At your age, knowing a specific
console is less important than having a comprehensive understanding of programming fundamentals and workflow. Odds are by the time you're available to be doing this full-time (for argument's sake, let's say 5 years from now), who knows where you'll be and if you'll often encounter
Road Hogs. What will matter the most is that when presented with a
console you've not previously encountered, you know which questions to ask and which features to be looking for in a
manual so you can best learn that
console in a weekend. I'm not just talking about being able to turn things on and set up some effects. I mean being able to align your understanding of the
console with the needs of what your programming on it and how to establish the most sensible, streamlined programming workflow.
Big problem I see with people coming out of high schools and even colleges is they learn just enough about a
console to program in a dedicated cueing session. Have them record cues live in a rehearsal or busk a show more complicated than flash 'n trash and they can't keep up. They don't know how to prep a
console by setting up building blocks (groups, pallets, canned effects they can apply to any group any moment, presets they can use as initial looks to
build off of) and then set those building blocks up so they can access them readily through whichever UI they have available at their finger tips.
If you want to become a valuable asset, master all of those things so you can walk into any situation and run it like a professional DJ. Ever see how the guys in Daft Punk or Justice mix their electronic music on the spot in front of a live audience partying out to them? Your goal should be to be soooo rockin' in front of a lighting
console that you look like you could be on
stage with those guys performing along side them.
Anyone can figure out how to turn some lights on, program some effects, or a
throw something on something sliders. Not every rehearsal and definitely not any shows have time to stop for the
programmer every 10min so the
programmer can catch up.
Like the others have pointed out, don't be "that guy" that acts like he's got a step up on everyone. If you're skilled, others will take notice and lean on you for those skills. If you come across as being on an ego trip, nobody will give you the time of day. You want to be the guy everyone wouldn't mind having a drink with at the end of a long day and not the guy who everyone wants to get away from at the end of that long day. I'm going to take a guess that because you've come here seeking some amount of self-validation that you're advanced for your age, this is part of your personality you'll have to work on. There's nothing wrong with loving what you do and being proud of your work, just know you'll get further faster if you're humble. Humble when you ask pro's how they do it and let them teach you, and humble in not aggravating your friends and colleagues by acting like you're somehow *better than they are.
(*whatever that means, to be "better" than someone...)
Little trick to keep up your sleeve -- if you know enough to know how to ask valid, intelligent questions, many people in this industry will be happy to answer any questions you may have about what they do or how they it, provided they have the time for that on that particular day. Asking good questions and being eager to learn is the single best way to get noticed by a potential employer, especially at a young age. We've hired a handful of people in the last year, and always look for someone who wants to learn, and who shows us they have an appreciation for their craft. If we see that in a candidate, we'll gladly hire them and teach them everything they need to know, even if they aren't experts on their first day. Vise versa, if someone's cocky, we don't care how much they know. They could be the best in their field, but if we can't work together effectively and efficiently toward common goals because of their personality, that they're the best in their field means nothing.
In summary, you have potential but don't let that fool you into thinking that your learning stops here and that you've already "made it". You've a long way to go, and if you keep your eyes and options open for new opportunities, fair chance you'll either get where you're going or you'll end up sidestepping into even more exciting lines of work you hadn't previously known existed.
