I Should Probably Update My Website.

I've got a website. It's supposed to be for business. I'm not going to put the address here, if you have ever gotten an email from me, it's at the bottom by my signature.

I don't think I've updated it in a few years. Mostly because I've gone to Mac, and the website builder site for Earthlink (where the website is hosted) only works with PC's. So until I either get Windows 7 for my dual core Mac, or buy a PC of some sort, I'm gonna have to put updates some where else.

How about here on the blog.

Last year, as some of you know, I worked on a television commercial. Here it is:

I just noticed that when the video post to the website, you don't actually see the whole thing because it's wider than the column. I'd recommend right clicking and choosing "Watch video on youtube".

The hardest part about lighting that one? Getting the light to move across the audience behind Taylor Swift at the right time. It happens at the 12 second mark of the video if you want to look for it. I swear we did about 15 takes trying to get that right.

Also, last month, I worked on a music video for Angels and Airwaves. That just became available in the last couple of days, here it is:

If you're wondering which part of the many A.D.D. shots I lit, it was all the stuff that has the band playing their instruments. Lots of LED fixtures. Never thought I'd use a Showpix in any of my designs, but I did for this one.

BTW - if you click on the 4 arrow icon next to the sound icon, you can expand the video to full screen to get a better look.

These two videos had one thing in common, I got called for both at the last minute. The Taylor Swift commercial, I had about 3 days of lead time to get all the lighting gear and crew, prepped and set up. The Angels and Airwaves video, I got a call on a Friday night for a shoot on Sunday night. Who has a shop open on Saturdays for gear? Anyone, for a price really. Thank god for Matt Shim getting both of those together for me.

Hopefully, I'll get more lead time on the next one...

I really should put those on the website.

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Welcome Back?

Well over two months since my last post. Got no excuses, aside from I've had nothing to say.

It's been a busy couple of months, work-wise. I can't complain. I've actually got a blog that I started while on my first gig of January that I never posted. It'll come up soon I promise. I'm actually sitting at a gig as I type this... "Russell Simmons presents Stand up at the El Rey". Look for it on Comedy Central in June.

I wasn't supposed to be here this early today (9AM), but they are shooting the promo spots behind me and needed someone to turn on the lights. I guess it's a blessing and a curse of being the programmer, No one but me can run the console, so I have to come in if they need lighting. But at the same time, no one but me can run the console, so I have to come in if they need lighting, even if that means coming in at stupid o'clock in the morning after a long night. On the positive side, overtime pay is nice.

Never got OT pay while on tour. And I remember being on tour and thinking the benefits were better. Now, I know the benefits are better for staying home and working. Assuming I'm working. I do miss touring. Maybe I just miss it when times are tough and I need the money, or when the laundry has piled up in the corner and I've got no per diem to give it to the runner to wash.

No matter, I'm glad to be home, and I'm glad to be working. Got my schedule full through March, most of it spent in Seattle. I can probably post more there. I'm sure I'll have a few slow nights in my hotel room.

Also, what prompted me to resume writing is the fact that I have a camera again. I got another Olympus digital, like the one I lost in Freeport. I'm re-learning all the ins and outs of the camera, so here's pictures of my white balance tests. The camera has a bunch of different settings, so I thought I'd try a few and see which one looks best, and matches the colour best.


Best one is the first one I think...

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I Feel The Need To File A TPS Report.

So here's that blog I started back in January while I was working on the NAMM show down in Anaheim. It's a good start for the next blog which will be about the show I'm working on now...


Corporate theater. That's what I've been doing for the last week. Corporate theater.

I'm at the NAMM show working in the "Demo Cabin" at the Roland / Boss booth. Here's a picture of the stage I'm lighting.It's not much, 12 moving lights and some par cans to light the audience.

Every half hour, there's a demo of a different Roland or Boss product. The houselights dim, a video "commercial" plays, and then the announcement comes in, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome So and So demonstrating the Boss such and such". The stage lights comes up and a noodles for 15 to 20 minutes, thanks the audience and the house lights come back up.

Every half hour.

The hardest part about the gig thus far, is the atrophy I'm getting in my leg muscles. Trust me, I'm not complaining. These are really good gigs, not too stressful, repetitive, easy work. But they can get really boring. But I guess these gigs offset those really awful gigs where everything is an emergency and there's never a moments rest.

I think the most interesting parts thus far, have been the morning sales meetings and evening rehearsals. Aside from the general session on Wednesday, most of the morning sales meeting have been handled by the Japanese division of the company (I guess that's where they build the bulk of the product). It's been most interesting to watch and listen to everyone practicing their speeches and walking the stage, trying to figure out their blocking.

It goes to show, everything returns back to theater. Having to pitch a product, or rally your sales staff to sell more product, you essentially have to act. You get on stage under the hot lights, wearing a microphone, and play the role of CEO, or sales manager.

Which always makes me wonder, have any of these guys ever taking a voice or acting class? Would that stuff help?

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