So what was your January like?
As I've stated on this page before, I'm not the fan of change I once was. Could be because I'm getting older, watching my two young daughters grow up way to fast; could be because of all the immense changes going on both in the world at large and in our little world of entertainment technology; could even be because I'm a Capricorn, whatever that means. But as many of you already know, we saw more change around here in the month of January than I've ever seen in my professional life.
Just in case you haven't heard, either via websites, emails, or the industry grapevine, I'm now the associate publisher/editorial director of both Entertainment Design and Lighting Dimensions, with group publisher Bob MacArthur overseeing both. We're currently in the process of hiring additional editorial staff in order to bring some much needed youthful vitality and energy to both magazines. We're also in the process of re-establishing a closer working relationship with the industry's pre-eminent trade show, The Entertainment Technology Show/LDI. And we're planning a major re-focus and re-design of Lighting Dimensions.
But some things will not be changing. Ellen Lampert-Greaux remains as consulting editor, with John Scott as art director, Diane Straughen as ad coordinator, Aimee Eckert as East Coast rep and Holly O'Hair as West Coast rep. The core contributing columnists to ED-Patrick Dierson, Bob and Colleen Bonniol, and Jim van Bergen-will continue to provide you with thought-provoking insights from their respective fields. We're also moving forward with plans for the Broadway Lighting and Sound Master Classes and EDDY Awards, scheduled for June 16-20 in New York.
The magazine you're holding, with the possible exception of a few cosmetic changes, will be staying essentially the same as well. We'll continue to focus on the art and technology of live production in all its various forms, emphasizing theatre but also including themed entertainment, concerts, and more. We'll keep spotlighting both established and up and coming talent in set, lighting, sound, costume, and projection design, with the kind of editorial excellence you've come to expect.
That being said, I think this is a perfect opportunity for those of you who read and advertise in the magazine to provide your own input for improving ED (not that I could ever stop you before). We all have a wonderful opportunity here, a chance to recreate these two veteran magazines to better reflect where the entire industry is headed in the years to come. If you have any ideas on that, drop me a line.
As I said in an open letter in January, the entire staff realizes that we have major challenges ahead of us. We need to re-establish your faith and trust in these magazines, and build these magazines to mirror the future of our industry. That's exactly what we intend to do.
But here's the weird thing: all this change, instead of making me cranky or frightened, has actually invigorated me to a host of new possibilities, both for myself, the magazines, and the industry. Let's get started.