Professional Lighting & Production - Summer 2017 | Page 35

IN
FOCUS
Clare Mathison
By Megan Beam
G
rowing up along Canada’s west coast, Clare
Mathison was brought up in a family that put
a strong emphasis on a good education and
plenty of outdoor activity. It was actually the
former that led her into the theatre world and,
eventually, lighting design.
Residing in Richmond, BC for much of her childhood
before moving to Victoria, Mathison spent her summers
between the ranch where her family boarded their horses
and her father’s sailboat with her two sisters.
She first discovered her passion for stage lighting after
immersing herself in her school’s theatre program. After
graduating, she attended the University of Victoria to earn
her Bachelor of Fine Arts, focusing primarily on theatre
production and design. She says it was a something of
a compromise – maintaining a focus on education and
earning her Bachelor’s degree but also staying involved
with the type of creative work she enjoyed.
Her last semester at the university left Mathison
with quite the unique experience. Heading to Bangkok
University in Thailand, she completed her final credits there
by designing the sets and lighting for Thai theatre students
and their thesis projects.
After formally completing her schooling, Mathison decided to
take a trip through the U.S. She eventually ended up in Nashville,
and decided to explore some work opportunities in live music.
Though she remained passionate about theatre, she figured it
would be nice to work on shows that were more dynamic and paid
a bit better.
“I met with as many people in the industry as would tolerate
me until I got really lucky one afternoon with a gig over coffee,”
she recalls.
As with nearly any job these days, it boils down to who you
know or just being in the right place at the right time. The stars
aligned for Mathison when two friends-of-a-friend happened to be
looking for a lighting director for an up-and-coming country-pop
act they’d recently signed as a client. That turned out to be none
other than breakout star Kelsea Ballerini.
Mathison has been working behind the console with Ballerini
as her main gig ever since. That’s afforded her the opportunity to
work on shows alongside the likes of Rascal Flatts and Thomas
Rhett, and soon, Ballerini and her crew will be heading out as direct
support on Lady Antebellum’s world tour through much of 2017.
Being able to consistently ramp up the scale of the production
with new gear and larger venues on the back of Ballerini’s swelling
success, Mathison says it’s been a great opportunity for her and her
crew mates to develop their skills.
“A growing crew provides constant learning opportunities
and chances to shake things up,” she offers. “We do a lot of direct
support for larger acts, so with every tour, we get to work with and
learn from a different crew. In this way, we’ve been lucky to work
alongside some of the very best in the industry.”
Getting the chance to work in parallel with other, more
established designers is a prime opportunity to add to her palette
of tricks, and constantly incorporate new ideas into her work.
“Touring with Rascal Flatts last summer was a great example. They
have a very talented and kind crew who sort of took us under their
wing,” she says.
The upcoming Lady Antebellum trek is particularly thrilling for
her as she’s had the chance to collaborate with one of her personal
heroes, production designer Sooner Routhier of SRae Productions.
Mathison says she’s also excited to get her hands on some new gear
and to work closely with Lady Antebellum’s LD and crew.
Working in what’s very much a male-dominated industry can
present some challenges, she says, but adds that it also carries some
benefits. She’s learned about her own strengths and limitations and
adjusted her workflow and personal routine accordingly to keep in
shape and work safely.
That was partly informed by a scare that came after damaging
one of the disks in her