Comments on: Stage Lighting Skills And The Myth of Pro Lighting

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:44:25 +0000

Hi Ben. Without knowing your venue seating in detail, it strikes me that you don’t need 3 spots per area, the straight on one is pretty redundant if you can get 2 at 45 degrees either side. 3 point lighting usually involves key, fill and BACK light, something to see if you can squeeze in if rigging allows.

I would generally only use a straight on frontlight if a) I didn’t have enough kit for 2 front fixtures per area or b) I was running a very sidelight heavy show and just needed a little something to fill in (like dance or a band gig). HTH

By: Nick Thompson

Nick Thompson — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:14:18 +0000

i agree with Darcy it is the chlange of making it all work with old eqipment that is part of the fun

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:56:54 +0000

Hey everyone,
I am a new lighting designer at my high-school. We have a very intense theater program (we win the New England drama festival quite often). I have been put in charge after our old designer quit, and now I am in charge of redoing all our lights into a better plot that includes 10 areas and incorporates 10 Etc source four lights. What I have been thinking of doing is using 3 lights from the cat walk. Two likos at 45 degree an Etc light at 50 percent straight on. Also in the first four areas I will incorporate side light. Is this good enough? WIll this work?

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:42:27 +0000

Hi, am a newbie to all this (albeit a mature one) so a friend at my local community theatre told me about this site. Just wanted to say that I love the article, (we have old kit but at least its well maintained) and judging by the number of links on the page, it looks like I have plenty of reading to do!

By: Scurrie

Scurrie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:07:07 +0000

So I think what you are saying is, there is no way around it, I really DO have to make this rig work!

By: Kevin McKeon

Kevin McKeon — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:24:36 +0000

Hi Rob,

I think it’s great that you have such a positive attitude. It’s hard to work around people who bitch all the time.

I will add this- I found that people who welcome crappy gear with open arms, will always have plenty of it handed to them.

Sometimes it’s beneficial to tell someone straight away it’s junk. The shoot looks like shit and all anyone seems to remember is you were the one making the “shit” happen. Professionals don’t use junk.

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:07:17 +0000

Good point, Darcy. If it was easy, any idiot could do it

By: Darcy

Darcy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:34:55 +0000

I Quite like having problems like, now lx bars to hang off, dodgy lights, etc, it makes the job interesting – gotta love a challenge. If everything was how we “wanted” it, i believe the job wouldnt be as attractive to me as what is now with all the challenges….

By: Yoken

Yoken — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:23:48 +0000

Thank you very much for a well written article. I believe that if you can get decent results from old and tired lighting stock you learn how to get more from the brand new units, should you get your hands on them.

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:50:59 +0000

Hi Alex, sounds good and I expect the LD would be pleased to know you appreciated their work. It’s always a bonus to know that people who understand lighting think you did a good job. The positive feedback that I remember most has been from other lighting designers.

Thanks for your comment and good to work with you this year.