The Momentum & The Magic
Welcome back! If you haven’t read Part 1: The Mindset & The Map, go give it a read—it sets the tone and foundation. If you’re here because you’re in the thick of it? Breathe deep. You’re in the right place.
This section is about how to run tech week in real time—keeping it flexible, functional, and focused on growth. You’ve done the prep. Now let’s get to the good part: watching your work come to life.
Running Tech Week in Real Time
Tech week isn’t smooth. It’s layered. It stumbles before it soars—and that’s the point.
The first full run is supposed to be messy. It’s how you learn. Don’t panic. Let the “first walk” happen. You’ll see where the seams need reinforcing and where your team is already soaring.
“Start with the hardest things first—quick changes, tricky transitions—then go back and fill in the easy parts. You’ll save more time than you think.”
Kristi Ross-Clausen
Stage Manager & Theatre Safety Expert
Give Your Front-of-House Team Their Moment Too
Your FOH and box office teams aren’t just extras. They’re part of the production—and they need tech week just as much as the actors do.
FOH Tech Week Must-Dos:
- Walk the space: Know seating layouts, accessibility paths, restroom locations, and emergency exits.
- Review the box office spiel: What do you say when someone forgot their ticket? When someone’s in the wrong seat? What’s your late seating plan?
- Test your tech: Make sure printers are online. Print an order, don’t just assume it works. Check chip readers. Charge everything.
- Organize inventory: Concessions and paper materials should be stored securely but accessibly.
- Make it welcoming: Check lighting, outlets, and signage. Walk in like a patron—would you feel welcomed?
- Practice with your people: Don’t wing it. Have greeters, ushers, and volunteers rehearse their roles.
Giving your FOH team a tech run lets them get their nerves out before opening night. It builds confidence—and prevents panic.
Want more FOH tools?
Check out our FOH Ambassador Guide—full of ideas for training, language, and logistics for a smooth front-of-house experience.
Managing the Schedule Without Becoming the Problem
I love a good schedule. I’ve built tech calendars with color-coding that would make Google jealous. But the truth? I often ignored them in real time.
I’d get sidetracked by a lighting cue, a prop fix, or answering a dozen questions… and suddenly dinner break was 40 minutes late.
Solution? Assign a timekeeper. My SM or a booster volunteer would give me gentle reminders—”30 minutes till break,” “15 till end of day.” It was one of the best delegations I ever made.
“Tech week is a juggling act. Everyone is holding their own ball. Don’t try to juggle theirs. Just keep doing your part—and the whole thing works.”
Nicholas Osenberg
Lighting Designer & Educator
Protecting Energy, Not Just Cues
Burnout doesn’t show up all at once. It creeps in silently. And it kills momentum. That’s why I built intentional resets into every tech week—small rituals to protect morale and re-center the room.
Simple Reset Rituals:
- Two-minute breathing break between tech acts.
- “Shout-out board” breaks—read something kind from a castmate.
- Let a student share a win before dismissal.
- Rotate minor crew duties just to reset the energy.
You’ll get more done by giving the room a break than pushing through burnout.
“You’ve done all the work. Tech week should be fun.”
Mandi Stevens
Stage Manager, VLS Technology
Yes, there are long days and unexpected hiccups—but if you’ve prepared well, this is the week when the magic starts to feel real. The lights come up. The transitions start to glide. You see that spark in your actors’ eyes that says, “We’re almost there.”
Resilience, Recovery, and the Joy of Letting Go
Something will break. Someone will forget a cue. You’ll misplace something and find it taped to a wall three days later. That’s not failure—it’s tech week.
Let it go.
The real win isn’t when the show runs perfectly—it’s when the cast and crew know how to respond when it doesn’t. When your team resets with confidence. When your students lead without being prompted. When your volunteers solve problems without waiting for your approval.
That’s the moment you know the process worked.
Tech week isn’t a test. It’s a transition.
Final Thoughts
You’ve built the foundation. You’ve prepped the space. You’ve empowered your people. Now comes the best part:
Let them fly.
Your job now is to cheer, support, troubleshoot quietly… and celebrate.
Because tech week isn’t about directing every detail—it’s about letting your team rise, knowing they can.
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