Designer Studio at NAMMLIVE, a live taping of the PLSN LD-At-Large podcast with Sooner Routhier

Sooner Routhier:

Maintaining artistic integrity while collecting a paycheck:

How to work with big artists with big ideas/egos without compromising the show.

with:

Sooner Routhier - Show Designer/Creative Director/Producer

and Parnellis Lighting Designer of the Year.

Things we discussed:

1. Dealing with big egos

2. Artistic license

3. Artistic integrity

4. Mentors

5. How did you get into the business

6. When to stand up and when to back down

7. How do you know that you are right?

8. Can you leave a job with integrity?

9. Who takes credit for which decisions?

10. What’s the best approach to break out of the operator role and into the designer role?

Designer Studio at NAMMLIVE, a live taping of the PLSN LD-At-Large podcast with Susan Rose, Chris Lisle and Rob Koenig.

A Little Bit Country, A little bit Rock n Roll:

Blurring the lines between Rock n Roll touring and Country Touring.

Things we discussed Discussion:

Designer Studio at NAMMLIVE, a live taping of the PLSN LD-At-Large podcast with Chris Lisle:

Touring Responsibly:

Mental health on the road, preparing for the future, 401ks, insurance for freelancers, and work safety.

Chris Lisle - Owner & Production Designer CLLD LLC

Things we discussed Discussion:

Chasing the Dragon:

Chasing the emotional highs of the rock n roll lifestyle and how to embrace the lows.

Things we discuss:

Designer Studio at NAMMLIVE, a live taping of the PLSN LD-At-Large podcast with Bob Bonniol

The Future of Stage Lighting:

Where will we go next? Is the future full of drones, lasers, augmented reality or minimalism?

Things we discuss:

Designer Studio at NAMMLIVE, a live taping of the PLSN LD-At-Large podcast with Aron Altmark

The ethics of lighting, programming and creativity with Aron Altmark. 

Liars, Cheats and Thieves

We discuss:

Designer Studio at NAMMLIVE, a live taping of the PLSN LD-At-Large podcast with Matt Guminski

Hanging out at NAMM with my good friend and lighting designer Matt Guminski of MG lighting.

Things we discussed:

The death of the Parcan.

His use of Parcans in modern designs.

What can we use to replace Tungsten

Programming media servers.

While touring the world, I have spent far too many hours sitting at FOH, wondering who in the world designs some of these venues. I decided that I should put my two cents in writing instead of stewing in my own disgust of poor forethought.

“It doesn’t hurt to ask.” Taken literally, this well-known phrase implies we should always ask for what we want. However, if you’re a professional and/or over the age of seven, you should know that if you ask the wrong way, it could damage your reputation and limit your ability to ever ask the same question again.

In science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke’s famed “Three Laws,” written in Profiles of the Future, a book-length collection of essays that was first published in 1962, the third law stated: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

He must have foreseen today’s dizzying array of live event gear advancements, because the lighting rigs that I have been working on as of late have been reinforcing this law on a daily basis. We have entered the days of fully immersive lighting environments, 200-plus universe rigs, wireless DMX, instant downloads and truss spots that aren’t on the truss. We have clearly taken the red pill and fallen down the rabbit hole of technology. Like Neo, we need to embrace this world and prepare for the next level.

Here are four tips to making yourself at home in today’s lighting design matrix.