3 answers
Thomas
Student
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Asked
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How viable is a career in Theatrical Lighting Design?
I'm currently a High School Senior applying to a variety of Colleges for Theatrical Lighting Design. After graduation, how stable could a career as a Lighting Designer or Master Electrician be?
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3 answers
Caitlin Guyan
Lighting Specifier
6
Answers
Placentia, California
Updated
Caitlin’s Answer
As per David above, making a living at strictly theatrical lighting design is tricky. Are you willing to branch out to theme parks, churches/temples, cruise ships, concerts, touring shows, and/or landscape lighting? Are you willing to be an assistant and/or associate? As one of my past professors so rightly said: "There is always work for good people". So show up on time, respond to questions kindly, get your paperwork in early. Be, as a choreographer friend once told me, "Happy to be here, and easy to work with."
I think employment as a stagehand/electrician/lead electrician is very viable. (Probably not so much as a follow spot operator). Learn how to fix moving lights. Take a Vectorworks class. Get ETCP certification. Read the 'Assistant Lighting Designer's Toolkit' and 'Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician'. There is a lot of work out there, much of it beyond the traditional dream of Broadway. If you do opt to go to grad school, pay attention to where their students end up. West Coast schools tend to do television, theme parks, the La Jolla Playhouse, or the San Diego Old Globe. East Coast schools can line you up for a New York City life. Current designers will actively recruit current MFA candidates when they need someone new.
One gig I got via a grad school recommendation was to re-lamp all the S4 Lekos at a restaurant--the waiters didn't know how to fix theatrical lighting and would turn on all the metal halide work lights when it got dark, causing patrons to send back their meal because the steak didn't look cooked! This was the beginning of a lighting maintenance side hustle that still continues 40 years later.
I think employment as a stagehand/electrician/lead electrician is very viable. (Probably not so much as a follow spot operator). Learn how to fix moving lights. Take a Vectorworks class. Get ETCP certification. Read the 'Assistant Lighting Designer's Toolkit' and 'Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician'. There is a lot of work out there, much of it beyond the traditional dream of Broadway. If you do opt to go to grad school, pay attention to where their students end up. West Coast schools tend to do television, theme parks, the La Jolla Playhouse, or the San Diego Old Globe. East Coast schools can line you up for a New York City life. Current designers will actively recruit current MFA candidates when they need someone new.
One gig I got via a grad school recommendation was to re-lamp all the S4 Lekos at a restaurant--the waiters didn't know how to fix theatrical lighting and would turn on all the metal halide work lights when it got dark, causing patrons to send back their meal because the steak didn't look cooked! This was the beginning of a lighting maintenance side hustle that still continues 40 years later.
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Thomas !
I wholeheartedly agree with the advice that Advisor Caitlin Guyan has provided here.
If you do a Theatrical Lighting Design path at college, once you obtain your Bachelors Degree, you may want to consider the work in relation to location. New York City, NY is a tad bit over 100 miles away and a bit more than a two hour drive, so New York City may be an option for more possibilities for work. You could consider moving to Stroudsburg in your state or to Port Jervis, New York to be closer to NYC.
I was also thinking that after your work in the entertainment industry for four years or more, you can go out for a regular electrician's license in your Pennsylvania municipality (where ever you may be living). You would just have to demonstrate ability and take a test which is based on the National Electrical Code. I think if you additionally get the regular electrician license, you'd be able to obtain regular work too whenever you'd need to.
The Theatre Program in college that I was in for Acting had Sound as part of their Lighting Program, so it may be advantageous for your theatrical pursuits to find a college that mixes Sound and Lighting within the Program. I was scared of the "electrics" in college and stayed far away from them until I was assigned a tech Practicum on a musical. I was pretty jittery but the other student doing the lighting was very supportive and I survived. So I really appreciate the awesome tech people that do lighting and sound.
I would say that you should follow your dream career because it can be versatile in that you could do non-theatrical work too. It makes for a good living, but you'd have to be where the work is and that you can figure out during your years at college.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
I wholeheartedly agree with the advice that Advisor Caitlin Guyan has provided here.
If you do a Theatrical Lighting Design path at college, once you obtain your Bachelors Degree, you may want to consider the work in relation to location. New York City, NY is a tad bit over 100 miles away and a bit more than a two hour drive, so New York City may be an option for more possibilities for work. You could consider moving to Stroudsburg in your state or to Port Jervis, New York to be closer to NYC.
I was also thinking that after your work in the entertainment industry for four years or more, you can go out for a regular electrician's license in your Pennsylvania municipality (where ever you may be living). You would just have to demonstrate ability and take a test which is based on the National Electrical Code. I think if you additionally get the regular electrician license, you'd be able to obtain regular work too whenever you'd need to.
The Theatre Program in college that I was in for Acting had Sound as part of their Lighting Program, so it may be advantageous for your theatrical pursuits to find a college that mixes Sound and Lighting within the Program. I was scared of the "electrics" in college and stayed far away from them until I was assigned a tech Practicum on a musical. I was pretty jittery but the other student doing the lighting was very supportive and I survived. So I really appreciate the awesome tech people that do lighting and sound.
I would say that you should follow your dream career because it can be versatile in that you could do non-theatrical work too. It makes for a good living, but you'd have to be where the work is and that you can figure out during your years at college.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
David Robkin
Consulting
10
Answers
Monrovia, California
Updated
David’s Answer
I have a BA and an MFA in Theatrical Lighting Design. Very few lighting designers make a secure living doing only Theatrical Lighting Design and those that do often had substantial financial and career support to get there. Master Electricians and Lighting Directors are a different matter. For people with lighting design training and experience, those roles offer better security, pay reasonably well, and can give you the opportunity to develop a design career while supporting yourself.
As a former professor of Theater I do not recommend an undergraduate specialization in lighting design. Your college career should be as broad and diverse as possible. It is very tempting to sequester yourself in the stage crew and spend all of your time with your Theater Family, It is supporting, helpful and there is real acceptance for who you are. That's great, but don't miss the opportunity to explore the rest of the academic world while you have the chance. Then you can specialize in a graduate program. It takes more time, but a graduate degree makes it easier to teach or to explore other aspects of design like digital, corporate, experiential, architectural, and environmental.
As a former professor of Theater I do not recommend an undergraduate specialization in lighting design. Your college career should be as broad and diverse as possible. It is very tempting to sequester yourself in the stage crew and spend all of your time with your Theater Family, It is supporting, helpful and there is real acceptance for who you are. That's great, but don't miss the opportunity to explore the rest of the academic world while you have the chance. Then you can specialize in a graduate program. It takes more time, but a graduate degree makes it easier to teach or to explore other aspects of design like digital, corporate, experiential, architectural, and environmental.