(***NOTE: As I mentioned on the front page, this Resume is nearly 15 years old. I never really used or needed it after I moved to NYC. I updated it way back then, just in case. But It has not been updated in nearly 15 years. It list's highlights of what I had done up until I moved to China.)
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I am currently the in-house L.D./Electrician at Highline Ballroom, NYC. I also have several clients that I work with around the New York Area and abroad. If you'd like some pictures of my recent work, send me an Email and I'll forward them to you. You can also see some pix and video on my crewspace page. The following are "Highlights" from my 34+ years in the business, chosen to show my diverse experience and abilities.
Thanks,
Jeff Gaines
"Merlin"
Tampa, Florida * New York, New York * Hong Kong/Guangzhou, Peoples Republic of China
SUCCESS ATTRIBUTES
Strong project management skills. Strong organizational & follow up skills. Exceptional imaginative, visualization and conceptualization skills. Team player, highly productive, organized, accurate, excellent problem solver, very artistic and creative, exceptional analytical skills, understanding of marketing, understanding of product/service presentation and "branding", long history of involvement with production, promotions, entertainment, and events, exemplary oral/professional communication skills. I have over twenty-nine years of experience in entertainment and production, on both sides of the spotlight.
CAREER GOAL
To conceive, create and implement shows in mixed or various Media that can impress and entertain an audience in a way that is both moving and unforgettable.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
WLPJ-91.5 F.M. Adult Contemporary Radio Station (Medium Tampa Bay Area Market Share) New Port Richey, Florida. Afternoon drive time On-Air Personality, Commercial/Program Script Writer, Character/Commercial Voice-over Talent. 1982-1985
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Various Night Clubs and Raves in and around the Tampa Bay, Miami and Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia Areas
Senior Nightly Music Programmer/Disc Jockey/Emcee/Entertainer 1982-1999
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Chasco Fiesta – Annual Festival and Parade in New Port Richey, Florida.
Parade Host/Disc Jockey/Emcee/Entertainer 1995-2004
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Singer/Founder of the rock band "Moon" - Played mostly in the Tampa Bay area including winning several "Battle of The Bands"-type shows which got us radio airplay. Act also headlined several large local music festivals as well as opening for acts such as Billy Thorpe and The Joe Perry Project. 1981-1985.
PRODUCTIONS:
Shows as Lighting Designer/Director, Technical Director, Moving Light Programmer/Operator or other:
Reggae Sumfest '94,'95,'96 Montego Bay, Jamaica. Moving light op/tech, Co-Lighting Director- Crew Chief
"Sting" (Dancehall Festival)'94 Kingston, Jamaica. Moving light op/tech, Asst. Lighting Director- Crew Chief
"Sting" (Dancehall Festival)'95,'96 Kingston, Jamaica. Lighting Designer/Director - Crew Chief
"Sting" (Dancehall Festival) 12-31-96 Montego Bay, Jamaica Lighting Designer/Director- Crew Chief
Air Jamaica Jazz/Blues Festival '96 Montego Bay, Jamaica Lighting Designer/Director- Crew Chief
Carnival '96 Port of Spain, Trinidad. Moving light op/tech, Lighting Director, Production Assistant/Crew Chief
Bob Marley 50th Birthday Celebration Kingston, Jamaica. Lighting Designer/Director, Moving light op/tech
Honda "Brain Games" Orlando, Florida. Technical/Lighting Director, Production Manager/Crew Chief
Wellcraft Marine Yearly Product Debut & Vendor Meeting Sarasota, Fl. Production Manager-Lighting Director
Central American Games '94 Ponce, Puerto Rico. Moving light op/tech, Production Assistant/Crew Chief
Caribbean Music Festival '96 Cable Beach, Bahamas. Lighting Director, Assistant Production Manager- Crew Chief
The Fugee’s Oct. ’96 Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, New York. Lighting Designer/Director
Fris Vodka Regional Product Debut Tampa, Fl. Technical/Lighting Director, Production Manager/Crew Chief
