Sound Design - Acting Thesis

Prior to starting work on any Columbia Theatre production, please make sure to read and understand the duties and stipulations for general design work at Columbia and the specific design area as detailed below.

General Information for All Design Disciplines

• The Theatre Program will only be responsible for department-approved designs that are received by their designated deadlines.
• Columbia property may not be altered without express permission.
• It is the responsibility of each designer to keep and fill out a comprehensive list of their items, categorizing everything by owner and location origin.
• There are no deliveries of purchased goods available on the weekends.
• All items purchased by the production budget are the property of Columbia University after the production.
• NYU designers need faculty permission from NYU to participate in Columbia SOA thesis productions.
• If a designer is going to be remote for all or most of the design process, their participation in the production must be approved by the relevant production staff to ensure that the designer’s in-person duties are adequately covered by a member of the production team. It is strongly recommended that designers be able to attend in-person rehearsals and meetings.
• A written and signed agreement indemnifying Columbia of liability must be provided for any items loaned to the production or borrowed for the production from sources outside Columbia.  This form will be provided by the Production Manager.

Sound Designer Responsibilities

• Present at all Columbia Production Meetings, Sound Focus, and Technical/Dress Rehearsals.
• Sound Designer is responsible for programming all sound cues.
• Sound Designer is responsible for operating QLab during technical rehearsals.  During final dress and performances, one operator for sound/video is provided.  See collaboration section below.
• Working directly with the A/V Supervisor to ensure proper hang, focus, and ordering (if necessary).
• All drafting MUST be turned in on time in either Vectorworks or PDF format.
• Source any purchases needed and send links/information to the Production Manager for payment.
• If any items are borrowed or loaned, the designer must submit a master list and coordinate transportation of said items to/from the theater.

Resources

• A complete sound inventory including computers and software can be found in the Inventories folder.
• Information and drawings of the theatre space (including the approved seating arrangement for the 2026-27 school year) can be found in the Lenfest Center for the Arts Google Drive.
• Loans and/or borrowing sound equipment may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the A/V Supervisor to ensure it will work with our existing equipment and can be installed within the labor budget.  Additionally Columbia cannot repair or maintain rented or borrowed equipment. For more information on borrowed and loaned items, please see Renting / Borrowing Items from Outside Sources.
• If additional equiptment or supplies need to be purchased, please see Making Purchases section for more information.
• Columbia has an agreement in place with ASCAP and BMI that allows the use of music in their catalogs without paying additional rights. SongView is the easiest way to search both catalogs. Rights must be secured separately to use any music or recordings that are not owned by ASCAP or BMI.

Tech Process

• There are repertory speakers that may be moved with approval by the A/V Supervisor.
• The A/V Supervisor will hang and focus any approved additional equiptment.
• The A/V Supervisor has a total of 7 hours to load in any approved design components.
• The sound system may not be used without the presence of the A/V Supervisor, unless express permission is granted.
• A KVM setup with access to the Sound Mac Studio will be available during tech.  Please inform the A/V Supervisor in advance if any other tech accommodations will need to be made.
• If a production has a high level of bass or sound output (i.e. drumming, dancing, musicals), the production must coordinate with Production Management to address any potential sound bleed issues.

Collaboration with Video Designer 

• Video/Projection QLab cues will be fired via network cues from the Sound QLab. The Video/Projection Designer will need to work with the Sound Designer to build these network cues throughout tech. The A/V Supervisor will provide templates for this and assist in confirming the connection and operation of these cues.
• During performances, the Sound QLab will be operated by a student employee. If the production would prefer video cues to be fired by a separate individual, this will need to be approved ahead of time, and the production would need to supply the additional crew member.

Musicals and Live Mixing

• If a production utilizes live mixing (i.e. musicals or large casts in body mics), an A1 is required to be hired and onboarded by the production no later than 2 weeks before opening.
• The A1 must be a paid position on par with the other designers.
• We recommend that the A1 attend a run through prior to tech.
• For musicals or shows with particularly large casts, an A2 may also be necessary.  Hiring this individual is the responsibility of the production.
• Live mixing requires a sound position in the house, which will reduce the total number of seats available.

Pre-show Announcement 

• A pre-show announcement is mandatory, per building code and NYC law. It must be audible, and occur within 10 minutes of the start of the performance. It can be delivered live or recorded. Columbia has stock recordings available for use.
  • Pre-show announcement language example: (The language about exit doors is the only part legally required)
    • "Hello and welcome to _______________.  Please take a moment to identify the nearest exit.  For the safety of our actors, no photography.  Please use this opportunity to silence your phone. Most importantly- enjoy the show”
    • *Please submit any variance of this language to the Production Manager/Director of Production for approval, before recording.