1st Edition
Living the Lighting Life A Guide to a Career in Entertainment Lighting
Living the Lighting Life coaches the reader on achieving a successful career in entertainment lighting by providing practical tools and advice from seasoned professionals.
This book covers topics such as lighting roles and procedures, moving through job positions and opportunities, maintaining and developing creativity, self promotion, business tools, personal and professional relationships, travel tips, and more. Included are interviews with key industry professionals at different stages in their careers, providing real-world experience and multiple viewpoints on what makes a successful career. The author, who has over 30 years of experience in the lighting industry himself, expertly guides readers to an understanding of this complex and exciting career choice, exploring multiple genres of entertainment, including concert, theatre, corporate, festival, and house of worship, so readers are fully informed when planning their career path.
With insightful guidance and advice from industry veterans and experts, Living the Lighting Life is a key navigational resource for students of entertainment lighting, those early in their lighting profession, and anyone considering a career in entertainment lighting.
Part 1: The Job 1. Lighting Positions 2. Lighting Genres 3. Lighting Skills 4. Organizational Skills 5. Working Requirements 6. Ethics of Lighting 7. Best Show Ever Part 2: The Career 8. A Growing Career 9. Attitude is Everything 10. Training and Learning 11. Promoting Yourself 12. Networking with Others 13. Keep on Moving Forward 14. Giving Back 15. Moving On Part 3: The Business 16. Types of Workers 17. Business Structure 18. Personal Business Paperwork 19. Business Operations 20. Tax Form Basics 21. Getting Gigs 22. Planning for your Future Part 4: The Creativity 23. Abundant Creativity 24. Creative Inspiration Part 5: The Lifestyle 25. Why we Do It 26. Work/Life Balance 27. Allure of Celebrity 28. Healthy Living 29. Time to Sleep 30. When it Stops Being Fun Part 6: The Travel 31. Travel is Work 32. Earn the Perks 33. Air Travel 34. Tour Busses 35. Hotel Living Part 7: The Interviews 36. Cory FitzGerald 37. George Masek 38. John Viesta 39. Robert Roth 40. Ron Schilling 41. Sooner Routhier 42. Steve Woods 43. Vickie Claiborne Part 8: The Survey 44. Respondent Backgrounds 45. Employment Status 46. Down to Business 47. Shared Advice 48. Wrapping It Up
Biography
Brad Schiller has over 30 years of experience in the lighting industry. Starting his career in the mid 1980’s he has worked as a technician, programmer, and designer on many different productions. Over the years he has also been employed by High End Systems, Vari*Lite, and Martin where he has assisted with product development, training, and testing for many popular fixtures and consoles. Brad has experience with various types of productions including theatre, television, concerts, film, architectural, dance, and corporate events. Project favorites include: the 1996 Academy Awards, The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, The Crystal Method, and Metallica. Brad’s career has allowed him countless opportunities to work around the globe, and across diverse facets of the industry. At the 2005 LDI awards ceremony Brad was presented with the Technician of the Year award and described as "the programmer’s programmer". He is also the author of Living the Lighting Life (Routledge 2021). A self-described "lighting geek," he has a deep-rooted passion for lighting that continues to drive him. Learn more at www.bradschiller.com.
You may think that by its title, Living The Lighting Life: A Guide To A Career In The Entertainment Industry (published by Routledge, 2021), could be just another showbiz bio/memoire laced with juicy tidbits of tour bus antics and behind-the-scenes anecdotes by a well-known industry personality. You would most certainly be wrong. Though Brad Schiller's latest book includes many reflections on his successful and storied career, they all serve in support of literally guiding us readers towards creating a meaningful career path in the entertainment lighting industry.
-Daniel Bonitsky, Live Design Online, January 4, 2021
