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

By: Colin Wilson

Colin Wilson — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:52:05 +0000

I used to light for TV in a previous life with a bit of amdram on the side, but left the industry several years ago. 2 years ago I started lighting for our local amdram group in the village hall. After reading this article I feel truly blest! We have 2 overstage spot bars, 1 FOH bar and 2 FOH vert side bars. There is a 2 x 6 dimmer pack and a 2 x 12ch DMX board. The only fixtures provided are 2 x Parcan 64. The first production was lit using the parcans and a few ES PAR lamps (yes, the domestic type reflector lamps!!) but since then I have built up a collection of fixtures courtesy of ebay amd Usedlighting’s clearouts.
I must commend you Rob on this amazing website. There is a vast wealth of information and it has been a great help in the catch-up process for me. Many Thanks.

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.