Overview
The Technical Director, TD for short, is responsible for the construction of the set, organizing builds, keeping track of hours, Put-In, Strike, and the safety of everyone involved with the show.
Before Tech Week
Builds
The TD should begin scheduling builds as soon as possible. This varies from show to show, but builds should start at the latest the weekend after final set design is due. All actors are required to complete some number of Pre-Put-In hours, the number of which vary from show to show. These hours are completed by working at set builds, at costume builds, or in any other way the TD sees fit.
Builds need not be dedicated to the completion of a given set piece. It is often advantageous to measure and cut lumber at builds, especially as put-in approaches. Keep in mind that anything constructed at builds must live in the office until Tech Week and must fit in the freight elevator.
Meeting with CAC
The TD is responsible for meeting with CAC to get final approval for the set design a week or two before Tech Week. Our current contact at CAC is Chris Nayler (nayler@mit.edu). The producer should also attend this meeting, and it can be helpful for the set designer to be present. The meeting typically consists of a short summary of the set from the set design and a quick run-through of the technical design of any particularly challenging or unique set elements.
Tech Week
Put-In
Put-In is the first day that the Ensemble is in space and is the single most important day for sets. Lights are hung, masonite is placed, big things are built, etc, etc. Generally Put-In officially runs from 7 am to 8 pm, though in reality it can go much later. Each member of the cast is required to attend Put-In for a a number of hours which varies from show to show. The TD should schedule actors ahead of time and attempt to distribute manpower throughout the day. The TD Additionally, the TD should talk to lights, costumes, and props to see if/how much manpower they anticipate requiring during Put-In.
Put-In is the TD's baby and everyone at Put-In is the TD's bitch. The TD must be present in space for the entirety of Put-In. A list of jobs-which-need-doing should be bouncing around in his/her head, as actors will need direction. Delegating is a good thing; life will run much more smoothly if a competent person is placed in charge of a given project so the TD doesn't need to worry about every detail. Less competent actors can be shoved at these more competent people and told to ask them how they can help, freeing up the TD to put out fires or deal with other actors. Some tasks should be done by the TD, however, especially any job that would take more time to explain than complete. The TD is not above the fray and shouldn't be afraid to get their hands dirty.