POSITION: Assistant Sound Director
DEPARTMENT: Sound
CLASSIFICATION: Full time /Salaried/ Exempt
SUPERVISOR: Sound Director
OVERVIEW
Founded in 1947 by Nina Vance, the Alley Theatre is a pioneer of regional theatre, and one of the leading nonprofit theatre companies in the United States. The Alley has been awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Tony Award and the Texas Medal of Arts Award. The Alley has transferred productions to Broadway, Off-Broadway, major European Festivals, and to 40 American cities. Unique among regional theatres, the Alley is committed to maintaining a Resident Acting Company and providing them work year-round. Nationally recognized directors, actors, playwrights, and designers from across the country have regularly joined the Resident Acting Company.
Rob Melrose, Artistic Director at the Alley, took over as artistic leader of the organization in 2019. His vision for the future of the Alley is both thrilling and ambitious. His strategic goals include upholding the Alley’s artistic excellence, keeping longtime Alley Theatre devotees eager to return each season, and creating productions and cultivating new audiences that are as diverse and vibrant as the city of Houston.
Rob Melrose, Managing Director Dean Gladden and Alley’s leadership team are committed to promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the Theatre’s programming and operations. We are conscious about fostering an environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves. We embrace differences and strive to be inclusive of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
JOB STATEMENT
The Assistant Sound Director supports the Sound Director in the leadership and management of the Sound department. They will represent the Sound Director in the event of their absence. The Assistant Sound Director will maintain the department’s inventories and capital replacement and improvement projects. They will coordinate and supervise internal and external events for the Sound department. Assist the Sound director to maintain departmental policies and standard operating procedures.
The Assistant Sound Director will serve as a Tech Lead for productions as assigned by the Sound Director. They will facilitate communication between the sound department, guest sound designers and composers, as well as the larger production department, in order to plan and execute the technical aspects of each sound design.
JOB DUTIES
- Assists the Sound Director to advance shows as directed. Tasks vary based on the needs of the production calendar, but can include:
- Work with the designer to create and implement their design within the assigned budget.
- Produce cost estimates for any show specific purchases or rentals.
- Draft sound plots and schematics
- Produce preliminary production paperwork to be detailed by Lead Sound Engineer and Sound Engineers
- Ensure that all drawings and paperwork accurately represent the show as installed; create final archive of all files and documentation according to departmental standards.
- Attend and/or supervise design meetings, load-ins, strikes, work calls, level sessions, tech rehearsals, production meetings, previews and performance work-calls for assigned productions.
- Support Sound Designers and Composers during technical rehearsals and previews in a highly collaborative process that includes the sharing of ideas and suggestions as assigned.
- Maintain the list of work notes according to departmental standards throughout the technical rehearsal process and ensure those notes are clearly articulated to the Lead Engineer and Sound Director for assigned productions.
- Coordinate all auxiliary information for filming, lobby, talkbacks, understudy rehearsals, etc.
- Facilitate and oversee the maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of departmental equipment, and coordinating with the Sound Director any parts and/or supply ordering and equipment pickup as required.
- Assist Sound Director and Director of Video Production to record and edit audio of performances for release to video as assigned.
- Assist recording and editing podcasts, social media, video materials for Marketing/Public Relations as related to productions as assigned.
- Attend and participate in production meetings and other Alley Theatre meetings for the Sound Department as assigned.
- Coordinate and supervise the Sound department’s non-show and capital projects.
- Coordinate and supervise in-house production and external rentals for the Sound department.
- Represent the theatre’s technical resources as required by the Sound Director, Production Management, and Operations Department for theatre programs including, but not limited to additional performances, special events, education, and community outreach programs, building rentals, and other non-Alley building functions.
- Additional duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist the Sound Director in the hiring and personnel management of the Sound Department
- Search, hire, and on board over hire employees for the Sound Department as needed.
- Assist in the development and documentation of departmental standards and procedures.
- Set detailed crew schedule for show staff in coordination with the Sound Director and Lead Engineer
- Assist in overseeing budgetary resources including making and documenting requested purchases, to ensure compliance with the budget.
- Demonstrates and models’ industry best practices.
- Promote and model a safe and efficient working environment in all sound areas of the theatre and related work and storage spaces in keeping with all theatre safety policies, and by maintaining cleanliness and organization.
