Jeff Maker is very famous amongst All Time Low fans. Known as the master of lights, this man is a huge part of the ATL Crew. We can post a whole bunch of facts about jeff but it would defeat the point of the interview that we did with this amazing man. We got a chance to interview Jeff via E-mail.
Get to know about Jeff here:
1 How old are you and what bands have you worked with besides all time low?
Jeff: I am 30 years old. I have worked with:The Dresden Dolls, Yellowcard, The Click Five, Boys Like Girls, Flock of Seagulls, & Belinda Carlisle.
2 When did you start doing lighting designs? and what prompted this career choice?
J: I started doing lighting back in 2000. I wouldn’t have called myself a designer at that point though. I was still learning and I had a lot to learn. My very first lighting design ever was for The Click Five. Before that I was only a lighting director. I got into this career by accident actually. I started out as a booking agent for a local band in CT called “throne” (which is no longer a band). I noticed at their shows that nothing was being done with the lighting. So I got behind the lighting board and started pushing buttons. As years went by I developed a passion and desire to learn more. I moved to Boston for college and got a job as a bar back at a venue called The Paradise Rock Club. The lighting guy there heard I had done some lighting and he needed an intern. So he took me under his wing, trained me, and soon after that I was the lighting guy for my very own venue called Axis. I trained, developed my skill, learned design, practiced my timing with all kinds of music, and word of mouth got around about me and The Dresden Dolls took me out for my very first tour in 2006. After that it was pretty much a domino effect. More people heard about me, my resume grew, and I received more and more offers. And here I am today.
3 First band you were a lighting designer for?
J: The Dresden Dolls
4 Favorite/funniest tour memory?
J: Too many to pick just one. Every tour and every moment is special to me in their own ways.
5 What is your favorite song you’ve done lighting for and why? (can be for any band)
J: “Too Much” by All Time Low on the Glamour Kills Tour
6 If you could do lighting for any song from any band, what which song/band would it be?
J: Great question! I’d have to say “My Hero” by The Foo Fighters or “Closer” by NIN
7 Scariest tour experience?
J: Missing my flight to Hong Kong to meet up for pre-production for The Click Five’s south east Asia tour in May 2008. So embarrassing and I was scared I’d get fired. Luckily I didn’t get fired and it was an amazing tour.
8 What is the one thing you hate the most when you’re on tour?
J:Being away from my friends back home, being away from my dad, missing out on important events like weddings and birthdays. Sometimes not having anytime to yourself and long days can be tough. But even with those things, I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for any other job in the world. 9 The weirdest thing you’ve experienced while on tour? (can be fan related or not) 10 What band(s) would you love to do lighting for? 11 If you weren’t a lighting designer, what would you want to be doing with your life? 12 A saying or motto which you feel best describes how you live your life? 13 Do you have a ritual you do before a show/tour? if so what is it? 14 Must have’s on tour? 15 Weirdest gift you have ever received on tour? 16 One of your biggest inspirations? and why are they an inspiration to you? 17 any advice for people interested in your field of expertise? (the cold hard truth) FAN QUESTIONS:
J: Going to Tasmania. It just felt weird being there. I can’t explain it.
J: Foo Fighters, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins (back in the late 90s), Sting, and Michael Jackson (may he rest in peace)
J: Hollywood actor or TV producer or a Cardiologist
J: “I don’t wanna be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of ME.”
J: Before tour I put together my lighting designs and work with lighting companies to make sure my vision is brought to life the way I want it to. Before each show, like right before the set, I make my notes on the set list next to each song and tell the guys to “have a great set”. Then I test all my fixtures to make sure they are all responding correctly and then I loosen up my fingers, wrists, and hands.
J: Tools, Febreze, my own pillow for my bunk, cell phone, ipod, sharpies, board tape, and of course lots of work clothes
J: I don’t receive many gifts, and the ones I am lucky enough to get are very cool gifts. Can’t say I’ve ever gotten a “weird” gift before.
J: Other lighting designers that are at a level in their career that I’d love to reach someday. Blink 182’s LD, Blackeyd Peas LD, & Radiohead’s LD are three inspirations for me. They help to motivate me to TRY to be as good or better so that when I get to their level I can make my mark and solidify my reputation as a lighting designer.
J: It takes time to get to a touring level. You need to pay your dues, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and earn respect from your peers. Even if you think you know everything, you don’t. I still learn things to this day and I’ve been doing this for 11 years. If you give up early you won’t make it. If you stick with it, make the right connects, get good at what you do, and most importantly LOVE what you do, you WILL make it. My parents used to tell me I was wasting my time with the music industry, and now I’m living my dream and loving every single second of it. But don’t get me wrong, my parents are extremely proud of me.
Whats the best/worst part about being “Jeff Maker” the lighting designer?
J: Such a strange question…the best part is being able to do what I’ve always wanted to do and be successful at it. The worst part is not being able to see my friends and family back home as much as I’d like.
How does it feel being able to work with huge bands like All time low?
J: Feels amazing! Great guys, great crew, great music. Truly a great group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of touring with and I hope to tour with them for the rest of their career if they’ll have me.
Did you got to college/school to gain your specific lighting abilities for stages, if so which college/school?
J: No. I am pretty much all self taught as well as trained by two other lighting designers. I DID however take a class at Emerson College for theater lighting design so that I could expand my design ideas and techniques and attempt to apply them to live concerts when appropriate
(questions from prettyjustpart)
All time low are going to the Philippines on sept 22nd, i was wondering whether you’ll b coming with them?
J: Yes I will be there!
If you are what are you looking forward to in the Philippines?
J: I’ve been there before in 2008 with The Click Five. I love it there! Looking forward to going back.
Whats your favorite part of touring?
J: Getting to see the world for free and do what I love to do for a living.
On a scale from 1-10 how awesome is it touring with all time low?
J: 10
Check him out here: http://jeffmaker.com/
Follow him on twitter: @JeffMaker
Find him on tour here: TourDate Schedule
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