AUDITORIUM / LIGHTING VOLUNTEER ROLE GUIDE

Auditorium Lighting Volunteer Role Guide

Task-focused guide for the Auditorium Lighting position — Stage Lighting cues through Lightkey and, for concerts and special events, House Light changes, with quick-start checklist and first responses to common problems.

Room: AUDITORIUMType: LIGHTING-VOLUNTEER-ROLE-GUIDERev: May 26, 2026

Document Control

• Owner:
• Last Reviewed: 2026-05-26
• Depends on Room Overview: Auditorium Room Overview
• Printable Quick Reference: Yes

Before You Start

• Confirm whether you are serving as a dedicated Lighting operator or whether FOH Audio will handle the simple lighting needs for this service.
• Review the service schedule and identify the moments that need lighting changes.
• Make sure Lightkey is running and that the normal control panel is loaded.
• Confirm the lighting fader controller is connected and responding.
• Know who is responsible for House Lights during the event.

Quick-Start Checklist

1. Open Lightkey and confirm the expected control panel is active.
2. Test the lighting fader controller before the room fills.
3. Set the starting stage-lighting look for the service or event.
4. Check the House Light relay switches in the Audio Booth and confirm who will operate them.
5. Review any cue list, special music, or event transitions that need intentional lighting changes.

What You Are Responsible For

You are responsible for Stage Lighting cues in the Auditorium whenever a dedicated Lighting operator is assigned. For concerts, cantatas, and similar events, you also own House Light changes that would normally stay with FOH Audio during a standard service.

What Good Looks Like

• The correct starting look is ready before service begins.
• Lighting changes happen on time and do not distract from the platform.
• House Lights and Stage Lighting are changed intentionally and independently.
• Special-event cue changes support the service order instead of lagging behind it.
• FOH Audio and platform leaders are not surprised by lighting changes.

Operating Steps

1. Review the schedule, note the lighting cues that matter, and confirm whether you also own House Lights for the event.
2. Open Lightkey, verify the normal control panel is active, and test the lighting fader controller.
3. Set the starting stage-light preset before the service or event begins.
4. Confirm the House Light relay switches in the Audio Booth are in the expected state before people are seated.
5. During normal services, use the simpler preset flow that FOH Audio would normally follow.
6. During concerts, cantatas, and other special events, follow the cue list and make stage-lighting changes deliberately.
7. Keep House Light changes coordinated with the actual room activity so transitions feel intentional.
8. If a cue changes unexpectedly, fall back to the closest safe preset and continue following the live event.

Common Problems and First Responses

Problem	First thing to check	What to do next	When to escalate
Fader moves but the stage lights do not respond	Whether Lightkey is running and the expected control panel is active	Reopen or refocus Lightkey, then reconnect the lighting fader controller if needed	The controller still does not affect lights after reconnecting it
The wrong lights respond to a cue	Whether the wrong preset or control panel is loaded	Return to the expected control panel or use the correct preset before the next cue	The lighting layout no longer matches the documented control surface
House Lights do not change when expected	Whether the relay switches in the Audio Booth are in the correct position and whether Lighting or FOH owns them for this event	Verify the relay-switch state and coordinate with FOH before changing them again	The relay switches are being used correctly but the House Lights still do not respond

Helpful Context

• Normal services use simple lighting presets and are usually handled by FOH Audio.
• The dedicated Lighting role is mainly used for concerts, cantatas, and similar events.
• Stage Lighting runs through Lightkey on the Lightkey Mac mini and the lighting fader controller.
• House Lights are controlled separately through relay switches in the Audio Booth.
• If the controller stops responding, first confirm Lightkey is open with the expected panel, then reconnect the controller.

Shutdown or Handoff

• Return the room to the agreed end-of-service or post-event lighting state.
• Confirm House Lights are in the correct state for cleanup, dismissal, or turnover to the next team.
• Leave notes about any missed cues, controller issues, or unexpected Lightkey behavior for the next operator or the AV Leader on Duty.