Tour: ZZ Top tour of North America, U.K. and Europe (May 30-Oct. 4, 2015)
Design Process: “ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons pays attention to all the production: I-Mag, video, lighting, sound. That’s awesome; it takes some of the guesswork out of it.”“I make sure they have plenty of light in front of them and also ensure the lighting doesn’t distract them. When it’s just ZZ playing, we do a 120K Old School rock ‘n’ roll PAR rig with a few extras. It’s an old school, simple, straightforward rock ‘n’ roll-designed show. It’s what the band wants. It does present creative challenges. What’s different is the LED version of what 120K PARs is, so when we’re playing with other bands, such as Jeff Beck on this tour, we’re mixing old school PARs with new technology, such as the LED video screens.”
BACK STORY
Home Base: Nashville, TN.
Years in the Industry: “Six, but I didn’t start touring until starting March 2014.”
Getting the Gig: “Last year, I was a tech on ZZ Top and Jeff Beck’s tour, and was also the LD for Jeff Beck. Bandit’s Michael Golden mentioned to ZZ that I was available for this tour, and so I was excited to come back again. It’s a huge honor. I’m also working again as the LD for Jeff Beck for our co-headlining tour this year.”
Lighting Career Spark: “I sort of fell into it — it was like a dream. I went to Belmont University and received a degree in finance and economics, but was doing lighting on the side. After realizing how passionate I was about lighting, I decided to pursue it as a career.”
Heroes/Mentors: “I’ve been a tech on Jackson Browne’s tour a few times, and I spent a lot of time with LD Steve Comer and got to watch him design and program his show. He was fantastic. I look up to him. He gave me good advice during the time we spent together, and continues to do so. I also admire everyone at the Bandit shop. There are a lot of talented people in the company, and their experiences and advice have helped set me up for success.”
Best Advice: “Work hard at everything, whether you’re taking tape off cables, loading or unloading a truck, or whatever it may be that you’re doing. Work diligently, have a great attitude, and treat everyone with respect. I think that’s important, not only for this industry, but for life as well.”
