The Scene Shop

A Day in the Life: Carpenter

Take a look at this video produced by the Center Theatre Group where they talk with one of their scenic carpenters about their job and what it is like.

Working In Theatre: The Carpenters who Set the Scene Links to an external site.

Sections of the Shop

Whenever you walk into a new scene shop, there can be a lot to take in. But it is usually divided into a few sub-sections. Identifying where these sub-sections are in a particular shop can help you know quickly where to go to do what you need, or to grab a certain tool or material.

In general, most shops are arranged for a single direction workflow with raw materials storage at one end of the shop, final products leaving out the other end, and as much open, reconfigurable space in the middle as possible. Flexibility in the central areas of the shop is very important since the size of scenery pieces can vary drastically between small, portable pieces and huge, unwieldy pieces.

• Tool Room - the storage area for all of the hand tools, portable power tools, measuring equipment, drill bits, and blades. Often has extra safety equipment as well.
• Material racks - used to hold all dimensional and sheet raw materials (both wood and metal).
• Fastener Cabinets - drawers, bins, or other similar containers that hold all the various types, sizes, and shapes of fasteners used in construction. These are always sub-divided and labeled by type and size.
• Build deck - typically a big, flat, open area in the shop where the carpenters will layout and assemble the scenery. Some will have a handful of large work tables on wheels so the carpenters can work while standing instead of needing to kneel on the floor.
• Stationary Power Tools - large saws and other tools that cannot move easily. Are often placed towards edges or one side of work space/build deck to allow as much room to assemble scenery as possible.
• Metal Shop - area of the shop meant specifically for metal working, including cutting, grinding, and welding. It is located far away from wood and sawdust (which are very flammable) and often has a red or UV-filtered plastic screen around it to protect other people's eyes from exposure to the welding arc.

No matter how the shop is laid out though, it is important to clean work areas frequently, empty trashcans regularly, and put tools away once they are done being used. By keeping things clean and organized, the shop will be more efficient.

Safety First

The scene shop (and theatre as a whole) can be a dangerous place. There are many hazardous conditions including heavy objects, spinning blades, loud noises, and particle dust that can all lead to permanent damage due to exposure or if an accident happened. This isn't meant to scare you but instead to prepare you for why protecting yourself is important.

What to Wear

Eyes

Safety glasses or goggles are a must at all times. They are often not your most fashionable accessory, but they will protect your eyes from saw dust, metal shavings, chemicals, and accidental poking. Even if you wear glasses, you need safety glasses. The main difference? They are shatter proof so they won't send a bunch of broken glass into your eyes if they get broken.

Ears

Power tools, especially saws, are very loud and long exposure to these noises can result in long-term damage. The best way to counter this is to use ear protection like earplugs or earmuffs (not the fluffy winter kind) whenever you are cutting wood and metal or when drilling into something like concrete.

Clothing

You will be moving around a lot, on your feet constantly, and working around lots of different materials and tools. It is important that your clothes are strong, durable, and are ok getting dusty or dirty. They are also one of the first lines of protection for your body, so they should fit and cover your body well. Jeans are great; shorts less great. Avoid baggy clothing (could get caught in tools or on scenic pieces) and avoid clothing that is too tight and restricts your movement.

Hair should be pulled back if long and it is highly recommended that jewelry (unless small) be removed for all work calls. Jewelry, especially jewelry that dangles, should not be worn or be as small as possible. These 

Shoes

Closed-toed shoes with sturdy soles are a must. You will be on your feet for long amounts of time and are around loose nails, screws, staples, and other potentially nasty things that you do not want to end up in your foot. If the sole of your shoe can bend, it is not sturdy enough.

Steel toed boots, while expensive, are a great investment for anyone who plans to work in a scene shop long term. Their soles are extremely hard and there is a steel toe covering that helps protect your feet from anything that can fall onto them.