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Simpson : It ’ s simple , but listening to music . I have always been a big music fan and getting reconnected with my record collection has been a huge comfort for me . Slipping on some headphones and visualizing a show may be the ultimate catharsis .
Smith : I wouldn ’ t say there is any single or main method of trying to stay inspired and / or informed for me . I do find that when I am working on a project , it is very easy to find myself starting to relax and begin thinking about how things will get back to “ normal ,” but I also find inspiration by going over old designs again . I think about what I would have done differently with those projects , or different ways of achieving the same end result . It also really helps when I am working on some personal projects that will help me be more efficient in future work .
PL & P : What specifically have you been learning about , experimenting with , discussing , so on ? Why is this something that grabbed your focus ?
Bhogal : My current gig has me close to electronics . I ’ ve been leisurely learning about all the little pieces that function in a circuit board , give or take some computer components as well . This has been great to be hands-on with , since all the gear used in the lighting industry is , of course , made up of electronics . It ’ s nice to know I might have a better chance at either troubleshooting , fixing , or tinkering with a piece of gear , whether it ’ s a fixture or a console !
Gorton : I ’ m interested in expanded use of tools like Unreal Engine and some really exciting new software options for visualizations and virtual concert experiences . I feel like with the lack of audience , the conversation about how we make these experiences as unique as possible has opened the door to the future of concert production , which will include not only a live element , but an interactive element as well . I imagine shows where you can attend in-person or online , and the online experience includes AR or maybe you
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watch the show in VR and you can experience the show differently to those in the venue ...
Herkimer : The idea of virtual events is in its infancy . I ’ m playing with some ideas but I think once things are back to normal there ’ s a real opportunity for integration of this into our normal work flow . There is a saying I use often ; “ greatness lives in the grey , not in the black or white .” What I mean is that I don ’ t think the idea of purely virtual events with paying customers in place of an audience is the future . You can never replace the feeling of being in a room with a roaring crowd . However , the incorporation of some of these elements into what we do with our shows certainly will open up more doors and opportunities .
Lamotte : Over the past eight months , I was involved in The Design Incubator Pilot Project organized by Lesley Wilkinson with TAPA ( Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts ). I assisted with the mentorship of Nathan Bruce and Samira Bani Hashemi . This has been a wonderful forum on Zoom to collaborate and exchange ideas . I conducted workshops on a number of topics , including script analysis and repertory lighting . The various research projects by Nathan and Samira covered a range of lighting-related topics and biographies . Their enthusiasm for the work is inspiring and I enjoyed collaborating with Lesley on this project and appreciated the opportunity to share in this unique experience .
Simpson : To be completely frank , I haven ’ t been . This has been a very tough year , as it has for everyone . I know there are people out there that have thrown themselves into work research and courses and everyone was doing webinars , etc . but when we shut down last March , I was exhausted . I had been going nonstop for a long time , just bouncing from tour to tour and , honestly , I didn ’ t realize how much I needed the time off until I was forced to stop . I would have never allowed myself to have it
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unless it was forced upon me . Since then , I have taken greater stock in my home life and really settling into our home . I think it is unfair to pressure ourselves into learning when some of us are just trying to get by . There has been an element of grief this year and that alone has been hard to learn , accept , and deal with .
Smith : Networking is a big thing , not really a design item , but extremely important as a technician . Since the pandemic , I haven ’ t done much experimenting , but a lot of reading up on more advanced topics . Shows are quickly becoming complex networks with multiple protocols from multiple departments , all being routed to various locations , some of which are remote locations across the country or countries , and it can be extremely confusing and frustrating if something goes wrong and you don ’ t understand the principles of what is going on inside that network .
Advancing my programming skills is always a priority for me , as well , and I have begun trying to learn the basics of LUA to help me with some custom options in the MA2 software .
PL & P : When events are mercifully back on the calendar and your schedule as an LD starts to fill up again , is there anything about your work that you will do or approach differently as a result of the time off ?
Bhogal : Ironically , one of the simple things that I ’ d keep in my head is make sure to take time off . And for me that ’ s taking that day off on a tour to do something else not related to the show ( if it allows ), or maybe not trying to completely pile the calendar with jobs and make sure to leave some room for whatever might come up in life .
Gorton : Be thankful for every day we get to work and never take for granted how fun the work we do is — being able to travel , make art , participate , and spend time together doing what we love is such a gift .
Herkimer : I think moving forward I ’ ll be checking in with my
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mental health more on the road . We owe it to ourselves . I never used to truly understand what my mentors said when they told me “ the show is not everything .” I still think the shows and the quality of work are everything to me , but that can ’ t be all there is to life . You can still do great work and take care of yourself .
Lamotte : I hope that I ’ m able to remain open to the many changes that will inevitably come with our return to design work . The loss , anxiety , and uncertainty of this time will shape the future ; historically , the arts have been part of that change . I would like to continue my involvement with mentorship projects and definitely look at each professional project as truly an opportunity .
Simpson : I will remember to take time off and take time for myself . I want us as an industry to devalue exhaustion . We wear our exhaustion like a badge of honour , constantly competing to be the most overworked and tired . Work isn ’ t the be-all-andend-all of our lives and it ’ s time we stopped because it ’ s actually really sad . I will also never take live music for granted again — I miss it so much . I can ’ t wait to be back in a sweaty room with a bunch of fans screaming for their favourite band .
Smith : I don ’ t think that the time off will change how I do my job . There are things that I am doing in the down time to help me work faster , more efficiently , and more fluidly on the design and paperwork side of things , and I am sure I will have improved some of my programming skills , but I don ’ t see any reason why the time off would change how I go about tackling anything . However , I do expect that the industry will have changed when we return . Even once this pandemic is long past us , I think it will always be in the back of our minds and I imagine that protocols and procedures will be put in place to help us deal with any future situations like this that might arise , so we can only wait and see how that will affect the way we work .
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Spring 2021 | 33
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