In this current world of hate, it’s really nice to be able to put out an issue that’s taking a month to focus on Nashville. That’s because nowhere else in the world do I see so many people smiling all day as in Music City. Whether people are working the scene or just hanging at a honkytonk, the folks from this town always smile and greet me with open arms.
It’s the start of a new year, and I wish you all a great upcoming one. I will always be a lighting designer foremost, even if I don’t practice the craft as often as I did before becoming an editor. So my Christmas wish list is always for new lighting toys. I’m glad to see the birth of some new lighting products in the last year as well as the retooling of some old fixtures that have come back from the dead. I took a few minutes to list some of the new tools in my toy box that I personally would love to get my hands on.
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We are wrapping up the year here at PLSN. Our gift to our readers during this festive season is an updated website that we are sure you will enjoy.
I have unwittingly found myself among the people who when bored, search for interesting online news, on my phone. And to be honest, I was a bit peeved at how the majority of these sites I was visiting were slowed down because I had to constantly navigate through banners, ads and leads to other stories. We at PLSN were just as guilty as the rest of the people in the world, because we didn’t keep up with technology.
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I’m going on record here to say that I really like that LDI is during October and still in Vegas. November was always too close to Thanksgiving. It meant spending two different weeks every month away from home. As far as the town, well, it’s Vegas baby. There’s always plenty to see and plenty to eat, and you can hang out with adults. When I’m at LDI, I want to be the kid in the candy store. I don’t want to be Dad. I go to Orlando and California with my kids when I want to be an adult.
I took the summer off from lighting any shows to concentrate on the magazine and be available to see all the shows coming through my city.
I have caught up with so many old lighting designer colleagues as well as meeting a few new board operators that have tons of talent. I really wish I had enough time to catch up with everyone out on the road.
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I have always had an affinity for strobes. Ever since I got into this biz, I have been fond of all kinds of these fixtures and watched them grow in wattage from small Xenon gas discharged units to Lightning Strikes to LED models that are just blinding. Strobe lights originated in 1931 using flashtubes with energy supplied from a capacitor, similar to a battery, but capable of charging and releasing energy much faster.
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Relics: I believe this is a term used to describe ancient stuff. Like rock bands that never seem to die. I want to know what happened to the mantra “Hope I die before I get old” that the Who preached back in the ‘60s. But hey, we’re all happy to see the remaining live members celebrate their 50th anniversary with a tour. Albeit with cancelled dates to rest an ailing throat, these guys are still working it.
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As I wandered the halls at 2015’s Prolight + Sound show in Frankfurt last month, I once again looked for the unusual items. I’ve come to expect the large manufacturers to show off some great stuff to augment their wide array of fixtures. But I am more impressed at these trade shows with the little things that are original. I’m talking about stuff so cool and simple that I have been wondering where this item has been my whole career. And it’s not necessarily something that everyone can use. I found three companies I was unfamiliar with, that showed me gear I can really use.
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An amateur is defined as someone who doesn’t get paid for the work they are doing. An amateur may be a college athlete busting his butt in exchange for an education. He or she may be a volunteer worker. They may not be trained well, but they are doing their best to do something they want to participate in. Either way, they are not considered skilled professionals, even if they are quite good at what they do.
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As a lighting designer, I just love my software. I know a lot of designers who whine about drawing plots and having to number things. They’d rather shout directions out to some assistant who can scribble notes now and transform that into 2D plots, 3D renderings and paperwork on how to make it all work. I get all that, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But I am not that guy. I am addicted to my software and would rather do it all myself.
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