Resources
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These are a series of checklists to be used when agreeing contracts, deal memos and letters of agreement. There are tailored checklists for different roles in the lighting team.
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These ALPD guides aim to provide advice on good working practice.
The ALPD Members Code of Professional Working Practice is to enable high professional standards to be delivered by ALPD members. The Producers’ Good Practice Guide to Working with ALPD Members is to help producers, managements and venues on the best ways of working together, that safeguards physical and mental health of all their teams.
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These are a series of documents which aim to describe the processes required to fulfil the roles of Lighting Designer, Production Electrician and Lighting Programmer.
These documents are based on the processes of putting on a commercial show, where the full lighting package is hired, therefore sections of these documents may not be applicable to those setting up a show in a producing house venue.
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This document should be used as a guide for producers or companies looking to engage a lighting designer. Please note that these rates are an average, based on reports from members working in these areas, of actual fees being offered by companies in each of these categories.
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The purpose of this document is to be a check list to encourage best practice in agreeing appropriate contracts, letters of agreement and deal notes. It should be read in conjunction with the ALPD Producer’s Guide
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Publication of the theatre industry’s first joint union-employer action plan for diversity marks a major step forward towards bringing about greater diversity in the workforce.
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Accredited Carbon Literacy Training for Theatre Designers and their Associates. Led by the Society of British Theatre Designers. The even takes place at the National Theatre for Scotland on 27th April 2024. 10.00 am - 5 pm. £52.75 There are four places available at a discounted rate of £32.72 to ALPD Members. Code ALPD_MEMBER at Check-out.
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Danny Vavrečka was the 2023 Lumiere Scheme recipient and wrote about his experiences for the ALPD's Focus Magazine.
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All the information you need to make an application to the Design Lumière 2023.
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Ed Saunders was the 2022 Lumiere Scheme recipient and wrote about his experiences for the [orgname:short]'s Focus Magazine.
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A Briefing Document prepared by the Association for Lighting Production and Design (ALPD) and the Professional Lighting & Sound Association (PLASA) www.thealpd.org.uk, www.plasa.org
10th February 2022
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2023 Proposed Changes to the 2021 document.
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This variation agreement will be in place until April 2021 however, both parties agree that this end date will be amended in line with the review to the UK Theatre/Equity Subsidised Agreement COVID-19 Variation Agreement.
Please note that it alters the payment structure for design fees and outlines other issues around cancellation and re-instatement of projects due to COVID-19.
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Increase Global Majority presence backstage and in your lighting department.
This document has been generated to help you diversify your lighting team when opportunities arise. These are recommended places to advertise your jobs to reach more Global Majority applicants.
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The Fred Foster Award for Excellence in Production Electrics 2023
This Award is sponsored by ETC and dedicated to the late ETC CEO, Fred Foster.
The winner of this award will receive an engraved trophy kindly supplied by ETC.
This is open for nominations by anyone.
The criteria for nomination are:
They are pursuing full-employment in a production electrics career; they will have predominantly worked in the presentation of live performance in places of entertainment: i.e. on theatre, dance or opera productions in theatres and opera houses or on theatrical experiences in non-conventional spaces either in house or as a freelancer. They will have achieved a mastery of their chosen discipline. They will have consistently delivered at a level of excellence throughout their career. They will have sought to promote best practice and technical excellence while delivering world class performance. They will be a great collaborator. They will be worthy of recognition.
All winners will be invited to the annual Lighting Showcase at Royal Central School for lighting and production professionals within the live entertainment sector, where they will be presented with their awards.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with designers, chief and production electricians, engineers, programmers and of course suppliers and our sponsors.
Entries will open on 14th March and all submissions and nominations MUST be received before the closing date – Thursday 31st October at Midnight!
Cllck the link below to download the nomination form.
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The ALPD embrace and encourage diversity in many forms and are committed to inclusivity among our community members, including all members, associates and collaborators. Please complete and return this form as part of your application to take part in the scheme.
