Stagehand Metal, Machinery & Related Trades Workers
SaveWhat Does a Stagehand Do?
Stagehands assist stage technicians setting up and preparing equipment for live performance. Their work includes setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.
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Where Do I Start?
Follow Safety Procedures When Working At Heights
Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Stagehand
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialFollow Safety Procedures When Working At Heights skill
Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrevent Fire In A Performance Environment skill
Take steps to prevent fire in a performance environment. Make sure the space complies with fire safety rules, with sprinklers and fire extinguishers installed where necessary. Make sure staff are …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Personal Protection Equipment skill
Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork Ergonomically skill
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork Safely With Machines skill
Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork Safely With Mobile Electrical Systems Under Supervision skill
Take the necessary precautions while providing temporary power distribution for performance and art facility purposes under supervision.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork With Respect For Own Safety skill
Apply the safety rules according to training and instruction and based on a solid understanding of the prevention measures and risks to your own personal health and safety.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssemble Scenic Elements On Stage skill
Assemble scenic elements, dance and stage floors and stage cloths, based on written documents
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssemble The Rehearsal Set skill
Put together all prepared scenic elements to prepare the rehearsal set.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssemble Truss Constructions skill
Use trusses, metal structures that derive strength from their construction involving triangular shapes, to construct stages for performances.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDismantle The Rehearsal Set skill
Take apart all prepared scenic elements after the rehearsal.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Scenic Elements During Rehearsal skill
Handle and assemble equipment and scenery material during rehearsal or on stage.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialModify Scenic Elements During Performance skill
Change-over of scenic elements during performance, and follow the relevant documentation during performance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 10 displayed)
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OptionalScaffolding Components knowledge
The different components of which scaffolding is constructed, their usage cases and limitations. Weight bearing properties of each component and how they are assembled.
Recommended Books
2 booksScaffolding, a Treatise on the Design and Erection of Scaffold, Gantries, and Stagings, With an Account of the Appliances Used in Connection Therewith, With a Chapter on the Legal Aspect of the Question -
OptionalAssemble Performance Equipment skill
Set up sound, light and video equipment on stage before performance event according to specifications.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalBuild Scaffolding skill
Assemble temporary scaffolding structures for construction, maintenance or event-related purposes. Set vertical standards on the base plate of the scaffolding structure. Ensure the scaffolding structure is secured from lateral forces …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform First Fire Intervention skill
Intervene in the case of a fire in order to extinguish the fire or limit the effects pending the arrival of emergency services according to training and procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSet Up Cameras skill
Put cameras in place and prepare them for use.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalStore Performance Equipment skill
Safely dismantle sound, light and video equipment after a performance event. Make sure the equipment is correctly stored away.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDismantle Scaffolding skill
Safely dismantle a scaffolding structure according to a plan and in the set order.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalInspect Scaffolding skill
After the scaffolding structure has been completed, inspect it for compliance with safety standards, weight bearing properties, tensile strength, resistance to wind, any other outside influences and ergonomics.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSet Up Follow Spots skill
Set up and test follow spots in different types of locations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSet Up Pyrotechnical Equipment skill
Make sure the pyrotechnic equipment for a performance is set up and ready for operation.
Course recommendations coming soon.