A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting

Construct and Implement Your Own Lighting Designs with the most trusted guide to stage lighting! An entertaining and educational read, author Steven Louis Shelley draws from his 35+ years of diverse experience to bring you the step-by-step technical tools for getting the job done along with real-life examples of projects from start to finish. Learn why some techniques are successful while others fail with 'Shelley's Notes' and 'Shelley's Soapbox,' all with a humor that guides you through complex problems and concepts. Some of the topics covered: * Deduction of the research, production meetings, and personal choices that result in evolution of the core lighting design documents * Chapters analyzing technical specifications, advancing production facilities, and turning that information into accurate draftings * Illustrated step-by-step construction of some of the systems in the preliminary light plot * Examination of the processes involved in construction and submission of shop orders, and reacting to bids, cuts and changes that affect the light plot * Discussions about preparations prior to the load-in, including prepping the lighting rental package, creating truck packs, and watching run-throughs This enlightening reference is a necessary addition to anyone serious about stage lighting.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: A Review Chapter 2: Paperwork Overview Chapter 3: Background Preparations and Preliminary Design Paperworks Chapter 4:The Parameters Chapter 5: Create the Preliminaries and Send out the Shop Order Chapter 6: Cuts and Changes Chapter 7: The Light Plot, Section, and Support Paperwork Packet Chapter 8: The Load-In and Focus Packet Chapter 9: The Cue Construction Packet Chapter 10: Prior to the Load-In Chapter 11: The Load-In and Setup Chapter 12: The Focus Session Chapter 13: The Light Cue Level Setting Session and Technical Rehearsals Chapter 14: The Performance

About the Author :
Steve Shelley has worked in theatre for over 35 years as a lighting designer, production manger, and stage manager in New York City, throughout the United States, and on four continents. His lighting designs are included in the repertories many dance companies, and he's designed lighting on Broadway, Off-Broadway, as well as concerts, television, regional theatre, and regional opera. Steve is the author of numerous articles in trade magazines and has conducted multiple seminars at theatrical lighting conventions and major universities around North America. He's also the inventor and patent holder of the award-winning Field TemplatesT and SoftSymbolsT (www.fieldtemplate.com). He lives in New York City.

Review :
"This is hands-down the best book I've ever read regarding the process of designing and executing a lighting design. Other books do wonderful jobs of discussing instruments and electrical aspects, or how to create a design, but very few discuss the day-to-day paperwork and personal interactions involved in getting that design executed." --Steven Haworth, Lighting Designer "...this 2nd edition has answered all your questions and a bunch you didn't think you needed to know. You have got to have this book if you consider yourself a professional, period." -- James Moody, author of Concert Lighting "A practical guide that will, better than any other book on the subject, help the LD get his or her design realized in the most professional and efficient manner." --Peter Maradudin, Lighting Dimensions Magazine " The best parts of the book work because they rely on understanding concepts, not remembering good advice. You don't have to remember, because you have understood." -- Nick Hunt, Focus - The Journal of the Association of Lighting Designers "Finally! Shelley has taken the basic concept of focus coverage and given it a name: The Slinky Method! Bravo, Mr. Shelley." --Ms. Martha Mountain, George Mason University "This is a must read for any student who is seriously interested in lighting design." --Cindy Limauro, Carnegie Melon University "In 2002 I began to search for textbooks to cover the course I was developing on Lighting Technology and Lighting Design for the live stage. I discovered "A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting." Steve Shelley had done what I feared was impossible. He had distilled the art and science of stage lighting into one comprehensive book. He had concentrated on those timeless objectives and principals that remain the same regardless if you are using a 50 year old leko or the latest LED fixture. "A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting" has been the base textbook for my course ever since. .It is the student's reaction to this book that is quite remarkable. They have constantly commented on how easy it is to read and understand. That in itself makes it a most valuable asset." - Prof. Kenneth Salah, Cambrian College "This is a must have book to have on the shelf...this book is very entertaining and educational. It is also great as reference material for practising professionals. I thoroughly recommend this book for all lighting people. You will find yourself referring to it again and again." - Stephen Dean, CX Magazine "[A] great text for students, but it is also likely to be useful, or at least entertaining, for lighting designers who have been working for decades. [A]dds substantially to the first edition, published ten years ago. [N]ew material throughout the book. made what was always a practical guide even more grounded in the real-life work of a professional lighting designer. [T]his book is exhaustive; almost everything seems to be covered."--Protocol This award, given annually, recognizes the author of an outstanding major publication in the field of design and production for the performing arts published within the previous three years. Nominations originate from members of The US Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), and winners are chosen by a vote from the Publications committee. The winner is announced following the USITT Fall board meeting in October or November.--2011 Golden Pen Award