Have you ever wondered how many chairs, tables, and flipcharts a venue needs? The people who can answer that precisely are our colleagues from the Event Technology Department. They ensure that everything is ready on time for conferences, corporate events, and concerts, so no one ends up sitting on the floor. Coordination and good planning are key to their success. Patrick Vogelauer, who has been part of the team for three years, gave us some insight into his daily work.
Interview with Patrick Vogelauer
When did you start working at Festspielhaus Bregenz?
I started in September 2015, helping to dismantle autitorium of the lake stage (Seetribüne). I liked the job immediately. That led to a temporary summer position, and three years ago I joined the Event Technology Department full time.
What are the main responsibilities in your department?
I handle internal planning and coordination and act as a link between our team and the project managers – and therefore with our clients. Together with project leads, we review plans in advance, especially concerning fire safety and general security, so we can identify any issues early.
Our main task is to support events in every technical aspect – from setting up furniture to troubleshooting technical problems and ensuring safety compliance.
After the event, everything we set up needs to be taken down, cleaned, packed, and stored. If anything is damaged, we take care of the repairs.
During the Bregenz Festival in the summer, we are also responsible for maintaining the grandstand.
How do you keep track of all the equipment?
Our inventory has grown steadily over the years, and so have the spaces we use. That presents logistical challenges, but we’ve managed them reliably at every event so far.
How big is your team?
There are seven of us in Event Technology. When needed, everyone helps – even colleagues from other departments lend a hand with setup and takedown. And even with all the professionalism, we still have a good laugh.
What does a typical event day look like?
Every event is different – and that’s what makes this job exciting. At a trade fair, for example, we start with setting up the power supply, then build the booths and help clients move their materials to the right places. Safety always comes first – we check emergency exits and coordinate with the fire brigade before the event starts.
Our work doesn’t stop once the event begins – we also provide general technical support for any issues not directly related to light, sound, or media. Last-minute requests are very common.
How flexible are you when plans change at short notice?
Very flexible – as long as it doesn’t interfere with the flow of the event. At the last Female Future Festival, we had to add 100 extra chairs during a talk because attendance was higher than expected.
What has been the most unusual event you’ve worked on?
There are quite a few memorable ones. A corporate event with a funfair theme – including bumper cars in the courtyard and a “High Striker” on the Werkstattbühne. Or the annual Children’s Festival as part of the Bregenz Festival, where kids create their own mini summer production.
Also, the Stage art fair – the curators constantly come up with creative, unconventional concepts that challenge and inspire us.
Events like these provide fresh ideas we can carry over to future projects.
What’s the biggest challenge in your field of work?
Balancing legal regulations with our clients’ creative ideas. Austria has strict laws – what’s allowed in private spaces often isn’t in public ones. It’s our job to make sure safety and customer wishes align.
How important is safety in your daily work?
It’s crucial. Everyone working or visiting here should feel safe. All our technicians are certified fire protection officers, and we regularly hold internal training to stay up to date with legal and safety developments.
What do you personally appreciate most about working at Festspielhaus Bregenz?
Definitely the colleagues. Teamwork means everything in a place like this. Every challenge is tackled together. We’re not a factory – we’re a venue and, in summer, an opera house. Thanks to our cooperative spirit, we can offer the high standard of service our guests expect.
Thank you for the interview.
(UK / 21.5.2025)
