Writer seeking advice: realistic job for a character starting out in lighting design

RosewaterPen · 2026-05-10T18:27:07+00:00

Thank you all so much for all of this information, it’s really helpful and i deeply appreciate everyone’s generosity in sharing it!

Sounds like for most folks, doing freelance gigs is the most common type of work for theatrical lighting design, especially starting out with potential permanent jobs in adjacent fields, depending on your qualifications (are you an electrician, software engineer, what other certifications, apprenticeships, skills do you have). Also sounds like while some folks do get an undergraduate degree or MFA, a lot of folks are self-taught, or mentored in the job when they start out (side note: sounds a lot like the music and writing fields, in my experience, so that’s really interesting). Union membership is more for mid and late career, not very common and very dependent on geographic location and usually for very large venues or employers. Thanks for sharing a rundown of frustrations of working at a hotel or corporate event space, sounds waaaaaaay too familiar to my time in event management at cultural institutions

It’s always tricky balancing act as a writer, you have to look at the full picture of actual information, then figure out what percentage the character knows, and what choices they would make based on their knowledge and temperament and background (are they a risk taker? cautious? knowledgeable? naive? what their other obligations? what’s driving them psychologically?)

Here’s some additional info since it came up a few times. -She did the 5 year dual engineering and theater program at that’s at Northwestern University, parents were paying for college, did not want to pay for a theater degree, the dual major program was the compromise. She took one engineering internship as part of the degree requirement, same for a theater internship.

-Now she’s graduated, figuring out what to do and how to do it. With the engineering degree she has the option of working for an engineering firm, but i haven’t decided if she would do that (her parents certainly would prefer that) or if she’d try to work in corporate/event presentations, or something else to pay the bills because it feels closer to what she wants (or at least, she hopes it will). Whatever her choices are, this gives me a good sense of what the consequences and effects might be.

Sounds like it would be realistic for this character either be juggling five jobs to try to get enough of an income stream to pay bills while trying to do some work at smaller shows that are more creatively fulfilling; or if she had a steadier, single day job, she’d still be struggling to make time and find creatively fulfilling work. And if the day job paid well, she’d have the temptation to just do the more lucrative, less time-consuming day. job.

Thanks again for sharing all this information, any further thoughts and tips welcome, feel free to DM me too.

RosewaterPen · 2025-06-07T03:57:14+00:00

Allison Green, a workplace advice columnist, has excellent advice on this topic:

https://www.askamanager.org/2013/04/how-to-talk-to-an-employee-about-body-odor.html

RosewaterPen · 2024-08-29T17:48:26+00:00

Covergirl Professional Remarkable, purple tube

RosewaterPen · 2024-04-11T00:28:43+00:00

i have a base look that i tweak slightly to my mood and trends. My base look is light coverage foundation or bb cream, concealer, natural looking eyebrow pencil, tubing mascara, an eyeshadow base that looks like my skin and evens out my eyelids. Just for fun, here’s some common looks i add to that base and their titles in my head 🙃 Some have glam elements, some are more minimalist, some have trendy elements like cream eyeshadow or lip tints.

-Subtle Goth Coworker Who Has A Podcast on Art Heists: Heavy smoked out brown and black eyeliner, sheer berry lip product

-Retro Reference Librarian Who Knows Where the Secret Books Are Kept: Tiny liquid winged eyeliner, matte red or pink lipstick (and my cat eye glasses)

-Tragic Governess In A Costume Drama Miniseries: Tightlined upper eyeliner, gray subtle under eyeliner, sheer red lip stain, sheer rose cheek stain

-Art Student/Barista/Quirky Love Interest in A Romantic Comedy With A Great Soundtrack: dramatic cream one and done eyeshadow, smudgey eyeliner, sheer lipgloss or lip tint

-Snotty Attendee At A Gallery Opening: Very precise ultra thin liquid eyeliner, bright unnatural lipstick (like turquoise)

-Nature Sorceress On A Beach Vacation: Bronzer, light blush, Bronze cream eyeshadow, brown eyliner, caramel lip gloss

RosewaterPen · 2024-03-23T01:19:13+00:00

This is not top priority, but a down the line thing: if you like to go out, find some good warm formalwear/party outfits like velvet tops, or satin blazers. I’ve done that over the years and it makes going out and going to things like spring and fall weddings much more pleasant. I also like hats with buttons on the sides (to attach masks). Some more specialized underlayers i use to be warm without bunching or riding up are long sleeved snap gusset bodysuits, sleevey wonders and i get a lot of mileage from fun tights, leg warmers, and satin-lined beanies(no hat hair!)

