Edge Forum

 Sam Viney is a 31 year old lighting engineer & production manager who has worked on light shows for some big name acts like Radiohead, Christine Aguilera and Motorhead. He tells us about his journey to get where he is today . . .

I met Sam on a sunny August afternoon while he was preparing the lighting for an open air concert in in Whitehaven for a range of 80’s stars including Belinda Carlisle, Midge Ure, Paul Young, Rick Astley, Toyah and Curiosity Killed the Cat; he was really busy but found time to tell us about his journey as one of our Edge Role Models.

What do you do?

It’s really hard to pin down exactly what I do and give it a job title—I guess at different times you could call me an event production manager, a site manager, a lighting engineer or a lighting supplier.  Every job I do is different but lighting always plays a big part and that is the area that holds the most interest for me.

I guess it all started when I went to a Pink Floyd concert at Earls Court back in the 1990’s and I was absolutely blown away by their lighting show.  I also saw Phantom of the Opera and although theatre and musicals aren’t my interest, I was able to see how the lighting affected the audience.  From then on all I wanted to know was how lighting worked and how to do the stuff I had seen.

What was your journey to get where you are?

It wasn’t straightforward by any means and I made lots of changes in my education along the way and made a few mistakes. 

The first thing was that I have always liked tinkering with stuff, mending things or creating things and also liked mechanical and electrical stuff—so I guess I have always wanted to work practically with my hands.

I remember that when I came to choose GCSE’s, I had to make choices from a list that suited the timetable but not necessarily suited me and I actually chose history over geography because I got on better with the history teacher, even though I would have preferred to take geography.

I had to change schools to take ‘A’ Levels and right at the beginning I was given a predicted grade of ‘E’ in maths, which wasn’t very motivational (although about right!) and I also chose Physics, which I eventually dropped.  I ended up spending most of my time in the drama department helping with productions and lighting and I reckon I should have been given an honorary drama ‘A’ Level, the amount of time I spent in there.

After school I tried to start an engineering degree but I couldn’t get a grant so I ended up going to art college to do a BTEC in Performing Arts because I could get a grant and they convinced me I would get to do loads of technical stuff.  In the end it was all performance and acting and I dropped it as it didn’t interest me.

All this time I had still been working on lighting, doing small jobs and putting myself on training courses and workshops that I could find, which was good for networking.  I was put in touch with Bandit, a big lighting supplier and I sent off a CV asking for some work experience; I was willing to do just about anything to get on the first rung of the ladder.

They asked me to come down to see what I could do, they tried me out and I ended up staying four weeks to help out.  What I think they saw in me was a willingness to learn and a real passion for the industry so I ended up getting asked back for jobs and then got taken on full time.  I was lucky enough to be taken under the wing by some really experienced people but I started at the bottom, sweeping the warehouse and progressed over six years with Bandit to technician’ then production manager and eventually to project manager.

At any one time Bandit could have four or five tours going on a week with 12 full time staff and a team of freelancers.  The experience and training I gained there has been invaluable and I took a CAD course as well, which I still use in my design work now.

What was your education like?

It was OK for me but I ended up making quite a lot of changes and starting courses that didn’t really suit.  For me it would have been good to have some really practical options at the time I needed them, mainly at GCSE stage and it was hard for me to choose the right number of subjects from the timetable choices I was given.  I have actually ended up being self-taught in the profession that I love and none of the subjects I was offered helped me to get where I am now.

What does success mean to you?

It’s not making money; for me it is job satisfaction and really enjoying what I am doing.  I left Bandit and returned to live in Cumbria for the quality of life.  I have met lots of people in the business who are trying to get bigger, employ lots of people and make a name for themselves as well as make lots of money—but its not for me and I feel lucky to have recognised that and got out while the going was good and returned somewhere I love.

What challenges have you faced?

I have had to take charge of my own learning to enable me to do what I love.  When I took GCSE’s I had to choose 12 subjects and the only practical choice I had was Design and Technology.  Careers advice was also of no use and did not fit my vision of what I wanted to do.

Have you had any support along the way?

Both my parents were teachers and they both married teachers second time around, so I have never been short of education advice.  They have been very supportive of what I wanted to do and also encouraged me but I guess I have got where I am today very much through my own efforts mainly through a desire born of a genuine interest and love of what I do.  When I got my first break with Bandit I was only 18 and I left home at 19 to work permanently away from home so I was away pretty early when compared to many others.

What drives you?

Job satisfaction is really key for me; this means doing a professional job every time, like I’ve said its not about making loads of money or growing into a big business, that’s why I’ve chosen to come back to my roots in Cumbria, for the quality of life.

Who is Your Role Model

I can’t name an individual person as a role model but I have been inspired by a range of very interesting and professional people I have met along the way and as I was learning the trade.  I have been lucky enough to work with some of the very best people in the business.

Conversely, I have also met people who have taken a route I don’t want to follow—chasing to make a name for themselves or lots of money and burning themselves out—they have helped me realise what I don’t want, which is sometimes as important as knowing what you do want.

What advice would you give to young people?

If you are passionate about what you want to do and have a real desire, then go for it and don’t be put off by anyone.

What do you think education should be like?

It needs to have more choice and there needs to be the opportunity to try stuff out—a bit of trial and error.  Having choice at a younger age, especially between practical and academic subjects would be good too and it would have suited my aptitudes.

There also needs to be the opportunity for change if subjects or study are not suiting an individual—I made lots of changes, only some of which I was in control of; people need the room and the time to try out different things.

You can find out more about Sam Viney at:

www.svlhire.co.uk