2023 Pat MacKay Diversity in Design Scholarship recipient Darius Evans appears to be the hardest working (student) in show business, making time during his studies to head to as many industry events as possible, including LDI, USITT, and Showlight 2025.
As a scholarship recipient, he was awarded $5,000 towards his education at Boston University where he is studying lighting design. Live Design caught up with him at Showlight 2025 in Dijon, France.
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Live Design: What brings you here?
Darius Evans: Brad Schiller, who I met at LDI, reached out and said this would be a great opportunity for me to learn more about the industry at the conference. I tried to reach out for a PA position with Showlight but they were already full, but I still wanted to attend so I went to my school (Boston University) and asked if there was any funding for educational purposes. Somehow, they were able to find some.
LD: I met you when I came in to register, you were on the registration desk, are you working here anyway?
DE: I figured if I’m on a student ticket so I might as well help out. I showed up at 8am on Monday [the event opened that evening] and volunteered. Helping registration was great because I got to meet everyone. I met all of the exhibitors before the event started, and the few I knew already I got to say “hi” to again.
LD: How is college going for you?
DE: I’m starting as a junior this fall and I’ve done some small shows, for example if a student actor is doing something they may ask me to it. But in the fall I am doing my first show at Boston Playwright’s theatre which is technically its own entity but we have a shared program. I’m very excited to do it.
LD: What has been the most useful thing you learned at college so far?
DE: The most beneficial thing about school is having a safe place to fail. You can make mistakes and there are no career-ending consequences. I made a lot of mistakes as a production electrician and then I got to do it again and I learn from those mistakes. I’ve also learned to ask questions. You really get out of it what you put in to it.
LD: What was the most valuable thing about going to LDI?
DE: Networking! I met so many people and try to keep in touch with as many as possible. And I was surprised to see that so many of the same people go to all the conferences, for example, USITT.
Meeting Brad Schiller was amazing. Truly invaluable. If I have a programming question I can ask him and he’ll recommend useful books for me to read.
LD: Are you still involved with the Studio School of Design?
DE: Yes, I am an alumni from the first year of Studio School for high school students and I am returning this summer as a facilitator, so it is a full circle moment for me. Deandra [Bromfield—also a 2023 Pat MacKay Scholarship winner] is also returning. We met doing the high school program and kept in touch.
LD: Will you be back at LDI this December?
DE: I’m working on it. I am in touch with a company I met last year, Q2Q, to see if I can go with them and shadow them on the Expo floor. I want to be a designer but this is a good opportunity to interact with exhibitors and learan about the business of the industry at the show.
LD: How did you become so adept at networking?
DE: I owe it all to my parents. Growing up they taught me to work for what I want. When I was a kid there was a lady selling chocolate bars at school to raise money and I asked her if I sold three bars for her could I get one for free? She said yes, so that’s what I did. My parents always said if you want something you have to work for it, and so for example my sisters and I would sell rainbow loom bracelets to raise money towards getting an ipad, and we all got ipads. I owe my work ethic to my parents so if you I want something I have to work for it, even if it is difficult.
LD: What advice would you give other students?
DE: At trade shows and events I have learned not to be afraid to talk to people--most people want to help students. Even if they don’t have the time at the moment, they will often schedule time to talk to you later.