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The AAPTLE Wellbeing group have created a poster which was released at the ABTT MAKE A DiFFERENCE Conference 2023 with the intention that it can be put up in toilets, corridors, and wherever it can be seen by anyone working in your venue/business. There are two versions of this poster. The first poster is filled out with information which is useful to anyone in any situation no matter where they are based and has signposts to find help them find resources local to them. The second one allows you to personalise it with local information relevant to your venue/business.
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There are two versions of this poster. The first poster is filled out with information which is useful to anyone in any situation no matter where they are based and has signposts to find help them find resources local to them. The second one allows you to personalise it with local information relevant to your venue/business. The blank poster has been made as easy as possible to edit. All your need to do is follow the instructions below and then print in A4/A5 and then you can put where ever you need them. All you need to do to fill in the space is place a text box over the space with the Montserrat Classic font or whatever you have available.
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The New Technology Showcase is returning once again to the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama on the 1st February 2024.
As the leading lighting supplier to West End and UK touring theatre, White Light is delighted to once again host the Showcase in collaboration with the ALPD and RCSSD, allowing those in attendance to experience some of the industry's latest products first hand.
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The report draws on research carried out before the current Covid-19 crisis, and shows the pressures and challenges faced by the backstage workforce, even when times are normal. Challenges are particularly felt by women, and by workers who are parents or carers. It calls for urgent changes in policies and practices.
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We will be exhibiting at PLASA 2024 (1-3 September). You'll find us on Stand A7.
If you haven't got your ticket yet, do register via our link at: https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/2qv8l4s5m6ngo?actioncode=NTWO0004...
On Monday 2nd September, Nick Moran will be leading a seminar looking at Stamp and Vor technology. 14.15 in Theatre 3.
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A number of prompts led me to write these guidelines; the issue of unsatisfactory production desks that do not meet basic health and safety standards is not new, but it has recently gained a more prominent profile as a result of articles written by Lighting Designers Johanna Town, Rob Halliday and Mark Jonathan, in industry media. This, together with my own experience of a number of bad examples led me to believe there is room for significant improvement. I wanted to try and tackle the issue, initially planning to build a new set of desks for the Guildhall School in London. Once I was fully into my project, I realised my research could go further, and decided to author this document as a tool for improving production desk health and safety on an industry wide level. My hope is that these guidelines will spread awareness, inform those who may not understand the consequences that flow from unsatisfactory desks and influence those in a position to implement change. They will hopefully enable theatres to improve the situation, build their own desks and seek a more permanent solution.
**Matthew Dean
Member of ALPD, ABTT and USITT
Guildhall School | 2019**
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Tickets On Sale Now!
Exciting News! Showlight Delegate Ticket Sales are on sale now! Don’t miss your chance to be at the first in-person Showlight since 2017.
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The
ALPD Award for Excellence in Programming 2023
This award is sponsored by ETC.
This is open for nominations by anyone.
The criteria for nomination are:
They will have been pursuing full-employment as a programmer; they will have predominantly worked in the presentation of live performance in places of entertainment: i.e. on theatre, dance or opera productions in theatres and opera houses or on theatrical experiences in non-conventional spaces either in house or as a freelancer. They will have achieved a mastery of their chosen discipline. They will have consistently delivered at a level of excellence throughout their career. They will have sought to promote best practice and technical excellence while delivering world class performance. They will be a great collaborator. They will be worthy of recognition.
All winners will be invited to the annual Lighting Showcase at Royal Central School for lighting and production professionals within the live entertainment sector, where they will be presented with their awards.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with designers, chief and production electricians, engineers, programmers and of course suppliers and our sponsors.
To nominate someone please download the form linked below and return it to office@thealpd.org.uk
Entries will open on 23rd June and all submissions and nominations MUST be received before the closing date – Tuesday 31st October at Midnight!
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So, what are we looking for? (The Michael Northen Award for Lighting Design only)
- Process: We’re looking to see YOUR process from initial conception of ideas and how that did or didn’t materialise in the final product. How you collaborated with your director / designer / rest of the team. How you communicated your ideas to them. Did you encounter any problems along the way? If so, how did you discuss them / solve them / get rid of them.
