Hello everyone

I am sorry if i sound completely stupid here but...

How would i go about getting a career in lighting in lighting - DMX control etc...

I just really love lights in theatrical performance and at big nightclub installations.

I just came across this forum and thought maybe you guys could help, any help given is appreciated...

Thanks

Well the first thing i would say is buy some lights and a DMX controller and just learn how it operates. Read up on DMX 512. And Also ask tons of questions here and we will answer you to the best of our ability.
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,

Some more advise:

Don't look for excuses to NOT get a job done. Your clients want results and they don't care how you get there, just get there.

Work your butt off. And then work it off more. If it falls off and needs to be stapled back on, then you know you're 5% of the way there, that's how much you have to work your butt off.

Now, onto some other practical advise. As Jingles says, buy some stuff like lights, controllers and dimmers as applicable. Read manuals, learn the products, learn to use it very well whatever you purchase. Read up on DMX-512, as that is your lifeline. You don't need to know it down to to the bit level, but you need to understand how it works and how to transport and protect it.

Shows. Yes, get your self out to shows. Of course, start off with what you like, acts and artists you enjoy. While you're watching the show, pay attention to the lights. Get ideas, see how they do things, study how and why they may do things and the effect it produced. It's entirely possible that the type of acts and artists you like is sufficient to really put some education in you. Then again, maybe not, it really depends on what you are into. Watch concerts on TV and DVD and BluRay.

Since you're into theater and night clubs, go to those sort of things.

Learning lighting is really a hands on thing. The "lab" portion can be extensive, but the best way to learn is to watch others, get ideas and try to realize them. Sound is much more technically difficult, but I'm not discounting the lighting element. If you have bad lights but good sound, you still have a show. If you have good lights and bad sound, you got a suck-fest. If you got good both, now that's a concert.

This is where ADJ and Elation, among other companies, offer a unique solution for aspiring light designers who don't want to go bezerk on spending loads of money on lighting gear to learn this stuff or try to get hired by a lighting company to learn this stuff. Buying the MyDMX software is a fairly good and low-cost(relatively speaking) way to get your hands dirty without watching all your money go to music stores on lighting gear. Utilizing the 3D Visualizer, you can see how your shows would work. Using other software, you can make videos of your achievements and share them with your peers to see if you're doing good or bad.

Now, using MyDMX has its drawbacks. Let's first go over the 3D Visualizer. That portion of MyDMX can show that you KNOW how to design. I feel that this tool can really work to your advantage in showing what you can do. The weak side is that you're going to be very comfortable with DMX consoles. Now, I'm used to analog audio consoles so for me, it is very intuitive, I can pretty much do anything I want with any analog console by simply walking up and getting busy. I don't know if lighting consoles are the same way. From what I've seen, and granted, my experiences are limited, they are not all created equal as far as how they operate on the surface. But, this is a learnable skill. You can download manuals usually for free and start reading. Reading manuals will only get you so far though, you gotta have some hands on time on the consoles. Most places are going to have a console in place rather than go with a software solution.

On this forum, I hear a lot of whining and crying and people looking for excuses to not get the job done. Sorry, I just ain't buying it. These are people who don't really want to work, they just wnat to show up and get money for their effort and aren't in this for the long haul. Don't be like that. As I said, your clients want results, they don't care how you get it done, just get it done. Do it right, do it on time and do it within budget.

So, if it was me and I wanted to go down this path, knowing what I do now, this is what I would do:

Buy MyDMX.
Download manuals for ADJ products.
Learn to design with MyDMX.

If you like what you're doing, make it real and BUY MyDMX and the lights you're designing with as well as any other necessary parts. Get out and start working.

Download lighting console manuals, based on what you see out in the places you like going to, including tours. Read them, but don't memorize them, just be familiar with them.

There's no absolute single right way of doing things. Each needs to find their own path. Just remember, the path is not paved and the road requires four-wheel-drive and is lined with snipers and CalTrans road workers blocking your path. Only the strong survive. And those who want to do it on their own(like me) have to dig deep into their pockets to fund our gear habits. Hey, at least it ain't drugs!

