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Herrick Goldman, Kamikaze Lighting Designer

Herrick Goldman, Kamikaze Lighting Designer

Quick and dirty on a budget for NYMTF

Think your plate is full? Try being Herrick Goldman for a week. A veteran LD with two decades experience, he recently designed three shows at the New York Musical Theatre Festival — he’s done 16 shows for them in four years — while also handling gigs for the Grammys and Emmys that same week. His company, HG Lighting Design Inc., handles “any live events,” although the company’s focus is on theatre and larger corporate events. And they are constantly working.

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Only the Changed Survive

Knowing Your Place in the Production Environment

I was on a plane home from a trade show when I was struck with a thought: I am constantly reminded of knowing my place on the very different shows on which I work. My job as a lighting designer has crossed over into so many other areas that I need to change my job description for each particular client. After 23 years in the lighting biz, you have to see and roll with the changes in everything, from technology to politics.

We have talked for years about lighting people becoming entrenched in the video field, while video has become more of a lighting element. It is like talking politics or religion — there is no defining answer, we just have to adapt and accept some things on faith. Those who do not adapt seem to fade away. I went from touring with rock shows to now doing trade shows and corporate gigs. I see many old faces from those days following the same path. They adapted from the fast-paced, “work hard, play hard” attitude of the concert touring industry, to the kinder, gentler world of corporate production.

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The Power of Three

“If some day they say of me that with my work I have contributed something to the welfare and the happiness of my fellow men, I shall be satis-fied.”  — George Westinghouse

The three little pigs. The three branches of government. The holy trinity. The number three is an interesting number. Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

 

Long ago, Nikola Tesla recognized something special about the power of three. He started out working on a solution for an AC induction motor, and in the process, he ended up defining the familiar three-phase system of alternating current that we’ve come to know. We’ve been using three-phase power ever since. Now when you hook up power in most venues, there are three hot phases, a neutral and a ground. 

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Show me the Money

As an automated lighting programmer, there often are times when more than programming knowledge and experience come into play. Most pro-grammers work as freelancers and must negotiate their rates, contracts and other terms of employment. Other programmers are fortunate enough to work directly for a production company full-time, but even they must negotiate fair compensation. From day rates to travel days and per-diem, there are many things that you must consider before agreeing to take on a gig.

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Premios Juventud 2007

A wild and crazy show that gets bigger and bolder each year.

 A live televised award show is pressure enough, but when star power, budgets, ratings and expectations continue to build higher and higher, what do you do?

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DOWN to the WIRE

Staging Solutions uses moving video to turn corporate theatre on its head.

The blessing of corporate work is that it’s predictable, right? Contracts for the larger shows are drawn up a year in advance, design work is pored over and sent around to corporate committees for approvals months before the gig happens, and even if something comes up right before the show goes out, it’s a minor problem — just a run-of-the-mill production snag to keep things interesting. And then, sometimes you’re asked to do the spectacular in no time flat, like Dave Lawson of Staging Solutions, executive producer for the HP Technology Forum.

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ESTA Celebrates Twenty Years

Many accomplishments highlight effectiveness of industry organization

In 1987, Homer Simpson made his debut appearance on The Tracy Ullman Show, the Bangles were walking like Egyptians and 25 theatrical sup-ply companies decided it was time they banded together to promote and protect their interests. Simpson ended up with his own show, the Bangles walked right into obscurity and the organization that began as the Theatrical Dealers Association that year in Las Vegas is now the Entertainment Services and Technology Association, better known as ESTA.

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BAN THE BULB, Spare the Politicians

If change is in the air, then it must be the political season. The last time there was a looming presidential election was the last time there was so much attention focused on one issue. Back then, outsourcing was the hot button issue. This time around it’s the environment. And politicians eve-rywhere have decided that “banning the bulb” is the way to environmental salvation.

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Appomattox

Stark sets and dramatic lighting link the past to the present.

Although new chamber pieces and small-scale operas are frequently performed, new large-scale opera premieres are rare. First, there is the expense. In addition to the words and music, grand opera demands enormous resources, both onstage and in the wings. The company needs principal and secondary singers, a chorus, stagehands, dancers, choreographers, an orchestra, conductors, the stage directors, and the technicians and artists responsible for lighting, scenery, props and costumes. Repertory companies also have large administrative staff requirements. For the year 2005–2006, salaries for all of San Francisco Opera totaled in excess of $40 million. Picture a big Broadway musical on steroids.

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Who in Your Crew Do You Turn To?

I was once on a gig where, for no apparent reason, the power distro went snap, crackle, pop. Really, it was more like crackle, big snap, bright flash, little pop, smoke puff. That’s not a sight and sound you want to experience first thing in the morning, not even when you’re having cereal. The dimmer tech who energized the PD, just before the impromptu light and sound show, went looking for the house electrician who had just tied in the feeder cables. He was nowhere to be found. Then he went looking for someone more qualified than himself to resolve the problem before doors a few hours later.

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