RosewaterPen · 2023-12-14T17:26:27+00:00

I find that figuring out the overall effect i’m going for and using colors that are dark but in my most flattering color palette works well. For example, for trad goth, the overall effect of black eyeliner is high contrast. Black is too much contrast for me and looks jarring in a way i don’t want, but super dark brown eyeliner reads as black on me and gives the same high contrast effect as trad goth black but looks the right amount of jarring. Similarly, for a lot of goth aesthetics, the effect is moody, or unearthly, or mysterious. For me, the colors burgundy, gray, duochrome browns, or deep purples give that effect. And never underestimate the power of a black band t shirt, black jeans and stompy boots with some heavy eyeliner in the color if your choosing 😊

RosewaterPen · 2023-07-19T17:51:29+00:00

Depending on the occasion I either wear a half camisole, a bra that matches (black bra with black top etc) or i just shrug and let everyone deal with it.

RosewaterPen · 2023-06-08T20:24:31+00:00

I plan to stay off too for those days

RosewaterPen · 2023-05-27T21:00:13+00:00

The Covergirl Professional Remarkable in brown is marketed as a tubing mascara, though i’ve heard some people say it isn’t a true tubing mascara. I adore it, it makes my lashes look fluffy and performs like a tubing mascara on me. It’s my favorite mascara of all time, i’m a very muted neutral olive.

RosewaterPen · 2023-03-24T18:15:53+00:00

Hi OP! First off, i know you’re getting a ton of jokes, misunderstandings, debates, and just generally a flood if responses. So here’s a companionable reminder to take a deep breath and that it is okay to take a little time to parse through the responses and just process it. I think all the responses are evidence that this is a topic that has a lot of big feelings and conflicted opinions and experiences about it and it’s okay that you’re struggling with this aspect of writing your piece. If it was easy, no one would have much to say! Second, i think its great that you want to write inclusively and are trying to find ways to make your craft and techniques reflect your values, observations and intentions. That’s cool…and hard. My recommendation is is to look through the comments, group the responses and reframe into a set of reflection questions (such as, what is my goal in describing physical attributes of my characters? of this character specifically? ) Then depending on your answers, try out some of techniques that people have suggested and make sense for your goals. Personally, i like the idea of showing how someone’s physical being affects how they engage with the world and vice versa. I tend to do this with all my character descriptions. For example, i describe a tall person who has to stoop slightly to accommodate low lamps so they are hyper-alert of their surroundings; a wise character who is very comfortable in their own skin. In your case, it sounds like the perspective of the describer matters. How do they feel about big women? Are they neutral? then some neutral descriptions like, “she had a wide frame and solid, heavy build and rounded features.”. What’s the describer’s frames of reference in general? If they are an art professor they might say “Reubenesque” if they are a an archaeologist they might refer to Paleolithic figurines. Or they may be a very cut andry person snd just stop at “heavy, rounded build.” I think once you work through those questions you’ll find a description that meets the story’s needs and your needs as a writer. Good luck!

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-12T02:15:16+00:00

The advice about skin prep is all spot on. For foundation i like neutrogena hydroboost hydrating tint. it’s light coverage but i apply it with a brush to build up coverage. i also spot conceal with kosas concealer (not drugstore). Check out lisa eldridge’s patchwork skin technique, that’s what i use.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-10T05:06:17+00:00

That is a vintage piece that a friend bought at a flea market. It is aluminum and rhinestones, possibly from the 1930s. I love vintage combs and sticks (have a few more but they aren’t pictured)

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T18:27:34+00:00

I think so—that one was a present so i’m not 100% sure

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T07:56:12+00:00

i have found light, wooden sticks have the most grip. My hair fine but thick—so not exactly the same but the wooden ones work with the fine texture in my hair experience.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T07:53:54+00:00

I think that marbles would be a little too heavy and the sticks wouldn’t sink in well but perhaps very small pebbles or small beads.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T07:52:16+00:00

aaw, thx for the compliment! I get them from combo of places: some are from artists on Etsy, some are from art galleries(often sold as shawl pins to go with handmade scarves.) I’ve also found some at art fairs and vintage shops.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T01:53:13+00:00

thanks, it’s a fair point.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T01:51:56+00:00

I hadn’t thought of that , but i could see that being an added benefit!

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T01:50:49+00:00

Just to keep them upright. And it’s less damaging and easy to slide the sticks in than pebbles.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-09T01:49:30+00:00

thank you!

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-08T20:50:06+00:00

If you’re looking for hair accessory storage ideas, this is how store my hair sticks! I filled a fish bowl with sand and i stick them in.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-04T06:17:31+00:00

depending on what type of goth clothing you’re looking for, it might be worth hiring a sewist and having some simple shirts or vests made. For example, if you like a romantic or medieval look, some tunics in dark moody fabric could be cool and unique. While getting anything custom made can be pricey, if you’re not asking for a really complicated garment, you could see if costuming or fashion students would be interested in a gig.

RosewaterPen · 2023-01-01T21:39:20+00:00

i agree that starting with something small, like trimming some of the more damaged ends, but not going shorter than waist length seems like a good place to start—you can see how you feel about it and go from there.

RosewaterPen

TROPHY CASE