As I am currently in Melbourne, home of the Australia Open Tennis championships, the first grand slam of the year, I can’t help make a comparison with our own profession of lighting design. We too are in it to win it!

Professional tennis players, practice, practice and practice, day in and day out. They travel from tournament to tournament around the globe. But then, if you have an off day or you don’t perform well, make too many “unforced errors” you are out! It’s seldom that you manage to creep through if you have a mediocre performance during a match on the court. 

While lighting design performance may not have as brutal punishments, in many ways we face the same routine, same requirements to deliver. We practice our profession day in and day out, we travel to our meetings and project sites (for many around the world as well), we test our knowledge, our concepts, the products we specify, to make sure the client gets the very best value for money. 

When we pitch or present to our clients we need to be at our best, we need to pull out all stops and deliver a memorable performance that will leave them at the edge of their seats. When you have finished and they clap for your presentation you know you did well…it has happened to me a few times, not often though, but when it did I knew I had done a good job, answered all their questions, put their minds at peace that they would get the very best. Most of the time there are no questions, as you covered it all. They are eager to move to the next stage. That is when you know you won them over… 

Same for when you complete a project, a smiling, beaming client walking around the site, proud to show his guests around tells it all. Getting a big hug on opening day does not happen often but when it happens (as it has a few times for me as well) you have an enormous sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. You made someone really happy! 

In using this year’s doubles winners I am also emphasizing the importance of team work. While individual performance is crucial, lighting design is very much a team sport! Even the single’s player relies on a big team to support him or her!

So, there is a lot of similarity with tennis if you think about it. “Winning” gives you a lot of personal satisfaction, getting a standing ovation by the public is gratifying…to achieve the highest standards of professionalism, you have to give it your all!