6 AMERICAN BLUES THEATER If I weren’t a designer: I'd like to think I'd be a civil engineer. When you really think about how much planning and thought went into making the simplest things in our homes and businesses happen, it's almost mind boggling. Someone had to plan all of the sewer lines taking waste water from our homes and where to take it. The pipelines that bring gas into our homes in the winter without leaking or exploding. And the electrical lines the bring massive amounts of electricity into this very theater. Childhood nickname: J-rod. I had a German P.E. teacher that called me that when I lived in Tennessee because I told him Jared sounded weird coming from him. When I moved to Texas there was another Jared in my homeroom, so my teacher asked either one of us went by a nickname and I offered up mine. From then on I was only known as J-rod to a lot of people at school. Best career advice I’ve received: "Maintain a work life balance." Because of the industries I work in, it is very easy for me to find myself working 14 days straight or more. I will often just block off a day or two where I will not answer emails or plan to do much of anything. I'll just let the day happen as it does. Those days are the most rejuvenating. (And to any directors or production managers reading this, your email really did just slip through the cracks, or I was distracted by another tech/job. I promise!) Favorite part of the job: Getting work with so many other artist who challenge me and inspire me in so many different ways. And then getting to call these wonderful people my friends. Worst part of the job: The fact that I only takes a week or two in the space for me to accomplish my job. So much of my work is done alone and before we even step foot in the theater, that by the time we begin tech for a show, the actors, run crew, musicians, and directors have all spend so much time together that they have already formed a tight bond. They welcome you into the room with open arms and you instantly feel at home, but there is also the fact that they’ve had a month or two of rehearsing together to bond into a family. I often wish I could build that type of close bond with everyone I get to work with in the room. (That and the temporary blindness gained after a long day of focus when I have to stare into lights for 4-8 hours straight.) How I made my first dollar: Selling bubblegum in 6th grade. I would sell a stick of Juicyfruit for 25 cents a stick, then turn around and buy a 5 pack for a quarter while grocery shopping with my mom. BAM $1! I was making about $7 a week before I was busted by the faculty. Last meal I’d want: My mom's meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green- beans. Then I'd at least eat so much that I would pass in my sleep. Cause there is no waking me up after that. Favorite item of clothing: Well jackets of course, it's Chicago... OH!!! You mean "'My' favorite item of clothing?" Probably whatever pajamas I was sleeping in that night. They give you your first warm hug of the day every morning. If I could invent one thing: Vibranium. Wakanda Forever! One of my hidden talents: I like to think I'm pretty good at noticing when people make puns on accident. It's really because my brain works in strange ways though... DESIGNERS’ CORNER: “THE BACKSTORY” WITH JARED GOODING American Blues Theater Ensemble member Jared Gooding is the Lighting Designer for Flyin’ West. We asked Jared to share some lesser-known facts about himself in “The Backstory.” Lighting Designer Jared Gooding