- Research: We understand not everybody researches their shows in the same way – and that’s okay! Whether you do purely visual research or you like to visit a location; we want to know about it!
- Originality: Whilst we appreciate that it’s hard to find ideas that haven’t been done before (knowingly or otherwise!), we are looking to see that what you use is appropriate to the piece and demonstrates your particular style and approach to work – not somebody else’s from years gone by!
- Overall Visual: Nobody can argue that the best way to judge a lighting design is by the overall look! We’re looking for high quality, appropriate choices of colour, angle, intensity, lantern choice, contrast and texture!
What should you include?
1) High Quality Portfolio
This should be the kind of document you’d be willing to take to a meeting with a director or producer to secure work. It should be based around two to four productions that were realised within the last 3 calendar years. You should include up to six images per production – no more! It goes without saying that this portfolio should demonstrate your imaginative and creative approach to lighting design. Note that all your photos should be in full colour and from an appropriate angle that the audience would have seen.
Ideally, you would have somebody else taking production shots for you – however, we understand this isn’t always possible. Just make sure that the photos you submit accurately represent your work!
Some points of advice:
o Make sure your photos aren’t all close-ups
o Be sure to make your portfolio easy to read
o Clear and concise is the best way!
o Remember to afford everyone the proper credits
o Think of this in the way you would a website – show us the work that you think best defines your style and process!
2) Research
Alongside images of the finished work, you should include your visual inspiration: e.g. images, mood boards, excerpts from poems & novels, story boards, art and/or any web links you found useful.
These are the kind of things you used to explain your design concept to the director and other collaborators.
3) Cue Synopsis
We’re looking for a clear, well laid out cue sheet that depicts your thoughts and ideas. Something you would use to plot your show from.
You might also include extracts showing the development of your cue structure. Again, we want quality over quantity. We’re particularly interested in the progression and development from your initial pre-plot cue sheet to the finished sheet at the end of the production period.
4) Plans & Paperwork
You should include a rig plan for each production – clearly labelled with a legend. It is important that these plans, where appropriate, are drawn to scale and conform to standard industry drafting practices. It is acceptable to submit these as individual PDF documents with your main portfolio document providing they are clearly labelled with the show and are referenced where appropriate. Consider providing additional schematics (sections, front elevations, etc) or paperwork you produced during your process (followspot cue sheets, etc). All of which must be referred to where appropriate.
5) Process Explanation
You will also need to include a page of writing or audio commentary, of no more than 1000 words or no longer than 2 minutes, outlining your approach to design decisions.
This should be a summary of the main challenges from each production, however, you should aim to let your pictures do most of the work – lighting design is, of course, a visual art form.
Perhaps consider splitting up your word count in order to surround your production images / research with the appropriate text telling us what we’re looking at and why it’s relevant.
6) Video Footage (Optional)
Video footage of the productions submitted, specific moments within the production, or inspirational footage may also be submitted, to refer to and discuss in order to support your entry. Perhaps you have a very tricky-to-cue musical number which would be well reflected in a short video – or maybe you have a brief moment filmed that the photographer missed.
7) CV (Essential)
Please include an up-to-date copy of your CV. Be sure that you include the following items as part of the document:
- Your full name
- Your education establishment (current or past)
- The date you graduated (if applicable)
- Your contact details (including personal email address and phone number to a number with a voicemail service)
- Appropriate credits (producers/venues/directors/designers)
THINGS TO NOTE:
- It’s about ease of reading. Please remember that we receive a high level of submissions every year and you want your judges to enjoy looking at your work – not spend hours clicking on lots of different documents. Perhaps consider your portfolio and research as one document, plans as another, etc.
Housekeeping…
We suggest submitting your portfolio as a PDF document. This single document may include the required supporting documents within the portfolio or may reference the required additional documents which have been submitted as separate files.
Only PDF, JPEG, MPEG Files will be considered for supporting documents.
