Author: The Roadie Librarian

List of tutorials and training resources for lighting programming. Sorted alphabetically by lighting console manufacturer.

ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls): EOS and Hog Family consoles

• ETC Support and Training
  The official support and training site for ETC products
• ETC – Official YouTube channel
  Tutorial videos and more from the manufacturer
• The Hamilton Programming Project
  Learn EOS software with programing exercises based on the real-world lighting design of the Broadway musical “Hamilton”
• An Introduction to Playback Busking on EOS

MA Lighting International: GrandMA Consoles

• ACT Academy
  Training from ACT Entertainment, USA distributor of grandMA consoles
• Consoletrainer.com
  Tutorial videos and training courses by Cat West, grandMA programmer
• AriaOnTheRun
  Aria Hailey’s YouTube channel featuring lots of short videos with tutorials on specific MA3 programming tasks
• MA Lighting International – Official YouTube channel
  Lots of tutorial videos here from the manufacturer

List of lighting console manufacturers. Many of these lighting consoles can also be used to control media servers and DMX-controlled devices and relays for special fx and atmosphere (e.g., haze machines).

• Avolites
  Offers a range of lighting consoles and control solutions.
• ChamSys
  QuickQ, MagicQ Stadium, and MagicQ Compact consoles
• ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls) Entertainment Controls
  EOS Family Consoles and Hog OS consoles, including Hog 4
• MA Lighting International
  grandMA3 and grandMA2 consoles

List of sources for cases, workboxes, and equipment racks. Many of these companies offer custom builds.

• Amptown Cases GmbH
  Germany
• Calzone & Anvil Case Co.
  USA
• Encore A&S Cases
  USA
• Fiasco Cases
  New Zealand and USA
• Jan-Al Cases
  USA
• Omega Case Co.
  USA
• Pelican
  USA headquarters, many international sales offices
  The 1510 Protector Carry-On Case is a popular one for touring production professionals.
• Pro Cases
  USA

Resource list of production equipment retailers and vendor directories.

• EPD – The Event Production Directory
  Search for vendors in a wide array of production categories, including lighting, sound, staging/rigging, video & projection, lasers, and more.
• Filmtools
  Retailer of production items, primarily for film & TV production. Camera, grip, carts, storage, lighting, sound, expendables, bags & cases, and more. Filmtools has one physical store location in Burbank, CA.
• Full Compass Systems
  Retailer of audio, video, lighting, and music equipment. GearCast site features an extensive knowledge library of how-to videos, buying guides, news, and informational articles.
• Tour Supply, Inc.
  Retailer of a variety of production items. Expendables, racks, road cases, and tools, batteries, drives & media storage, wireless systems, and more. Tour Supply is a partner of Filmtools.

Accessories to put into and/or in front of a light fixture and where to find them.

• Apollo MFG
  Gobos
• City Theatrical
  Beam control accessories
• LEE Filters Gel
  Colour Gels for Lighting
• Rosco
  Gel, gobos, and other accessories

Resources and information about organizations related to the entertainment production industry that give back to communities around the globe
Note: This collection is pretty random as I’ve stumbled across various articles and other resources. Eventually it will become more organized.

• Marshall Community – Amplifying voices for over 60 years
• Just a bunch of roadies
• Long Reach Long Riders
  With the tagline of “out of the wings and into the wind” this group organizes annual motorcycle rides to raise funding for Behind-the-Scenes Charity.
  

Notable projects and programs actively working to increase sustainability in touring, manufacturing, and other activities related to the entertainment production industry.
Note: This section is still being added to and is quite random at the moment. It will be more organized eventually.

• Gibson Repurpose CollectionTM
  Article: Gibson introduces the Repurpose Collection, handcrafted accessories made from guitar-making leftovers
• Play. Plant. Preserve.
  Drumstick manufacturer, ProMark, has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to establish a reforestation project with the “hope that by leading by example the rest of the drumstick industry can reach a net neutral standard of manufacturing by 2043.”
• REVERB
  So much here… just check out their website.

