Table 1Transition record

light board operatortoperformance lighting technician

A light board operator already meets 80% of what the performance lighting technician role asks for. The move turns on 3 required skills not yet in the profile.

From light board operator

80%

Overlap1

To performance lighting technician

47 Skills carried over

3 Required, not held

30.5 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 30.5

This move: 30.5 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the performance lighting technician role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the light board operator profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 47 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A performance lighting technician role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a light board operator background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held rig automated lights constructing
already held maintain dimmer equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held operate dimmer equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held maintain automated lighting equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held distribute control signals working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held focus stage lights working with machinery and specialised equipment

All 47 carried skills, including the 25 the performance lighting technician role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 18 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held light a show required
required, not held provide power distribution required

optional, not held operate follow spots optional
optional, not held maintain electrical equipment optional
optional, not held set up generators optional

02 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held artificial lighting systems required

optional, not held electricity optional

03 communication, collaboration and creativity 6 supplementary

optional, not held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue optional
optional, not held design an artificial lighting system optional
optional, not held edit digital moving images optional
optional, not held familiarise with personal directing styles optional
optional, not held set up follow spots optional
optional, not held work with the director of photography optional

04 management skills 3 supplementary

optional, not held manage signoff of an installed system optional
optional, not held check material resources optional
optional, not held manage consumables stock optional

05 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held cinematography optional

06 information skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held analyse the need for technical resources optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a performance lighting technician role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 47 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
already held assess power needs skill
already held de-rig electronic equipment skill
already held distribute control signals skill
already held draw up lighting plan skill
already held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems skill
already held focus lighting equipment skill
already held focus stage lights skill
already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
already held maintain dimmer equipment skill
already held maintain lighting equipment skill
already held operate dimmer equipment skill
already held pack electronic equipment skill
already held prepare personal work environment skill
already held prevent fire in a performance environment skill
already held prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
already held rig lights skill
already held set up equipment in a timely manner skill
already held store performance equipment skill
already held understand artistic concepts skill
already held use personal protection equipment skill
already held work ergonomically skill
already held work safely with machines skill
already held work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision skill
already held work with respect for own safety skill
already held adapt artistic plan to location skill
already held advise client on technical possibilities skill
already held consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
already held develop professional network skill
already held document your own practice skill
already held draw up artistic production skill
already held keep personal administration skill
already held keep up with trends skill
already held maintain automated lighting equipment skill
already held maintain system layout for a production skill
already held manage performance light quality skill
already held manage personal professional development skill
already held manage technical resources stock skill
already held operate a lighting console skill
already held perform first fire intervention skill
already held plan act lighting skill
already held read lighting plans skill
already held rig automated lights skill
already held safeguard artistic quality of performance skill
already held set up light board skill
already held translate artistic concepts to technical designs skill
already held use technical documentation skill

15 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue optional
optional, not held analyse the need for technical resources optional
optional, not held cinematography optional
optional, not held design an artificial lighting system optional
optional, not held edit digital moving images optional
optional, not held familiarise with personal directing styles optional
optional, not held manage signoff of an installed system optional
optional, not held operate follow spots optional
optional, not held set up follow spots optional
optional, not held work with the director of photography optional
optional, not held check material resources optional
optional, not held electricity optional
optional, not held maintain electrical equipment optional
optional, not held manage consumables stock optional
optional, not held set up generators optional

22 held skills the performance lighting technician role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role adapt existing designs to changed circumstances skill
not needed by the target role assemble performance equipment skill
not needed by the target role attend rehearsals skill
not needed by the target role coach staff for running the performance skill
not needed by the target role communicate during show skill
not needed by the target role cue a performance skill
not needed by the target role instruct on set up of equipment skill
not needed by the target role interpret artistic intentions skill
not needed by the target role intervene with actions on stage skill
not needed by the target role lead a team skill
not needed by the target role manage teamwork skill
not needed by the target role monitor developments in technology used for design skill
not needed by the target role organise resources for artistic production skill
not needed by the target role perform quality control of design during a run skill
not needed by the target role plot lighting states skill
not needed by the target role plot lighting states with automated lights skill
not needed by the target role provide technical documentation skill
not needed by the target role support a designer in the developing process skill
not needed by the target role update budget skill
not needed by the target role update design results during rehearsals skill
not needed by the target role use communication equipment skill
not needed by the target role work safely with chemicals skill

3 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held artificial lighting systems required
optional, not held cinematography optional
optional, not held electricity optional

Index

Other moves recorded from light board operator

Full index of moves from light board operator

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.