*Update* Have you ever worked with a Lighting Designer, whether amateur or professional, and wondered what they are doing wandering around on stage waving their arms about? Have you noticed an LD, directing the lighting focus standing on the stage with their backs to the rig, and wondered what they were looking at on the [...] [...more]
Fed up? Do you find that you spend too much time on things that go wrong? Does your time on shows seem to be a series of fire fighting opportunities rather than “higher lighting” (?!) opportunities? Why do things go wrong so often? Why is equipment always letting you down? Best laid lighting plans going [...] [...more]
Quickie – Just a heads up about a potentially interesting webinar on modern lighting technology. [...more]
Taking common lighting complaints of our readers, On Stage Lighting looks at the really vital skills you will need to succeed as a stage lighting professional and finds a surprising place to learn them. We also bust a myth about life on the professional side of the fence. No wobbly buckets, PC console emulators or [...] [...more]
On Stage Lighting presents an essential guide to stage lighting jargon and UK lampie slang for anyone who needs to understand what these weirdos are talking about or needs to blag it as a member the LX department. [...more]
In a free conference speaker training course, we are going to look at life from the other side of the lectern. As part of our Keynote Speaker Awareness Week, we are going to empathise with with this desperate bunch and remember importance of visibility on stage. Please turn off your mobile phones. [...more]
A brief guide to the understanding and using of electricity systems in stage lighting, we start by looking at the basics of how electricity arrives at the stage and common equipment used in stage electrics. [...more]
Readers of On Stage Lighting regularly get in touch, via the comments or Facebook or Twitter, to ask their stage lighting related questions. Many of these questions start with “How Do I...?” or “How To..?” so here's some of the more common ones, together with some quick answers and other stage lighting resources that could help you. [...more]
The comprehensive DMX book “Recommended Practice for DMX 512: A guide for users and installers” (phew) by Adam Bennette has been updated. On Stage Lighting looks at the new edition plus some other DMX books. [...more]
In a series of interviews, On Stage Lighting spoke to four industry professionals about getting a first job in the lighting business. This article considers the results and what to think about when choosing your stage lighting education. [...more]
This part of our series finds out what the Managing Director of a large Lighting Hire business considers essential in any stage lighting education. [...more]
The third part of our series about stage lighting education finds out what a top UK lighting designer thinks is important before starting out in the lighting business. [...more]
In the second part of our series about stage lighting education and employment, On Stage Lighting talks to Operations Manager at a large UK lighting company. [...more]
What education do you need to work in theatre stage lighting? On Stage Lighting asks a leading Lighting Designer and Chief Electrician what they really look for in a candidate. And what is their ideal stage lighting education? [...more]
The modern stage lighting industry is extremely changeable. The call for lighting techs goes up and down like a truss rigged on elastic, it’s what they call a flexible labour market. So, production companies rely on freelance technicians ( freelancers, freeloaders [insert term of abuse here]). Becoming a freelance lighting tech seems like a good [...] [...more]
One of elements of learning intelligent lighting control, is grasping the difference in the two ways a lighting desk treats control channels. The concept of Highest Takes Precedence (HTP) and Latest Takes Precedence (LTP) is actually very simple but is often misunderstood and explaining it can make it seem more complicated. On Stage Lighting always [...] [...more]
Stage lighting systems can contain numerous components but the elements of the system are the same. On Stage Lighting goes a quick and dirty tour of the basics of stage lighting system. If know much about stage lighting, or take things too seriously – look away now. [...more]
Programming moving lights on a modern intelligent lighting console involves some new techniques for the novice console operator, not least the use of “Palettes”. Using palettes is an important method for efficiently programming intelligent fixtures and organising their attributes such as colours, gobos, pan, tilt etc into manageable chunks. On Stage Lighting explains the principles [...] [...more]
The third part of the Lighting Desk Basics series, On Stage Lighting looks at the elements of moving light control. Article 2 – Intelligent Lighting Control, looked at the first steps of controlling moving lights, fixture personalities and patching. Using Groups to control your “heads” is the next step in console programming like the professionals. [...more]
A top end professional intelligent lighting control desk and the moving light section on a cheap lighting control have common features. Understanding these elements, while not teaching you to become a moving light operator, can help a beginner learning any intelligent lighting desk. In the second part of the Lighting Desk …series, On Stage Lighting [...] [...more]
The lighting control, “board” or “desk” is the a key part of any stage lighting set up and it is using the lighting desk that an operator is able to control the equipment. This can range from adjusting the “levels” on stage lighting dimmers to controlling complex intelligent lighting systems and media servers. Although there [...] [...more]
If you want to learn stage lighting, there are many different ways do it. Learning lighting theory, technical equipment and lighting design can be hard enough but with a vast amount of technical terms and jargon too, stage lighting can seem pretty hard to get into. On Stage Lighting takes a look at some of [...] [...more]
Have you ever worked with a Lighting Designer, whether amateur or professional, and wondered what they are doing wandering around on stage waving their arms about? Have you noticed an LD, directing the lighting focus standing on the stage with their backs to the rig, and wondered what they were looking at on the floor? [...] [...more]
Learning about stage lighting sometimes seems a mystery to those who are just starting out. Lighting design and technology can seem like black magic with all it’s strange terminology and jargon. Learning all about stage lighting is best done in a variety of ways, not least hands on experience in theatres or concert venues. Reading [...] [...more]
The gobo, one of the oldest stage lighting effects, is still one of the best, cheapest and most versatile even today. A gobo is traditionally a piece of metal, with shaped holes cut into it, that produces a pattern of light. The design of the pattern can be anything, from abstract shapes to a sign [...] [...more]
On Stage Lighting publishes original articles, tutorials and information about stage lighting techniques, modern equipment and best practice - all written by lighting industry professionals. The website has a lot of information on stage lighting for beginners, along with contemporary topics in the lighting world.
If you've got a stage lighting related question we haven't covered and you would like to read an article on, leave a comment at our What's Next... page.
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