Yes, I am a little late with announcing the winner to the Memorial Day Weekend BLMC Swag Bag Giveaway. Yeah, try saying that 5 times fast, it kinda hurts! Using a random number generator, we have a winner to the giveaway! And yes, Chad, (Rosco’s NYC Rep) was taken out of consideration for the contest.
JR Lidgett
Congrats! You were randomly selected! Check your email. ;) Thanks everyone for leaving a comment and reading iSquint. I wish I had more to give out, but limited editions are what make it special right? A special thanks to all of the manufacturers that provided swag at BLMC, there is some pretty neat stuff in there along with something special that I added.
I still have more coverage from the Broadway Lighting Master Classses coming up so stay tuned and don’t look into the light, it kinda hurts. ;)
With all intentions of writing while I was in New York for the Broadway Lighting Master Classes hosted by Live Design, I found I couldn’t find time while there. The classes were just so wonderful as I mentioned in my previous post on day one, day two was just as awesome. I could have certainly found time during a break between classes or during lunch, but there were just some many great attendees to talk to and share our love of lighting. In fact, the conversations were so wonderful, some of us almost missed the start of a couple of the classes because we lost track of time.
Then there was lunch. We had almost 2 hours to eat and visit all of the manufacturers that were exhibiting at the Manufacturers showcase during lunch. I had to slam down the box lunch that was provided while still talking to some attendees and then making my way around the showcase to see all of the great products on display. The two hours just seemed to fly by. There were a couple of new prototype’s on display and certainly things I have seen before, which I’ll get into more in later write ups.
At night, the education and talking didn’t stop until I finally closed my eyes to get some sleep. Talking with fellow attendee’s and manufacturers, seeing FELA! on Broadway rounded out the first day after classes ended at 5:30pm. Getting back to the NYU dorms late and having to get some sleep for more learning the next day was in order.
The next day was just as great as the first day at the Broadway Lighting Master Classes. It is so interesting to hear how different designers approach lighting design and over come some of the challenges they face. Understanding the different approach’s to designing really helps to understand that there is no set way to accomplish what we try to do. Each designer has their own methods which work for them and shared them with the class.
I am so grateful to Live Design for inviting me to the Broadway Lighting Master Classes this year! I had an unbelievable time learning, and meeting new people and of course, talking with Broadway lighting designers. I would highly recommend the BLMC to anyone that has any interest in lighting design and understanding how the Broadway designers do what they do. As Jules Fisher said in his opening speak, the BLMC is not just about learning, but connecting with others for the advancement of lighting.
Stay tuned for more of my coverage of the Broadway Lighting Master Classes. I have a bunch of photos to share from the last two days and some great videos as well.
The morning sessions of the Broadway Lighting Master Classes from 2010 are done and in the books. Let me just say, WOW… I’ll say it again, WOW. Listening to Jules Fisher talk about lighting is amazing. He talked with such passion and insight in the the business and the art form that is lighting design.
Yes, Mr. Fisher did read his lecture from his notes with interjections of stories and comments, but the passion and love behind what he was talking about could still be felt by everyone in the theatre. All through out his lecture, An Approach To Stage Lighting Mr. Fisher quoted other lighting designers, writers and painters with quotes that related to lighting and made me tingle with goose bumps. It was just so exciting to take in such an amazing lecture about lighting and concepts.
As I come from a technical background with regards to lighting, I have gone just a bit with out “talking shop” or design concepts for a while. Mr. Fishers lecture put technologies and lighting instruments aside and really opened yours eyes to the perception and theories of lighting. I haven’t talk theory in forever and Mr. Fishers lecture reconfirmed why I love what I love light.
I have to keep this a bit short as I still have to grab a bite to eat and talk to some of the manufacturers at the showcase all before we head into the afternoon session. I’ll leave this post with of of the greatest quotes I have ever heard from Mr. Fishers lecture. In regards to providing variety with your lighting and the viewers eyes, “tingle the cones” & “make it a party for the pupils”.
