This blog post is something I am really excited to share with you! For me, live music has always been the only thing that has made sense. Recently, as I am gearing up for graduation, I came to the realization that I wasn’t exactly sure what route I wanted to take in the music business industry.
In a way, this was an almost freeing realization for me. I allowed myself to explore some options that had never crossed my mind before. The past few months, every time I go to a show I have been trying to pick a new thing to observe how it affects the concert. Most recently, I have been fixated on lights and how they impact the show.
Most recently, I made a trek down to Phoenix, Arizona and made a point to reach out to the lighting operator at the show for the 8123 Fest and see if I could get some advice and an inside look as to his role in the industry. I really hope you enjoy learning about Jonathan’s story and advice as much as I did!
- How did you get into the lighting design field of music business?
When I started high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my time. I was too late for football, and student council wasn’t really my thing. But for some reason technical theater caught my eye. So I ran the lights for every production that want on in the auditorium from my freshman year till my senior year. But I knew once I graduated I didn’t want to do actual theater anymore so there was only one option for jobs to go to and I requested an internship at one of the local companies. We did concerts, festivals, corporate events, and touring. And now the rest is history.
2. What was your formal training like?
To be honest, there wasn’t really any. A lot of my training was self-taught and lots of watching and learning. The more time behind a console and the more personal time put into it the better I got. The more exploring around a console and trying new effects is the best way to learn.
3. Do you have any musical background? If so, how does that impact your job as a lighting technician?
I have played drums since high school and that has helped a lot with knowing timing. Knowing how to pick out the best BPM of a song and keeping tempo with the lights is what makes for a great show. But it also has helped with other instruments. The best tempo is not always in the drums, but could be in the bass or guitar. If the band has it, even a piano. Definitely being musically inclined has helped do what I do.
4. What does your day-to-day life look like on tour?
Depends on the day. Every day, regardless, I make sure to start with breakfast and find a bathroom with plumbing. (Fun fact: you can only go number 1 on a bus) If its’ a show day I’ll always try and get into the venue before load in. Scope it out, meet the stage manager, house lighting, and the hands. Give them a run down on the light rig and how many hands will work with me and how many will help with backline and audio. From there we work as efficiently as possible to get the rig up so I can touch up positions and programming. Between then and show time it’s usually chill time, whether it’s in the green room or bus and finding dinner at some point if the venue doesn’t provide catering. From there, do the show, load out as efficiently as possible, and one the trailer shuts, its either bed time or hang time depending when bus call is. On days off, typically there will be a hotel involved. Get a shower or 2 in that day, laundry if needed, and just relax and enjoy the day. If it’s in a good city then some exploring would probably be on the agenda also.
5. How do you manage your personal and work life?
It’s not easy. When I go on tour I typically shut all the power off in my house, and my dog goes to my mom’s house to be watched if she is able to. When I was in a relationship, saying see ya later to her was hard in a sense also but now being single its nothing to worry about. Once I’m on tour, personal life goes out the door in a sense for me. When I get home I’ll take a few recoup days and will go to my part time job. Being home and planning the next tour takes some scheduling for me. I have lots of things to take care of at home so planning a couple nights a week to plan, design, program a tour is a must and could consist of late nights if needed.
6. Are you at all concerned with the preservation or longevity of the live music industry?
Yes and no. There will always be new artists, there will always be tours, the thing to worry about is to make sure genres don’t die. If certain genres go away and those bands don’t tour anymore then it leaves people to not buy tickets anymore because they won’t want to go to genres they aren’t familiar with. Also if there’s certain venues that depend on a certain genre to stay open then they could possibly close also. That’s just my opinion and there could be similar or opposite opinions out there.
7. How do you determine what acts you want to work for on tour?
Typically, if a new client comes my way and they seem like cool people then I’ll give them a chance. After the first tour it’s always the fact of thinking if they were cool to work with, was the pay where I want it, and then there’s always the people that will only do it if the tour is on a bus. Typically, the majority of the time having lighting on a tour will require a bus. And then the decision comes when the next tour comes around if I go or stay home. The big one is making sure you get along with everyone else. Because on tour, it’s a big family. We help each other, take care of each other, and live together. So if there were any kinds of issues then its either don’t go or fix them so you get back out there.
8. What is the greatest struggle you have had to overcome to get to where you are now?
Actually finding bands to work with. I’m going to make these odds up right now but there are probably 12 lighting operators to 1 band ratio. And those odds are most likely way higher. Basically, you just have to make sure you keep in practice with your work so your shows always look fresh and organized and skilled. If you’re good at what you do, then the phone will ring. So just getting a start and making a name for yourself is the hardest part. And it’s not always about how good of a programmer or operator you are, but how you handle yourself. You could be the best programmer in the world but if you have a bad attitude all the time, or your hygiene is terrible then no one will want to work with you.
9. As technology continues to progress, do you think your job roles will alter? How so?
As a role, probably not. I think there will always be a spot for lighting operators, and then there will always be lighting programmers regardless if its programming to be ran live or for a midi show. As technology grows, our skills will get better and we will continue to learn. And even for midi shows, there will still need to be people to set up the gear and someone to touch up the positions and tie in house rigs.
10. Working in lights, are there any other tasks that you perform that someone might not automatically assume?
I guess that depends on the person. A lot of people only see me behind the console. But in that days’ work I also help unload the trailer, work with the local stagehands to get whatever light structure setup on the stage and then tear it down at the end of the night. Before the tour I’m spending anywhere from 1-3 weeks of programming. But it also depends on the size of a tour also. In a House of Blues/Van Buren/Marquee Theater type tour that is my role. But it can vary on arena and pavilion tours which I hope to experience as a headliner sooner than later. I have been on an arena tour as direct support before and front what I gathered, the lighting operator was the programmer and operator, but someone else designed the rig, and there was a group of guys from the lighting company that set it up and tore it down every show day. So there’s all different types of lighting designers out there on their job roles.
11. What is the strongest personality trait someone can have looking to enter the music industry?
Being open minded! You will definitely get turned downed you will have your success’. If you get turned down and let that bother you then there’s most likely opportunities that could be missed. Also use that to be different in the programming style. Don’t be afraid to try something new or spend time to discover something. But if there are others to name off its optimism, hardworking, sense of humor, and being a leader.
12. What is one piece of advice you wish someone would have told you before you started working in your current position?
To be honest I have sat here for an hour thinking of an answer for this and I don’t think I have one. I came into this field with an open mind and took everything as it came. If there was something I was surprised about, I dealt with it as needed and didn’t ask questions. I have been told I have a very adult demeanor for my age and I tend to keep that going. I ask questions when necessary and think before I speak. Not sure if this was a good answer for the question but here it is. haha
Emily K Johnson 