Welcome to The Giggs Podcast! Giggs is the career platform for live event professionals. We're starting this podcast because there's not nearly enough content out there about what it really takes to be on the road. Whether you're an aspiring tour manager, a seasoned backline tech, or just getting started in the business, this podcast is for you. We're taking you behind the scenes to explore the highs and the lows of life gigging on the Giggs Podcast.
Sooner Rae Routhier is a renowned Principal Designer who is a 2X Parnelli, Live Design Achievement, Live Production Summit Pinnacle, and multi Top Dog award-winning designer. Her designs can be seen on Jimmy Fallon, The AMA’s, The Ellen Show, The Voice, and The Billboard Music Awards. She has crafted iconic shows for artists such as Coldplay, Panic at the Disco, The Weeknd, KISS, Imagine Dragons, The Lumineers, and many more. Beyond her creative genius, Sooner has also been a driving force in shaping the modern landscape of entertainment lighting and design.
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The Art of Lighting Design
Lighting often goes unnoticed, yet it’s a key element that elevates live performances. For Sooner, it’s more than just a technical task—it’s an art. She recently collaborated with production designer Misty Buckley and creative director Phil Harvey on Coldplay’s European tour, creating a visual experience that matched the music’s energy and emotion.
The Power of Collaboration
Sooner emphasizes that collaboration is crucial in live events. With over 170 crew members on a single show, teamwork is everything. “You really have to collaborate with everybody to make it happen,” she says. It’s this collective effort that brings a show to life.
Color: The Heartbeat of Design
For Sooner, color isn’t just a design tool—it’s the core of her creative process. Influenced by her mother’s work as a seamstress, her love for color has shaped her career. She uses it to tell stories during performances, breaking down shows into acts, each with its own color palette, to evoke specific emotions.
The Magic of Synesthesia
Sooner’s relationship with color is deeply personal. She experiences synesthesia, a condition where she associates colors with music, numbers, and emotions. This unique perspective helps her design shows that are visually stunning and emotionally resonant.
From Theater to Touring
Sooner’s journey began in theater, where she fell in love with lighting design. A life-changing Smashing Pumpkins concert confirmed her calling, leading her from a small liberal arts school in Vermont to designing for some of the biggest names in music.
Behind the Scenes: From Pre-Production to Showtime
The work behind a live show is extensive, starting with detailed pre-production planning. Sooner and her team meticulously prepare, ensuring that by the time rehearsals start, everything is in place. The final step is fine-tuning the show with the artists to make sure every cue is spot-on.
Conclusion
Sooner Routhier’s story is one of passion, creativity, and teamwork. Her lighting designs, whether for a massive Coldplay concert or an intimate moment on stage, are the unsung heroes that make live performances unforgettable.
