Overview 

This standard is about co-ordinating the rehearsing and plotting of the lighting. You will be required to use the rehearsal period, including the technical rehearsal and plotting session, to work out exactly how lighting will be used to achieve the desired effects during performance. You will need to plot the cues and looks for each lighting state in agreement with relevant people (using cue synopses and lists). You must respond to the changes required during the rehearsal period and find innovative, practical or technical solutions to meet design and production requirements for any problems that occur, within the agreed design brief.

This standard is for Lighting Designers and Lighting Heads of Department for live productions.

 

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. communicate about overall production schedules with relevant production staff
  2. attend stage technical and dress rehearsals when required
  3. make sure the effects of lighting combined with other aspects of productions meets production requirements
  4. deal with problems according to approved procedures, suggesting solutions that are feasible and in keeping with design intentions
  5. report problems that cannot be resolved to appropriate people
  6. consult with creative and technical staff to amend lighting states
  7. produce lighting states which satisfy design scenarios and maintain the overall integrity of designs
  8. check members of the technical teams have established working cue lists to maintain the cue-to-cue running of productions
  9. check that stage management has accurate cue synopsis and cue positions incorporated into the running order of productions
  10. use information to program and soft patch lighting desks ready for plotting
  11. make required alterations to lighting, paperwork and cue information held within lighting desks 
  12. record paperwork and cue information held within lighting desks to enable them to be followed by other people
  13. plot and modify lighting states, so that they meet requirements
  14. develop and follow backup arrangements to deal with problems during operation and for cue information held within lighting desks
  15. playback lighting states to cue

 

Knowledge and Understanding

You must know and understand:

  1. the difference between plotting sessions, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and previews and the role lighting designers and lighting head of department can play in these
  2. the possible improvements that can be identified during rehearsal
  3. how to keep updated with industry developments for equipment that is run through lighting desks
  4. how to work with technical teams to find solutions to problems
  5. the importance of consulting with other members of creative and technical teams
  6. the importance of maintaining the overall integrity of lighting designs
  7. the importance of the overall look of production and how lighting contributes to this
  8. the capabilities and operation of lighting desks, including fault finding and first line maintenance
  9. stage terminology and its meanings including upstage, downstage, stage left and stage right
  10. safety procedures in the operation of controls and lighting equipment, stage electrics and effects
  11. problems that may occur and who to liaise with to provide solutions 
  12. procedures for dealing with problems and how to respond in emergencies
  13. the importance of plotting and modifying lighting states so that they meet requirements
  14. why it is important to communicate with other people whilst plotting lighting states
  15. the level of speed, dexterity and efficiency required when plotting
  16. the importance of rehearsals and making the best use of rehearsal opportunities
  17. the importance of recording information for lighting
  18. the importance of the back up of online information within the lighting desk and archiving of paperwork and information for future use
  19. agreed backup procedures for information within the lighting board and how to operate these
  20. health and safety procedures in your work
  21. how to operate follow spots
  22. the importance of responding promptly to requested alterations
  23. the health and safety legislation and handling requirements that must be followed to replace faulty light sources, including ensuring safe isolation
  24. the importance of recording alterations to cue lists