Light Talk with The Lumen Brothers

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and SISTER!) welcome Honorary Lumen Brother Dennis Size to the show to discuss his lighting for the historic Harris/Trump Debate. Join Dennis, Ellen, Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Steve's vacation at "The Dairy Queen Nudist Colony"; Dennis rebutting David's AI Programmer comments; The history of how the debate was designed and produced; The lighting mission of a debate; Set and Video Wall decisions; "The Sea of Blue"; Interesting moments at The Candidate Walk-Thru; Covering all the angles of face light; Backlighting with a video background; Covering all possible camera angles and adjusting on the fly; Adding theatricality and drama to a debate; Balancing color temperature and intensity with multiple channels on one person; Using 4500K (TV White) as a base color temperature; Using 20 footcandles as the intensity levels; Video monitor layout; Having technical acting skills as a candidate; Lighting the Spin Room and the exterior of the theater; Dream Projects; and a Shout Out to the "Uncommonly Good Looking" Bobby Hale! Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss everything from AI in your iPhone to "Light Talk: The Book!" Join Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Steve on the beach; Lighting report from The Nudist Colony; Apple Airpod Pro 2 hearing software and possible theatre use; New iPhones with Apple Intelligence; Getting a job with a lighting maunfacturer at LDI; Which software tools should you learn before you graduate; Being a "Software Hound"; LDI Video and Media Server courses; "Ever-Glow Financial"; Transitioning from grad school into the profession; and "Light Talk Detox". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss everything from "The Lumen Brothers' Institute of Stress-Free Living" to Keith Richards on the Shuffleboard Court. Join Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: A new floating arena idea for green performances; The good old days of touring in a van; Waiting to get paid and How to ask for your money; Architectural design cash flow; Avoiding trouble with the IRS when working overseas; The Accounting Firm of Jacques and Kaye; "The Dude's Approach to Life in the Theatre"; Has lighting design changed from an obscure profession to a recognized profession by the general public; Talking politics at the production table; and New lawyers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss everything from Conflict Resolution to Creative Chain Saw Techiques. Join Ellen, Brackley, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: LDI News; "Stage Managers Academy"; Time boundaries when off work; Is it wise to buy used automated lighting fixtures?; Manufacturers honoring warranties; Buying "The Latest and Greatest"; Getting a good deal; Where to find parts for old equipment; Road-Kill Laboratories' "Creative Light Worm"; Trying not to get fired when the Director is not happy with your work; Finding the right chemestry; and Upgrading your lighting fixtures: Incandescent or LED? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from Timing Cues, to Monkeys in Stan's Bidet. Join Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: Stan's Greek Cruise; Lox, Bagels, and Avocado Toast; USITT coming to Long Beach; David' Pre-tech at the San Francisco Opera; The best team ever!; Educating yourself in architectural control systems; Assigning timing to your cues; Following the music; Better Than Nothing Industies' "Easy Mop and Sweep"; Starting on the right foot; Ownership in the project; Synergetic Collaboration; and Getting the most from your limited lighting budget. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Lasers on Sharks, to Steve Trying to Drive to Dairy Queen. Join Ellen, Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: New lighting books; What to do when your budget is cut by 50%; How many lights do you really need?; Lili's at LDI; Incorporating AI into lighting controllers; Apple Vision Pro and how it may change the lighting design process; Illegitimate Panda's new solar-powered moving lights; Good short-throw fixtures; and "The Weasel's Last Fart Fogger". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Tony Award Winner Lighting Designer, Jane Cox. Join Jane, Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Winning the Tony for "Appropriate"; Getting light into difficult spaces; Your career is a series of relationships; Working with John Doyle; How to Play in the theater; The fun and pleasure of creating lighting cues, transitions, and atmospheres; Co-designing "Teeth"; Teaching and developing a curriculum for non-majors at Princeton; Engaging with diverse communities through theatre-making; Getting in touch with your senses; Park Avenue Armory Symposium; Representation in the theatre world; Cultural critiques of theatre design; Supporting young designers of color; Afro-futurism and Theatre Design; Different backgrounds and cultural experiences on the design team; CreativeX - "Rhythm Box" Project; Exploring Rhythm and Visual Enterainment; AI and furture lighting consoles; and How a woman can have a successful marriage and a family as a professional lighting designer. