Freelance consultancy
David Brown Technical Consultant
Total years of experience :44 years, 8 Months
Runing events from brief to delivery. I source suppliers and content builders, design the event, supervise the build and run the event.
* Implementing training for sales to improve effectiveness and continuity of message.
* Creating tracking systems to better pipeline the process from RFP to delivery.
* Maintaining personal existing relationships with clients which have come to SLS.
* Identifying valuable clients and methods of securing new tracks of business.
* Long term, documentation and tracking will allow SLS to be more financially efficient.
Events range from corporate conference to fashion to government.
Shows in Qatar, Oman. KSA and throughout the UAE.
Managing Almoe production, content and contractors to deliver the event.
Engaging with clients to develop the concept and maximise impact.
Researching clients, venues and past events to identify potential problems.
Projects using pixel mapping, MLA, Pandoras Box, 60m screens and so on.
Touring throughout Scotland with Scottish Opera
Responsible for stage left refocus, show cues and orchestra sound reinforcement.
Post tour I was retained to assist in preparing for the next production.
I could have stayed with the Opera but other freelance opportunities came up.
During the economic downturn in 2008 I was in full employment as a freelancer.
Freelanced with Saville, Northern Light, Metro Broadcast, 20/20, MCL, Sound & Vision, SECC and others.
Part of a multi-disciplined production team working on a wide range of events.
I created WYSIWIG plans for all eight event spaces.
Created a standard generic lighting plan for the entire building with documentation.
Chief lighting designer. Holistic rethink to deliver basic/complex looks from preset states. This reduced man hours and allowed up selling enhanced packages.
Generally ran screen content and lighting for the main event space.
Reorganised various store areas to improve efficiency of freelance staff.
Ran Encore, Barco projectors, Extron & AW equipment, Avolites and Clay Paky kit.
In 1992 I moved to Edinburgh and quickly piked up regular, recurring work in numerous venues and festivals.
I have worked on most of the festivals in central Scotland, as lighting technician, technical manager, stage manager, lighting designer.
Shortly after moving I started working in the Edinburgh Playhouse, A 3059 seat venue which hosted number 1 touring shows coming out of London and a host of international companies such as The Bolshoi Ballet, New York City Ballet. I soon became the number one lighting casual, which means I was called for all shows and mainly worked as stage LX.
I also worked in a number of other theatres throughout Scotland.
During the festival I either ran venues as technical manager or I worked with the Edinburgh International Festival.
As technical manager I was responsible for sourcing equipment within budget, lighting design, installation of the equipment as the venues were generally bare. I took the brief from international acts and made sure their requirements were met. I then oversaw the smooth running of the venue and the turn around of up to eight shows daily for a month.
I also worked with some of the local production companies so I had a very busy nine years.
With Pyro 1 I traveled around the country putting on firework displays. These might be set to music, it might just be a thunderous barrage. Show could last 3 minutes or forty minutes.
I returned to the ferry after the exhibition closed down and spent an educational 21months at the venue and learned a lot from visiting production companies, the events we hosted and my mentor George Millar.
Part of a team responsible for two cinemas, a huge exhibition space, cabaret area and a 300 seater theatre.
We had to support the resident theatre company wih all aspects of performance theatre and this included lighting, sound, sound stings, stage management, and street performance.
Fantastic experience which solidified my future in the arts.
Initially the work involved the refurbish of a car ferry into a multi-purpose venue.
I was an electrician during the refurbishment and apart from general lights and sockets I installed heavy mains for the future event needs of the floating venue.
Once this was competed I was retained for Mayfest, an arts and culture festival which ran for a month.
After this I was retained again as general technician assisting with the technical requirements of the venue.
Setting up various acts and assisting the resident theatre company.
I worked with a number of companies for the build of Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport.
Trained as an electrician at a shipbuilders which supplied cargo vessels with a 3000 employees.
Also trained as a draughtsman for 18 months.
I left school with grades in English, Maths, Physics and two other subjects. During my electrical apprenticeship i went to collage sitting various HNC/HND modules. Further courses in C++, circuit board design, intensive learning course in computer hardware/peripherals. I have been on H&S courses, IPAF, Loler, sound reinforcement, scaffolding tower building and COSHH. I taught myself WYSIWIG, various lighting boards and made sure I understood the items I used during my career. I know Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and other software. I am presently learning CAD.