Making the Lights Blink | Behind the Scenes with a Live Entertainment Systems Technician

Live entertainment relies heavily on the seamless collaboration of various behind-the-scenes roles, such as rigging, lighting, and audio. These elements must work in harmony to ensure a flawless show. The expertise and dedication of professionals like Matt Beecher are crucial to overcoming the challenges and deadline pressures of live event production.

Matt Beecher has established himself as a proficient systems technician with almost a decade of experience at the Atlantic City Borgata’s nightclub. Known affectionately as the “nightclub guy” by his colleagues, Beecher is celebrated not for his partying but for his reliable presence and coordination skills in delivering exceptional live experiences. His ability to compile and utilize information from various teams is instrumental in creating memorable events.

He grew up around Philadelphia in the United States. “I love the Philadelphia area, especially the camaraderie and the people,” he said. “There’s always some kind of live entertainment happening between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. This area is where I started getting involved as a systems technician."

As a systems technician, Beecher plays a pivotal role in live event production.

His responsibilities include acting as a liaison between in-house and tour lighting crews, creative teams, and production teams. By gathering and synthesizing this information, Beecher ensures that all technical aspects, particularly lighting, are executed effectively. His role, while often behind the scenes, is essential in transforming creative visions into reality.

As he describes it, he’s “the guy who makes the lights blink.”

Brooklyn Bowl is a multi-purpose entertainment venue. Adjacent to its bowling lanes is a stage used for music acts. A barricade separates the stage from the standing-room floor. Behind the crowd floor is a full-service bar, where attendees can order food and drinks. Several seating locations perforate the venue, which is lit with red tones.

After helping integrate technical systems for a brand-new venue in Las Vegas for a series of shows for the rock band U2, Beecher was excited to work in his hometown again. A colleague invited him to work on lighting systems for Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia.

“I came to this location just a little after it opened, following pandemic lockdowns,” Beecher said. “I was looking for something different. I needed a change of pace. I wound up at Brooklyn Bowl to help the production manager, who I also worked with when I was at the Borgata.”

Forming connections like this one, Beecher explained, is part of what’s helped him find success in the live events industry.

After working on larger-scale productions, Beecher was well-equipped to handle a smaller-scale venue like Brooklyn Bowl. “My approach is to keep everything as simple as possible,” he said, adding that flexibility is the hallmark of coordinating any live experience. “Smaller venues are my practice ground, my laboratory — they allow me to test ideas to prepare to bring to larger, more high-stakes venues.”

Vectorworks software is a key tool in Beecher's arsenal. He uses it extensively for its powerful visualization capabilities.

"Visualization capabilities are my favorite thing about the software," Beecher explained. "I like to color-code things like circuits, DMX distribution, and various fixture types so that people who aren’t as experienced working in our industry can really understand my work. It makes the whole process more streamlined."

Vectorworks allows Beecher to create detailed and comprehensible plans that team members with varying levels of experience can easily understand. This clarity is crucial for effective communication and efficient execution of technical setups.

Moreover, Vectorworks’ 3D environment significantly enhances Beecher's ability to represent venues realistically.

"Having a 3D environment to work from in Vectorworks helps a lot," he said. "It allows me to represent the venue in a realistic way and allows me to use previsualization to test how the systems will work before installation." This capability allows Beecher to anticipate potential issues and make necessary adjustments before the actual installation, saving time and reducing errors.

The systems technician also praises the software for its ability to manage data. Since Beecher must work with information from several collaborating teams, he needs to be able to handle all their information effectively. Vectorworks helps him do that.

“Being able to transform creative energy into actionable documentation is extremely valuable,” Beecher said of Vectorworks software. “I often need to maneuver and change parts of a project, and Vectorworks helps make that a smooth process.”

“What’s next for me? We’ll have to see what happens,” Beecher laughed. “I’m excited about the future and it’s going to be quite interesting going forward. Maybe I’ll work on more shows in Las Vegas, or maybe I’ll be back here, at Brooklyn Bowl, making the lights blink for a little bit.”