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss their reviews of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris Opening Ceremony. Join Ellen, Stan, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: The boldnesss and brilliant audacity of the French show creators; Rain, rain, rain; Celine Dion's unbelievable performance; The Eiffel Tower as you have never seen it before; Rehearsing in secret; The beauty of French puppetry; Snoop Dog, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning; The horse, the torch, and the balloon; The "Nekid Blue Guy"; Things to do at the Olympic Games; The journey of the Olympic flame; Falling off the rooftops of Paris; Rolling the dice; and Our favorite Olympics Ceremonies of all time. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Broadway lighting designer Brandon Stirling Baker. Join Brandon, Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Brandon's journey to Dance Lighting; The life and journey of "Illinoise"; The lighting and camera process of preparing your show for the Tony broadcast; The Journey of collaboration; Working with animators at CalArts; The beauty of collaborating artistically with your spouse; Dance stage managers; Being open and curious; "The Creative Act"; The beautiful bridge of the worlds of music and visual art; Curating Your Own Career; James Turrell lighting a B movie; Dance Touring; and The future of "Illinoise". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brother and Sister interview Broadway designers Brian MacDevitt and Nick Solyom. Join Brian, Nick, Ellen, and David as they pontificate about: Bryan and Nick's working process; Lighting "The Outsiders"; People vs. scenery vs. effects... Finding the correct color temperature; Getting lighting notes from Ray Charles; Lighting "Utopia"; Nick's academic journey from Long Beach State to NYU, and from school to Broadway; The difference between being an Assistant and an Associate Lighting Designer; The keys to being a good Associate; Directors making decisions out of fear; Achieving naturalism in "The Outsiders"; The future for commercial and regional theatres; Stories from "The Book of Mormon"; The Chance Theory of Light; and Advice to educators on how to teach students of lighting design. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!), along with designers John Gresch, Jeff Ravitz, and Dennis Size, pay tribute to Broadcast Lighting Legend Bill Klages. Join Ellen, John, Jeff, Dennis, Brackley, and Steve as they discuss the amazing career of Bill Klages. From his early career as a lighting technician to his many television designs that earned him industry acclaim, Bill created some of the most inspirational designs in the history of broadcast television. John Gresch, Jeff Ravitz, and Dennis Size recount their many years of being some of Bill's closest colleagues and friends. Join the Lumen family in celebrating Bill's life and career. He will be missed. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss everything from Building and Destroying Your Reputation, to "You Can Take That Sock to the Grave With You". Join Ellen, Stan, and Steve as they pontificate about: Latest Carribean hurricane news; SGM egress protective fixtures; "My feet are killing me!"; Darn Tuff; Replacing incandescent house lights with LED; Canto USA; How to deal with a team member who over-promissed and under-delivered on a project; Being honest about your capabilities; Stepping up to solve the problem; Controlling your self-delusion; "Jack-Me-Up"; and What to do when you give up trying to be a lighting designer. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from Finding Qualified Technology Teachers to Sipping Buffalo Milk on the Bay. Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: How to critique lighting designs; Controlling lighting systems remotely; How to integrate lights that can't be dimmed into a lighting design; Ken Billington's prodigy moment; Legal help to protect your AI designs; Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks; The days of pontification are over; Faculty directors not embracing technology in design; Different ways to deliver teaching content; A question of control; A little color never hurt anyone; and How to self-learn advanced design software programs. