DATES: January-August.
DESIGN: “They’re not used to a ‘design’ — this is their first in years.”
“I punted their show for the past two years, opening for Def Leppard, as the set list always changed. After touring with Leppard, they are more open to ideas about their own show design and are inspired to come up with a better production. Previously, they just wanted to focus on having a great sound in concert. Now, they see photos and videos of their shows on YouTube, and they’re finally seeing how the show looks to the audience. They’re inspired by that.”
TOUR PREP: “I had four days to design and program this tour. I didn’t see the video content until the first day of rehearsal. My color choices came from two years opening for Def Leppard. I spent January listening to songs they didn’t play then, to prepare for this.”
BACK STORY:
HOME BASE: “Chicago, since 2005. I’m originally from Argentina.”
WITH THE BAND: “For two years while they were opening for Def Leppard. This is their first headline tour since then.”
LIGHTING CAREER SPARK: “It started with a smoke machine. There’s a photo of me in fifth grade — everyone in class is facing forward, singing, and I was facing backward, watching the smoke machine. I thought it was magical. Later, in high school, I wanted to do special effects for musicals. So, the school let me, a 17-year-old, handle pyro when [I didn’t] know how to do pyro. I blew up a wall, so that was the end of pyro. The school had no equipment, so they contracted with local rental companies for sound and lighting. I became acquainted with those production companies and started doing shows with them. I never left the industry.”
FIRST TOUR: “Kid Rock.”
HEROES/MENTORS: “While growing up in Argentina, I learned about the industry by reading books and trade magazines about lighting. When I finally met Nook Schoenfeld, LeRoy Bennett and other LDs whom I read about, it was great to put names to the faces. (Nook was later instrumental in helping push me out on the road.) I also always liked Yves Aucoin and the original Cirque du Soleil designers, because in Argentina, we had mostly flash-and-trash shows, so I thought the Cirque designs were different and interesting.”
WHOSE SHOW DESIGNS INSPIRE YOU? “I don’t want to subconsciously copy other show designers, so instead of shows, I’m inspired by graphics and industrial design. I like the approach to graphics; it forces you to think differently.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? “I like the community of the industry, and another part of me likes making the show look good.”
