Since winning Breakthrough Talent Awards Standout Talent at Production Futures, Spiralstagelighting’s Elliot Baines has been involved in lighting numerous live shows, festival slots, installations and livestreams as well as breaking ground as an 18-year-old business owner. Speaking from his Croft Myl headquarters in Halifax, he recaps a busy year.
“I have been designing shows and installations across the globe in lockdown, as well as moving into a new office and investing in equipment in lockdown,” he said, giving TPi a tour of his new creative hub.
“Having a space like this allows me to design and pre-programme, as well as invite people over to talk, work, and collaborate.”
As well as supplying control packages as Spiralstagelighting, Baines – a member of Avolites Titan Beta testing team – uses his downtime to brush up on Capture and learning new software. In lockdown, he enjoyed stints as Lighting Designer/Operator for Skepta’s All In mixtape release; Lighting Operator/Programmer on Hybrid Minds 2021 Outline Tour; The BIBAs; As Sirens Fall’s Dynamite music video shoot; several nightclub installations; and Visions Festival, with upcoming shows at London’s Roundhouse and The Piece Hall just around the corner.
Having worked with Lights Control Rigging (LCR) at Neighbourhood Weekender, Wolf Lighting, and Siyan in recent months, Baines commented: “During lockdown, we have had new, potential clients get in touch with us in different parts of the UK, and overseas, including other lighting designers, and my aim is to work with our new, and old clients to make their shows unique.”
Case and point, Baines was approached by Tank Design’s Tom Taylor to assume the role of Lighting Tech Manager for Aitch at Leeds and Reading Festivals, alongside Production Manager, Charlie Lennod and Lighting Operator, Alex Brown. “It was an amazing experience,” he enthused, having operated on his biggest stage to date. “I couldn’t believe the scale of the production. It was unique for me to operate on the other side of the cable, witnessing how everything works.”
Elsewhere, Baines recently designed renders for Texas’ Trinity Chapel lighting installation with Elation Professional fixtures, remotely. “It was an awesome experience,” he reported. “I’ve also been collaborating with some overseas manufacturers to help with the R&D of new products, offering feedback for product launches overseas.”
Amid lockdown, he enlisted the support of Only Project’s James Varley for a showreel.
“I’ve utilised social media quite a lot during lockdown, especially YouTube. This has allowed me to keep in contact with people” he said, sharing his hopes for the future. “I’ve always seen Spiralstagelighting as a collective, so get in touch if you’d like to collaborate.”
This article originally appeared in issue #266 of TPi, which you can read here.