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) meet for a roundtable discussion on this year's Tony Awards and Design Software Subscriptions. Join Ellen, Zak, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Happy Birthday, Stan!; So much video during this year's Tony Awards show... so where are the Projection and Video categories?; Sports vs. The Arts; Carbonelli's Pizza; Acknowledging all the artists and craftspeople; Is there a Metric?; "What is the problem here?"; The function and economics of awards in the Commercial Theatre; Our most and least favorite Tony show moments; The brilliance of "Illinoise"; Honoring Chita, Abe, and Richard; "Stereophonic"; "Tommy"; The dangers of agreeing to the "fine print" when using AI and design software; Image licensing; "Brown M&M's"; Litigious corporations suing designers; AI Copyright issues; and "Off the Page and Onto the Stage". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from IOS 18 to "Stable Confusion". Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: How to get started with Artificial Intelligence; Bob Boniol's AI Generative Art Webinar; Midjourney, DALI, Sora, and all the toys; It's all about the prompt; The evolution of us; Our unfulfilled design fantasies; Lava lamps and Holiday Inns; Releasing the Iguanas; The Cotton Club in Gainesville; Apple's IOS 18; AI Bots in Facebook; The human connection; and "Pounding the Sidewalk". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and SISTER!) interview Projections and Video Designer David Bengali. Join David, Ellen, Steve, and Zak as they pontificate about: David's journey from Lighting Designer to Projections Designer; Should projections and video designers have their own Tony nominations category?; The baggage that comes along with compoetitive awards; The lighting and projections process for "Water For Elephants"; "Analogue imaginitive theatre"; Experimenting with LED's at PRG; Analyzing media as a storytelling experience; Software programs for media design; Thinking in Three Dimensional Space; The importance of understanding the math in artistic design; Researching projects; Analyzing what we see in the world around us; Dream projects; and Lessons learned from previous experiences. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Disasterous Wedding Lighting to Rock Lobsters. Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: "Please... someone turn on the Lights!"; Non-performers' aversion to stage lighting; "State of the Art Technology" ideas for new magnate high schools; Digital scenery vs. flats; Mini-Spheres; Being in two places at the same time; Sharing Elon's brain; Dead Teslas; How to make our theatres safer; Catwalks vs. automated rigging; Dangerous counterweight systems; How often you should meet with a director; and "Don't worry, the Lighting Designer will fix it." Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and SISTER!) talk about everything from How to Become Famous to Baby Reindeer. Join Ellen, Brackley, Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Is it possible to get an even distribution of haze?; "There is a fine line between stupid and genius"; Advantages of using a performer tracking system; Our dream architectural lighting jobs; "The Pet Sweat Roadie Yum Yum Box"; Why we allow ourselves to be used; 36 or 50 Degrees; and How to become a famous lighting designer. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) talk about everything from Apple AI to Getting Sacked From a Show. Join Ellen, Zak, and David as they pontificate about: The new iPad Pros with Tandem OLED; The Sphere and Holoplot; Volume vs. Clarity; Choosing the best video resolution to use when your projection surfaces are very close; How to deal with a member of your creative team being replaced mid-production; The best media servers for theatrical productions; the "Save our Hearing Foundation"; Why projection designers are not properly recognised at the Tony Awards; The business end of awards; and How to tigger media server cues from the lighting console. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Recognizing Video and Projection Designers to "Deinstitutionalizing". Join Brackley, Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: Celebrating Brothers Brackley's and Stan's retirement; Wendall Harrington's Tony; How to create a fire effect without burning down the theater; How dichroic filters work; The importance of Site Surveys; Last Minute Cueing Bonus; Is it unethical to change the lighting after opening night; Summer reading suggestions; Nonsuch Records; How to light "Dracula"; and what does Phish and Ben and Jerry's have in common? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Miss Bucknell to Latin Club Parties. Join Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: Stan's Right of First Refusal; Forming a high school theatre club; Transfering your show's lighting data from one controller to another; The Husky 2000; DMX Adaptors; The Abbie Hoffman Vintage Protest Kit; Finding the Perfect Mentor; and Falling asleep at dress rehearsals. