Blogs

Automated lighting programmers are responsible for more than just mastering their console of choice. A programmer must also understand the capabilities and functions of the… Read More »Get to Know Your Fixtures

Although we've been using dimmers for years, I still get questions about whether or not it's okay to put a pinspot on a dimmer. Some… Read More »The Perils of Pinspots

Every year, I find myself at some stadium lighting something. If it's not a rock show, it's often the halftime entertainment or pre-game ceremonies of… Read More »Live TV Broadcasts: Every Second Counts

In the production meetings that are scheduled in the weeks before a big event, the most critical thing I do is to listen.  I listen… Read More »Using Your Ears

Starting with your first show of the New Year, save your show to external media more often.  I follow the credo that "you should never… Read More »Protect Your Work

"Most of the time when people say a fuse or breaker is operating improperly or blowing when it shouldn't, it's because the device is doing… Read More »Blame the Circuit, Not the Fuse

When I was a young man, I toured with the Talking Heads. They were a "new wave" band with a big following and a light… Read More »“I Guess We Just Did It Differently”

Automation may be tasked with governing many of the moving parts of a modern Broadway production, but it probably won't be replacing stage managers any… Read More »The Role of the Modern Stage Manager

Collaboration between academia and business has become, well, big business. Since 1980 there have been over 4,300 start-ups that were incubated in U.S. universities, and… Read More »Incubating Visuals

In a live show, when playing back on-the-fly (busking, winging it, or punting), I find using the grand master and DBO button very helpful. I… Read More »The Grand Master: Use the Power Wisely

Wireless DMX transmission has been around for several years, and it keeps getting better by taking advantage of improvements in wireless technology. In the last… Read More »Advances are Making Wireless DMX More Reliable

Most jam bands play two or three sets of music each night and have a couple hundred songs in their repertoire. It's tough to program… Read More »Lighting a Jam Band: Two LDs are Better than One