I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be back living in a dorm room, but here I am, all be it that it is only for two nights and how could you not pass up the cheapest room in New York City? I just got into town for the Broadway Lighting Master Classes hosted by Live Design at the NYU Skirball Center for the performing arts. I just unpacked and had a chance to run around the city near Washington Square to check out some of my favorite places in this section of town. I have always loved coming to the city this time of year because the heat wave has not set in yet.
I took some excellent shots of the city in the “afternoon” glow which I am way excited to share, but must wait till later. It is time to clean up and meet up with some of the other BLMC students for a couple of beverages around town.
The BLMC starts bright and early in the morning at 8am with registration opening up and reception breakfast and then right into the first class with Mr. Jules Fisher, An Approach To Stage Lighting at 9am.
Look for coverage of the Broadway Lighting Master Classes all day tomorrow and Wednesday here on iSquint.
The Broadway Lighting Master Classes start bright and early tomorrow morning. Have you registered to attend yet? The next three days will be action packed with all kinds of lighting goondness with talks, discussions, collaborations, training sessions and demo’s. If you are a lighting geek like me, there is no reason to miss this. Some of the biggest Broadway lighting designers will be on hand talking about their craft and sharing their wisdom and secrets of the trade.
Thanks to Live Design, I will be on hand covering the show with limited coverage during the next three days as I want to take every word in that they are saying. After the BLMC, I’ll have a complete recap of the event and if I am lucky, some great talks to post. If you follow iSquint on twitter, be sure to look out for the hashtag, #BLMC2010. I’ll be updating twitter through out the day along with some of the other students in attendance.
And yes, I do have “No Sleep till Brooklyn” stuck in my head now!

The Live Design Broadway Master Classes are right around the corner. Have you signed up yet? What are you waiting for?! There are three different Master Classes to attend in New York City at the New York University.
Broadway Lighting Master Classes – May 25 – May 27
Broadway Sound Master Classes – May 21 – May 23
Broadway Projection Master Classes – May 24th
Live Design has graciously offered me a seat in the back of the class to cover the Lighting Master Classes and I am so excited! This will be my first BLMC and it is expected to be a good one. As part of the coverage, Live Design arranged for me to talk with Broadway lighting legend, Mr. Jules Fisher. When I heard that, I about fell over. It is not to often that you have a one on one conversation with such a prestigious member of the industry.
It is a gathering of leading Broadway lighting designers in an open forum to discuss and talk about the conceptual idea’s behind lighting. Rather then focusing on the new products and technologies on the market, the panel discusses and techniques and approaches and gives students a chance to ask questions and converse with such well known lighting designers like Jules Fisher, Don Holder, Brian MacDevitt, Peggy Eisenhauer, Peter Kaczorowski, Beverly Emmons, Clifton Taylor and Wendall K. Harrington.
Talk about a who’s who in Broadway Lighting Design! The BLMC kick off first thing Tuesday, May 25 with An Approach to Stage Lighting in the morning, Lunch and the Manufacturers Showcase at Noon and then on to LED versus Tungsten with Don Holder and the afternoon with 2009 Tony Award winning lighting designer, Brian MacDevitt and Visual Aids.
I am really pumped up about Tuesday evening, the BLMC students get to attend FELA! and then have a sit down with Robert Wierzel after the show to ask questions. How awesome is that?!
Wednesday brings Music in Lighting: Ebb and Flow lead by Peggy Eisenhauer, the mid day session with Peter Kaczorowski. After Lunch and the Manufacturers Showcase, Beverly Emmons and Clifton Taylor talk to the class with The Color Lecture. Wednesday wraps up with What Every Lighting Designer Needs to Know about Projections, lead by Wendall K. Harrington.
Are you not convinced? The Broadway Lighting Master Classes are action packed with tons of information and total lighting geekery! I am thrilled to death to be attending the BLMC. I hope to see you there! The BLMC is just a week away and there is still time to sign up. Visit the registration page on LiveDesign.com. Get more information about all three of the Broadway Master Classes by visiting www.livedesign.com.