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and SISTER!) talk about everything from Heathkit Light Organs to Exploding Old Cars. Join Ellen, Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: Phish at The Sphere; Davids' Undergrad Reunion; The University of Miami's new theatre building; Out of control tuition costs; The good people at LunaLUX; Integrating stage lighting and upstage video; Reducing the costs of moving lights; The "a' la carte Moving Light"; Techniques for designing curtain call cues; The sweet spot of how long the curtain calls should last; and Our coolest shows. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brother (and SISTER!) talk about everything from Stan's Retirement Plans to How Business is Done. Join Ellen, and Steve as they pontificate about: Billy Joel's abbreviated "Piano Man"; Steve Cohen's generosity; What to buy for $50,000; The history of the "LEKO"; How to find multiple sources of lighting income; "Wrecking Ball Leadership"; Stan's Solar System; Learning more about Steve; Tenure vs. Professor of Practice; The Pioneers of Dance; The genesis of LDI; Kind people in our industry; and Light Talk Therapy. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Stan's Retirement Plans to How Business is Done. Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Vectorworks raises their prices again; Loyalty and Integrity; How long should you keep your lighting records; "Stan the Man Sentimental Kaye"; The importance of archiving; Refraction and Interference; "The Magic Color Filter"; Materials and Light; Alcantara; Painting the floor with light; Miss Kitty; How to use a magic sheet; and Memorizing channel numbers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and SISTER) talk about everything from Enjoying Our 7th Anniversary After-Glow to "Jacqu-e-fied". Join Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Reflecting on last week's Anniversary Show; How to save for retirement when you work in the theatre; How to become a millionaire with a penny; "Time is the Recipe"; The "Portable Tech-Table Dental Hygene Machine"; Why are some designers hesitant to use Pre-viz?; Mensches and Menschettes; The "Limit of Red Flags"; and Everything you ever wanted to know about "Base Files". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this special video episode of LIGHT TALK (After Dark), The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) along with our distinguished panel of: Anne Militello, Bob Boniol, Bob Barnhart, Dennis Size, and Josh White, celebrate the 7th Anniversary of LIGHT TALK. Join Anne, Ellen, Bob., Dennis, Josh, Bob, Josh, Steve, Brackley, Zak, Solly, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Dennis' Smoking Jacket; Making a Cassserole of Nonsense; Our Pet Peeves; Lighting the Drummer; Go check out the Balconies!; Who should pay for Production Renderings; Pre-Visualization vs. Working in the Moment; "Watching the Beast"; Lighting the talent vs. Lighting the scenery; A new generation of Artists; The challenges of lighting in The Sphere; The present and future of AI, and how it will affect our art and our industry; and The "Age of Whole Designers". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) interview Lighting Designers John and Hailey Featherstone. Join Hailey, John, Brackley, Ellen and Steve as they pontificate about: From musician to designer, John's start in Rock; Working with Johnny Marr and The Smiths; Life and career changes; Creating "Lightswitch"; Making it Safe to Fail; Hailey's tours with Dad; "Teamwork Makes the Team Work"; Challenging and Rewarding; Learning how to go on tour; Triumphs over Adversity; Working with the Hans Zimmer family; Family businesses; Making the lighting business better; Sharing knowledge, experience and information; Designing the Voltaire in Las Vegas; Staying up to date with new technology; "Failing up"; Relationships with lighting manufacturers; and Advice for young designers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and SISTER) talk about everything from Woodstock Followspots to our 7th Anniversary Plans. Join Ellen, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Anniversary math; Self help books; Lighting a show with only followspots; What assistants should not say, and when not to say it!; "Stagehand Terminology Pop Quiz"; The Academy Awards Show; Fashion Nightmares; Oscar Swag Bag Value; and Getting your theatre department to design the shows early for the fall season. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from How Much Profit Can You Make on a Design, to The Drunks in Club Dada. Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: The Circle of Light Talk; Stan's new Tesla; "Projection Mania Chaos"; How much profit can you hope to make from a design fee?; How much of the original lighting design is kept when remounting or moving a show; Dealing with substituting equipment and control; Respecting the original art of the design; "MoxieCola"; and Keeping up with the Ziegeist. