Based at the LS-Live rehearsal studios in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, the Academy benefits from its links to some of the world's leading productions and production personnel, tailoring courses to suit the evolving demands of the sector. Courses take place in its state-of-the-art training centre and Apple Authorised Training Suite, adjacent to the studio where the likes of Kylie, Dizzee Rascal, P!nk, Robbie Williams, Lady Gaga and Tinie Tempah have all rehearsed.
The Foundation Degree in Live Events Production, which is validated by The University of Bolton, is delivered on site at the LS-Live facility. It is pioneering in its links with industry, its fast-track intensive format, opportunities for work experience, included industry certification and its online assessment style.
The Academy works only with carefully selected lecturers, education consultants and industry tutors to ensure it provides the very best training possible. Its 2012 degree programme featured masterclasses from live mixing guru Dave Swallow, Star Events founder Roger Barrett, The Prodigy's Leo Crabtree and P!nk/Sade FOH Engineer Chris Madden, to name a few.
The Spring short course calendar covers a range of backstage skills, from rigging and stage pyrotechnics, to the SPA Event Safety Passport (which everyone on site at the Olympics must have this year) and Apple based technologies like Pro Tools and Final Cut for audio and video editing.
COO Robin Watkinson said, "Britain is going to host many exciting events this summer what with the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics celebrations coming up and we've tailored a programme of courses that can help event organisers and crew ensure they have the skills to make their live event creative, dynamic and above all safe."
The Academy has designed its range of courses to support skills development and ensure the many people putting on events this year and into the future are fully qualified to do so.
Tony Powell, a student on the Stage Pyrotechnics course said: "It was a very useful course, we learnt a lot about different pyrotechnics, their uses and a lot of common sense things that you need to be reminded of. At the end of the day the group had to wire up some pyrotechnics in the big studio to be set off in a certain order. Everyone joined in to do the final show which was quite impressive."
Backstage Academy will be hosting a seminar at PLASA Focus: Leeds on Wednesday 18 April from 3pm-3.45pm in the Wellington Room titled The Big Training Debate. Less Talk More Chalk. The Academy invites industry practitioners for discussion and debate about how we can develop training for the live events industry for the benefit of future generations. There will be the opportunity to discuss apprenticeships and how, as a company or professional within the industry, you can get involved.
Speakers include Robin Watkinson (Chief Operating Officer at Backstage Academy), Jo Hartle (Nature Space Creative & Backstage Academy tutor), Gary Cooper Burrows (G Force crew), Jim Parsons (Live Sound FdA course leader at Deep Blue Sound), Brian Warrens (lecturer in production arts, and creative and cultural apprenticeship assessor at South Essex College) and Brian Kelly (BECTU training officer).
Click below to register.
(Jim Evans)
