Tour: Singer/flautist Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame
Tour Dates: U.S. to Nov. 10, Europe to Nov. 30, Australia in December; Continues in 2015.
On Lighting the Tour: “Ian enjoys the theatrical approach, and he knows what he doesn’t like. Before the start of this tour, he decided to work without followspots. He had issues with shallow angled spots blinding him and spilling onto the projection screen behind him. We’re using lots of video in the show (his son created the majority of the video content), most of it is full screen from floor to truss. So along with the moving lights on the front truss, I use wash lights stage left and right to keep him in light and cut the shadows. Going without followspots gives the band a unified look. I was also told by other LDs when I first started working with Ian that he didn’t want smoke and strobes, but we talked about it and I’m using both now.”
Lighting Approach: “The first half is more theatrical, using static scenes and less distraction while Ian performs his new work, Homo Erraticus. The second half features the old hits billed as “The Best of Tull,” so the lighting rocks more in that portion.
BACK STORY:
Home Base: Near Cambridge, UK.
Years Lighting/With the Band: Since 1993/2.5 years
Career Spark: “I was a musician, and to fill in the gaps between gigs, I worked as an electrician.”
First Gig: Part of the crew at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, an 1,800-seat venue. “I started by unloading trucks. I did a little bit of all parts of the industry and learned what everyone’s part is on a tour.”
First LD Gig: “A theatre-type tour of Broadway hits.”
Other Gigs: “I designed The Rat Pack: Live from Las Vegas, which spent five years in London’s West End. In the States, it was called The Rat Pack: Live From the Sands. I also spent 10 years touring with Gary Moore until he died in Feb. 2011.”
Heroes/mentors: “The people I was working with — Andrew Keightley, Tony Beeton (of Motörhead) — are the guys I learned from, not only for their design and operating skills, but for their approach to one-night touring and getting a show to happen every night without flogging yourself to death!
What You Love About Your Job: “The thrill of being part of the show. It’s like being part of the band. I like the musicality of it.”
Words of Wisdom: “Andrew Keightley taught me the two most important things: timing and interpretation. If you feel the same thing the musicians feel — good. If someone sees what I’m doing in a show and wants to do that in their show, go for it. There are no secrets.”
