Dear Bradley is a world-famous lighting advice columnist who has graced the pages of publications such as the Broadway Programming Times and Automated Lighting Syndicate. PLSN is pleased to bring this tantalizing sample of Dear Bradley’s works.
Dear Bradley:
I am 18 years old and looking to start a career in automated lighting programming. I read PLSN each month, have read some books and log onto the Light Network daily. I have mastered all the major consoles by using the offline editors, and I am ready to program all the big shows. How do I get to program for the Olympics next year in China?
— Ready to Rock
Ready to Rock:
I am glad to see that you are enthusiastic about your career choice. However, I suggest that you take your time and gain lots of experience before expecting to work on large productions. You can learn many programming principles and procedures by working on local productions in ball-rooms, churches and outdoor stages. Take your time to perfect your skills, meet some people and prove your worth.
Use your determination to show the world that you desire great things and are willing to work for them. You should contact local lighting shops and ask to be placed on their crews. After you work as a lighting crewmember for some time, then you will be allowed to show your stuff on the console. Remember, programming and operating a show is much like driving a racecar. You must first prove to the other team members that you understand how the car and track work before they will let you take it for a spin.
Dear Bradley:
How do I trigger nonlighting devices such as lasers and animatronics from my lighting console? These items do not respond to DMX, and I am at a loss as to how to get control of them. I tried to write a library for my console, but it did not say how to control a moving truss.
— Need More Control
Need More Control:
There are several methods you can use for triggering nonlighting devices. The most common is through Musical Instrument Device Interface (MIDI). By using MIDI Show Control (MSC) or MIDI Notes, you can send specific commands to other devices such as laser controllers and audio equipment. Most automated lighting consoles are capable of sending out MIDI; however, you should check the documentation for your console. Another idea would be to use a DMX relay to turn on/off various devices with a DMX signal. These can be acquired from several industry manu-facturers and are simple to operate, as they behave like any other fixture on your console.
Dear Bradley:
What is the best way for me to apply the skills of automated lighting programming to my personal life? I am confused as to how button pushing and flashing of lights can be useful. I know that I can offer backstage passes to girls, but I want them to better understand my job.
— Need a Date
Need a Date:
While it is true that working in the entertainment industry provides many perks, you will also find that many other skills can be passed on to your personal life. For example, you might learn an enhanced appreciation for music that can help you be a better dancer. Additionally, by exercising your fingers regularly on a lighting console, you will find that your added dexterity and strength can be useful when providing massages or loving touches.
Dear Bradley:
My crew has done a great job setting up the rig. Now they have asked me to check the fixtures to ensure everything is OK. I am confused as to how to do this because on my last gig, I turned all the lights on at full and reported all was fine. Then, when programming started, we found lots of prob-lems, and the LD was very mad. He would not even share his coffee with me until I saw that all the problems were fixed. Please teach me how to better check a rig.
— Perplexed Prepper
Perplexed Prepper:
A common mistake is to check the status of a rig by simply turning on all the lights. While this does indicate if everything turns on, it does not fo-cus on specific problems. A better option is to check each fixture individually to ensure that each one has the proper address.
A good method is to use the console’s highlight function. With this, you can select all the fixtures and then press the console’s Next key to look at one fixture at a time. If you are also turning the encoder for tilt as you do this, then you can usually verify that each fixture works on the address as expected. Furthermore, you should check all the fixtures to ensure all functions, colors, gobos, etc., are correct, matching and working. Many newer fixtures also include manual pan/tilt locks that the crews often forget to disengage. Be sure to confirm that all fixtures can pan and tilt. Once you know every function of every fixture works individually according to the plot, then the rig is ready and so too will be your coffee.
Dear Bradley:
I have just entered the field of lighting. I am very excited to be a part of this amazing industry, but at the same time, I feel very frustrated. I have been working and helping out with many shows, and I do not seem to get the help I need. It seems like all the people I have been asking for guid-ance have been steering me in the wrong direction. I have all these ideas in my mind, and I am working very hard to bring them out. I go home at night, and all I do is think about lighting. I want to try to trust my own intuition and myself and create looks that no one has ever thought about. How can I gain more inspiration, respect and experience?
— Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused:
Our industry is full of talented people who wish to share their experience and knowledge. I suggest that you reach out to others who may not be in your immediate circle. Send your questions by e-mail to well-known designers and programmers. Contact other lighting companies to see if they can provide you with work. Take some classes through manufacturers, tradeshows and on-line. Use your drive and determination to gain the knowledge and respect you deserve.
Dear Bradley:
I like to gain inspiration from watching productions on TV and DVD. Can you provide me some insight as to what to watch?
— Eager to Learn
Eager to Learn:
Any live TV productions, and now most game shows, are filled with automated lights. Be sure to record the production and read the credits to learn the names of the designer and programmer. Then you can try to contact the people involved with shows you like so you can learn more about the production.
As for DVDs, there are many great concert DVDs. One all-time lighting favorite is Pink Floyd Pulse. This concert from 1994 really showcases what can be accomplished with automated lighting. What make this concert even more spectacular is that no effects engines existed at the time of the production, and many other console functions had not yet been invented.
Dear Bradley:
Every year in December, I see videos of an amazing house that is covered with Christmas lights, and I am inspired to do more with my own house. Since I am a lighting professional, I am unsure of what is acceptable in my neighborhood. I would love to have a rig of 12 moving lights and blow everyone away, but I am worried it might be too much. What do you do at your house?
— Wizard of Winter
Wizard of Winter:
Holiday lighting of your house can be fun, just do not make a video and leak it to the Internet. We have enough of that already!
You can pose your questions and problems to Dear Bradley at bschiller@plsn.com.
