Lighting designer and programmer Joshua Koffman of Interrobang, Inc. works as a screens director, and creative force using lighting and video on tours for artists such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Rihanna. At LDI 2025, he will join Disguise's project manager for live experiences Ollie Newland for the session, Life on the Road: Lessons From Coldplay’s World Tour: Ever wondered what it’s like to pull together the technical strings of a colossal 3.5-year world tour? This session is part of XLIVE: The Concert Touring Sessions on Saturday, December 6 in Las Vegas.
Use promo code XLIVE20 to save 20% on XLIVE: The Concert Touring Sessions.
Live Design: Can you describe yourself in less than 50 words?
Joshua Koffman: I like experimenting with all forms of design to creatively tell stories and create experiences. I enjoy using cutting edge technology along with classical methods to solve the interesting challenges that come up when creating every event or experience.
LD: Please give a brief overview of your training/education/career path
JK: I have a degree in theatrical lighting design. After university, I worked on the product side of our industry for a while, creating hardware and software for shows. I then moved back into focusing full time on events, though I still find the time for some product work as I love it!
LD: Please describe your most recent project
JK: Recently I have been primarily focused on the Coldplay "Music of the Spheres World Tour". We started planning this in 2021 and are still going!
LD: What are you teaching at LDI and who is your target audience?
JK: I'll be talking about some of my experiences on long running shows and the challenges that extended timelines create. So much of the touring industry is focused around relatively short term shows, there are some different things to consider when looking at a project that lasts for a very long time.
LD: What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
JK: Not panicking. The freelance world can be incredibly tough mentally, and learning how to balance work and life without living in a constant state of worry about the future is not easy.
LD: What is your advice for people just getting into the industry?
JK: Learn how to work with others, and to be helpful without being overbearing. People will remember your social skills ahead of your technical skills. I have gotten jobs before because someone knows I will fit in with the team, my actual role is sometimes determined later.