Practical tools to help lighting designers start working in the field

This thesis presents a methodology for novice lighting designers beginning work in the professional field. Some potential problem areas are identified along with recommendations for solutions. The writing is broken down into areas such as specific job descriptions and appropriate etiquette practices, human relationships from initially meeting the production company to the final performance and strike, involvement with the production team and theater crew, descriptions of the use of technical tools, equipment and paper work, and venue issues of physical space and budget with examples given in the appendices. Each of the areas is described in context: place of occurrence as well as according to the timeline. By using methods recommended in this thesis, lighting designers should be able to successfully prepare for a production.