SLE Blog 3

Jefferson Waful is the lighting designer for Umphrey's McGee. He uses the Grand MA 2 console as well as a plethora moving head fixtures. Waful's lighting shows have become a staple of UM's live show and they consider him part of the band. Jeff uses the triangle  pattern of the light beams along with HEAVY haze to build patterns that surpass anything i have ever seen. He also uses a disco ball with multiple colored profiles directed to it for a rather glittery effect. He also uses multi-colored gobos to make patterns on the back wall and band while constructing the triangle patterns above them. I have read somewhere the Jeff uses 2 fewer hazers than the army uses to simulate nuclear fallout. The Tabernacle in Atlanta GA allowed cigarette smoking inside because of an ordnance prohibiting the use of hazers.   Jeff has also given me some great advice on how to look at the console as an instrument and to never stop thinking of different color patterns and what mood the invoke in me. He has lit everywhere from red rocks to radio city music hall to smaller venues. I am not sure how he got into lighting but i do know he has a journalism degree. He is one of the people who inspires me and one of the reason i decided to do this as a career. He is innovative and also uses multiple truss designs to manipulate his ever changing arsenal of colors and schemes.