The technical rehearsal or tech rehearsal is a rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, in theatrical, musical, and filmed entertainment.

Types of tech rehearsals

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Tech rehearsals generally are broken down into two types: wet tech rehearsals and dry tech rehearsals. Both consist of fully testing out all of the technology being used in the performance (lighting, sound, machinery, special effects, etc.) to diagnose and prevent mistakes from occurring during the actual performance.

Dry tech

The dry tech is essentially a rehearsal without the performers. It is a period, usually lasting multiple hours, where each head production designer runs his or her segment of the production. It is also a chance for the tech crew who will operate the equipment to become familiar with the flow of the performance. Usually it consists of the lights being cued in sequential order, fixing any problems along the way such as brightness, angle, framing, or position.

Then a sound check is initiated to check the levels of the music, sound effects, or microphones to be used during the performance. Changes are made as necessary to correct volume, pitch, or feedback problems.

Lastly, for stage shows, the fly rigs or battens are tested for weight and accuracy of cueing with sound and lights.

There may be an extra step for particularly effect-intensive productions, such as film, TV, or Broadway-style stage shows, where the crew tests any special effects that require systems such as rain, fire, or explosions. When this is completed to the director's and production designer's satisfaction, the crew is ready to move onto the wet tech.

Wet tech

The wet tech rehearsal includes the performers. It runs through the entire production, either in its entirety or cue-to-cue. A cue-to-cue is when the sound and lights are run with certain parts of scenes within the production. Usually a scene will start with the first few lines and then skip to the lines and staged blocking for the next cue. This whole process can take many hours, and though it is beneficial for all aspects of production, it can become very tedious. They have been known to run long hours, mainly due to multiple runs of the show within the tech.

Often included in the wet tech are the final show props. These props differ from rehearsal props because they are not just placeholders, they are the props to be used in the actual production. This is so that a performer can become acquainted with the true prop before the actual performance so as not to look awkward when using it. It is also to test the durability of the final prop, as well as how the props will look under the final stage lighting.

Costumes are usually reserved for the dress rehearsals, but sometimes they are brought in to test the costumes against the final stage lighting as well, so as not to produce a conflict in color differentiation in the final product.

During the wet tech, all of the previous actions taken during the dry tech are repeated, so as to check lighting in concordance with the staged blocking and stage placement (for example, finding whether the performer is in the light's hotspot or not, or how the followspot operates), check the levels on the performer's microphones (if used) and how well the performers can project if orating concurrently with sound or music, allow the performers to know when there are incoming flying rigs, allow performers to experience and become accustomed to the special effects that will occur so that it will not interfere with the actual performance and generally make sure the director and designers are happy with all aspects of the production that can be seen or heard.

Once completed as many times as the director feels comfortable, the wet tech will end. Any number of actions can usually be taken after a wet tech such as the running of problematic scenes or acts, another dry tech to work out problematic technical issues, or certain performers may be held to work with certain effects that the other performers aren't needed for. After all this is completed, the tech rehearsal is officially over, and the next rehearsal to be performed is the dress rehearsal, then final dress.

Pick-up tech rehearsals

Occasionally, if productions run for long periods or if performers are away from the production for prolonged periods, pick-up tech rehearsals are scheduled. Pick-ups usually consist of covering problem areas from previous shows, rehearsing difficult effects or transitions, or rehearsing newly-introduced technical aspects. Usually lasting no longer than a few hours, they sometimes will be held on different days or times as performance pick-ups so as not to bog down the performers or to detract from the performing rehearsal aspect of the show.

Technical rehearsals may run in a different order than indicated above, or possibly include other production departments, such as sets, CGI effects, or even costumes.

See also

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• Technical week

Film production | Theatre