Ed Warren
TPI Lighting Designer of the year 2016 & 2023

Get Into Lighting

Get Into Lighting

I get asked a lot how to get started in lighting and show design. There's no single way in, but these are the things I'd tell anyone starting out.

1. Learn a console for free

Most desk manufacturers give demo versions of their software away and have tutorials on Youtube. Download it, patch some lights and start programming. You don't need to own any hardware to learn. See the free console software list below.

2. Use a visualiser

A 3D visualiser lets you build a rig and see your programming without a single real fixture. It's how I design and pre-programme almost every show I work on. See the visualisers list below.

3. Light anything you can

Local venues, friends’ bands, student theatre, club nights. Small clubs with six crappy lights teach you more about choices than a big stadium rig ever will.

4. Work in a rental warehouse

Prepping and repairing kit is the quickest way to learn how fixtures, data and power actually work, and it's where you'll meet the people who hire crew. See how to find rental companies below.

5. Go to college or university

You don't need a degree to do this job, but a good course gives you time on real kit, people to make shows with and a way into placements. See the courses list below.

6. Listen to the music

The core of this job is to create something that complements the music, not distracts from it. Learn the songs, structure and rhythm properly before you do anything else.

7. Go to shows and study them

Work out what the designer did and why. Notice when lights are off as much as when they're on. Go talk to the LD after the show, most of us don’t bite!

8. Be good to work with

Turn up on time, stay calm, be useful, be attentive, be nice. Most work comes by recommendation.

9. Contact designers online

Get in touch with designers through our websites, Instagram or other socials. Most of us are nice people and will gladly reply with advice or answers.

Ask around

Go to your local venue, get to know them, ask if they need any help. Many small venues are short of hands and will most likely let someone keen shadow the house tech, help with load-ins or run the lights on a quiet night.

Get in touch with your local lighting vendors and rental companies too, and ask if they have any internships or work experience going. Even a few weeks in the warehouse gets you hands-on with the kit and in front of the people who book crew.

To find companies near you, try the PLASA member search in the UK, or the Event Production Directory for the US and beyond, where you can search by lighting and by region. Plenty of smaller local firms aren't listed, so search for lighting hire in your area as well.

Useful links

Free console software

Visualisers

  • Capture: the visualiser I use comes with a free Student Edition

  • Vectorworks: free educational licences for students

  • Depence: high-end real-time visualiser from Syncronorm, with a demo version

  • WYSIWYG: design and previsualisation suite from CAST Software, with a 10-day demo

Jobs and community

  • Production Futures: events and opportunities for newcomers

  • Women In Live Music: network and resources for women working backstage

  • GIGGS: career platform and job board for the live event industry

  • Entourage Pro: verified global network for live touring crew

  • Starting Backstage: on Instagram

  • ALPD: Association for Lighting Production and Design (UK)

  • PLASA: trade body, shows and training (UK)

  • PSA: Production Services Association, the UK live production trade body, with student membership

  • USITT: United States Institute for Theatre Technology, with student membership and scholarships

Industry news

  • TPi Magazine: touring production news (UK)

  • LSi Online: lighting and sound industry news (UK)

  • PLSN: Projection, Lights and Staging News, US touring and production news

  • Live Design: US entertainment design and technology news

Courses: UK

Courses: USA

Please let me know if you're an organisation and you'd like to be added to this list (or if I've got something wrong!).