Documentation is the language that makes a production electrician’s intentions legible to the crew, to the venue, and to the next electrician who works the show. The ETCP exam tests documentation skills in Domain 3D with 9 questions — a seemingly modest number that belies the document set’s practical importance.

Lighting Plots

A lighting plot (also called a light plot or a rig drawing) is a plan view drawing showing the position of every luminaire in the production. Standard elements of a lighting plot:

• Scale: The drawing scale (e.g., 1/4 inch = 1 foot) must be stated. A drawing without a scale cannot be used to verify positions or cable lengths.
• Fixture symbols: USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) has published standard graphic symbols for entertainment luminaires. Each fixture type has a distinct symbol so electricians, designers, and crew can interpret the plot.
• Circuit and dimmer designations: Each fixture symbol is annotated with its circuit number (the physical cable/outlet it connects to) and its dimmer address.
• Color and gobo assignments: Color gel number and gobo designation are noted on or near each fixture symbol.
• Position identification: Each lighting position (pipe, truss, balcony rail) is labeled and its trim height noted.
• North arrow and stage orientation: Stage left, stage right, upstage, and downstage must be clearly established (United States Institute for Theatre Technology [USITT], 2020).

Modern lighting plots are typically created in CAD software — Vectorworks Spotlight is the industry standard in North American theater — or in dedicated lighting design applications. A well-drafted plot allows a crew to hang the entire rig without referring to the designer.

Single-Line Diagrams

A single-line diagram (SLD, also called a one-line diagram) shows the electrical distribution system in simplified form. Unlike a full schematic, which shows every conductor, an SLD uses a single line to represent each three-phase circuit or sub-panel, making the overall system architecture readable at a glance. A production single-line diagram typically shows:

• The source: utility tie-in point, company switch, or generator output
• The main feeder run to the primary distribution point
• Sub-distribution panels and their feeder ratings
• Dimmer racks, relay racks, and PDUs with their input ratings
• Branch circuit distribution downstream of each rack
• Total calculated load at each level of the distribution tree (ETCP, 2023)

An SLD is essential for troubleshooting — when circuits go dark, the SLD shows which upstream device is the likely cause. It is also required documentation when pulling electrical permits or presenting the system to an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Equipment Lists

An equipment list inventories every piece of equipment in the electrical rig. Minimum content for a production equipment list:

• Item description (manufacturer, model, serial number where applicable)
• Quantity
• Power rating (watts or VA)
• Voltage and phase requirements
• Weight (for rigging load calculations)
• Responsible party (rental house, production-owned, venue-owned)

The equipment list is the source document for the load calculation and for the rigging weight summary. Discrepancies between the equipment list and what actually shows up at load-in are the source of many production day crises — late substitutions or additions must be communicated to the electrician and re-evaluated against the power and rigging budgets (ETCP, 2023).

Budgets and Schedules

Production electrical documentation also includes:

• Power budget: A summary of the total power requirement for the production, organized by phase and distribution point. The power budget demonstrates that the production’s needs do not exceed the venue’s available service. It includes a diversity factor and notes the peak demand versus the connected load.
• Load-in schedule: A time-based schedule specifying when each crew call begins, what tasks are to be accomplished in each call, and what must be complete before the next crew can begin their work. For complex productions, the load-in schedule is a critical path document.
• Circuit schedule (hook-up): A spreadsheet listing every circuit in the rig with its dimmer address, circuit type (dim/relay), wattage, color, gobo, and position. Also called the “hookup” or “patch sheet.” This document bridges the lighting plot and the console programming.
• Rigging load summary: A per-position weight summary derived from the equipment list, documenting the load at each pick point and the total load per batten or truss. Required for structural verification and for ESTA ANSI E1.6-1 compliance when powered hoists are involved (Entertainment Services and Technology Association [ESTA], 2019).

Documentation Maintenance

Documentation is only useful if it is current. As-built drawings — drawings updated to reflect what was actually installed — are the gold standard. When a circuit is changed, a fixture is substituted, or a dimmer address is modified during technical rehearsals, the plot, hook-up, and SLD must be updated. Red-line markups on paper drawings are an acceptable interim step, but the master files should be updated before the next performance or tour leg. The ETCP exam may include questions about document version control and who has authority to revise production documentation.

References

Entertainment Services and Technology Association. (2023). Entertainment technology standards. ESTA/PLASA.

Entertainment Technician Certification Program. (2023). Entertainment electrician examination content outline. ESTA.

National Fire Protection Association. (2023). NFPA 70: National Electrical Code. NFPA.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2015). 29 CFR 1910.303: General requirements — electrical. U.S. Department of Labor.

United States Institute for Theatre Technology. (2021). Technical production handbook. USITT.