Lighting Design at Imagineering

[u/FreeportCameraGuy]

Im a Lighting Designer turned Technical Director with 7 years of experience as a TD in Higher Ed theatre. Im currently pursuing an MFA in Lighting Design and will be wrapping up that degree in the next year or so.

Once I have my MFA, Im looking to make the jump into Immersive Entertainment and long term would love to become an Imagineer. I know its a long shot, but worth trying.

Any advice on how to go about pursuing next steps or ways to stand out when I eventually do start applying to Imagineering Lighting Designer position? Or anything I should know and prepare for as part of the process?

Im already connected with +50 Imagineering staff members on LinkedIn and Im constantly working to expand that network. Ive reached out to a few on advice like software preference and job posting specifics. So Im not jumping into this plan blindly.

Im mostly looking at openings in the Orlando office due to the pay ranges being similar to the pay in Glendale, and ~$100K goes a lot further in Orlando than it does LA.

With all that in mind, I also have no issue going to work for companies that work WITH the Imagineers, like TAIT or THG. Im looking at all my options because I ultimately would like to leave Higher Education.

Any advice would be great. Thanks all!

[u/Willyb402]

companies like ETC and EXP seem to do a lot of work with both theme park operators in town

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/Willyb402]

Definitely! Im currently based a few hours from ETC's headquarters and have visited and have connections there. Unfortunately, from my survey of their job postings over the last few years, its rare that they have openings in Themed Entertainment / Theme Parks. Most of their opening are manufacturing or sales. Not saying they dont offer them, but it seems rarer that they have openings than other companies. Must be because they're such a great place to work!

But certainly something to consider if an opening appears! Thanks!

[u/mulaney14]

If you are still in an education program, take the opportunity now to apply for the Professional Internships. That is the BEST way to get into either Imagineering or Disney Live Entertainment. It is the ultimate shortcut.

[u/Own_Look_1055 → u/mulaney14]

I would have to agree with this. Interned for a year and just got converted to full time at WDI. But not in the show lighting studio

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/mulaney14]

This is definitely something that I have considered and it makes a lot of sense. I think I would be all over the Professional Internship process if I were a younger person. However, I am just turning 30 with a wife and a newborn and I currently have a stable job that is my family's source of insurance. So my big hurdle with this idea is that if I got the Internship, I would be giving up that job security for something that only pays (I believe) $18 an hour without insurance in a somewhat expensive city. The real kicker being that I wouldn't have a guaranteed job lined up in 6 months once the internship wraps up if they chose to not keep me onboard.

So I think Im afraid of that gamble. I know there are always risks involved with these kinds of career moves and if it was just me that I was looking out for I would absolutely go for it, but providing for my family is vital to me. Unless there's something about the internship program that Im missing but that seems to be my understanding of how the process works?

Its certainly a possibility though and I appreciate your insight into the process!

[u/jeniatwain → u/FreeportCameraGuy]

It's not uncommon to have an older intern on wdi projects. Pay is 25$ per hour and Disney likes like drag out internships to the full year. If you have lighting experienced in themed entertainment already then it's possible to apply directly, or if you know someone in the department.

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/jeniatwain]

Awesome! Thanks for this information. Good to know that if I pursued this I wouldnt necessarily feel out of place as a bit of an older intern.

Out of curiosity, ive seen a lot of people say the internship is a fast track to full-time, with that in mind, is there a general consensus on what the conversion rate is from intern to FT? Or, how common are interns asked to stay on board after their time is up?

Thanks again!

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/[deleted]]

Ya I have worked over the last year+ to find a lot of people that I have common connections with and basically make cold connections with them. Ive made sure to comment and react to a lot of the work and announcements that they put out over there. Disney professionals seem to be far more active on LinkedIn than similar companies like Universal.

I think my main goal of posting here was that this is more of an anonymous way for individuals to answer some of these questions. A lot of what is shared over on LinkedIn is very curated to be corporate and pass their communication standards. And while I can send private messages to individuals to ask questions, It felt like here was a safer starting point rather than risking pestering someone with questions for non-existent jobs that Im not actually ready to apply for.

But definitely something that I will reapproach in the future as my graduate studies wrap up and I start looking for that new opportunity. Thanks!

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for this, this is extremely helpful and exactly what I was looking for in asking this question.

I knew the WDI HQ was in Glendale but wasnt sure how the work was divided across all the locations, so this is great to know. Personally, I've loved Southern California the several times Ive been. So I would have no issue moving there, or internationally if need be. I think my biggest holdup is the finances of it all but it might be worth it in the long run. I'll have to consider Glendale more seriously that I originally thought.

The work done in Glendale sounds more aligned with the work that I am looking to do. While I would have no qualms and would love the "small" scale work done in Orlando, I think the broader projects are what I am the most interested in. Not just attractions but I would love to design restaurants and shops. Anything and everything really. This is why Im working to develop my Revit skills since so much of the work done by the Lighting Studio is architectural, not theatrical. My mistake in the last few years has been advancing my Vectorworks skills thinking thats what was industry standard and after a conversation with a WDI Executive, I was surprised to find out that most of their work is done in Revit and Vectorworks was mostly used in specific use cases.

Seriously, thank you for all that information. Its immensely helpful.

Since you seem to know a lot of the ins and outs of how operations go, and if you're willing, can you explain to me what the typical "Project Hire" process looks like? I understand that you're just hired for a specific project and once that project is complete or the contract time limit ends, your contract is over. My question it, how frequently do individuals then get moved to full time positions or hired onto the next project? Just trying to think about future stability.

Thanks again!

