Are there any actual professionals here?

I am firmly in the amateur camp. I'm an actor, director, lighting/sound operator/designer, stage manager etc, etc. I have no training in any of these disciplines, apart from what I've picked up on the job over the last 30ish years. I could probably work on a production every week of the year, without being paid, as I'm male, and can act a bit. I'm physically capable of getting up and down a ladder to hang lights. I'm a tradesman during the day, and am capable of knocking flats together to produce a set. As to standards, we are all here to learn from each other. Community theatres run on the smell of an oily rag, and use whatever materials they can scrape together. Most lighting and sound rigs have seen better days. I make do with 24 dimmer channels at my theatre. We'll use CB type walkie talkies for cans if we have to - and a lot do. Mostly, we welcome all who want to help out, either by turning up and pushing some buttons, or by offering advice in places such as this forum. If it's like minded professionals you are looking for TP, then ALIA or some such place is probably more to your liking. If you want to wade into the world of community theatre with people who do it because they love it, well, welcome. www.meltheco.org.au