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Krafting MACROni & Cheese

Automated lighting consoles provide the programmer with a multitude of tools to help create and playback lighting for a show. Some of the most powerful features are commonly known as “macros.” These automated time-savers can help programmers simplify repeated tasks, create shortcuts and even add functionality to their show files. Although each console system uses different terminology and procedures, there are two basic types of macros: triggers and recorded. As always, refer to your console’s user manual to determine exactly what is available and how to use the features on your desk.

Red lighting makes it difficult to capture details. Less-saturated colors tend to have less blowout.

Photography Skills

As people who work the day-to-day of concert, industrial, theatrical and television, we sometimes forget we to need to take photos to help capture our work.  It is important to show our work in the best way possible.  Detailing a design in words can only go so far; visuals help to explain what we accomplished. These days, websites and social media are great places for potential employers to see and learn about us. Our next gig might be a click away. We don’t always have the luxury to have someone capture our work. But we can learn to improve our own photography skills.

Lighting Aerosmith, Sting, Anthrax/Testament, Miranda Lambert and a Playboy Fantasyland

LD Alastair Bramall-Watson is designing Aerosmith’s tour, which kicks off Oct. 22 in South America, swings to Mexico and ends Dec. 10 in Japan. This is his first time to work with the band, and he’s excited about the opportunity. To prepare for it, he didn’t look back at previous designs but put his own style forward. The longtime LD for Stone Temple Pilots said he was contacted by the band to submit a proposal. He met with Steven Tyler in Boston with the designs and got his stamp of approval. “I couldn’t presume to know what they wanted or didn’t want. I asked what they liked and didn’t like in a show and went from there. The show will be the best show I can give them,” he said.

Illustration by Andy Au

Hitting the Sweet Spot

A spotlight does just what its name says it will do. Light a spot in a crowd to draw attention to it. A light shone on one person in a crowd will make them stand out, but so will a “key” light on stage. The difference is that a spotlight uses an operator to follow the performer around as he struts about on stage, keeping him illuminated as the intended focal point of the audience. The history of the spotlight can be traced back to 1550, when an Italian named Sebastiano Serlio used a brightly-polished barber’s basin (reflector) placed behind a torch to reflect the light through a bottle (lens) on the other side of the flame.

Alabama

Alabama

Lighting Co

Port Lighting Systems

Venue

Private Party

Alton, NH

Sade photo by Steve Jennings

Sade

Lighting Co

PRG

Venue

Various (Tour)

The Show Doesn’t Always Have to Go On

This summer has turned out to be a costly one. The recent stage collapses have brought to light a call for stricter standards and a closer inspection of rigging practices. It is heartbreaking to hear about the number of people that lost their lives to these devastating events. Could these tragedies have been prevented? We may never know.

Sensation dance event at O2 Arena

Nocturnal Sea Life at the O2 Arena

Sensation events — immersive DJ-supported dance extravaganzas where participants adhere to an all-white or all-black dress code — made their U.K. debut at the O2 arena Aug. 13 with an event themed “An Ocean of White.”

Andrew Latimer and Kelsey Booth, founders of Lighting Audio Video Arts (LAVA).

College Students Form Non-Profit Production Company at ASU

There’s a new live event production team in Tempe. And you’ll find their prices quite reasonable — likely even free. But you’ll have to be on the campus of Arizona State University to take advantage of it …

Students looking for experience, an opportunity to work with better gear, and a selfless desire to help their fellow students increase the production value of their events have formed Lighting Audio Video Arts (LAVA). It’s a student-led and student-crewed production group.