Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Koch.
Jay, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started working in the technical side of theatre when I was in high school. Learning woodworking growing up, I started doing set construction for the school plays. Shortly after, I started dabbling in lighting. Once I got a hang of it, I started working load-ins at a nearby theatre. Working as a carpenter and then an electrician there really helped me develop a foundation of knowledge that I wouldn’t have found elsewhere. I knew I wanted to make a career out of lighting so, I interviewed and got into the lighting design program at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Being one of four students, I find myself in a challenging conservatory where I can learn and develop my skills in lighting design. During college, I took a side road and went to Officer Candidate School with the Marine Corps. It’s something I have wanted to do since I was in 5th grade. Though, I want to make a career out of lighting, I know before that happens I’m going to be an Officer. Finishing up my junior year of college, I design at school and I do stagehand/electrician work around Chicago. This includes work such as Lollapalooza, shows at Wrigley field and various other concerts and theatre around the city.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Though it has been a fun road, it hasn’t always been smooth. The stagehand industry is labor intensive and extremely male-dominated. There have been countless shifts I have worked where I am the only female. Being a solid 5’-0” and a woman, it is often first assumed that I cannot do the same work as the men. Going onto worksites where this is the mentality, I know that I need to push myself harder than the average male worker. I make sure I know how to do my job as well as I can and I maintain high physical standards for myself so, I can do the job regardless of my size. Once I start working at a place this stigma typically goes away.
Jay Koch – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As much as I love being a stagehand — and I honestly do — I’m a lighting designer. Lighting design for theatre let me express the creative side of me that you can’t really do pushing road cases. I specialize in lighting design for theatre more than anything but I also do lighting for concerts and corporate events. With my job, I make sure I am dependable, decisive and disciplined. These characteristics help make sure everything runs smoothly for myself and those I am working with.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
So far, my proudest moment has been graduating Officer Candidate School with the Marine Corps. After ten weeks of mental and physical challenges, pushing myself harder than I ever have before, it felt really great to walk across the parade deck. By graduation, almost half of my female platoon either quit or were sent home, the attrition rate for men isn’t as severe. The men and women surrounding me were the ones who pushed through, made it and went on to become officers.
Contact Info:
- Email: JessicaJayKoch@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Michael Brosilow
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