Industry Perspective

Billy Joel has a pretty consistent schedule, but has long since given up adhering to a normal touring routine. “We prefer to do shows every ten days to two weeks.” explains production manager Bobby Thrasher (known in the industry as Boomer) from his large office.

Let me start by thanking all of you that commented on Part 1 (PLSN, June 2017, page 75). I had no idea so many of you were so interested in this stuff. My wife is very happy that I finally have some new friends to talk to about these things. A few of you were thrown off by the eight-year life cycle comment, but I think you got confused between LED and line array.

I recently had a visitor wander into my office and introduce himself. I’m not normally one to spend much time with a cold calling salesman, but this guy came with good creds. He was from a manufacturers rep organization and was introduced to us by a friendly neighbor. We had quite the interesting conversation. He asked me for my perspective (as a customer and a reseller) on how the Chinese LED manufacturers were developing their distribution model.

Evert once in a while, a story pops up about the value of being educated properly in the technical aspects of the entertainment biz. This education could come from your college, your own school of hard knocks (meaning other folks taking time to school you) or perhaps your high school theater teacher. This education likely took years and molded you into the person you are today.

He was the voice of Woodstock, gently suggesting you avoid the brown acid.

Chip Monck is one of the most colorful characters in the business, a business he is considered the Godfather of. The lighting designer has been part of some of the amazing events ever staged, including the Ali/Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He was tour and staging manager with the Rolling Stones for seven years and stage producer for Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden, one of the first big benefit concerts raising awareness and donations.

A Life of Lighting for the Camera

Bill Klages already has seven Primetime Emmy Awards for his work in television lighting design. This year, his long and stunning career has been officially recognized with his 2012 induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Theatre lighting designer. Concert lighting designer. Television lighting designer. Professor. Lecturer. Author.

Jim Moody has many vocations, but despite an amazing career so far, producing a head-spinning list of great rock acts he’s worked with, there’s one role that he puts above all those: Mentor.