of Tarmor's theatrical imagen'. If I hare anr quarrel with this book. it is
lhat I Irish that there \ras an accompaIl\'ing CD-Rml so that the reader
could get a sense of the fact that Taymor's images also more in extraordinarr \rars.
To those in cducation \rho Irish to teach thcir students that lhe lheatre is not and nercr was principallr about historical accuracr and
proscenium arches. this book is the right place to starl. To those in theatrical production \rho sometimes despair of the dearth of imagination in
our art. this book should ahrars be kept mailable. To people like mrsclf
\rho just Irish to dream a bit each day about a \rorld of \ronder. thi book
is a splendid stimulus.
.-\ugust W. Staub. Athens. G.-\
[see also Bradford Clarks re/'iell" ill tbe SllIIlIlIer 1996 isslle -ed[
Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art, and Business
Second Edition
ByJames L. ~Ioodr. Boston: Focal Press. 1998. ISB'i 0-210-80293-1. r9
pagcs. illustrations. index. $:)1.95 (paper).
When the first edition of Concert
Lighting: Tee/migues. Art. ({lid
Busiuess was released in 1989 it
offered a uniquc look at thc \rorld
of professional lighting design for
the concert industrr. The majoritr
of lighting texts deal only \rith introductorr lighting technology and
lhe rudiments of theatrical lighting design. ~Ioodr's book focused
on the little documented \rorld of
touring and lighting for the music
industrr. It was also one of the fe\r
m'ailable sources that effectively discussed the business aspects of
\rorking as a professional designer. Although other authors are beginning to touch on these topics. none offers a better treatment of the
subject than does Jim ~Ioodr.
Concert Lighting is a useful book for lighting designers at all
le\·els. although those \rith extensire experience in touring and concert lighting \rill be familiar \rith the technical information. The book
is an excellcnt resource for studenlS of lighting design and lhose \rith
experience in olher lighting genres who are considering a more into
the concert industrr. Studenls mar be surprised br 1\loodr's frcqucnt
repetition of lhc nOlion that thc production practices taught in thc
world of acadcmia mar not bc as universal as onc expects.
~Ioodr's thoughts on design process. \rorking \rith music. and
lhe usc of color translate easilr to other performancc mediums. particularlr dancc. Thc tcchnical information about touring cquipmcnt
and temporarr installalions is uscful for the resident theatrical dcsigncr \rho is contcmplating a morc to industrials.
The book is brimming \rith practical informalion. but some of
thc commcnlS thaI rCnCCl l\loodr's pcrsonal valucs and \rork cthic
mar be crcn morc important. Throughout lhc tcxt. ~Ioodr is cmphatic about thc importancc of \\'orking safe 1\". rcspccting collcagucs.
CON
LIGHT!"
and taking responsibilitr for one's actions. There is also an emphasi
on approaching design \rith a clear understanding of all the technical
and human elements inrolred.
Thc second edition of Concert Lighting is an excellent update
of the earlier text. The scgments on the histon of rock and roll lighting and those relating 10 prcproduction actiritics hare not changed
extcnsivcly since the first edition. Other areas hare been expanded to
discuss innorations in thc arailable technology and computcr resources.
Concert Lig!Jting is dirided into four major eClions: The Concert Lighting Ficld. Equipment Designcd to Tra\'el. Practical Examples of Techniques. and Cross-~Iedia Lse of Techniques.
The first segment is an orerrie\r of the concert industrr that
treats topics ranging from legal documents used br the lighting designer to tour personnel and the conccrt lighting plol. This section
also covers road safetr. The chapter on Tour Personnel has becn revised to rcnect the changes in the Wa\'S lours arc nO\\' managed and
produced. An expanded segment on fall protection renccls lhe current emphasis on OSH:\ concern. 1\loody uses a reprilll of the article
"Fall Protection for Arena ShO\rs" b\' ROCk'," Paulson and Stere 'ielson
that \\'as originallr published in the \\"illler. 1996 issue of TD&T.
The second segment. Equipmelll Designed to Trarel. offers a
good treatment on the basic equipment used for touring. especiallr
trusses. lifts, and hoists. The chapters on lighting consoles and the
chapter on moving fixtures have been expanded from the first edition
material. Moodr"s lreatment of moving lights offers fascinating historical information. Afair amount of current product information is
also included. but it primarilr centers on fixtures offered br VariLight Inc.. ~lorpheus. and High End.
Section Three. Practical Examples of Techniques. offers one of
the most interesting additions. two ne\r chapters about realized design \rork. ~Ioodr includes color photographr of \rork br himself.
Peter ~Iorse . .Jeffrer Raritz. and Willie Williams. The included interrie\rs and biographies offer some real insights into the \rork of each
designer.
Segment Four. Cross-mcdia Lse of Techniques. has also been
significantl\" dereloped. Of particular interesl are the chapters relatcd to telerision and video. Theoretical concepts are complemented by examples of ~Ioody"s realized \rork. The only
disappointmcnt \rith thc second edition of Concert Lighting is that
~Ioody did not choose to applr the same in-depth treatment to corpOl'ate theatre and industrials.
Concert Lighting could be used as a specialtr text for an adranced dcsign class because it offers a cohesire presenlalion of concert design proccss and rcl;tted lechnical informalion. 1I0wever. it
olJl'iouslr \ras not \\Tittcn \rith that purpose in mind. The slyle is
much more narratire lhan lrpical imroductorr lextbooks.
~Ioody also offcrs a much more complcle analysis of thc design
projecl. hc discusscs. Thc production \rork documcmed in the book
is not thcrc simplr as an cxamplc of somc aspcct of the principles of
lighting dcsign or the tools of thc trade. That in-depth prcscntation is
part of \rhat makes lhis book such a treat. Concert Lig!Jting offers
the rcadcr an opportunity 10 hcar thc unique roicc of a mastcr dcsigncr. .Jim ,\Ioodr.
RcvicI\"CC1 br Ellcn E. Joncs. Lnil'crsitr of Florida. Gaincsrille
TD&T
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