Billy Graham Tampa, Fl. The Inaugural Event at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. Chief Production Electrician
Dunlop Tire Corp. Super Bowl Party Technical/Lighting Director, Crew Chief
Caribbean Music Festival '96 Cable Beach, Bahamas. Lighting Director, Assistant Production Manager - Crew Chief
Reggae-Fest '96 Orlando, Florida. Production/Stage Manager, Event Coordinator, Lighting Designer - Crew Chief
Miss Mississippi Pageant '92 Vicksburg, MI. Moving Light op/tech, Co-Technical Director
RCA Corp. Regional Vendor Product Debut Tampa, Fl. Video Producer/Director-Technical/Lighting Director
Film And Television Credits:
Rickey Martin Live Music Performance from MacDill Air Force Base, during the Halftime Show of Super Bowl 35 Tampa, Fl. 2001
-Local Electrics Crew Chief for the load in (*Note: I was also the Key Grip for the "skydiving" sequence aired prior to his live performance)
"Mo' Thugs" - Mo' Thugs Family Music Video -Lighting Designer/Director
"The Reggae Movie" Feature Film -Lighting Designer/Director
"I'm Single" –The Chill Deal Boys Music Video -Lighting Designer/Director
"For The Love Of Money-Live" -Bone, Thugs and Harmony Music Video
-Lighting Designer/ Director
"Bone, Thugs and Harmony Live at the Universal Amphitheatre" Concert Film
-Lighting Designer/Director
"World Premier/Inaugural Game of the Florida Panthers Hockey Team" Miami, Fl.
-Lighting Designer/Director
"Combinacion Perfecta" Live Concert Event, broadcast live from Miami Arena around the World on Univision, Featuring: Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and many other Latin Music Legends
-Moving Light Programmer/Operator (*Note: I was nominated for an award for my work on this show)
Elton John/Billy Joel “Live” from Miami, Fl. Pay-per-View
-Generators/Electrics/Grip - Show Call Deckhand
The Rolling Stones “Live” from Miami, Fl. Pay-per-view -Generators/Electrics/Grip - Back Line/Band Gear - Confetti Cannons
Tina Turner “Live” from Miami, Fl. Pay-per-view -Electrics/Grip - Rehearsals - Truss Spot Operator
Bus-Arena Tours as Lighting Designer/Director:
Snap/Turbo B European Tour '93 -Lighting Designer/Director
Def Jam Record’s 10th Anniversary Tour "The Show, The Tour” -Lighting Designer/Director
The Budweiser Back to School Tour '96 U.S. Tour -Lighting Designer/Director - Bone, Thugs and Harmony + two of four other support acts.
Productions as a Stage Hand for Intercept Management Corporation or Ocean State Rigging and Event Staffing (Both based in Orlando, Florida):
Outdoor Shows (Steel, Inflatable's, Deck Calls, Generator and/or Electrics/Production, Back-line, Rehearsals, Forklift op, etc.):
Hialeah Spring Festival Hialeah, Fl. -Sunshine Festival of States St. Petersburg, Fl. -The Rolling Stones Tampa, Fl. -The Rolling Stones Gainesville, Fl. -The Rolling Stones Miami, Fl. -The Rolling Stones Orlando, Fl. -Rod Stewart Tampa, Fl. -Live Orlando, Fl. -Crosby, Stills, and Nash Tampa, Fl.-Chicago Tampa, Fl. -The Moody Blues Tampa, Fl. -Sting Tampa, Fl. -U2 Tampa, Fl. -U2 Orlando, Fl. -U2 Miami, Fl. -George Strait Nokia Festival Tampa, Fl. -"Armageddon" Feature Film Cast & Crew Premier Showing and Party at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Indoor Arena Shows (Electrics, Forklift, Production Runner, Spotlight, Back-line, Rehearsals, House Lights, Inflatable's, Show call Deckhand, etc.):
Nine-Inch Nails Orlando and Tampa, Fl. -Ted Nugent/Bad Company Tampa, Fl. -Queensryche Tampa, Fl. -Bob Seger Orlando, Fl. -Jimmy Buffett Orlando, Fl. -White Zombie Lakeland, Fl. -Natalie Cole Walt Disney World's Yacht and Beach Resort -Steely Dan Orlando, Fl. -Steven Curtis Chapman Lee County, Fl. -Stone Temple Pilots Tampa, Fl. -Rush Tampa, Fl. -Steve Miller Band Orlando, Fl. -Tool Orlando, Fl. -Bush Tampa, Fl. -Phil Collins Orlando and Tampa, Fl. -Barney On Ice Tampa, Fl. -Benny Hinn Orlando, Fl. -Kiss Orlando, Fl.Stars On Ice Orlando, Fl. -Tina Turner Miami, Fl. -Reba McEntire, Miami, Fl. -Faith Hill/Tim McGraw, Tampa, Fl. -Elton John, Tampa, Fl. -Barenaked Ladies, Orlando, Fl. -Van Halen Orlando, Fl. Dixie Chicks Orlando, Fl
Corporate or Hotel Functions (Corporate/Private Parties, Theme Parties, Product Debuts, Sales Meetings, Conventions, Trade Shows, etc.)
