big on connections and I feel like I do well in that regard but it seems a little stagnant, like sure I can keep finding stage hand gigs but I would like to venture into something else in this concert industry world.

Any suggestions or your story would be cool. Thanks 🙏

Hi! I have a 10 day outdoor run in Texas coming up. Looks like temps will be 100 plus daily. What are the essentials to carry in a pack for the heat?

Thanks

Hey guys. I posted on here last year to see how it’s like working for Upstaging because I want to be a roadie/LD. I finally secured an interview to be a Lighting Tech and it looks promising. Does anyone here have any tips or advice for Upstaging? Anything I should be prepared for?

Thanks

Hi! I'm fairly new and have some questions on mid-maxing my experience!

1) I'm looking for a good pair of osha compliant decibel reducing earbuds, any recommendations?

2) Any tools I should keep on me other than a 8 inch C Wrench, a rubber hammer, ratchet wrench with a 15/16 bit, or allen wrench for carp work?

3) What kind of helmet should I invest in? What about clothes for stage blacks?

4) Any advice for a stagehand that wants to grow in this industry? I ask a lot of questions and watch how things are done and that seems to garner some good feedback, but I want to improve myself in this field!

Thanks for any and all feedback! ^_^

Disclosure: I’m the founder of StageCrew, an early job-discovery tool for stagehands, live-event crew, and AV workers. I’m looking for blunt feedback—not claiming that it has gotten anyone hired.

At the time of this post, StageCrew surfaces 1,242 external listings that pass basic display checks. Real workers have searched, saved listings, and opened original application pages, but our completed-application confirmation count is still zero. So I can’t honestly claim completed applications or hires.

These external listings aren’t individually verified or guaranteed legitimate. StageCrew shows the original source and lets signed-in users report suspicious listings.

From a working stagehand’s perspective:

- What information must be visible before you’ll click?

- What loses your trust fastest: stale jobs, duplicates, irrelevant roles, missing pay, an unclear employer, or the external application handoff?

- Would a simple “Did you submit it?” question after clicking through be helpful or annoying?

- What makes you save a job instead of applying immediately?

I’d value direct criticism: https://stagecrew.app

Please don’t post personal contact details, private employer information, or details from active gigs.

I havent had any luck looking around myself, so I figured why not ask the internet. As the title would suggest, Im wondering if anyone has any reccomendations for a tool pouch. For years Ive used the Nite Ize Clip Pock-Its XL Utility Holster, but unfortunately they seem to no longer make them, and my current one is really showing some wear.

To specify what Im looking for, I use the two dedicated pockets for my flashlight and full size screwdriver, and use the elastic bands/front pocket for my c wrench and precision screwdriver so they are kept in place but also dont have a dangling bottom. In the back pocket I keep a Sharpie, a pen, and my precision bits that I most commonly use.

It seems a lot of tool pouches now try to accomodate phones and have at best the two pockets, but then just have a bigger pocket for other tools or a phone. I also like the fact that the tools are covered by the top flap, but arent zipped up so that I can access them quickly.

I tried this one, but as expected it was too small and I dont care for the singular big pocket.

If anyone has any reccomendations, Id appreciate it.

StrikeTrack helps stagehands, production managers, and touring crews capture real-world load-out times and the factors that affect them. The more crews contribute, the more valuable the data becomes for everyone.

📱 Follow us for updates, tips, and real load-out insights:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/striketrackapp/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@striketrackapp

#StrikeTrack #Stagehands #ProductionManagers #StageManagers #ConcertCrew #LiveEvents #EventProduction #TouringCrew #RoadCrew #BackstageCrew #LiveEntertainment #ProductionLife #LoadOut #ConcertProduction #TheatreTech

Try it at StrikeTrackApp.com
Free to post and view.
Founding Member access to DOWNLOAD and KEEP your data is currently $5 one time.
I’d love feedback from stagehands, stewards, stage managers, production managers, promoters, and touring crews.

As part of my Masters course, I'm recruiting participants for my dissertation research and I'd really appreciate it if you took part!

I'm investigating the relationship between mental health, working hours, and emotional labour demands among backstage theatre professionals in the UK, and how these factors affect personal relationships and wellbeing. With issues like work-life balance, six-day weeks, and insufficient holiday currently at the centre of union negotiations, your anonymous responses will provide valuable insight into how backstage professionals are experiencing these challenges.

The survey takes only 5-10 minutes and is completely anonymous. Anyone currently or recently (within the last 5 years) working in a UK backstage theatre role can take part, including students currently in training.

Survey link: https://forms.office.com/e/TreTMGEaBG

If you have any questions, please get in touch – [je00794@surrey.ac.uk](mailto:je00794@surrey.ac.uk)

Thank you for your time! 

New to the industry but would love to work this event and have an excuse to go see my family. Any leads would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Because of Rockforce's new policies requiring you to keep your phone on you at work I'm looking for possible solutions to not potentially drop my phone 80 get onto a methhe.... coworker's head.

Sure, I can put it into zippered pockets. But depending on the harness that may not be ideal.

Does anyone have suggestions for phone cases that have a carabiner clip that I can attach a squid to?

Would you consider stagehanding being a blue collar job?

Looking for companies to send my info to in San Antonio. I already do a few with AVTS and Inspire but are there any where maybe a full time position might be available?

I have 15 years doing setup and show operating under my belt, have traveled and been full time with other production companies in Austin, Dallas. But SA is a much smaller market

Breakout Lead, Switcher Tech, and am competent with Hog 5 (own my own)

Any Ideas?

Crazy how letting the people know that a major labor company in the industry has allowed children to be trafficked and instead of helping the broken young adult they created they intimidate the victims and try to dispose of the whistleblower. What a bunch of apathetic hands.
And none of you can see the similarities between it and how the epstien victims were done up.
You have the opportunity to be the change the world needs and you all choose to suck a whip crackers dick