Concert Lighting Designers?

Dkick

Member
Does anyone know how Concert lighting designers are hired? Do they work for a company like "Upstaging" and they just get chosen to do be the designer or do they get hired by someone who works for the singer or the band?
 
There are a million different ways LDs get hired. Most of the 'big name' work for a design firm or have their own company. Some examples: Roy Bennett, Baz Halpin, Spike Brant's . This heavy hitters will have an agent or manager working on their behalf to handle the business side of things. It also lets them have a team that is working with them not competing against them. If they are booked on another gig when a repeat client needs them they are able to keep the work in house rather than let a competitor steal it. Other LD's have a more informal approach.

Hiring an LD or a firm can be done by the tour's production manager, the artiste's management, the vendor or the record label. It depends on the size and scope of the tour. An openign act might tip out one of the lighting guys from the headliner to run lights for their set. A small headliner might ask the lighting vendor for a suggestion. But the bigger tours know who they want based on style and price.
 
There are a million different ways LDs get hired. Most of the 'big name' work for a design firm or have their own company. Some examples: Roy Bennett, Baz Halpin, Spike Brant's . This heavy hitters will have an agent or manager working on their behalf to handle the business side of things. It also lets them have a team that is working with them not competing against them. If they are booked on another gig when a repeat client needs them they are able to keep the work in house rather than let a competitor steal it. Other LD's have a more informal approach.

Hiring an LD or a firm can be done by the tour's production manager, the artiste's management, the vendor or the record label. It depends on the size and scope of the tour. An openign act might tip out one of the lighting guys from the headliner to run lights for their set. A small headliner might ask the lighting vendor for a suggestion. But the bigger tours know who they want based on style and price.
Is the people who run the lights during the concert, the designers or are they different people? If so where do they come from?
 
Most of the time it is different people. Most Designers for big shows don't tour with it. They leave it in the hands of the lighting director. The director can be someone the designer brings in because he designer knows the candidate can nail the show. To keep his design looking good. Production managers might recommend someone because they like working with them and know they are a good fit with the rest of the crew. A lighting company will also keep a list of people that would be a good fit.
 
Sometimes, though, on smaller tours the designer tours with the show. It really just depends on what you need.

EDIT: Smaller shows not small shows. If you have a lighting rig worthy of a lighting tech touring with your group it's probably not that small.
 

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