Lighting design can be one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling jobs in the theater. The designer gets to shape and craft a mood with light. Many times, people remember the lights more than any other element of the show. However, light design can be tricky. Remember a few easy tips can make the light designer's job easy.
Researching the Show and Production
The first thing a lighting designer should do is research. This research should not be limited to the show, but also the production as well. Communicate with the director as to what his expectations are. Sometimes he may want a light designer to be there for multiple rehearsals as well as be responsible for doing the light hang and load in. Find out what your budget is.
You should also research what type of show this is. Are there any special lights the script calls for? If it takes place in a time before electricity, how is it going to be lit? What time of day is the play set in. Read the play a few times and talk to the director about your ideas.
Designing
Once you have a good feel for the play and are on the same page as the director, begin your design. Ideally the design will plot out all light locations against an overview of the set, but this doesn't always have to happen. If you have a copy of the set design and the locations of your lighting batons, you can do a basic sketch of where you want the lights to be and what colors you are thinking of. The important thing is to have something to work off of when you load in.
Load In
A light load in can be strenuous and time-consuming, so be sure you schedule accordingly. You (or your lighting crew) must hang all of the lights, focus them, gel them and patch them. It's important for a designer to be on site for the lighting hang so he can answer questions if there is any confusion as to where the lights should go. Often times, especially in smaller theaters, the designer will be part of the hanging crew and will provide direction to them. Make sure you are looking over their work, that the safety cables are in place and that the lights are secured tightly.
Writing Cues
Possibly the most fun part of the design is writing cues. Once everything is hung and focused, the light designer gets to sit behind the light board and make the design in his head become a reality. You will need to make sure the play is not rehearsing while you do this as you will be changing and adjusting lights almost constantly to get your cues perfect. Often times it is helpful to get a member of your crew to walk around stage to get an idea of how the light will look on someone's face. Go through the show, cue by cue, making sure that all of the cues and blackouts are in the right place. Look at the timing of the cues to see if you need to add fades and effects.
