#lighting desing

The person who’s done it before is a junior and she was head for the last two shows last year, and she just has more experience with other smaller things with the light board; our director put her as assistant student director (basically asm). She’s not happy about that cause she told out director that she didn’t want to do that, I’m not the happiest because I’ve never done it before and she’s perfectly qualified to do it, (2/?)

and in general people aren’t the happiest because our director put them in weird positions on weird crews or just in weird roles. Any advice on what to do, since I know next to nothing on how to figure out being head of lights, and we haven’t even started rehearsals yet and I’m already freaking out cause I’m probably gonna screw everything up? (Sorry this got really long) (3/3)

First thing I’ll say is that the director is always right. They may be wrong, or the cast/crew may not like it, but they’re always right no matter what. This means you’re gonna have to suck it up and do the job you were given. Same thing goes for your AD/ASM.  

Second thing is that if you haven’t yet you should defiantly read the script for whatever show you’re doing. Designers who don’t  read the show are always annoying to work with. 

Third is to never be afraid to ask for help. Go to the Director with questions, or to the AD/ASM if you need to. (if they have more experience on your board they will be an invaluable resource for you while writing cues if the two of you are able to work together in a civilized fashion.) If neither of them can help go to my best friend in the whole wide world whenever I run into an issue with my board - GOOGLE. there will always be people who know more then you. Go see what they do. 

Finally I’d say the most important thing you can do is to make sure you document your process. Write a magic sheet. Keep a copy of your grid handy. Make sure your SM/whoever is calling light cues gets to know the cues during your tech rehearsals. 

Hope this helps, and break a leg

Wells College Dance Collective 2012

Lighting Design by Jeremiah Miller

I love this stunning use of iLight as a primary light source over this conference table at the Microsoft offices in Boston.