Ever marvel what it’s prefer to be the manufacturing designer behind among the greatest music festivals on the planet? Steve Leiberman, proprietor of SJ Lighting, is the lighting and manufacturing designer behind Coachella
, EDC, Ultra, and plenty of different internationally acclaimed music festivals. In a brief interview with PetersonsPodcast, he too talks about his journey and experiences on this distinctive job.It’s not all enjoyable and video games:
The very first thing Steve warns everybody about is that the backstage of a competition is something however glamorous. It’s stuffed with stagehands, equipment, and trailers with manufacturing workplace personnel. In different phrases, it’s a working atmosphere, so don’t anticipate to be partying if you happen to ever land a job in a competition’s backstage.
Setting up for exhibits can take a very long time:
According to Steve, exhibits can take wherever between 2 days to 2 months to arrange relying on the dimensions. An enormous competition like EDC Vegas takes over 2 months due to the logistics concerned.
So what goes into all these months of labor?
For starters, securing the positioning after which bringing in all of the metal wanted to construct buildings. In addition, bringing in personnel and establishing for all of the totally different disciplines, similar to audio and video, merchandising campsites, entry portals, and meals and beverage distributors. In different phrases, every little thing.
For EDC Vegas, Steve mentions that whereas it’s certainly one of his most unusual festivals to provide, it’s additionally the one which requires essentially the most work. What makes EDC Vegas particular is the quantity of intricacy and particulars that goes on into the design. Steve designs the competition in order that every little thing is tied into the themes. This approach, the viewers will get a totally immersive expertise even when strolling between phases.
So how do you land such a cool job?
Steve talked about that he had labored within the nightclub scene within the 80s and began doing lighting for the rave scene within the 90s. Although he received a school schooling and had plans to go to legislation college, he determined to take a flip and comply with his passions into the digital music business as an alternative.
What are among the issues that future aspiring competition manufacturing designers can do to get there? According to Steve, there are a few issues that he appears for when hiring a designer: creativity, drafting expertise (ie Autocad, Cinema 4D), graphic design, and useful resource administration in order that the individual is aware of what’s potential inside constraints similar to funds and time.
Steve’s closing phrases for anybody who desires to be concerned within the digital music business: discover the self-discipline that works for you since there are a number of platforms to get into it. Be diversified and expertise the scene via festivals and exhibits for your self, because you’ll be taught via these experiences. Now, who’s impressed to achieve extra expertise and attend Ultra Miami?!?
H/T: PetersonsPodcast
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