We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Siegfried and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
From a very young age, I’ve always felt the desire to be creating things. I’ve always loved the way that lighting could enhance a show and the way it impacts the viewers perception of what is happening. From the very first show I saw, I wanted to be the person behind the lighting console, setting the mood, creating the looks. I couldn’t ever imagine a different path. Lighting calls to me, it’s how I express my style.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started lighting shows professionally nearly 15 years ago. At first, it was small music events, DJs, dances. I went to college to learn more about the fundamentals and how to program on the industry standard consoles. After completing the program, I was immediately hired by Santa Ana College, to assist with their theatre arts program. I moved into the themed entertainment industry, helping to build and run the shows at the parks.

In the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to design and program for a large number of different companies.

While I finally feel like I’m where I want to be in my career, getting here has been a hard road. There are so many talented individuals in this industry that getting noticed can be difficult.

One of the ways that I’ve worked around this is to always be expanding my knowledge. New technology is a constant in this industry and being confident with the latest tech and consoles is a high priority for me. I always am interested in learning a new skill.

What I’m most excited about the recent work I’ve done with Stories Illuminated. There’s such a thrill to be building the immersive experiences that I’ve been part of with them. Plus it’s always fun to have hundreds of fixtures running flawlessly together in a handful of pixel maps to create that seamless design.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My personal favorite spots in the city are Griffith Observatory and The Magic Castle (if you can manage to get in) but if I’m being honest, I am a huge nightclub fan. The combination of lighting and music is a perfect pairing, and while LA has no shortage of clubs, my personal favorites are, Avalon, ExchangeLA, and Academy. That’s where I’m going to be at any night I have off.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Sean Small. My first lighting teacher, and later, the first designer I programmed for. He continually pushed me to create more layers and nuances in my designs. I learned all of the basics from him and was able to build a solid foundation in the industry while working for him.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-siegfried

Image Credits
Santa Ana College Stories Illuminated CalArts Knott’s Berry Farm

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