Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping…into the future, and another New Year is upon us. (And yes, that song was from more than 40 years ago.) The beginning of the year is often a time of reflection and resolutions. While many will try to save more money, lose more weight and finish goals, there are many other things that we each can aim to improve upon in 2018. In no particular order, I present the following automated lighting programmer New Years resolutions.
1. Save Your Work. Save It Again
I have been saying this for my entire career: Save often to external media. There is no such thing as over-backing up your data. Lighting programmers are not just the creators of the data, but also the protectors. Once you make those backups, be sure they are also stored in a reasonable manner and well organized.
2. Learn Something New: RTFM
Lighting programming is much more than just knowing the basics of syntax. Take the time to read your console (and fixture) user manual as well as new software release notes. Make it a point to learn at least one new feature this year and put it into practice during your programming. There should be no excuse for not knowing about a function when it is clearly written about in a user manual.
3. No Rainbows!
When you find yourself reaching for that very common rainbow chase, make a choice to do something different. We don’t need more ROYGBIV chases in this world! Always remember that just because you can, does not mean you need to.
4. Ask Questions
Asking questions fills us with answers. Instead of just assuming you understand what an LD or producer is looking for, ask about the direction. When attending learning sessions or workshops, be the person in the room that asks a question at every opportunity. By
getting your “ask in gear,” you will certainly learn more.
5. Adjust Your Rate
One of the greatest things said to me during my early programming career was “you are not charging enough.” The LD I was working with told me this and went on to explain that he has hired less talented programmers for far more money. I thanked him and immediately raised my rate. Look at what you are charging, and see if it is the correct amount, based on your skills and market. Be warned though, I have also seen programmers who charge too much and rarely get gigs. If so, you might have to take a pay cut instead of getting a raise in 2018.
6. Share Your Knowledge
I love to share my lighting knowledge with others. I believe that it helps our entire industry grow. Take the time to share some of your wisdom with others. Even if you are just starting out, you have information that could be valuable to anyone working as a programmer. You could talk with people in person, post tips on social media, teach a class, or even train individuals.
7. Eat More Sushi
Is there really anything else to say? Sushi is both yummy and healthy. (And if you follow resolution #5, it will be affordable, too.) Try some new cuts or different rolls the next time you are at a sushi restaurant. Omakase is very popular right now, and is a great way to experience new sushi delicacies. Basically it means that the sushi chef will make what they want in an effort to impress you. Give it a try!
8. Mix a New Color
Do you always use the same color presets/palettes on all your shows? Sure it saves time to load in your favorites, but perhaps you are missing something amazing. Take a few minutes to play with the color abilities of your fixtures and console to see what can be created. Once you find a color you like, save it and then see if you can replicate it on other fixture types. I also look for opportunities when new colors are presented to me. For instance, when on an early morning flight recently a beautiful amber color from the sunrise filled the plane’s cabin. I stared at this color on the wall and on my hand and thought, “how can I recreate this hue?” At my next show, I took a few minutes to mix to as close to this color as possible.
9. Take a Vacation
Programming is tons of fun, but you also need to take some time for yourself and/or your family. Vacations have been proven to be very beneficial to mental health and well being. Even though you might miss out on a gig, it is imperative that you take some time for yourself. Life is too short to miss out on personal adventure and relaxation over doing more work.
10. Read My Book
If you are learning to program and need some guidance in the core concepts and skills, read The Automated Lighting Programmer’s Handbook, Third Edition. I wrote this guide to help anyone understand the art of programming that can be applied to any console and fixture types. And don’t just read my book; look at Richard Cadena’s Automated Lighting and Vickie Claiborne’s Media Servers for Lighting Programmers. All these titles and much more are available at plsnbookshelf.com.
11. Be In the Moment
While many think that multi-tasking is a great skill, experts agree that it results in poor results for the multiple tasks. When you are engaged in programming, or a conversation, or eating, do not let other things steal you away from the moment. Our cell phones are the worst offender as they are always vying for our attention. Reduce the number and method of notifications so that you can stay present. Try to stay “in flow” when programming and don’t let outside distractions take you from your primary tasks.
12. Try a Different Approach
Have you always been doing the same things the same way for every show? For instance, do you always layout your views in the exact same manner or number your fixtures in the same style? While consistency is key for programming, so is adapting and improving. Look at your usual setups, programming methods and favorite effects and see if there is a different approach you can take to achieve better results. Talk to other programmers to see how they program and study their show files. Adapt some of their concepts along with yours to greatly improve your abilities.
13. Less Blinky-Blink
We have all seen many shows with lots of LED’s flashing and changing colors and intensities. Be mindful when programming to reduce the amount of flashing when not necessary. Instead of going for that good ol’ strobe effect, look at doing something with less flashing that is equally impactful.
14. Thank Someone
Gratitude is an essential human trait. Take some time every day in 2018 to thank someone. It could be the crew chief, lighting tech, artist, audio crew, producer, a sushi chef, the LD, the tech support person on the phone, or anyone else you encounter. And do more than just say those two wonderful words;
actually verbalize what you are thankful for in them or their actions.
15. Do Something Complex…
But keep it simple. Always remember the K.I.S.S. rule as your program. “Keep It Simple Stupid” is a mantra that reminds you that often the shortest path is the best. For example, instead of spending an hour programming a complex effect see if a simple ballyhoo will work in its place. Or perhaps less monitors and wings at FOH is all you need in place of a full spaceship setup.
Happy New Year!
2018 is set to be a great year for the lighting industry and I hope that you have the opportunity to program a plethora of wonderful shows. As you set your resolutions for the year, consider adding in a few of the ones I have presented here. Then be sure to apply them as you program. I think you will find that you will improve as a programmer and have great success for years to come.