As a freelance Lighting/Technical Director, Dimmer Man, Lasers, Stagehand, Forklift or Board Operator:
Glaxo-Welcome, Smith-Barney, Nike Apparel, SeaRay Boats (Tampa Trade Show Booth), Fidelity Investment Group, Pillsbury, Lucent Technologies, A/C Delco, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, Health South, Microsoft, General Electric, Sony, Ford Motor Company, Walt Disney World Event Services Division (Shareholders Meeting, Company Executive Summit, Grand Opening of The Animal Kingdom & more), Levi's, Proctor & Gamble, Reebok, Matsushita Group (Panasonic & Technics Audio), Clay-Paky Lighting (Trade Show Booth at LDI Orlando), NFL Experience, (Fan-interactive Museum/Amusement Center) at Super Bowl 35, Tampa, Florida.
Sporting Events:
As a freelance Lighting/Technical Director, Dimmer Man, Cable Page, Production Assistant, Crew Chief, Stagehand or Board Operator: Olympic Gymnastics Finals in Orlando, Florida. -Olympic Central American Games Ponce, Puerto Rico. -Olympic Skating Competition Orlando, Fl. -Super Bowl 35, Tampa, Fl. -The X-Games St. Petersburg, Fl. -Solar Bears Hockey Games Orlando, Fl. -Orlando Magic Basketball Games Orlando, Fl.
EDUCATION:
Hudson Senior High School - Hudson, Fl. -Graduate, Class of 1982
*Clubs and Special Interests:
President- Audio-Visual Club
Student Media Center Audio-Visual Aide
Selected for Elite "Media & Studio" classes in the Art Dept.
Student Art Aide- Photography, Pencil and Pottery
Selected for "Applied Business Law and Applied Criminal Law" College level/credited, extra-curriculum Classes
*Lighting Designer/Director for all large functions and performances in the School gymnasium, operating an old Century-Strand Dimmer/Lighting System
*Major subjects studied:
Sociology, Psychology, Behavioral Science and Child Psychology, Advanced Art- Media & Studio, Applied Business, and Criminal Law, Drafting, Business and Marketing
*High School Athletics:
Track and Field-Lettered
Wrestling-Lettered
Whole Track Audio/Recording Workshop, St. Petersburg, Fl. -Graduate 1982
*Studied (and taught) Analog Recording and Mixing/Mix-down of up to 48 tracks of Audio to 2-track stereo in a studio environment. Also studied (and taught) Analog Mixing and Recording of live audio reinforcement and mixing live stage monitors.
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I have extensive experience in every aspect of productions, both large and small. I can and have done every type of job there is in production except climbing and rigging. I have ground rigged and obviously, being a Lighting/Set Designer, have a great deal of knowledge about rigging. I just do not climb out on to high steel beams or climb wire ladders into flying truss. I have no problem with lifts or catwalks. Nor do I have a problem with heights in general.
From Forklift to Front of House, from setting up/striking Grand Pianos to Calling/Directing huge Multi-Media Shows or Concerts, I have always worked in the entertainment, production or hospitality industry. I have managed crews larger than 100 men/women and can also be very productive all by myself.
If given a project, I can and would complete it, on time and on or under budget. I have equipment vendor, set/display, labor/staffing, logistics and Hotel connections all over the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.