Theatre Was a Mistake
Theatre was always at odds with my passion—music. I wanted the stage, but only with my guitar in hand. The technical intricacies of automated fly bars and lighting design were the furthest things from my desires. However, life has a funny way of pushing us into spaces we never imagined. Getting involved in theater was a mistake. But before I knew it, I found myself drawn deeper into a world that I never planned to embrace, one built not on music alone, but on a different kind of stagecraft altogether. An unexpected journey into Technical Theater.
I was thrust into the world of live music at an early age, being the 14 year old bassist of one of my country’s biggest and heaviest rock/metal bands. This very underground music scene was enthralling and I soaked in my surroundings like a brand new sponge. The recording studio nearby saw me day after day, quietly sitting in on recording sessions, observing in awe as I watched the pros in action. Music was my calling, and I was sticking to it.
From a very young age, I knew that music performance could not pay the bills. Especially this type of music which, after almost two decades of being widely misjudged and ignored by most of the country, has just now started getting the recognition it deserves in Trinidad and Tobago. We were paid so little for the shows we played. I was about 19 when I finally got paid ‘enough’. I took home roughly $178 dollars after playing a massive show featuring bands like Evanescence, Life House and Stephen Marley. As a result of these factors, I decided to pursue a career behind the scenes, in the capacity of music producer and sound engineer.
I strategically completed my 6th Form/A level studies as a back-up plan while I watched the construction of the new Academy for the Performing Arts campus take place quite literally across the street from my high school. I was (and still am) very practical and strategic. The plan— enroll in the Academy’s Digital Media Studies- Music Technology program after first securing my back-up plan in the form of my associate degree equivalent studies (Form 6). My plans kept my eye on the prize and kept me going. The time came for me to apply to this new university program. I submitted, interviewed and was successful. Arts studies here I come!
The Mistake
After the first year of music technology studies, progress slowed until things went stagnant and the students in the program were in limbo. Being the “guinea pigs” for this inaugural program meant being prepared to take the L at a certain point. We were made aware that due to some unfortunate circumstance, we’d either have to accept a Certificate level study in Music Technology, or transfer into the “Theater, Design and Production” specialization to acquire the credits needed to graduate with a Performing Arts degree. I was in turmoil over this decision for some time. Reluctant to leave without that degree I’d planned to receive, I caved to the new, imposed program.
Acting 101, Dance 101, Stagecraft, Drafting, Form and Structure, and Music History were some of the foundations and electives available. Almost against my own will, I found myself in a classroom dissecting stage diagrams instead of sound waves. I ditched class often, choosing to instead drive to the nearby city’s university where most of my other friends were studying. As you can infer, I was totally disillusioned. However, as the lessons grew more practical, the world of theater began to lure me in with its demands for creativity and precision, awareness and flow.
The Realization
The program consisted of heaps of practical examinations and practices for credit. I spent most of my time on stage, backstage and in lighting and design labs. Within those two years and before the end of my studies, I’d teched countless cultural live performances, created my first ever sound design for the theatrical production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the famous Trinidad Theater Workshop and designed lighting for at least 6 performances across multiple venues. In my final year of school, I lit every year group’s final performance. I was obsessed.
I fell in love with technical theater. My professors and mentors opened my eyes in relatable ways to a breadth of possibilities when it came to set design, costuming and the backstage choreography that theater technicians do so well— For the non-theater people reading this, we aren’t actually dancing, rather moving, weaving, setting and standing by with purpose and grace. Through the good work that I was able to accomplish during that time, I was later recruited as Vocal Producer and Assistant Audio Engineer at the same studio I frequented as a teen with my band a few years prior. Due to the network that my studies provided me, I landed a gig lighting my first professional production of The Wiz at the renowned Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain, and worked with amazing production teams. Within six months of graduation, I was working as a Theater Technician for one of the world’s biggest international entertainment companies.
The entire time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all a mistake. And in a way, it was. I never set out to pursue a career in theater. But somehow, I found my place within it. I excelled in it. Reflecting at this moment 12 years after I made that “mistake”, I could not be happier and prouder of my professional growth. I never would have thought I’d be referring to myself as “the person you call when you need to get things done right with a short timeline”, but I do, and I am. What I least expected became the very thing I now treasure most. Theater may have been an accident, but it turned out to be the most rewarding mistake of my life.
The Takeaways
Life is Full of Surprises
Despite having no initial interest in theater, a shift in academic focus led to a newfound love . The journey from reluctance to a thriving career in the theater space illustrates the beauty of embracing unexpected opportunities. Sometimes detours reveal unexpected passions.
Practical Experience Builds Career Momentum
Hands-on work in the field of technical theater, from lighting design to sound engineering, opened up professional opportunities both locally and internationally. Real-world experience is so important in building a career.
Networks and Connections Are Invaluable
Connections formed during studies and early career stages played a crucial role for me in getting my name out there and securing work. Never underestimate the power of networking in the creative industries.
Flexibility Can Lead to Growth
Shifting from music technology to theater production was initially a setback, but it allowed for personal and professional growth in an entirely new field.
Photos provided by Megan Gill
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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