Alternatively, you may wish to submit your entry in a different format, such as a video portfolio with a voice over discussing your work.
Your entry can be compressed into any recognised file format, but must be stored online utilising your own storage (via Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc), and must be made accessible to all (so the judges can access it) via an email link which will not expire.
Please save all your documents with the following formats:
Documents: Your Name – Document Title – ALPD Award 2023
(e.g John Smith – LX Plan – The Cherry Orchard – ALPD Awards 2024).
Email Subject: Your Name – ALPD Awards Submission 2024 .
Within your email, please include your name and contact details as well as the above link to your items. This should be sent to: office@thealpd.org.uk
Confirmation of your submission will be made when all the documents have been accessed and downloaded successfully prior to the deadline.
Finally, remember to credit the appropriate members of the team on the shows within your documents (Production Photographer, Director, Designers, Choreographers, Sound Designers, Etc).
Final Advice:
If you have any further questions or require any help and/or advice creating your digital portfolio, please don’t hesitate to get in contact via the awards@thealpd.org.uk email address.
There is also both the “Student ALPD” and “ALPD” Facebook pages which are filled with both young and long-established professionals who will all be able to help with ideas and/or suggestions for your entry.
It is imperative that all submissions strictly conform to the regulations set out above. The judging panel aim to provide feedback on all submissions where possible with a view for unsuccessful applicants to develop your portfolios for future professional use, as well as re-submitting the following year.
Please note that by submitting to the competition, you accept that all relevant personal and contact information may be made accessible to the organisers, The Association for Lighting Production and Design executive and where applicable, the judging panel. This extends to all future press releases and media produced in response to the Michael Northen Awards 2024.
Good Luck!
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The team behind the ground-breaking ‘Blackout’ installation are pleased to release the results of the “UK Backstage Entertainment Industry’s Evaluation on Mental Health Awareness”.
This pioneering study was launched alongside the acclaimed 6-minute immersive experience at the 2019 PLASA Show in London. The Academic analysis was conducted by Dr Paul Hanna, Research Director in Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey, who has been working with the core creative team since they launched the installation in May at The Guildford School of Acting.
The evaluation has been funded by leading industry associations PLASA, ALPD, ASD ABTT and PSA.
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This map provides location information for around 150 UK based hire companies, making it easier to find one local to where you are working instead of using a company hundreds of miles away. ALPD corporate and commercial members are highlighted in orange – we are grateful for their valued support and would encourage you to support them with your business if you can.
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We are aware that there are lots of templates in existence already, and we advocate them all, however we want to add our suggestions for those who may not have yet been able to access others. Please investigate other templates to make sure your email / letter is the best of all worlds.
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The position of a console programmer (as opposed to an operator) should never be underestimated. It is a difficult job, sometimes under immense pressure. The skills required are ever evolving and need time dedicated to them, and constantly used to achieve a standard that a designer can be happy with and a programmer can confidently say they are at. Therefore it is only fair to all those who do it that they are supported in every way they can be.
This document highlights the core functions a programmer needs to be able to do. This is only the core part of the syntax required to enable someone to input the data into the desk. It forms the basis of the conversation the ALPD are undertaking to raise the standard and specific role of the programmer in all forms of entertainment lighting.
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With so many students approaching Lighting Designers for work placements we thought it would be sensible to clarify what is on offer and what to expect.
This guide outlines advice for both the student and the lighting designer on how to approach potential placements, what both sides should expect and offer the other and general etiquette of working in a professional work place. It is also a useful guide for tutors to use when setting up such placements.
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The policy provides the following sections of cover for Professional & Affiliate members who opt-in to pay a small surcharge on top of their subscriptions.
• Public Liability
• Products Liability
• Professional Indemnity
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Details about company membership of the ALPD for either large (Corporate) or small (Commercial) organisations
We are gradually compiling answers to queries, help with any common training needs for members using the site and provide solutions to commonly encountered issues. This page is always a work-in-progress so please let us know if you have any queries that are not listed here.
