Depending on where one wants to work, there are a variety of ways to become a stagehand. People who want to work as stagehands, for example, will need to join a union in some areas and will be unable to find work otherwise. Non-union work is plentiful in other areas, though people may choose to join a union for certain benefits. People who want to work as stagehands should be physically fit and willing to work long, hard hours, including hours at odd hours, in all cases.
Working from the ground up is one way to become a stagehand. Volunteering with community theaters and similar organizations can provide people with the necessary experience to begin working in professional theaters right away. Trainee stagehands will be given very basic tasks by professional theaters to familiarize them with the basics of the job before allowing them to specialize in props, scenery, electric, sound, rigging, and other departments. To work as a stagehand for a professional theater in a large city, it may be necessary to join a union, in which case the process can be complicated by the process of applying for union membership.
Going to school is another option for someone who wants to work as a stagehand. Stagehand training is available at some vocational schools, and people can also learn the trade by enrolling in theater programs at colleges and universities. After completing the program, the graduate will be a fully competent stagehand with experience working on a variety of productions such as dance performances, live theater, film, television, pageants, concerts, and so on. Applicants with these credentials can apply for jobs in their field of interest as well as union membership.
Stagehands can be a close-knit group, making it difficult to break into this field. Someone who wants to work as a stagehand should build a large network of friendships and connections, as it may be difficult to obtain union membership and jobs otherwise. Stagehands must also choose between working in a variety of venues and productions in a general area or working full-time for a single production company, such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Someone who wants to work as a stagehand should have an interest in production. Understanding the history of the types of productions one works on and appreciating the arts are both beneficial, as a better understanding of the productions stagehands work on will help them perform their tasks more effectively.