How To Get Into the Stage Lighting Industry
The stage lighting industry has a pretty wide range of options for people drawn to the art and science of light. Depending on your strengths and experience you may become a hands-on lighting tech, electrician, specialize as a programmer or designer, or grown into a lighting director. I have been down each of these paths and find that I most enjoy the creativity of design aspect.
Start Where You Are
When I started out, I was not a lighting pro. I was actually a touring musician in a metal band—but I hated the idea of my band going on stage with lighting that wasn't curated for our music, which was quite intense and eclectic. We had no real budget for a dedicated lighting director, and I was pretty technical minded, so I figured, “Why not learn it myself?”. My light shows I created were amateur at first, but what i found was that my strength was musical timing, so that became my main focus, and i built the Duck Lights brand around that.
If you’re feeling intrigued to get into stage lighting, the below might be a good starting place for you.
Find Your Training Ground
Here are some other "training ground" options to consider:
Travel with a Music Artist I got my first taste of lighting purely out of necessity with my own band. I was fortunate to have shows often with my band, which gave me many hours of experience working with lights.
Local Venues: The easiest way to get your hands on real lighting gear without going broke. You can offer to volunteer you might be pushing boxes and rolling cables at first, but you’ll learn by doing. Local venues aren't just limited to small clubs, try comedy clubs, community theaters, and bars with a dance floor.
Formal Education: Some folks prefer structured programs, like stage design, lighting design and production arts courses at college. This helps if you like classroom-style learning and theory and want to get some guided experience. It's also great for making connections with other lighting professionals.
Trade Shows: Lighting Design International, often referred to as LDI, is a trade show that happens in Las Vegas every year, and can be an excellent opportunity to meet people in the industry as well as sign up for a number of panel discussions and training sessions.
Different Entry Points in the Industry
Local Crews & Stagehand Gigs: You’ll pick up how rigging and load-ins work, see how professionals operate, and start building connections.
Install Companies: More of a “day job” style—installing lighting in clubs, churches, or retail—but you’ll learn how systems come together from scratch.
Rental Houses & Production Studios: A lot of folks start in the warehouse, checking gear in and out. Eventually, you’ll get assigned on gigs as a tech, and from there, you might branch into design or operation.
Getting Hands-On Experience
Volunteer: Offer to help local artists or small festivals; test out new designs, see what works, and (often more importantly) what doesn’t. You will be amazed as to how many people get their start with their career lending a hand with artists just starting out.
Build Your Network: Lighting is also about who you know. Talk to bands, music directors, or other LDs. Your first paid gig might come from a friend’s referral.
Create a Portfolio: Even if it’s just phone videos, share them to highlight your work. Over time, you’ll build a resume that shows you know your way around a rig. Instagram is a great start, but a website will really show that you have your shit together.
Note: Live vs. Cinema Lighting
Stage lighting focuses on impact: big, bold looks, color changes, and syncing to music or other cues.
Film/Cinema lighting is often more subtle, aiming to sculpt faces and scenes with precise control of shadows and highlights. Gaffers and cinematographers collaborate closely to shape each shot.
If you can handle both, you’ll be super versatile in the industry.
The Many Roles in Lighting
Once you get the basics, you'll quickly learn that the lighting world isn’t just one job. It’s a web of specialized roles. Understanding them helps you figure out where you might fit best (or what path you want to eventually pursue)
Lighting Designer ("LD"): Crafts the overall visual lighting look for live shows, choosing color palettes, fixture types, and cue designs. They often work closely with the artist or creative team, and generally stay a bit more strategic and birds-eye-view with a project, while the Lighting Director focuses on day-to-day execution and finishing touches.
Scenic Designer: Works with the lighting designer to build the show’s overall visual world through stage architecture, scenic pieces, props and screen environments. They make sure it’s buildable, tour-friendly, within budget, and lightable in partnership with the Lighting Designer.
Lighting Director (also "LD"): Typically receives the big-picture ideas from the Lighting Designer and are responsible for being the show's champion each day. In a traditional role, they work with a lighting programmer to execute their vision, but more often now a Lighting Director is also a programmer as well.
Lighting Tech: Hands-on crew member who builds, cables, tests, and maintains the lighting rig so that the show runs safely and reliably.
Board Operator ("Board Op"): Runs the lighting console during a show or rehearsal, calling up cues or adjusting levels on the fly. Sometimes, the LD and board op are the same person (especially on smaller tours).
Followspot Operator: Common in theater or large concerts. The operator controls a followspot to keep the performer lit, adjusting color gels and focus mid-show. They keep a comms headset on to hear callouts and cues from the Lighting Director. Nowadays, there are remote controlled options for followspots tracking artists on stage, but typically these systems are quite expensive to integrate.
Master Electrician or Chief Electrician: Oversees the technical aspect of a lighting crew in theater settings or large events. They manage crew schedules, ensure safety standards, and supervise the hang/focus of fixtures. And most importantly, they are the ones responsible for working with high voltage power distros and tying into house power to keep everyone safe.
Grip/Gaffer: This title is more common in film and TV. The gaffer is the head of the lighting department on a set—responsible for executing the cinematographer’s vision. They handle rigging, distribution of power, and all practical aspects of lighting the scene.
The bottom line: each role brings unique responsibilities. Starting as a board op or on a local crew can be a stepping stone to bigger gigs like lighting design or even film gaffing.
Good Influences & Recommended Resources
Plenty of top lighting designers out there have shaped the modern stage lighting scene. A few names I’ve personally learned from or admire:
Who does well in this industry?
LD's come in all types, but many have the skills below:
Loves To Travel: the ability and desire to travel will bring you far (literally) as you tour with artists.
Detail-Oriented: This is definitely an area where small stuff can make or break the moment. Color temperatures, cue timing and communication all need to be precise.
Curiosity & Creativity: You’re drawn to color, movement, and the question “How can we make this look cooler?”
Problem-Solving Mindset: Gear breaks, cues change; you thrive on quick fixes and improvisation.
Tech-Savvy DMX, console programming, power loads. You love tinkering with gadgets and software.
Collaborative Spirit: Lighting rarely stands alone; you work closely with stage managers, directors, and fellow crew. Being a good hang goes a long way.
Passion for Live Shows: You get a rush when lights and performance align to create something unforgettable.
Ability to thrive under pressure: things can get chaotic on tour, and someone who naturally locks in when the heat turns up will really thrive and be asked back again and again.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a single path into lighting. Some folks go the college route, others learn by volunteering or hustling local shows. For me, it was born out of a strong desire to have a full audio visual experience. You’ll make mistakes (I sure did), but you’ll learn fast!
Questions or need guidance? Drop me a line. I love talking shop and helping people reach their goals in an exciting industry. It’s a rush you won’t forget!
