Primetime Emmy Award-winning LD Jeff Ravitz, principal at Intensity Advisors, has designed concert tours for Bruce Springsteen since 1984, as well as for Steely Dan, John Mellencamp, Cher, Styx, and Ringo Starr, among others. He also specializes in live entertainment captured for multi-camera television, as well as top-tier concert tours and specialty installations. He co-authored the book Lighting for Televised Live Events, in which he demystifies the art and science of television lighting design and techniques.
Live Design: Can you describe yourself in less than 50 words?
Jeff Ravitz: I am a lighting designer for live television, concerts and events, lecturer, writer, and lover of all things artistic. I am also a happy husband, father, friend, avid skier, and amateur home chef and foodie.
LD: Please give a brief overview of your training/education/career path.
JR: I received a BS in Communication from Northwestern University, theatre major. I am also certificated in architectural lighting from UCLA's Extension program, and was LC (Lighting Certified) by the NCQLP. My ongoing education was via various mentors and on-the-job self-training.
LD: Please describe your most recent project.
JR: The Bruce Springsteen tour that began in 2023 just concluded this past summer. That was a long-term all-encompassing project that began its planning in 2021. Although I don't travel with the tour these days, it required multiple updates as the show transitioned from indoor to stadium shows, as well as adding some necessary elements for special venues. More recently I have worked on stand-up comedy specials for Netflix and Peacock, various televised and streamed awards programs, design coordination for the ongoing Ringo Starr tours, and my annual Coachella stint as the festival's broadcast lighting consultant.
LD: What are you teaching at LDI and who is your target audience?
JR: I will be part of the Dining With Dinosaurs event, with the intention of sharing ideas, techniques, and maybe some career tips with younger designers who weren't around in the '70s, '80s or '90s. I will also be in an interview session – Lighting Legends: Peter Morse & Jeff Ravitz in Conversation – along with lighting designer Peter Morse, moderated by Vicki Claiborne, at which we'll discuss our recent books and why they have interesting, relevant, and useful information for designers in any stage of their careers.
LD: What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
JR: It's an ongoing mission to be current on both modern lighting design styles and techniques while still being true to the core values of good design. That takes effort to pay attention and to stay in the greater conversation in the industry with our colleagues, both those who are relatively newer to the industry and with those who perhaps are early pioneers. It's also critical to remain up-to-date on all the new equipment and technology.
LD: What is your advice for people just getting into the industry?
JR: Meet everyone you can, in all aspects of the business, and learn as much as you can from them. Be willing and available to work, volunteer, or intern, to get as much professional experience as possible. Hopefully this would be in your chosen segment of the industry, but working in other areas can be quite instructive, too. Be respectful, helpful, and diligent. Nothing guarantees success but you can give yourself an advantage by doing the above.
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