Your Interview Kam Beaman

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Mentor

Kam Beaman

Designer, Entertainment, Director, Technician
United States
Introduce yourself (name, company, position, country) and tell us how you got into lighting design (including education/qualifications).

My name is Kamryn Beaman, I freelance for many vendors under my company Litehaus, I am a Lighting Crew Chief and Lighting Director based in  and  touring  all over the United States. My story is a bit of a wild ride. I dropped out of high school in 2017, with stellar grades and lack of seat time, I was bored. My mother being an educator was a bit hesitant to sign off but chose to trust that I (a 17 year old with motivation) would be fine. That I was. I bounced around and tried out all sorts of career paths from retail and restaurant  management, professional golf, and graphic design. I met a gentleman that worked at a restaurant I managed who did side gigs  for a labor company supplying stagehands to festivals. He didn’t give me much of  a choice to join him at a festival in my home state of South Carolina. I tagged along having known nothing of the job, what it would take or that it was even an option. After a successful weekend of asking questions, I looked into local production companies I could work for to pursue a specialty in the industry. I kept doing festivals and found myself working for a company in my hometown, learning the ins and outs of every department where I fell in love with lighting. During this time I dabbled in freelancing, my own lighting company and projects to keep busy. A year and a half later  I got a phone call, asking if I could get on a plane in 16 hours to join an ongoing tour. From there I went. Growing my career in lighting and picking up as many clients, friends and colleagues I could along the way. I’ve never looked back, however I am grateful for my experiences, every single one of them.

Tell us about your work – is there a specific type of project you like to work on or an area you specialise in and why?

I work in concert touring, and music festivals. I specialize in lighting rigs, crew management, networking, processing and programming. Most of my work is building data racks, dimmers, meticulously preparing a rig to be on the road for months at a time. Once it’s in the truck, out we go to see the country. As a lighting crew chief I oversee the installation of our rig in different venues, rigging, the technicians and any local labor that assists us, and troubleshooting any issues we may have. I love the day to day, the every-so-often problem solving, the fitting a massive rig in a tiny room, climbing 35’ in the air to plug in a cable that was missed. Quick and to the point (no pun intended) I love what I do, the different people I get to meet every day, the many cities I get to see and the many meals I get to eat. It is an honor and privilege to work with the crews I’ve toured with, I’ve made some lifelong friends along the way. These are experiences I wouldn’t trade for the world.

What project are you most proud of and why?

I’m very proud of most things I’ve worked on, it’s hard to choose as maybe some of my favorites were first times, new experiences that pushed my boundaries and helped me to grow into the boots of my professional career. Recently, my proudest contribution  was the Concert for Carolina in Charlotte, NC. Following Hurricane Helene, much of Asheville and Greenville were destroyed. Having grown up in South Carolina, this natural disaster hit quite literally too close to home. Having the opportunity to be a part of an event that raised ~$24.6 Million dollars for hurricane relief, with a venue record breaking 82.193 patrons at the Bank of America Stadium. I was the Rigging Electrician for this show, something I had never done on this scale, 108 points, impressive lighting rig, 4 video walls and 8 Line Arrays,  360° turntable stage in the middle of a massive stadium. The hardships of the prep and the load-in were quickly silenced by the sheer size  of the event, seeing this many people come together for somewhere I call home was an incredible feeling. Good times for a good cause.

What is the biggest challenge that you have overcome in your career?

Adversity as a young woman in lighting comes in many shapes and sizes. Much like a beam you just have to break through the shutters. When I started out, I found myself overlooked often, whether that was based on my age, gender or appearance. I always stood by my decisions and made sure that they were based on knowledge and experience rather than spite or resentment of those that tried to push me down. I eventually found myself to prosper in the environments where my decisions or motives were questioned, supported by professionals around me and having curated a safe space for me and all of those around me for their voices to be heard. There are always going to be mistakes, however they’re never in bad taste so long as you learn from your experience, and strive to be better. Curiosity may kill the cat, but you’ve still got 8 lives left, keep going, ask those questions, destroy the adversity.

How does light inspire you?

As beams cast across the stage, they wouldn’t be dignified without the absence of light.
As designers we tend to focus on the light we contribute to the scene, sometimes it is lost in translation the need for the dark to make that possible. I find that this correlates to who I am in this industry. Without the hard days, the long nights, the rainy load-ins or adversity we face as women in lighting, the great shows, cheers of the audience and the gratification would not feel so bright. “Life is composed of lights and shadows, and we would be untruthful, insincere, and saccharine if we tried to pretend there were no shadows”- Walt Disney.

What is your message for other Women In Lighting?

Anything is possible. Glass ceilings are meant to be shattered, you will never be alone in that endeavor. Stand for yourself and your community, and they will do the same. I’ve found myself in many situations on the road where maybe I didn’t feel heard or respected. The company you keep should support you, respect you,  push you to succeed and contribute to your growth as an individual and in the industry. If they aren’t, don’t keep them around. Support your crew of fellow women in the industry and keep climbing that ladder until you shatter that ceiling.

Lives in:
Atlanta, GA
Born in:
Columbia, SC
Started working with light in:
2021
Worked with:
Past Vendors
•Crew One Productions-(Festivals)
Production Lead
•ACS Sound and Lighting-(Columbia, SC)
Lighting and Video Technician/Director
•hAVen-(Columbia, SC) non-profit startup, co-founded and designed an in-house broadcast studio.

Current Vendors
•Special Event Services (NC, TN)
Lighting Crew Chief
Lighting Director
Rigging Lead/ Electrician
Programmer
•Music Matters (Atlanta, GA)
Lighting Crew Chief/ Technician
•Litehaus (USA)
Lighting Designer and Director
As well as being:
Unofficial Tour Photographer 😊
Automotive Fabricator- Electrics
Loves:
Travel, Film, Food, Vintage BMWs + Spec Racing, Photography/Videography, Music, Wine and Cocktails, Shooting Sports and Endurance Cycling.

“Anything is possible. Glass ceilings are meant to be shattered, you will never be alone in that endeavor. Stand for yourself and your community, and they will do the same.”

Selected portfolio:

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