Tech Challenge

​The Tech Challenge is a series of events that are designed to test your knowledge of basic skills that every technician should have. The combination of team and individual events underline the principle that theatre technicians do not work alone and an ensemble that works together to accomplish the given tasks makes the production successful. In technical theatre both time and accuracy are critical to a successful outcome. As artists we demand excellence in the tasks we are given, but as technicians we also have to perform the tasks quickly and efficiently so as not to disrupt the production process. Starting 2019 changes will be taking place in different events to include additional skills/knowledge related to that event.. The Light Hang and Focus is the first event to have this change( see updated Tech Challenge Guide for Specifics) and will include other events in the coming years. Short video tutorials for each event are in the works and will be added to the site when completed. 

Your team can have five (5) to (7) seven members but ‘team events’ have a specific number.

​The Tech Challenge consists of 4 events, individual and team (or pair) events. These events represent the basic skills that every technician should possess to be well-rounded theatre professionals. See individual event for details. There shall be a team score sheet carried by the teams for their results from the judges.

All participants MUST wear closed toed shoes on the event floor.  If the judges determine a student is not wearing appropriate footwear, the student will not be allowed to compete.

Download Guide 

2019_texas_tech_challenge_guide_updated.pdf
File Size: 645 kb
File Type: pdf
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2019 Events
  • Lighting: Interpret a Light Plot, Hanging and focusing an ERS Fixture (individual event)
  • Costumes: Quick change (three member event)
  • Rigging: Knot tying (individual event)
Mystery Event
Mystery event will be one of the following:
  • Crew: Prop Shift (Pair Event)
  • Scenery: Leg a platform (Pair Event)
  • Audio: Sound System Setup (Pair Event)
  • Lighting/Audio Cable Roll Up Relay (Team Event)
  • Scenic: Fold a Drop (Team Event)
  • Rigging ( Individual Event)
Clarification on the number of tries per event:
  • Knots – (Individual Event). Two people per team can try this event, and each gets one try
  • Lights – (Team Event). Two people per team with one try. 
  • Sew a button – (Individual Event) Two people per team can participate in this event, and each gets one try.
  • Costumes – (Pair Event) One pair from the team;  - one try.
  • Tape a floor – (Team Event)  - one try.
  • Fold a drop – (Team Event)  - one try.
  • Prop Shift - (Pair Event) One pair per team; one try.
  • Leg a platform - (Pair Event) One pair per team; one try.
  • Sound Setup - (Pair Event) One pair per team; one try.
  • Cable Relay - (Team Event) - one try.