Our industry recently lost one of our titans. Nook Schoenfeld, by definition, was a mensch among men. He was always willing to take time away from his busy schedule to share his hard won knowledge, impart wisdom, and elevate the next generation. In March of 2022, he even told Kevin Mitchell that “My biggest accomplishment was not the shows I worked on over these years. It’s all the teaching I passed on to younger people who just needed a step up or a chance to program that opening act and run with it. Some of those have become big time designers in their own right, and I glow inside when I read of their exploits.” I am proud to be a part of the generation to benefit from his teachings and hard earned wisdom. Nook was not a man to mince words. He was direct, confident, and to the point. After working together just a few times, he saw that he could encourage the same traits in me. He took a chance and chose to mentor me. After some hard licks, he decided that I could become worthy of replacing his teachings as the LD at Large in PLSN. I want to use my platform to share some nuggets of wisdom that shaped my career and pay homage to a great man.
Diversify Your Skills
Nook knew that Rock ‘n’ Roll is a fickle game. No matter how many managers tell you that their crew is their family, these bonds are only as thick as the paystubs that hold them together. We are all replaceable. Nook was no stranger to being lied to. He knew that one person could tell him that he was the only LD that the artist ever liked and then get a plane ticket home the next week. Nook would often tell me that the only way to protect your own income was to be as useful to as many people as you can be. Never pigeonhole yourself into a niche so small that no one needs you from one show to the next. Make sure that you learn how to light for TV, corporate, theater, architecture, and everything in between. Nook constantly stressed the importance of a college education. His exact words were “I can’t speak highly enough about a secondary education. When it was time to stop sleeping on a shelf on a tour bus, I had a way out.” Nook knew that after his knees gave out, he would have to rely on his wits to keep him afloat.
Speak Truth to Power
Nook was never one to back down from speaking his truth. His truths were rarely convenient or nice. He could sniff out bull crap like a bloodhound. He would be the first one to tell an artist that their big idea was either unfeasible or sheer madness. He knew that he had been hired for his expert opinions. He was never afraid to express the opinions that he had been paid for. His New York attitude suited him well. His bluntness was a show of respect, not condescension. He was the last person to patronize even the biggest egos. Nook knew that he was right and would happily back up his claims by letting people find out for themselves. Peter Falk once said that “Sometimes kindness is wiser than truth.” Nook disagreed. Nook knew that truth is the sincerest form of kindness.
Be Inspired by Everything Around You
One of my first concerns about taking over the LD at Large column was coming up with a new topic every month. I expressed this to Nook immediately. He had been writing the column for eight years. Even as a reader of his columns, I was astounded that he could come up with so many diverse topics year after year. Most of them were immediately relevant to something that I had been tackling. Some of the articles were just his way of blowing off steam, but most of them came from a genuine desire to help future designers avoid the same mistakes that plagued his work. In order to overcome my apprehensions, he reminded me that I was farther along in my career than I realized. He was constantly reminding me that inspiration comes from the everyday situations that we find ourselves in. This advice has shaped my programming, and my writing. Nook was the first one to point out that “As much as anyone says there is nothing new anymore, I dispute that. I strive to make up new geometric shapes as well as think up new ways to use old theatrical shapes.” Nook was continuously finding new ways to utilize old gear, reframe old ideas, and create new looks inspired by everyday objects.
Take Chances
Nook rarely took the path most easily travelled. He is quite literally a trailblazer of our industry. One of the best examples of this took place in 1988. He had to choose between two serious offers. One choice was Tina Turner. She was at the height of her career, playing sold out shows to large arenas and paying top dollar. The second choice was a relatively unheard-of band named 311. After listening to their songs, he saw the potential that others had missed. He enjoyed the songs; he respected the complexity of their song structures and knew that he would enjoy the challenges of branching out in a new direction. Working with 311 exposed him to the burgeoning Southern California rock scene. This led to new clients like Sugar Ray and No Doubt. By taking chances, he was able to break out of his rut, learn new skills, and find new opportunities.
Always Check Credentials
Our industry is much less about who you know and far more about who knows you. Nook respected this truth. No matter how strong someone’s resume appeared to be, he would always call around and check up on everyone. Nook was constantly designing shows and sending them out with directors. He had to rely on his sizable Rolodex to confirm that possible suitors were worth their salt. Before he chose to work with me, he was completely transparent that he had called no fewer than three of our mutual colleagues to confirm that my chops were suitable to his needs. Beyond my skills, he wanted to know that I was easy to work with and that I could play well with others. In a show of complete transparency, he even forwarded me an email that he sent to Craig Caserta asking “You ever see Chris Lose run a show? Does he have chops like us?” I’m proud to say two things; firstly, Caserta vouched for me, and secondly, after a year, I became one of the people that Nook would call to check credentials for possible programmers. He would call at any hour asking “Have you ever heard of John Doe? Is he actually as good as his own website says he is?” Much like many people in our industry, I will miss those late-night phone calls. Although we have lost a legend, he can never be forgotten.
Reach Chris Lose at close@plsn.com
