LD-at-Large Podcast

with Mick Smith - Vice President of Design at Eastern Lighting Design

On this episode, we discuss being a father and husband in the entertainment industry, knowing that we wanted to be in the industry as a teenager, the lifestyle of touring Broadway shows, the difference between New York Show Biz and LA show biz, what frustrates us most about the lighting business, finding a way to use the entertainment industry to spend more time at home.

Please visit: www.easternlightingdesign.com

with Luis Garcia - Lighting & Media Designer

On this episode, we discuss climbing the ranks quickly before the pandemic closed us down, staying optimistic about our industry during isolation, shifting from in-person productions to virtual, what it’s like to be the youngest in the room with fresh ideas, proving yourself to the older generation, permanently changing the norms of our industry and expanding the scope of productions, joining a progressive union in Oregon, and making strong contacts to turn them into connections.

Please visit:  www.LuisGTech.com

with Jim Tetlow - Former President and current Principal Consultant at Nautilus Entertainment Design

On this episode, we discuss Nautilus Entertainment Design, Inc. becoming an employee-owned business, changing roles during the pandemic, forming ESOP to sell NED to the employees, grooming people to take over a successful business, what to look forward to in his new role, reflecting on over 30 years of experience, and some stories from the trenches.

Please visit: www.n-e-d.com

with Adam Honoré - Lighting Designer out of New York City

On this episode, we discuss seven teachers who have influenced Adam’s adventures in the entertainment industry, how the students of 2020 might get a chance to work in the entertainment industry, modern lighting portfolios, modern technology being taught in schools, how prevalent the arts need to be in schools in the modern era, and how we treat modern artists and teachers.

Please send your respect to these influencers:

Mrs. Raye Ann Cox - Jr. High Theater Teacher

(Creek Valley Middle School, Texas)

Mrs. Kimberly Mohn Powell - High School Technical Director / Theater Teacher

(Hebron High School, Texas)

Mr. Dusty Thompson - Head of High School Theater Program / Theater Teacher

(Hebron High School, Texas and Executive Producer of Viva Creative)

Mr. Cade Butler  - High School Technical Director / Theater Teacher

(Hebron High School, Texas and Fine Arts Coordinator at Frisco ISD)

Steven A. Draheim - Associate Professor of Design

(University of Oklahoma)

Jon Young - Associate Professor of Design

(University of Oklahoma)

Driscoll Otto - Lighting & Projection Design for Theatre & Opera.

Partner/Creative Director at Chromatic Light

Please visit: www.honorelighting.com

With Jason Giaffo - Lighting Programmer and Director at Giaffo Designs

On this episode, we discuss working on getting out of the hyper-competitive mindset, scrolling through social media feeds with jealousy, learning to be happy for other people's successes, dealing with the tendency to always need to be doing something out of feeling like you’re never doing enough and understanding nobody can be 100% at all times, dealing with attention deficit issues, the mental health benefits of just staying distanced from checking social media constantly, especially for being able to stay focused in day to day tasks, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of thinking that everybody else you know on social media is doing better in their career than you are just because you only see the highlights.

Please visit: www.giaffodesigns.com

with Chris Gratton - Production Manager

On this episode, we discuss working during a pandemic, working in the Bieber Bubble, the corporatization of the industry, mandatory COVID testing, demanding COVID regulations to continue working, finding surprises even after thirty years in the industry, changing attitudes from rock ’n roll touring to KIDZBOP touring, the eventual vaccination of roadies, and being polite to get what you need.

Please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gratton-3b9b6866/

with Guy Smith - Owner and Lighting Designer at Free Radical Design Group

On this episode, we discuss the cruise ship party scene, doing mega events in remote locations, leaving the profession of detox counselor to run lights in a night club, learning the ropes in NYC, the underground party scene, learning the fundamentals of lighting after being a professional, how we can increase diversity of opinion in entertainment, My Little Pony riggers, and how to use broad strokes to recreate the primal party scene.

Please visit: www.frdg.nyc

with Andrew Douglas - President/Owner of Touch Light & Media, Inc.

On this episode, we discuss how we are roadie pirates who have to put on a suit and do corporate gigs, The gray areas between rock and corporate, the speed of corporate shows vs. rock n roll, the expectations of a headlining band in a corporate situation, the desire to rock and roll but the necessity of doing corporate events, corporate stagehands vs. roadies, dress codes on the road and in the ballroom, adapting to new schedules and some speculation on the future of live events.

Please visit: www.touchlx.com

with Darrius Medina - Founder and Lighting Designer at Lit Creative

On this episode, we discuss adapting  and growing during the pandemic, transitioning to a normal sleep schedule, getting a leg up lighting houses of worship, progress from pushing cases to tech to programmer to designer, learning new skills on the fly, saying yes to as many opportunities as possible, building a creative team around oneself and the ability to adapt to change.

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”

- Stephen Hawking

Please visit: www.litcreative.net

with Chris Lisle - Production Designer out of Nashville

On this episode, we discuss lighting design at the Flag of Fields and lighting of pillars at the National Mall during the Inauguration ceremony utilizing more than 1500 lights just to light the flags and 56 beams in the air, getting a call to go to work the capitol, what security was like, the COVID regulations, getting enough gear, doing events with more media than audience, working with the Presidential Inauguration Committee, and knowing that this project would be immortalized on an international level.

Please visit: www.clldllc.com