About

Designing ideas has always been a part of my life. When I joined my High School’s theater department to run Sound for “Little Shop of Horrors”, I was hooked. Although Audio was where I started, when I got to my Intro to Stage Lighting class, it was love at first sight. By my Senior year, I was given the opportunity to Design for Spring Awakening. For this design I was given an ACTF Certificate of Merit.

In my current position, I do some designing, but I mainly draw up shows in Vectorworks, and make the logistics happen. When we get to the show, I’m the one setting everything up, making sure that drawings match reality. Once everything is up I go to the role of “L2” or Lighting tech. I’m there to make sure things are working properly and keeping the show going. Tech-ing a show is a design in itself. Everything needs power and communication, and you have the constraints of the amount of power you have and how far signals will travel. It is one big puzzle.

Over the years I have picked up some freelance designing gigs with local schools and churches, and even did a short tour around the midwest. Most of these were picked up as last minute emergencies that someone realized that they didn’t know how to program.

I usually program from the comfort of my recliner until I get into the space. Mainly, I use ETC Eos (TI, Ion, and Nomad), but depending on the show, I’ll use Hog 4 and GrandMA 2 consoles. Seeing as ETC is headquartered Wisconsin, almost every school around me has an ETC console. But every band that comes through one of my stages either has or needs a GrandMA.

I also repair moving lights, LED fixtures, and even your old tungsten units. I am currently certified as a Martin Lighting Technician, but am able to service almost any brand of intelligent fixture.

In my gallery, You can see several of the other contraptions I have designed for entertainment usage. I have been tasked with designing at 12′ diameter rotating stage, storage racks for lights, lighting ladders, and much more.