Special Events
Calling all backstage wizards! 🔧🎭 Test your skills, show off your speed, and prove you’re the ultimate crew champion at the Tech Olympics. Choose your challenge — Hang & Focus, Rigging Knots, or Scene Shift — and race the clock to see who’s fastest. This high-energy event celebrates the craft, precision, and hustle of theatre technicians.
Tech Olympics are Sat Feb 7 from 7:15-9:00pm in Stage One.
Categories
LIGHTING HANG
Hang a lighting instruments on a provided pipe, focus those instruments on a given shapes, and install a color filter in the frame
TEAM SIZE 1 PERSON
KNOT TYING
The participant must correctly demonstrate their ability to tie three knots: A clove hitch with two half hitches and a bowline around a pipe.
TEAM SIZE 1 PERSON
PROP CHANGE
A team of two participants will strike existing props from a given on-stage table to a marked prop table, and then take a different set of props from the prop table and set them up properly onstage.
TEAM SIZE 2 PERSON
Lighting Hang Details
LIGHTING HANG COMPETITION STEPS
Total Time Limit: 5 min
Stand behind the start/finish line
The timing will begin on the signal (GO) from the adjudicator.
Pick up instrument from the ground and hang them at the indicated locations on the pipe provided.
Tighten the clamp properly, appropriately install the safety cable, and pull the shutters open.
Use available cables to power up the instruments, focus them on the provided pattern on the wall, and tighten the instruments down properly. Focus must be sharp and cut to the lines.
Install color filter into the instrument.
Once the participant has completed the focus on the instrument, return to the start/finish line to complete the event. Timing will stop when participant has crossed the start/finish line.
After they have been adjudicated, and all participants have finished, properly strike the instruments from the pipe and return all equipment to the appropriate starting positions.
Once instruments are stored properly, color filters are returned, and wrenches are replaced, participants are finished.
LIGHTING HANG TIME PENALTIES
Total Time Limit: 5 min
45 Seconds - Dropping a lighting instrument
15 Seconds - Instrument hung upside down
15 Seconds - Forgot gel frame
15 Seconds - Safety cable not installed properly
15 Seconds - C- clamp loose
10 seconds - dropping anything other than a lighting instrument (C-wrench, gel frame, etc.)
10 Seconds - Placing any items in mouth
10 Seconds - Shutters not open before plugging in
5 Seconds - loose yoke handle / loose wing nut / loose pin screw / loose focus knob / loose barrel knob
3 Seconds - Spring clip, not closed after installing gel frame
5 Seconds - Incorrect shutter cuts
5 Second - Focus not sharp
Knot Tying Details
KNOT TYING COMPETITION STEPS
Total time limit: 5 min
Participant may arrange the ropes prior to beginning the event. No rope may be placed on the pipe, and no rope may be pre-shaped.
Stand behind start/finish line. On the signal (GO) from the adjudicator, the timing will begin. Participant may now leave the start/finish line.
Use one of the ropes provided to tie a clove hitch with two half hitches on the provided pipe.
After completing the first knot move on to the next knot
Tie a bowline through eye of the bolt attached to the scenery element
When all knots are completed, the participant will return to the starting area to stop the timer.
After adjudication the participant will untie the knots and return the rope to its starting position.
NOTE: Knots may be tied in any order.
KNOT TYING TIME PENALTIES
30 Seconds each - Knot tied incorrectly
10 Seconds - Putting rope in mouth
5 Seconds each - Tails too short (less than three inches)
5 Seconds each - Tails too long (longer than 12 inches)
5 Seconds each - Knot tied too loose
5 seconds - Second Half Hitch tied backwards
DQ - Participant does not assist with reset of event for next participant
LEARN HOW TO TIE THE KNOTS
Prop Change Details
PROP CHANGE COMPETITION STEPS
Total Time Limit: 5 min
Prior to the event, participants may have time to look over "off-stage" props and photos of the setup. No touching or presetting of props is allowed.
Stand behind the start/finish line. The timing will begin on the signal (GO) from the adjudicator. Participants may now leave the start/finish line.
Change over to the new scene.
Move all unneeded items to their marked "off-stage" location
When you're finished, return to the start /finish line.
Once the participants return to the finish line, the timer is stopped
After adjudication, assist in moving back to the starting scene
PROP CHANGE TIME PENALTIES
10 Seconds - Any prop dropped on floor
5 Seconds - clanking props/making noise with props
5 Seconds - Picking up or carrying props in a manner that may damage or break prop
5 Seconds - Placing any item in the mouth
5 Seconds- Wrong prop placed
3 Seconds -not set in proper orientation -US/DS
3 Seconds per item -Improper position - missed mark on prop table