Here are some opportunities for young people starting out in the live entertainment industry.
Scenic Technical Design and Engineering, PRG
Overview
Paid Internships at Production Resource Group are educational work experiences for individuals who wish to explore a career with PRG and/or develop hands-on knowledge and skill in the business of entertainment technology. PRG provides structured yet flexible programs where interns rotate through the various functions of a particular discipline, giving them a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of the field.
The internship program is 12 weeks. The Summer Program runs approximately *Mid to late May- Beg/Mid-August (*dates may vary).
Each Scenic Technical Design & Engineering intern will:
- Draft & work on the constant stream of fabrication drawings required to build shows. Drafting could include everything from simple scenic elements to custom winch machines and automated effects with multiple axes of motion.
- Assist with mechanical design, drafting of structural scenery, detailing drawings, researching materials and components for use in a design, and work on standardizing re-usable designs.
- Shadow PRG staff and support the Scenic Technical Design & Engineering Department.
- Get hands-on experience in the technical aspects and business aspects of our business.
- Learn how our operations managers and supervisors manage the workflow, receive an in-depth understanding of each worker’s responsibilities.
- Intern will have regular 1:1 meetings with their department supervisor, and regular check-ins with the Intern Coordinator.
- *Intern may have option work at show site where PRG has installations such as trade shows, corporate events and live events (*not guaranteed)
Qualifications
- Experience in technical design, mechanical engineering, technical direction, and/or scenic carpentry.
- Working knowledge in AutoCAD and/or Inventor required. Experience in Vectorworks, Sketchup, Rhino, SolidWorks is a plus.
- Must be able to create drawings or finish drawings, assist with material take offs, organize drawing sets and other assignments related to Technical Design.
- May perform other incidental tasks, as needed.
- All applicants must be eligible to work in the country where the internship is located.
- For internships in the US, students must pass a drug test prior to employment.
We are looking for applicants who match ANY of the following:
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or higher-level degree program in technical theater or engineering college program.
- Technology specializing in any of our disciplines or a complementary field or
- Have received an appropriate degree within the past two years or
- Have appropriate background in the entertainment technology industry
Physical demands
- Must be able to stand or sit for long periods of time
The pay for this intern position is estimated to be $18 hr. Actual pay to be determined by the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant combined with location and alignment with market data
Project Management Intern – Rigging Department, Gopher Stage Lighting
Description
Gopher Stage Lighting is offering (1) full-time (40 hrs./wk.) summer internship position for undergraduate or graduate students interested in learning and experiencing real-world installations of theatrical and arena rigging equipment within a commercial construction environment. This individual will work directly with the GSL Rigging Project managers to install and commission new systems in a variety of different end markets (schools, universities, arenas, studios, independent theaters, etc.) throughout the Midwest. This is a paid position with a salary range of $700 – 900/week based on qualifications.
Reporting Relationships: This position reports to the CEO
Responsibilities:
- Plan, Coordinate, Oversee, and Assist with stage rigging system installations
- Rigging system installations may include but are not limited to: Counterweight, dead-hung, curtains and track, motorized hoists, pipe grids, custom installations
- Oversight and direction of installation crews comprised of union, non-union, and subcontractors
- Take field measurements and verify dimensions for in-house drafting team
- Complete drawing analysis and takeoffs, confirm bills of materials for jobs ensuring accuracy and completeness for each project prior to installation.
- Source and order materials from vendors to meet project schedules and delivery timelines.
- Communicate daily progress reports and status updates
- Ride-along with rigging inspector to see a variety of different system types and conditions.
- Assist in the programming and commissioning of ETC and/or JR Clancy automated hoists
- Assist with data entry into our corporate accounting and project management software to ensure proper documentation and records for ongoing projects.
Benefits of Working for GSL:
- Indoor work environment: all of our projects are completed near the last phases of building construction – often in air conditioned spaces and always out of the elements.
- Multiple projects: our longest on-site installations take about 6 weeks to complete so this position will experience a wide range of jobsites and conditions over the summer
Communication:
The internship position offers the opportunity to communicate with all members of the GSL team from the CEO, Department Managers, Project Managers, Technicians and Accountants to better understand overall business operations in this unique industry.
Qualifications:
- Pursuing (or recently completed) a BS/BA degree in Construction Management, Business, Engineering, Theater or other technical related background.
- Willingness to travel to jobsites throughout a 5-state area including MN, WI, IA, SD & ND, and be out of town for several days at a time.
- Able to work at heights, climb ladders and lift/pull 50lbs – comfortable on construction sites
- Strong mechanical aptitude preferred – basic understanding of cable and pulley systems along with basic static and dynamic load comprehension.
- Proficiency with jobsite power tools, metalworking tools, layout tools, and material handling equipment.
- Experience with reading construction drawings and updating as-builts with BlueBeam,
- Excellent analytical skills with a design focus.
- Have a valid drivers license and a clean driving record.
- Able to pass background check to be on K-12 school properties
Gopher Stage Lighting values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
Gopher Stage Lighting is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.
Technical Services Internship (Burbank), ACT Entertainment
ACT Entertainment is offering flexible internships that will give you hands-on experience with the industry’s leading lighting technologies. If you have the passion to learn, the willpower to work hard, and the desire to help others, come and join us! You will have the opportunity to work with the software and hardware being used on the biggest shows in the world.
Internships at ACT Entertainment strengthen your communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as your overall knowledge of the entertainment lighting industry from an inside perspective. After completion of the internship, we will look to hire the top talent in the industry to work for ACT Entertainment.
ACT Internships are designed to be well-rounded, and flexible to the needs of the intern (and their school if for credit). Interns will typically spend a approximately 160 hours as an intern and will be paid for their time. The intern's time will be allocated among the following departments (along with a few examples of projects in which they might participate):
- MA Lighting Software Support
- Test customer problem reports
- Attend a 2-day class
- Assist in the creation of new ACT Academy content
- MA Lighting Hardware Support & Repair
- Learn preventive maintenance and basic electronics repair
- Shopout (i.e. test) MA Lighting equipment
- Fixture Support (including Ayrton, Robert Juliat, and MDG)
- Learn preventive maintenance and basic fixture repair
- Shopout (i.e. test) equipment
If an intern's particular situation needs specific requirements to be met (e.g. to be eligible for school credit), we will try to accommodate as much as possible.