A Lighting Designer will work with the Director, Artistic Director and/or Lighting Technicians to create the visuals for lighting, lasers, strobes, spots and sometimes video screens for a performance.
What are the main responsibilities of a Lighting Designer?
- Work with the creative team to come up with ideas
- Design the lighting needed for the performance
- Be aware of health and safety aspects
- Write a lighting plot/script to note where there are any lighting changes
- Attend technical rehearsals
- Be aware of budgets and energy use
Find a variety of different opportunities in lighting design here.
What qualifications do I need to be a Lighting Designer?
While you do not need a degree for this role, here are some useful subjects and courses that you can study to gain knowledge and experience.
School subjects that are relevant for lighting design are:
- Drama and Theatre Studies
- Art and Design
- Electronics
- Physics
- Photography
- Media Studies
Further education at colleges or universities:
- Lighting Design and Technology
- Technical Theatre
- Theatre Lighting Design
- Electrical Engineering
Find training opportunities in lighting design here.
What skills do I need to be a Lighting Designer?
These are the desirable skills to have which would make you an ideal candidate for a Lighting Designer role:
- Technical skills
- Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
- Good communicator
- Excellent colour vision
What does a career in lighting design look like?
You could start as Crew or Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) to gain experience before moving on to become a Lighting Technician or Theatre Technician and then, once you have more experience, move into a Lighting Designer role. Find out how Lighting Designer and Technician Rajiv Pattani got into theatre and how you can too.
How much can a Lighting Designer earn?
Most Lighting Designers are employed on a freelance basis, meaning that you are self-employed. In bigger theatres, some employ a resident Lighting Designer which pays an annual salary, however this is rare. These are the typical rates you can charge as a freelance Lighting Designer, however it mainly depends on the project, what is expected of you and what experience you have.
Starting pay/salary: from £100 a day
Experienced pay/salary: up to £225 a day.
Find theatre vacancies with The Stage Jobs here
References:
https://ccskills.org.uk/careers/advice/article/lighting-designer1
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/lighting-technician-broadcasting-film-video
Photo: Shutterstock
Published: 04 March 2019
