Working on a stage crew can be a terrific experience, as it provides an insight into the entire production process that will stay with you whether you’re just looking to have fun on an amateur basis, or whether you eventually want to design, direct or produce.

However, work on a stage crew can also be dangerous if you’re not careful of your safety. Below are some helpful tips to help you stay safe and injury-free in your work backstage:

General Guidelines for Crew Safety

1. Sign in and out for each rehearsal or work session. This isn’t just courteous and helpful to the production, it ensures that people know where you are and what you’re working on at all times, and helps to keep you safe and accounted for.
2. Dress appropriately. The best garb for stage crew members during the preparation and rehearsal stage should include well-fitting fabrics such as durable jeans, athletic shoes with non-slip soles (or steel-capped boots for heavy construction scenarios), and comfortable, stretchy, polo tees or shirts. Don’t wear loose or flapping clothing items as these can catch on things and pose a safety risk. It’s especially important to protect your hands, legs and feet when working around or manipulating heavy items. If you’ll be involved in moving heavy equipment or scenery, it’s also a good idea to have a back support belt on hand.
3. If you have long hair, tie or clip it back so that it doesn’t impede your vision or risk entanglement with tools or objects.

1. Wear a mask if you’ll be painting or working with powerful turpentines, glues or epoxies.
2. If you will be ascending into rigging areas, or if there is any work going on in the space above your head, you must wear a hard hat or the appropriate protective headgear at all times. (If you think about skipping this suggestion, just imagine a stage light falling on your unprotected head and the damage this would do.)
3. Wear work gloves at all times when you are lifting or moving objects, working with power tools, or handling sharp or rough items.
4. Never operate power tools without careful instruction, testing, approval and monitoring. Always use safety guards. When operating power tools, you should also wear protective gear for eyes and ears at all times.
5. Be mindful of your surroundings, and pay attention to potential dangers or obstacles. Alert the stage manager or other crew members whenever you notice anything of concern.
6. From scissors to chisels to X-acto knives and more, always keep sharp objects or edges pointed away from your hands and body. (At the same time, also make sure they are not pointed toward any other person, as well.)
7. Before climbing a ladder or scaffold, make sure that the base is solidly and firmly anchored, and that you have a second person who will be holding it steady while also serving as a spotter for you during your task. Never ascend higher than official safety markings recommend.