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LD Preston Hoffman with Grace Potter

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TOUR: July 2015 to Feb. 13, 2016

THE DESIGN: “Grace improvises, she loves spontaneity. She likes to lead the audience somewhere. I like those unscripted moments. Sometimes it’s a moody show, and it goes from heavy pop songs to a psychedelic feel. She dances, weaving in and out of shadows and light. It’s viscerally exciting and keeps me on my toes, as I can’t cue stack the show. She is legally blind, so followspots are an impossibility as she can’t see with them — she would literally walk off the stage, so I had to create a system for her to be seen on the downstage edge which she inhabits. I use LED side bars on each side of the downstage. There’s not a lot of light spillage, it’s more narrow. I’ve also played with colors more so she knows where the light is and will lean into it. We use tape to outline the stage.”

 

Grace Potter photo by Debi Moen

BACKSTORY

Home Base:
Boston

Years in the Industry:
10

Career Spark:
”My brother Paul and I were living in DC, both with corporate jobs. I was a painter, turned graphic designer, so I could pay the bills. My brother owned an IT company, which he started in his college dorm room. Coming home from a bar one night, we said, ‘What are we doing? Where are we going in life? We need cooler jobs!’ We didn’t know anything about lighting but we liked going to shows. LD Candace Brightman happened to be connected with my brother’s corporate landlord. He got us in touch with her. She was the first industry contact we had.”

First Industry Gig: ”Paul and I were in a band. We bought lights but didn’t how to use them. Our first job was in a bar around the corner. We walked in and said, ‘We are bringing in a light show.’ The bar owner said, ‘Great!’ It turned out to be for a Grateful Dead tribute band. How ironic — we went full circle from that to 2015’s Grateful Dead’s 50th year shows.”

Heroes: ”Marc Brickman. We were watching Pink Floyd’s ‘Pulse’ on VHS — an amazing show! Our company Pulse Lighting was so named.”

Design Inspiration: “I don’t always have time to go to shows, so I read PLSN magazine to read the news and equipment reviews as well.”

What do you like about what you do? “I’m never bored. I learn something everyday. In addition to what I do, I’m also being an electrician, a CAD drawer, a professional mover while on the road. I love taking a show on the road. In the moment when it comes together, it drops your jaw and those moments keep you going.”

Best Advice: “The lights are not the show. Let the show be the show.”