Resource list for guitar technicians.

Guitars

• Epiphone
  A brand that is part of the Gibson family. Discussion and Q&A can be found in the Epiphone Forum.
• Fender
  Electric guitars, electric basses, acoustic guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, parts, accessories. Site links to Fender Play online guitar lessons, guides for replacement neck buying, and finding the right tone with effects pedals.
• Gibson
  Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, parts, accessories. Discussions and Q&A available in the various Gibson Brand Forums. The company offers options for guitar repair & restoration.
• Ibanez
  Electric guitars, electric basses, acoustic guitars, accessories.
• PRS (Paul Reed Smith)
  Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals. Discussions and Q&A available in the PRS Guitars Forum. Check out the blog and events page for more information.
• Rickenbacker
  Electric guitars, electric basses, 12-string guitars, parts, accessories.
• VOX
  Electric guitars, electric bases, ukuleles.

Amplifiers

• Fender
  Amplifiers for electric guitars and basses.
• Gibson Amplifiers
  Amplifiers for electric and acoustic guitars
• Marshall
  Amplifiers for electric guitars and bases, effect pedals
• Mesa/Boogie
  A brand that is part of the Gibson family.
• PRS (Paul Reed Smith)
  Amplifiers for electric guitars.
• VOX
  Amplifiers for electric guitars, effects pedals, accessories.

Strings

• D’Addario
  Strings for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars, banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins.
• Ernie Ball
  Strings for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and bass guitars. Effects pedals and accessories. Check out their blog and they also have a podcast call Striking A Chord hosted by Evan Ball.
• Fender
  Site features a String Guide with how-to video for changing guitar strings, and an article on How to Remember Guitar String Order & Names.
• Gibson Strings
  Strings for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and banjos.

Information resources and articles related to the history of entertainment production and concert touring.
Note: This collection is a list of various articles and other resources that I have discovered; I am sure there is more out there. Please let me know in the comments if you know of an archive or article related to roadie history.

Museums

• The Grammy Museum
  Located in Los Angeles, CA. Rotating exhibits featuring artifacts and memorabilia from Grammy award winning artists. The museum produces active education and outreach programs.
• The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP)
  Located in Seattle, WA. Formerly known as the Experience Music Project. Features a variety of permanent and rotating collections related to the Seattle music scene.
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  Located in Columbus, OH. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. But did you know there is more than just a museum to visit? The reading room of the Library and Archives can be visited if you make an appointment at least three weeks in advance.

Archival Collections

• The Billy Rose Theatre Division of The New York Public Library Digital Collections
  Extensive theatre arts archival collections. Lighting related collections of note include the Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer papers and designs, and the Tharon Musser designs and papers.
• CREEM Magazine Archives
  A selection of digitized magazine archives from the 2020s, 1980s, 1970s, and 1960s. Registration and subscription needed for full access.
• David Bowie Center
  Located at the V & A Museum in London. Permanent collection of archival materials collected by David Bowie over his career.
• Hugo Keesing collection on popular music and culture
  Located at the University of Maryland, this collection includes nearly 5,000 LPs from 1938 to 2004, with a majority from the 1960s. Available for research and listening at the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library’s Lowens Reading Room.
• Rock’s Backpages: The archive of music journalism
  Large collection of over 55,000 articles and 900 audio interviews. Allows anyone to read up to 500 articles for free, upwards of that requires a subscription.

Articles

• Gibson Amps: A history of innovation
• The Story of Rickenbacker: Influencing Music History
• Heritage 30+ articles highlighting Marshall amplifiers through music history from the 1960s – 2010s.
  

Resource list for keyboard technicians.

• Casio (USA site)
  Digital pianos, portable keyboards, accessories.
• KORG (USA site)
  Keyboards, synthesizers, software.
• Nord
  Keyboards, accessories, software.
• Roland (USA site)
  Keyboards, synthesizers, pianos, accessories.
• Yamaha (USA site)
  Keyboards, synthesizers, pianos, apps & accessories. Site features product news & events and special content, as well as product manuals and other downloads.