Professional Lighting & Production - Fall 2020 | Page 35

Ishdeep Bhogal

By Samantha Corbett
Ishdeep Bhogal is still relatively new to the lighting industry , but that hasn ’ t precluded him from making a notable impact on its landscape .
From major tours with some of Canada ’ s top artists to high-profile corporate gigs and more , the 21-year-old Winnipeg native says that for him , it ’ s all about show time – when all of the work and collaboration pays off in a lively , energetic atmosphere that draws excitement and emotion from everyone bearing witness .
Bhogal is currently a freelance lighting director and tech based in Winnipeg . Although he has successfully grown into his profession and continues to sharpen his skills , he understands that without the experience learning firsthand under the mentorship of his colleagues and other industry pros , he wouldn ’ t be where he is now .
Bhogal moved around between several cities growing up , ultimately attending nine different schools . With his parents separated , he says he faced hardships at home that exacerbated the constant transitioning between cities . Bhogal ’ s escape from it all was finding solitude in music . He started playing the drums at the age of seven and eventually started playing in bands , which not only helped him deal with his personal struggles , but ultimately steered him in the direction of his future career .
His first formal experience in the lighting business came near the end of his second year of high school . A friend invited him to see what a load-in looked like for an annual public event with a daytime stage . Needless to say , he loved the experience , and before he knew it , Bhogal was getting his hands on all types of equipment and building a passion for the live production lifestyle .
Initially learning on his own , it was a year later when Bhogal landed his very first job as a shop tech at Christie Lites ’ Winnipeg location . He spent the rest of his high school years working there parttime and had the opportunity to shift between different departments , eagerly learning from his managers and colleagues at every stage . To this day , he believes this job is the foundation of his career , and he relished every opportunity to try out a new piece of technology or learn a new technique .
After graduating high school in 2017 , Bhogal jumped right into work and was brought to Dauphin ’ s Country Festival as a Christie Lites technician . There , he made some valuable professional connections and expanded his network beyond the local level . Over time , he began working two part-time gigs as the house lighting technician at Winnipeg ’ s iconic Burton Cummings Theatre and Garrick Centre .
A short year later , Bhogal was brought on his first tour with his frequent collaborators at Winnipeg ’ s Red Rover Entertainment as a dimmer technician for Cirque Musica ’ s Holiday Wonderland . This gig eventually led to him taking on more work with Red Rover , and he and the firm have been thriving since .
In 2019 , Bhogal was out on the Friends Don ’ t Let Friends Tour Alone coast-to-coast jaunt with country stars Dean Brody and Dallas Smith . He says his experience on the tour solidified his love for the business and , specifically , working on the road . Later that year , he caught another exciting opportunity , this time hitting the road alongside Red Rover co-founder Jonathan Stanners and his client , fast-rising star Jessie Reyez , on her breakout tour . In early 2020 , they joined Reyez opening for Billie Eilish before the coronavirus forced everything to a halt in mid-March .
With COVID-19 taking an unprecedented toll on the live production industry , Bhogal is keeping himself busy by feeding his unending desire to learn and grow his skillset . He has been taking advantage of the influx of free and discounted training opportunities from various manufacturers and industry leaders , and while he ’ s of course eager to get back to work , he admits that he enjoys the selfimprovement and intends to keep making the best of the situation .
When he ’ s not focused on his career , he ’ s kicking back at home in Winnipeg cooking spicy foods , banging the drums , or taking care of the residents of his saltwater fish tank .
Bhogal doesn ’ t have as many years on his resume compared to many of his colleagues , but doesn ’ t let that stop him from vying for gigs or other opportunities . “ Coming into the lighting business at a younger age has forced me to prove myself to those working around me ,” he says , and admittedly , he relishes the challenge .
As an up-and-coming talent in the live production industry with an already impressive list of credits and proven work ethic , Boghal will surely be stunning more audiences as he continues along his promising career path .
Samantha Corbett is a writer based in Ontario ’ s Niagara Region and a former editorial assistant with Professional Lighting & Production .
PHOTO : TOM PRATT
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