Miles,

Another way to get experience is volunteering to work tech at your church. You will find that a church seldom has enough of anything to do exactly what needs to be done on a stage set up. You will find the ‘old salts” have a great deal of experience in finding a way to safely make things happen when there isn’t enough money and you’re already a week late, or the Pastor just changed something at the last minute. You will learn how to do everything from stringing wire, hanging lights, running sound, designing sets, working with people, and the list goes on. And when you finish the last show on one of these productions, the rewarding feeling of accomplishment is impossible to describe.

Best of luck

Max

I strongly recommend against volunteering in churches. I find they become users/abusive very quickly. If you go to the church, then fine. Otherwise, steer clear.

Case and point: I did a lot of sound contracting for local churches, then they'd flat out not pay me. Since I'm not making much money anyways and now out a sizable chunk o change(say, a quarter million bucks), I can't afford to hire a lawyer to sue them. Needless to say, I'm very hesitant when I work with religious groups these days. Of course, I did do work for one such group in I think November and I have nothing but good things to say about that group.

Another case and point: A church wanted me to do sound for them, I gave them my rate and then they get all indignant on me. Hey, I'm cutting them time that I could spend on other projects. That's my rate, take it or leave it. They don't want to pay for my hour on the road coming and the hour driving back, or the 3 hours I'd have to be there being bible thumped the whole time.

So, don't volunteer at churches unless it's the one you go to. Otherwise, get paid, they won't abuse you. And get it in writing and ensure you're paid at the end of each session.

Volunteer at a school or local theater. At least you'll be appreciated. Churches will just use you.

Of course, you're in the south, land of the church goers and mega users/abusers of techs. As I said, if you go to the church, then volunteer, but not to other churges or they'll just use and abuse you and treat you like crap.

Sorry, but 20+ years of experience hasn't shown me anything different.

I’ll stick by my advice.

I stated volunteering at church is a good place to share or develop skills. I did not suggest that one volunteer ones personal or professional equipment and I did not address the issue of being a staff or contract worker.

I was a tech volunteer at a large church in Milwaukee for a number of years, and now that we have “returned home to Georgia,” I am a tech volunteer at small church in south east Georgia for going on three years. Both experiences have been very positive.

As far as contract work, in all business arrangements, know with whom you are entering into a business arrangement before you sign the contract. Do some research, everyone has a reputation and there is good and bad everywhere…

Max

I'll stick by my advise

Intercourse(substitute for a more colorful term) churches. Con-central tax dodgers is all they are these days.

If they can afford an attorney, then contracts mean nothing to them. They'll just fight it until you are flat broke then counter-sue you for their efforts.

Sorry but being screwed out of a few million bucks by churches is gonna leave a permanent mark. I ain't doing NOTHING for them unless it's cash up front, FULL pop. No exceptions. If I roll up to do an event, better hand me a bag of money before I'll even unlock the back. If the amount is wrong, I'm going home. And it IS in the contract: Payment via cash before load-in. Once back door opens, the even is paid for.
(and yes, I've had to do it before, and yes I will do it again)

Remember all, this IS a business.

It's a hard thing, getting experience in Technical Theatre, nowadays.

Now, I dont pretend to be one of the 'Old Salts' that was mentioned before, but I have been around the traps. Because of theatres nature, most producers won't trust their lighting, sound or set to a pure amateur... after all this show/gig/concert has been someone's baby since it's inception and they aren't going to allow anything to mess it up.

But, no producer/director/stage manager will ever turn down a helping hand. I've managed to get backstage for some large/very large gigs simply by explaining that I was a student, studying lighting and sound and wanted to observe how a large show ran. Those in theatre love to show their skills and introduce 'newbies' to the ways.... and those that don't are lacking in originality anyway (that's a story for another time)

So get out there.... give your time freely, and willingly... and you will find opportunities will follow..

Me thinks thou dost protest too much.

You are mixing business with volunteer time. Most churches will not let you volunteer unless you are a member or regular visitor. Keep your personal equipment at home and volunteer at a rate that is comfortable for you.

In business, different rules (and this applies to all business dealings); know who you are dealing with and get a deposit to hold a date, and do all the other things you know to be prudent. There are good, bad, and very bad organizations of every genre out there and you must protect yourself.