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister) talk about everything from Artistic Limitations to Baseball Stadiums in Casinos. Join Ellen, Brackley, and David as they pontificate about: Baseball moving to Vegas; Ways to Control LED Pixels via DMX; Lighting considerations for Sensory Friendly Performances; How many light cues should you write?; Learning how to adjust "On the Fly"; Creative Theatrical Tints' new "revenge color"; What Makes an Artist Unique?; The genius of Luc Lafortune; What is the key to designing a good Preset Cue?; and Bookending a Show. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sisters) welcome guest co-host Jacqui Thomassen to the show. The Brothers and Sisters talk about everything from The Superbowl Halftime Show to Saving the Iguanas. Join Jacqui, Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: The status of "Spot"; Our Superbowl Halftime Show review; PixMob bracelets; Is it true that luck has a great deal to do with success; Is all LED tape the same?; City Theatrical's QolorPix tape; Balancing work and family life; Adopt an Iguana; Quiet sedimentary synergy; Problem Solving or The Design Idea; "Theatre is about Essence"; and Are there too many choices for fixtures? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) interview Lighting Designer and Author, Michael Chybowski. Join Michael, Ellen and Steve as they pontificate about: From Math to Light; The "Polar Route"; Sage Advice from Pat Collins; "Going on the Bus" with Lauri Anderson; Visualizing the Essence of the Music; Design Processes for Lighting Dance; Working at European Opera Houses; Writing the Book: "What is Lighting Design? A Geneology of People and Ideas"; Researching the History of Lighting Design and Designers; "Light is Based on the Existence of an Idea"; Anticipating "The Fourth Paradigm"; Simulating Nature and Representing the Imagination; Tharon, the "Powerhouse"; "Nothing Gets Over the Footlights to an Audience as Speedily as Thought"; The Raw Power of Angle; and Advice to Young Lighting Designers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Old Eyes to Timid Lighting. Join Stan, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Stan's discovery of a new chapter of life; Letters about Hash; Having a hard time talking to people at production meetings; Good books and advice regarding starting your business; Dealing with a career crisis; Convincing Artistic Directors to hire you; "Reminising about 10 out of 12's"; Lighting for old eyes; and Explaining your light plot to the electrician. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers interview IATSE Production Electrician for The Guthrie Theater, Andrew Sullivan. Join Andrew, Brackley, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Brackley's "Lively" URTA Report; How to become a Production Electrician; The responsibilities of a Production Electrician; The difference between Stage, Master, and Production Electricians; No More 10 out of 12's; Required paperwork from a designer; Getting your paperwork to the Production Electrician on time; Dealing with designers who overhang their plots; Dumb things some designers do; Proper boom spacing; Dealing with stressed out designers; Organizing Focus Calls; The Guthrie's lighting inventory; Keeping the peace between lighting designers and electricians; Favorite lighting designers; Skills that young electrtians are missing in their education; and Words of wisdom for young designers looking to be Production Electricians. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK (After Dark), The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) talk with Production and Lighting Designer, Bryan Hartley. Join Bryan, Ellen, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Fun tour stories with Deep Purple and Kiss; Knowing the Statutes of Limitation; Bryan's early days as a rock musician and lighting designer; Working in the studio with Joan Jett; Meeting Gene Simmons; Designing for Kiss (pre and post makeup); The 1000 MR16's Kiss sign; The genesis of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra; The artistic passion of Paul O'Neill; Discovering AI for video content creation; Favorite AI programs; Using Discord and Midjourney; Lighting equipment used on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Tour; Using the VL3600's and JDC Lines in the TSO design; What happened to the millions of PAR cans that are no longer used?; Pyro in the audience; Getting into Inflatables; and Words of wisdom for young designers looking to be concert lighting designers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) talk about how to prepare for, and what to expect at your URTA interview. Join Ellen, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Sad football days in Dallas; Everything you wanted to know about preparing for your interview; Showing process work in your presentation; Transfering your point of view through your art; The keys to what and what not to say and ask during your interview; How to sniff out schools that want to use you for cheap labor; Researching the schools' faculty; The real cost of attending graduate school; What you should expect in your financial package; Zoom vs. Personal Interviews; What to look for when you visit schools; Other important things to consider before making your final decision; and What to do if that relationship does not work out. