1. GC1: Job Roles in the Production Arts Industry
SOUND OPERATOR
The average salary of a sound operator is the equivalent to $50,000.
A sound operator is responsible for the production’s sound operation in the rehearsals and
actual show. They will use various different programs and editing software on the sound
after the sound designer has created/sourced it to better fit with the production. They will
keep cues for each sound to ensure that the sound is played at the correct moment. They
will work closely with the director and lighting operator, whilst closely following cues and
the script to ensure that anything that needs to work simultaneously works with everybody
else.
If a sound operator doesn’t do their job correctly it will affect the performers and potentially
the lighting operator and backstage team. For example, a sound may be a performers cue to
come on stage, or do a specific action.
A sound operator’s day to day job is watching rehearsals and learning the script of the show
in order to familiarise themselves with the show so they can effectively operate it’s sound.