Bobby Glowacki
Lighting Designer/Director
Nashville-based lighting director and designer Bobby Glowacki toggles between two jobs. Designer and sales associate at TLS Productions, he is also country music star Kane Brown's full time lighting director. After graduating with a BFA in Theater Design from Oakland University in Michigan, his lighting career has led him across America and much of Europe. We caught up with him just before he departed for the UK to kick off Kane Brown's European tour.
Meet Bobby
So where did you grow up?
Michigan. I lived there my whole life until about four years ago when I moved to Nashville.
What did you want to be when you got older?
I always wanted to be a fighter pilot. I was short growing up so I figured I could fit into a jet pretty easily.
Do you remember when you first became aware of ˜lighting"?
My dad is a journeyman electrician so I was always around the electrical world. He was always lighting up the house for Halloween or Christmas. Lighting was always around us.
Can you tell us about your background in the lighting industry?
I've been in the lighting industry for about 12 years. I got my start in high school, when my theatre teacher's husband worked at the lighting department at the University of Michigan. I helped them with load-in and quickly got the bug for lighting design. I went to college for theatre lighting and spent some time in the TV world in California. I also interned with Team Imagination in LA, where I learned the design side and saw the workings of TV lighting and MTV. I've been with TLS Productions for 12 years, working as a designer and sales associate.
How did the connection with country music artists come about?
I met a lot of country music lighting directors while working with TLS, as they would hire them to do auto shows when they weren't out on the road. In 2018, I saw Justin Moore with my buddy Gavin Lake, the lighting director with Eric Church, and it kind of turned into my interview. Eventually I got the job with Justin Moore and it took off from there. Gavin introduced me to Brett Eldredge's old production manager, Bryan Robert, who helped design the Brett tour with me. He gave me a chance to be Brett's LD, then I made the move to Nashville and am now with Kane Brown.
What was that transition like?
I went from one truck with Brett to six trucks with Kane Brown. The concept of the show is much larger. Trevor Ahlstrand, Kane's Production Manager, has thought of every aspect of the show and has put a lot of trust in me to make sure that his vision is carried out every day. I've had nothing but support. When I started, I went straight to Australia to do my first shows then a Canadian leg. After this European leg, we go into rehearsals for the US tour, which starts in March.
Sounds like a busy start.
It has been. Not only that, I recently got married and bought a house. I actually signed for the house when I was in Australia doing my first gigs with Kane Brown. Then I returned to the States from New Zealand and got married the next weekend. It was a bit of a whirlwind.
You did a bit of everything on your three years with Brett Eldredge - production design, lighting design, lighting programming, lighting operation, lighting tech. Do you enjoy being a jack-of-all-trades or would you rather concentrate on one aspect?
The way that I was brought up in the industry, it's a bit like being the captain of a boat, you have to be able to do everything if need be. Even though now I set up at FOH and have more console time I still find myself trying to help load trucks, etc. Every load out I have to be told to go shower because I'm there trying to make sure everything gets done and everyone can get out quickly. I'm not sure if that's because I'm still new in the Kane Brown camp and want to show my worth or if I'm just a glutton for work.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The 5 to 10 minutes before a show, when you're about to take off on this rocket. You have to find time within the show itself to enjoy and pre-show chatter with the others on the crew is one of those moments. You relax and can be proud of what you've accomplished that day and the show that's about to happen.
Any particular challenges?
I'd have to say a lack of qualified hands in the States and in Canada. I've been in a few houses where most of the spot ops were green. When you're in your spot meeting and 3 of the 4 say that this is their first day… well, you have to be patient and simplify as much as you can. Let the PM and the artistic director know. Adjust and make the best of it, maybe open the iris a bit more or accept that you won't hit the big black out that night. We give as much grace to them as possible and are happy that they're there.
How do you stay up with the latest in new lighting?
LDI is always a great chance to see new products. Ed Cheeseman at [Elation rep] Five Lakes Marketing always takes care of us there. Social media is also huge to see what's out there and what gear people are using. Instagram is my go to. Festivals are another great way to see and sometimes test-drive new gear.
You've used Elation quite a bit over the years, besides Brett Eldredge and Kane Brown most recently on a booth at CES and a NYE show in Michigan. Is there anything you see of Elation's newer gear that you'd like to try out?
The Rayzor Blade looks great and as an IP65 fixture, I can see a lot of uses for that. And an IP65 Leko is always promising to see.
What are your main interests outside of our industry?
I've played ice hockey since I could walk and still play every Sunday night at my local rink. And golf, which has been fueled by being on the road. When we were in Europe with Brett, I had the chance to golf in Scotland with some of the guys in the band. Any chance I can get for days off on the road, I'll have my clubs with me.
What's something about Bobby Glowacki that people might find surprising?
I took five years of ballet in college. I danced at Oakland University in a student dance company and performed in several pieces.