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) talk about everything from Weather Reports, to Remembering Tharon. Join Ellen, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David's Florida visit; Ellen's systern; "Speed Bump"; Is it important to learn how to program to be a Lighting Designer?; The color of limelight; Why the Green Room is green; Dealing with sexual harassment on stage; Nancy Kerrigan and her potted plants; "Oh My God Rigging"; A tribute to Tharon Musser; Lighting Designers' Family Tree; Should a lighting designer attend Load-in?; and David's latest retirement nightmare. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) talk about everything from What to do in Long Beach, to Forklift Jousting. Join Ellen, Steve, and Stan as they pontificate about: The LIve Production Summit; NAMM; The "My MixBook"ap from Rosco; Integrating theatrical daylight and shifting natural daylight levels; "Pharos LPC", "Mosaic Designer", and the "Echoflex Tap-41"; "Hands-On Forklift Training"; Should Stagehands be credentialed?; and How to convince your employer that you are ready to be a designer and not a technician. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Steve's Christmas Pillow to Nuclear Fusion Kits. Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Coal in their stockings; Home proctology kits; U2 concert video; Who will be able to fill The Sphere?; Suffering from spacial disorientation while using Vectorworks; Favorite Christmas movies; The Chauvet PX4 Curve 12; Effects products on the LDI floor; The Stan Kaye Christmas Lights Extravaganza; Stan's Stolen Christmas Election; The Clancy rigging control system interface; Large turnout at LDI; How to interview a Master Electrical; Sponsor Apparel; Thoughts on the new Scheduling of LDI in December; and Lumen New Years Resolutions. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) welcome special holiday guest Willie Williams, Creative Director for U2, to the show. They discuss everything from designing "U2:UV Achtung Baby LIVE at Sphere in Las Vegas", to Stalking for Clients. Join Willie, Ellen, Zak, and David as they pontificate about: Getting started during the Punk Rock Revolution in the UK; How the Art School Bands were creating their visual aesthetic; Urgent Music and Whacky Visuals; The visual aesthetic influence of The Talking Heads and "Stop Making Sense"; Swapping key light; Getting the gig with U2; Talking with Edge's Mom; Finding synergy with your artistic collaborators; Working with "Self Esteem"; How U2's shows evolved over the years; Working with David Bowie; Touring with Frank Sinatra, Sammie Davis Jr, and Liza Minelli; The process of designing U2 at The Sphere; Proud of The Pigeon; Realizing the video content of the show; Dealing with spacial disorientation; What will other artists will do in that space?; and How it feels to get anything you want. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Thoughts About LDI to The Wonderful Life of Richard Pilbrow. Join Steve, Brackley, and David as they pontificate about: David's final class; Post LDI comments; Haze... What haze?; Things we liked on the Expo Floor; Who had the best demo show?; The Robe Footsie Footlight; Favorite front light colors; Favorite exercises for a beginning design class; New Cheeky Rigger Holiday Fragrances; Our thoughts about Richard Pilbrow; and Are small theatres doomed for failure? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers (and Sister) present their 6th Annual LIGHT TALK LIVE show from LDI! The Lumen Family talks about everything from Dependable Consoles to Stiff Taxidermized Animals from Stan's Back Yard. Join Ellen, Steve, Brackley, Zak, Stan, Snoot, and David as they pontificate about: Semi-Serious Shenanigans; Why sound designers talk a lot; The best rewards of being a mentor; Best solutions to difficult show experiences; "Bobby Danger and The Rails of Disaster"; Our favorite consoles; Finding a Master Electrician to be on the show; and Thank you, Ellen! Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Breakfast at The Circle Bar, to Brackley's Hot Tub. Join Steve, Brackley, and David as they pontificate about: LDI weather report; First things to look for at LDI; Who will have the best product demo light show?; What will make your portfolio stand out at the portfolio review; Nightmare in Thailand; International LD traveling tips; "The Dozy-Plunger Cap"; The end of tenure and the beginning of "Professors of Practice"; and What shows should you see in Las Vegas. