A2 is an abbreviation for Audio Assistant, Second Audio Assistant, or Second Assistant Audio Engineer. Any of these three terms, or any similar term such as Mic Wrangler, may be used to describe the same set of duties.

An A2 is a stagehand

Stagehand

A stagehand is a person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their duties include setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.-Types of stagehand:...

 who is responsible for the upkeep, acquisition, and use of microphone

Microphone

A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...

s, backstage monitors, communication systems, and the audio system. There are typically one or two people with this job title associated with any major theatrical production making use of such audio elements. The term "A2" refers to the fact that this person is frequently the second in command on all matters relating to sound during the performance, reporting directly to the Production Audio Engineer, or A1. In addition to his or her own responsibilities, the A2 often acts as an understudy for the A1.

In touring theatre

Touring theatre

A touring company is an independent theatre or dance company that travels, often internationally, being presented at a different theatre in each city....

, the A2 is often responsible for overseeing the load-in of all backstage audio elements.

In musical theatre

Musical theatre

Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...

, the A2 may or may not be the technical liaison to the orchestra

Orchestra

An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...

, and duties could include monitor mixing, placement and upkeep of microphones in the orchestra, and video feeds to and from the conductor

Conducting

Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...

.

See also

• A1 (theater)
• A2 (remote television production)
  A2 (remote television production)
  In outside broadcasting using a remote television crew, an A2 is a person responsible for placement and interconnection of audio devices, such as microphones and intercom, from the Television Production truck to the venue...