As a kid I would spend weeks in my parent’s basement flipping on and off light switches trying to make the fluorescent tubes come to life and become a vital role in some production I had cooked up. I was always way more interested in sitting in the control booth than being onstage and as I got older I realized I could make that passion into a career. As a music lover, I got a group of friends to co-produce a “battle of the bands” rock concert where we would use the money raised to give back to the theatre program but at the same time allow me the chance to design and produce a concert. I had fallen in love with production, specifically lighting.
Going to college for theatrical lighting design, I chose to go to DePaul University, a theatre conservatory, where their primary objective is to teach you to be a designer, to craft you into a storyteller. To this day, I think of myself as a visual storyteller who uses his passion to help my clients tell their story. Much like in theatre, the lighting and visuals need to be a character in and of themselves… they need to help tell the story, not be the story, and help transport the audience into the world the production and performer are creating.
Working with various artists, I’ve learned to tour with minimal gear or extensive setups, from just a Pelican case to over 20 trucks. Michael Bublé, a great collaborator, transitioned his North American tour from 21 trucks to smaller corporate venues, maintaining his engaging shows that blend pop, jazz, and classical music with a full orchestra onstage.
