Lighting and Music: How a Phish Concert Illuminated My Career
Exploring the emotional impact of lighting and its influence on commercial and industrial projects with Andrew Boerschig
A Focus on Function: Lighting for Practical Spaces
As a commercial and industrial electrical contractor in the lighting industry, Guarantee Electrical’s projects often fall into what I like to call “meat and potato” type jobs. What does this mean exactly? Simply put, our lighting projects are primarily focused on function over form. We handle spaces like warehouses, parking lots, office buildings, and manufacturing plants—places where efficiency and practicality are the primary concerns. In these serious and technical environments, we are committed to providing energy-efficient lighting solutions that meet or exceed our clients’ requirements. Decorative or artistic lighting applications are not usually the priority in these types of projects, and that’s just the nature of the work we do. But every once in a while, I find myself rethinking the relationship between lighting, design, and the emotional experience—something that hit home for me after two unforgettable nights in St. Louis.
A Long-Awaited Experience: Phish in St. Louis
After more than two decades of waiting, I finally had the chance to see one of my favorite bands, Phish, live in concert on August 30th and 31st of this year. To say I had been looking forward to these shows would be an understatement—I had them marked on my calendar for months. When I mentioned the concerts to my friends, family, and coworkers, I got a lot of, “Who is Phish?” The simplest way to explain Phish is that they’re an improvisational jam band in the same vein as the Grateful Dead, and listening to their music always brings me back to a place of relaxation and reflection. Phish is known for delivering immersive, one-of-a-kind live performances, blending incredible music with a mind-blowing lighting display. I walked into those shows with high expectations, and the band didn’t disappoint. It felt like two artistic forms of expression—music and lighting—were woven together to create something truly spectacular.
Lighting as an Emotional Journey
From the moment the first night began, I knew I was in for something special. But what struck me most wasn’t just the music—it was the lighting design. As someone who has spent years working in the lighting industry, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the technical side of lighting, but this was different. The lighting wasn’t just supporting the music; it was amplifying it, elevating the entire experience into something transcendent. I stood there, eyes wide and jaw dropped, completely captivated by the synchronization of lights and sound. It was more than just a visual experience; I could feel it in my soul. That night, a question started to form in my mind: How can lighting take us on an emotional journey, and how can I bring that same transformative power into my own work?
Rethinking the “Meat and Potato” Projects
In my day-to-day role, it’s easy to get stuck in the routine of energy-efficient lighting projects for commercial and industrial spaces. We work with clients who are primarily focused on function—ensuring their spaces are well-lit, safe, and efficient. But this Phish concert reminded me that even the most technical projects can evoke emotions if we approach them with the right mindset. Just because our focus is often on practicality doesn’t mean we should overlook the emotional impact that lighting can have on the people who use these spaces. Whether we’re working on a warehouse or a parking lot, there’s always an opportunity to create something meaningful. By tuning into our clients’ deeper goals and understanding how they want their spaces to feel, we can go beyond function and tap into the emotional potential of every project.
Empathy and Passion in Lighting Design
One of the biggest lessons I took away from this experience is the importance of empathy. As contractors, we’re not just installing lights; we’re creating environments. To do this successfully, we need to put ourselves in our clients’ shoes and understand the emotional impact our projects will have on their teams, customers, and communities. It’s about going beyond just meeting technical specs—we need to truly feel our clients’ aspirations and work alongside them as partners. While our projects may not be as flashy as a concert, we can still use our passion and energy to create something special. It’s about recognizing that every project, no matter how “routine,” carries emotional weight for those involved.
Lighting the Path Forward: A New Perspective on My Career
Ultimately, the Phish concert helped me connect my personal and professional passions in a way I hadn’t before. What does a rock concert have to do with commercial and industrial energy-efficient lighting? At first glance, not much. But on a deeper level, both are about creating experiences. The concert showed me that every lighting project is part of a journey—not just for us, but for our clients. We have the power to shape how people feel in the spaces we illuminate, and that’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. Moving forward, I’m committed to bringing that same sense of purpose and passion to every project I work on, no matter how functional or technical it may seem on the surface.
Conclusion: Merging Passion with Purpose
I feel incredibly fortunate to work in an industry that I love, for a company that I believe in. This Phish concert reminded me that lighting isn’t just about fixtures and energy efficiency—it’s about creating experiences that resonate on a deeper level. Whether I’m working on a commercial space or attending a concert, I’ve learned that it’s essential to stay connected to the emotional and human side of our work. By bringing empathy, energy, and passion to everything we do, we can create long-lasting relationships and experiences that impact our clients and communities. Just like Phish delivered an unforgettable experience for their fans, we can deliver meaningful lighting solutions that go beyond the technical, connecting with people on an emotional level.
All the photos are from Andrew Boerschig
Who is Andrew Boerschig?
Andrew is a standout project manager at Guarantee Electrical in St. Louis, recognized for delivering innovative energy solutions across the nation. His journey, illuminated through a causal LinkedIn story, showcases the critical yet often overlooked role of electrical contractors in the lighting industry. Without a contractor, no project gets completed hence the challenges and value, that a contractor can bring to an end-user and to specifiers. Their challenges, and partnerships with distributors, manufacturer representatives / lighting agents, and manufacturers are not discussed. Here is his third article.
Guarantee Electrical – Energy Solutions – Lighting – Lighting | Guarantee Electrical Company (geco.com)
LinkedIn Profile – Andrew Boerschig (Problem Solver) Pure Energy – Storyteller | LinkedIn
Guarantee Electrical – Guarantee Electrical Company | Electrical Contractor | St. Louis, MO | (geco.com)
More Articles from Andrew Boerschig in the Series: The ‘Life’ of an Electrical Contractor in the Lighting World
Power Up Your Exterior Lighting: Boost Safety and Security – US Lighting Trends
LED Lighting Retrofit Success: Simple Solutions for Complex Needs – US Lighting Trends
The ‘Life’ of an Electrical Contractor in the Lighting World – Article 2 – US Lighting Trends
The ‘Life’ of an Electrical Contractor in the Lighting World – US Lighting Trends
Article Links:
Meet Chris Kuroda, Phish’s Lighting Designer – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Lighting Upgrades | Lighting Maintenance | Lighting Retrofits (geco.com)
Phish delivers during two-night stand at Chaifetz Arena (stltoday.com)
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