[gafftaper]

Logos and Footer really nailed this one. In smaller community theaters you might be the designer, programmer, and even board op. But in most professional houses that isn't true... And in many cases union contracts prevent you from touching the board or a lighting instrument. In the same way that a director's job is to direct and not run the show... it's your job to have the vision and design how it's going to work. It's someone else's job to make that vision happen by doing what you tell them. And also no offense but Footer's right, the reason it takes longer to have someone else program is that you know approximately what you want, you don't KNOW what you want (also it's likely your programmer isn't a master of the board). But that is what educational theater is for. It takes time and practice.