LD-at-Large Podcast

with John Daniels - Lighting Designer at Karpe Diem

On this episode, we discuss growing up in Saudi Arabia, getting a worldly education, how to pull inspiration from world travels, being an immigrant in your own country, human rights in the Middle East, interning in Miami, lighting as function vs. lighting as art, training the next generation to maintain a level of quality, how pre-vis can help provide the best quality of art, the transition from lighting the set to lighting air, and how to decide when to keep it classy and simple or flashy and wild.

With John “Ozzie” Osborne - Lighting Designer at Ozterity Lighting

On this episode, we discuss storytelling with light, maintaining a diverse skill set in the lighting industry while maintaining a core set of values, the importance of democratic collaboration and authoritative decision making, the importance of mentorship, working for any artist that pays us and being picky about our clients, working with full creative freedom as opposed to some guidelines, working to travel, lighting for camera in the digital age, and using lighting to inspire folklore and affect history.

“Perfection is achieved not when there Is nothing more to add, but when there Is nothing left to take away”

Please visit: www.linkedin.com/in/korbella

with Adam LaBay - Laser Designer at Precision Lasers

On this episode, we discuss the endless opportunities and creative outlets that lasers provide, laser safety, laser artistry, how the laser industry has adapted to the isolation period, the birth of Laser Banding as a new art form, abandoning the bass to buy a laser rig and start a laser company, how lasers can become part of the lighting design process and integrate into the lighting programming, bitcoin, and the future of laser development.

Please visit: www.precisionlasers.com, www.instagram.com/iamthelaser

with Steve Richards - Principal at Original Syndicate LLC

On this episode, we discuss how the future of the lighting industry will be forever changed, how will we maintain our level or compensation, what does and does not belong in a deal memo, being a pragmatic mentor, when an email and a handshake is good enough, how to properly define out terms for employment without presenting as a prima-donna, how to keep in line with covering ourselves vs. being demanding, and whether or not we should include repercussions for late payment in a contract.

disclaimer: this is not legal advice.

Please visit: www.origsyn.com

with Megan Alksninis - Lighting Designer at Megrose Designs

On this episode, we discuss paying attention to details, the difference between a perfectionist and a jerk, when good enough is good enough, how to strive for perfection without sweating it, how even drunk people are entitled to a great performance, the joys of happy accidents, donating pre-vis time to make ourselves have a great show, focusing on minute details without losing the big picture, working with Atreyu, New Found Glory, Refused, The Amity Affliction Freelance and more.

Please visit: www.megrosedesigns.com

with Mike Wood - Lighting Designer/Director & Educator out of Nashville

On this episode, we discuss how to maintain living rates post-pandemic, how far we should be willing to compromise, how transparent we need to be about our rates, having difficult conversations about what we make among trusted companions, the idea of a transparent open-source database of pay rates, if it is ever okay to work for free, using union wages as a barometer, collective bargaining, and the notion of paying your dues.

Please visit: www.mikewoodld.com and instagram.com/mikewoodld

with Brian Vaughan - Director of Lighting at Fireplay!

On this episode, we discuss coming up through the church scene to do bigger shows, when to work for art’s sake and when to work for a paycheck, when is it okay to work for free? Charities? Church? Opening Band?, the benefits of free text support, how we will keep our rates at a good level post-pandemic, and how much of your show file belongs to the client and how much belongs to the programmer.

Please visit: www.fireplay.com and www.instagram.com/brianvaughan

with Kathy A. Perkins - Lighting Designer and Professor of Theatre out of North Carolina

On this episode, we discuss how much progress we have made as an industry to promote inclusivity and how much farther we have to go, her unique experiences in theatrical lighting and the entertainment industry, being willing to express herself in multiple mediums including research, books and lectures, the role of race and class in the arts, where racism and classism exist in our industry, the steps that unions have taken to promote inclusivity in theater, her upcoming book - Telling Our Stories of Home, and how to encourage diversity in entertainment.

Please visit: www.kathyaperkins.com

with Daniel Dawson - Lighting Designer for Black Label Society

On this episode, we have a discussion between expat lighting designers, how he got into the industry, what the lifestyle is like in Mexico right now, moving from tech to crew chief to designer, mentors that have taught him what he knows, How his technician skills affect his designs, calling on radio to fix a light when you know its a cable and not the programming, bringing family and kids to a show, some things that we will never take for granted again, and the love and respect for our rock ’n roll community.

Please visit: linkedin.com/in/daniel-dawson-665b6278