Tour: “Love Unleashed,” Oct. 14-Dec. 10
The Design: “Martina likes to connect with the audience, so between songs, I light up the audience so she can see their reactions. She doesn’t wear in-ear monitors; she wants to hear, see and react to the audience. She wants lighting to have impact, and my goal is to make her look the best, to accent her rather than distract from her. There’s not a lot of flash and trash, but one colorful with subtle movement look to another. That’s what she wants to accent her story, her message in her songs.”
BACKSTORY
Home Base: Knoxville, TN
Years in the Industry: 25
Career Inspiration: “A show dance ensemble in the high school chorus department called Bobcat Company. A local TV station would videotape the Christmas show to air Christmas Day.”
Industry Gigs: “After high school, I started at James Thomas Engineering. While finishing my degree, I worked for the University of Tennessee (UT) theatre department. After my degree, I worked for a large touring lighting company. Also, before starting my company, Limelite, I worked for other lighting companies and managed the entertainment side of a local grip company where I did broadcast sports desk shows, beauty pageants, boxing shows. I learned about cameras, lighting sets and intermixing entertainment lighting with TV.”
First Gig as an LD: “Walmart Country Music Across America touring shows, Monday through Fridays at Walmarts all over the country, in big and small towns.
Heroes/Mentors: “First was John Horner, electrics shop manager and lead LD at UT. I was his assistant on many UT shows and for local groups in town. Another was LD Jonathan Smeeton; I worked with him at the grip company. He helped me with philosophies, with keeping the ego in check. One thing he taught me was, ‘My success depends on my client’s success.’ In other words, we are in a service industry. I could be the greatest LD, but if I don’t have a client to work with whom I make look good, than what have I got? Put your ego on the shelf.”
Side Projects: “I have diversified with lighting system installs, equipment sales and repairs. I’m also gaffer/assistant designer of Bellator MMA martial arts.
What do you like about what you do? “The main reason I accepted the LD gig for Martina was the people I’d be working with. When I’m doing TV shows with concert lighting, I like the pace and problem-solving. Being a part of a team and completing the artist’s vision.”
Best advice to young LDs: “Take business classes, learn negotiation and bookkeeping. Learn to promote yourself in a confident but non-arrogant way. Be thankful, humble and have a great attitude.”
