When he returned to campus to train our students, we took the opportunity to catch up with him and get an inside look at his journey after ALT. His story is a testament to where hard work and passion can take you in the world of live events.

Learning at the heart of the live events industry

Before joining the Academy of Live Technology, Sam studied Production Arts at Truro College, gaining hands-on experience in live events. Volunteering at local venues and school performances sparked a passion for lighting design, making ALT the perfect next step  

Sam explains that the unique campus at Production Park was one of the biggest draws to studying at ALT:

"ALT is based on the site of Production Park where some of the biggest shows rehearse and is home to some of the largest production companies in events, such as Roe, 4Wall, and Tait. Being so close to these companies allows you to connect and see how the industry operates before you leave the university, preparing you for the real world and gaining contacts and knowledge from these larger companies. The Academy of Live Technology has some amazing sponsorships from production companies across the UK, so you have the chance to learn on the latest equipment."     

Launching a Career in Live Event Technology

Graduating from ALT in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam had to navigate the challenges of a global lockdown however, was quickly offered a job in the Technical Department at the Academy of Live Technology, prepping equipment and providing technical support for lectures and projects. In September 2021 Sam took the leap into a freelance career in lighting design and operation for TV and live events in September 2021. Since then, he's worked on some incredible events and tours across the world.

Eurovision 2022: Sam Ryder

One of Sam's biggest projects to date came just eight months after leaving ALT, when he traveled to Turin, Italy, to contribute to the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. This incredible experience involved mapping and programming the UK entry’s staging - responsible for mapping over 44,000 individual pixels and converting them to X and Y coordinates to light the structure surrounding Sam Ryder on stage. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Sam had to adapt by programming remotely from London, ensuring seamless execution via the AI server in Italy. Despite these difficulties the performance was a huge success and the UK managed to achieve second place in the contest.

Returning to Eurovision in 2023

In 2023, Eurovision once again provided an amazing opportunity, as Sam was invited back to program and operate the lighting for Sam Ryder’s interval performance. The structure for Sam Ryder combined Light Initiative's 1m Pixel Wands and their new Kinetic Wands, forming a mountain-like structure around him.  Utilising a complete Avolites setup with two AI Servers, D9, Quartz, and TNP's connected using synergy, each pixel was mapped 1:1, resulting in output of 121 universes through DMX and Video. The installation was completed in under 6 minutes on the day but due to limited rehearsal time on stage, all programming had to be done before the first rehearsal using visualisers and programmed off site in a way that it could be updated within 20 minutes.

Expanding into new projects 

Beyond Eurovision, Sam's been involved in other prestigious projects, such as working with artist Bakar to operate video for his appearance on the main stage at Reading and Leeds Festival.

In November 2023, Sam was at the forefront of designing Dua Lipa’s music video launch at the English National Ballet, working with creatives and the team to transform the space into an unforgettable setting. Shortly after, a trip to the Bahamas saw him designing a global summit, transforming the space with over 300 fixtures across 12 days. 

For the last four years, Sam's been a part of the Ethix Management team, who discovered him during his second year at university. Having initially started to gain hands-on industry experience, he progressed to become a lighting designer, overseeing racecourse shows across the UK.

Working with Mirrad & Avolites

Since the beginning of 2024 Sam's been busy, working with Mirrad as a Production and Lighting Designer, and with Avolites as a Product Specialist. Traveling across the UK and internationally, Sam trains universities, students, and industry professionals on Avolites’ Titan Software, helping to shape the next generation of lighting designers. Alongside this, he's been mapping, programming and designing new structures and lighting rigs for shows in America and UK festivals.

Advice for future ALT students

Sam advises anyone thinking of studying at the Academy of Live Technology  be prepared for both practical and theory-based learning. Alongside getting hands-on with equipment, students learn the logistics of tours and events, including creating detailed logistics plans to coordinate trucks and crew for each venue. While these aspects might not seem as exciting as getting hands-on in practical sessions, they're crucial skills—ones he now relies on as a lighting designer to ensure every element of a production is planned and executed with precision.

He also stresses the importance of taking advantage of the numerous opportunities available to ALT students

"As everyone will mention, you only get out what you put in at the university. There are so many opportunities, but you need to go out and find them as well, speaking with industry professionals and taking as many free opportunities as possible, which will lead to paid work where you can progress to become a designer or work your way up in a company."

 Do you want to follow in Sam's footsteps? Learn how our programs can prepare you for an exciting career in live technology.