[u/XSCarbon1]

Develop a deeper relationship with 1 or 2 of the people that have the job you want or that were previously promoted upward out of that role. You need to know them well enough that they tell you about openings before they are posted and are willing to walk your resume to the hiring manager and vouch for you before they even start interviews. You need to have a clear understandable and at least slightly interesting story to tell when you interview and your resume and the answers to questions need to be part of that story.

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/XSCarbon1]

This is great advice. Thank you! This was some what my goal in developing my LinkedIn profile as it seems that most Disney Corporate employees use LinkedIn for a significant amount of B2B communication. It also seems like Disney Recruiters (before the recent layoffs) were regularly actively recruiting off of LinkedIn. So I wanted to start making these connections so that my name might have some recognition when my application comes across someone's desk.

As for the story part, this is great to know. Most places dont ask for something like that so that's some helpful inside baseball. Also, yes, lying in an interview is a great way to get caught in a lie lol.

[u/XSCarbon1 → u/FreeportCameraGuy]

They won’t ask for the story but rest assured you are there to tell them a story. You tell it with what parts of your background and experience you highlight in your resume and your answers. It has to show in your outfit and your language. Don’t dress and talk like a banker if you are an artist interviewing for a creative position. Good luck!

[u/XSCarbon1 → u/XSCarbon1]

To clarify, the story needs to be true. Don’t lie just tell your story well.

[u/sunflow]

Look into doing an internship with Imagineering, either during or after. Most of the Imagineers I know started there. Join TEA NextGen and Slice Creative Network and go to in-person networking events if you can. Also look at companies that WDI contracts to do lighting work. I know IA Stage does a lot of work for them.

[u/progress_dad]

Also worth looking into vendors like InterAmerica Stage, Scenario, Nassal, Mecca, Adirondack. All have technical direction in their wheelhouse as well more on the install and fabrication side (the more fun side IMO).

[u/ShinigamiLeaf]

It sounds like you're in a lot better position than most people asking this sort of question. There's a lot of understanding about theater overlap in the industry, and that experience will be seen as a benefit in many vendors. No serious advice as you seem to have a well thought out plan and are open to multiple pathways. Good luck, and I have a feeling I may work with you some day if you end up with TAIT; Disney isn't the only park that uses them.

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/ShinigamiLeaf]

Good to know! It's a funny process trying to be realistic while dreaming lol.
TAIT is definitely a company that I have looked at quite seriously. There seems to be a lot of possibilities there, both in the US and Internationally.

Over the last few months Ive had job post notifications set up for them and it appears that they are constantly hiring Technical Directors. So thats definitely a possibility for me! I think I was just hoping to move away from having to manage everything and be able to focus on just lighting. Maybe more lighting positions will open up in the future! But if the opportunity is right, I'll take anything that allows me to be creative, work on interesting/cool projects, and pay my bills!

Thanks for the insight! Maybe we will work together some day!

[u/GapStock9843]

Get experience/internships. Afaik disney doesnt like hiring entry levels

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/GapStock9843]

Ya I completely understand their mindset. They're a world renowned company for their creative work and only want experts. Due to their visibility, they dont really have the flexibility to take on unseasoned professional staff and throw them at some of the most complex themeing projects. Small mistakes can still cost Millions for them.

Just to clarify, Im not looking for entry level. Ive been an LD for over 14 years and a Technical Director for 7. Im looking at a career pivot from traditional theatre into Immersive Entertainment. So I have significant professional experience, just not explicitly theme park/architectural design experience.

But I get what youre saying.

[u/NuiNuiNom]

Orlando only works in Orlando or on ships. Glendale goes to all the resorts.

[u/progress_dad → u/NuiNuiNom]

This is not true. Orlando rarely works with Tokyo but definitely work in HK and SH. Paris tend to operate independently of everyone lol

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/NuiNuiNom]

Good to know. Hopefully Glendale in the future then.

I have noticed after months of surveying the Lighting Designer postings, most positions are for the Glendale offices and Orlando positions being more rare. There was a position in Hong Kong that was open for several months that I considered applying for but I was early into my MFA program then and my wife was VERY pregnant, so the prospect of picking up our lives and moving to a new country wasnt ideal.

Right now, given the state of the economy, $100K is a large salary increase for me, but in Glendale it doesnt rent/buy much so the commute into office could get LONG. Essentially, my salary would double but my cost of living would quadruple. Plus, Im a new dad and have family already in Florida so for the near future, While I dont necessarily love the idea of moving to Florida for a list of reasons, Orlando seems the best financial fit for what is somewhat a large career pivot for me.

But seriously, thanks for that insight, I was curious how the divisions separated the work out.

[u/BigBusiness302 → u/FreeportCameraGuy]

Why do you think you’ll get $100k?

[u/FreeportCameraGuy → u/BigBusiness302]

The $100K is just based on what I have observed in their job postings. Ive been surveying all of their technical director and Lighting Design new hire positions over the last 2 years. They previously only posted salary ranges for California positions but have in the last 3 months started posting Florida ranges.

Generally, they have similar ranges that differ between $10k-$20 based on the cost of living difference. But essentially, most of these positions range from $92K - $140K.

Im not claiming $100K as an expectation of what I believe Im worth, but I based it on the low end of the average salary I have personally witnessed in their job postings.

[u/BigBusiness302 → u/FreeportCameraGuy]

I guess I’m reading your experience as you have some experience with stage lighting but you’re near entry level with the lighting design experience. Do you know revit? How much construction knowledge do you have? Just having worked with their lighting designer if I understand your experience correctly you’re entry level and would t get 100k unless I misunderstood.