Props Person / Props Master
What does a Props Person do?
What does a Props Person do?
The PROPS PERSON, also known as the PROPS MASTER, maintains certain aspects of the theatre facility and may also serve as the props person for a specific production. They research, fabricate, and find all necessary props, things that are picked up, used, or set, for a show.
Skills
Design | Fixing and crafting props | Attention to detail | Work within a budget | Mechanics | Creative use and outside of the box thinking | Communication | Organization | Being resourceful | Special effects | Styling | Upholstering | Problem-solving
Pathways
Degree in production and design | Assisting | Crew
How to become a Props Person
How to become a Props Person
Some colleges and universities offer degrees and concentrations in production and design, as well as opportunities for students to work on official university productions. A props person is usually brought on for an individual show and has a background in design and carpentry. They become head props master when they have gained enough experience to lead other props designers. Those just starting out may want to explore volunteer or assisting opportunities available in their region as Stage Crew, scenic design, and props design.
Union/Organization Affiliation
Resources
- DC Metro Theater Arts’s “Perfecting the ‘Burn’: Props Master Jay Duckworth on Styling the Iconic ‘Hamilton’ Song”
- Playbill’s “Get up Close With the Props of Dear Evan Hansen”
- Eric Hart’s The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film, and TV
Spotlight on Broadway’s “Joseph Harris Head Prop Person”
American Theatre Wing’s “Working in the Theatre: Prop Masters”