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Practical Electrician

Wires and maintains practical lamps and set electrics to Art/Props brief so in-shot fittings are safe and controllable for camera.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Safe practical wiring on set
• Fault-find practicals during shoot
• Coordinate with Art and Props
• Strike practicals at wrap

Reports to

Best Boy / Gaffer

Works with

Art Department, Props, Set Decorator, Console Operator, Sparks

Career path

Lighting Technician → Practical Electrician

Day to day

Take practicals list from Art/Props; wire to safe/dimmable circuits; hide cabling; label channels for the desk; fix mid-shoot failures; strip at wrap.

Call times

Lighting/pre-light call is often earlier than general unit; shoot sparks usually match unit call (commonly 07:00–08:00 on UK drama) and wrap after camera unless a lighting wrap is called. Night exteriors flip the day — always read the call sheet header.

What to wear

Matte blacks; steel toe-caps or production-approved boots; gloves for hot lamps; hard hat on rigs; hi-vis when Locations require; weather layers for UK exteriors; radio pouch.

Tools & kit

Personal PPE, multimeter, gloves, headtorch, multi-tool, gel clips; production supplies lamps/distro/desk.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• Set plans / PDFs
• Photo refs
• Lightwright / Vectorworks / CAD plot PDFs
• Shared call sheets (StudioBinder / Yamdu / PDF)
• ShotDeck / PureRef for look refs
• DMX desk familiarity (ETC Eos, grandMA basics)
• ChatGPT / Claude for quick gel/CCT notes (verify on set)

Related roles

Lighting Technician (Spark), Art Director

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