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Great Assistants to Monkey Bidets. Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Cherubin update; A shout-out to great assistants; Another discontinued university theatre program; Cool at the Kia dealership; LDI Light Talk surprises; Resolving student conflicts; "BYOC"; Post-Mortems; Missing "Shop Order" items; Nasty load-in surprises; Managing change; "Personal Portable Rolling Sphere"; Mentoring Styles; and Is it really important to attend one of the "Top Ten" graduate design programs? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss working with followspots with Follospot Lead, June Abernathy. Join June, Ellen, Stan, and Brackley, as they pontificate about: Starting in "The Circus"; On the road with The Lion King; Dealing with local crews; Picking up the correct girl on "Six"; Adjusting color for fleshtones; Writing texts about followspots; Modern technology for spotlights; Funny followspot operator excuses; Advantages and disadvantages with Ground Control; What is the best angle for followspot positions; June's LDI panel "Incorporating Followspots into Your Lighting Design"; Followspot operator safety concerns; Theater consultant nightmare stories; "Who designed this followspot position?"; and Advice for young women who want to enter the technical theatre profession. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this "Best of LIGHT TALK" episode from Dec 11, 2020, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Packing Trucks to "The Fire of Desire". Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Stan's Finances; David's Lighting for Opera Webinar; 2024 Olympics update; Break Dancing and Surfing; How to keep a crew focused and be in control; Crew relationship techniques; Proper preparation for crew calls; Dress for success and respect; Kudos to IATSE crews; Preparing your portfolio for the URTA interviews; How to organize a focus call; Golden ALD's; Steve channels J. Peterman; More pungent holiday scents from The Cheeky Rigger of Sheffield; The delicate balance of the student/mentor relationship; and Packing a truck. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers discuss truly frightening THEATRE HORROR STORIES that actually happened to them! Join David and Zak as they pontificate about: Zak's Ambassadorship; Deluge Curtains; The Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre's Cursed Mini-Light Palette; The Mystery of the Broadway Light Cue Dump; Lighting Skulls from a Bosun's Chair; Freezing Xanadu; Very Superstitious; Central City Horrors; "The Bad Luck Guy"; Getting over Our Anxieties; The Killer Projector; and Our Most Frightening Recurring Nightmares. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss budget lighting equipment with President of Learn Stage Lighting, David Henry. Join David, Ellen, Steve, and David, as they pontificate about: The genesis of Learn Stage Lighting; What makes a Budget Light a Budget Light?; Are there "typical" packages of lighting equipment?; How to become a stage lighting dealer; Why trade shows are important; Discovering new companies and new products; Specifying the right equipment for the right situation; What happens in the "secret" LDI rooms; Do consoles have to be so damn big?; How PC consoles have improved over the years; Not so fondly remdembering the LP90; Finding manufacturers who support their products; Teaching lighting to smaller clients; What is the new technology on the horizon?; and "The Personal Sphere". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers (and Sister!) discuss everything from MIdJourney to Cold Las Vegas Nights. Join Ellen, Steve, and David, as they pontificate about: LDI Light Talk Pit Bull Swag Challenge; Your first meeting with the director; Table reads; Having a diverse background and finding a job as a lighting designer; Teaching lighting design with pre-viz; Creating designs with MidJourney; "The Butter Stick"; Looking back at 35 years of LDI; "The Battle of the Busk"; The Pixera media server; The greatest lighting technology introduced at LDI over the past 35 years; Easier ways to hang your lights; and Improper boom hanging etiquette. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers discuss everything from David Byrne to "The Book of Mormon Podcast". Join Brackley, Steve, and David, as they pontificate about: Snoot and Rudy; Brackley's view on the Sphere; The LDI Portfolio Review; Beverly Emmons, Wendall Harrington, and The Talking Heads' new "Stop Making Sense" restoration release; Working with co-designers; Getting over your hatred of working in the theatre; The "Distinctive Color Picker"; and The greatest gobo of all time. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.