Lighting sessions, such as Lighting from the Crazy Horse Paris, created excitement for those attending the 2008 Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Houston, Texas in March. Session presenters and Lighting Commission leadership and volunteers make such sessions possible.

Photo/Richard Finkelstein

Anthony Phelps
Lighting Co-Commissioner

It is hoped participants all had a great time at the 2008 Houston Conference & Stage Expo. With 15 sessions from the Lighting Commission on a variety of topics, plus a two-day Professional Development Workshop, conference participants had many choices available. Attendance was great at these sessions, especially in the Lighting Commission I and II meetings where many ideas for programming for the 2009 conference in Cincinnati came out. Everyone should have gotten a chance to catch a session or two at the Light Lab at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

It takes many people to present all of these sessions. The Lighting Commission leadership helped make the programming for Houston happen including: Buddy Combs, Dave Borron, Tracy Fitch, Steve Holliday, Deb Lockwood, Todd Proffitt, Luis Ramirez, Robin Schraft, Todd Studebaker, Vicki Scott, Sabrina Hamilton, Rob Rowlands, and Steve Smith.

Many people worked in the Light Lab this year and they all deserve a round of applause. First, thanks go to the Light Lab committee Todd Proffitt, Tracy Fitch, Steve Smith, Jennifer Griffin, Joshua Williamson, Andrea Bilkey, and Jason Tollefson who have worked all year making preparations for the conference. They help arrange labor, gather site information, find equipment to use in the lab, and help the session chairs with their technical needs. Second, there were a large number of adult and student volunteers to help load in, load out, and staff all the sessions in the Light Lab. Their help is integral to making the Light Lab run.

The session chairs dedicate many hours to developing a session, submitting information, and finding panelists. Few people realize how much research, planning, and thought goes into each session. Thanks go to the many individuals who came to Houston to be panelists and presenters. The value of the information these individuals impart is impossible to measure.

One person who deserves a big thank you and a lot of credit for keeping all the Lighting sessions running smoothly is Todd Studebaker, Vice-Commissioner for Programming in the Lighting Commission. For an entire year Mr. Studebaker has kept track of all the session chairs, their panelists, their bios, AV requests, and the details that go into creating a session. Over that year, session chairs change, panelists have to be replaced, and sessions can take new directions requiring changes to the program. Mr. Studebaker has kept up with all of this and helped create the sessions everyone enjoys.

Finally, thanks to all who came to the sessions. Your enthusiasm and participation inspire us to continue presenting quality programming.

Those interested in getting involved as a panelist next year can contact one of the Commission leaders. Let them know your interest and expertise, and they can pass your name on to the session chairs. The Lighting Commission works because so many people bring their talent and energy to these sessions. So get involved, and join us in Cincinnati!

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