Graduate Ruairi Wakefield on touring with his musical heroes

From lecture halls to international tour venues, Ruairi Wakefield went from applying to the Technical Theatre Arts course with no experience to building a thriving career as a lighting technician. Since graduating in 2021, he has worked with some of the biggest names in rock and metal—including Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and cinematic rock band STARSET—as a lighting technician and board operator.

We turned the spotlight on Ruairi for a change to talk about his time at Falmouth, how he landed his dream job, and the lessons he’s learnt along the way.

Tell us about your time at Falmouth on the Technical Theatre Arts BA course.

I was at a stage where I knew what I wanted to do with my life, but I had no background or qualifications in the industry and was a little lost as to where to get started. By chance, a friend told me about the Technical Theatre Arts course at Falmouth, and I applied with no expectation of being accepted. I was surprised when I found out I’d been offered a place!

The course went beyond just technical understanding and gave me far more important skills than simply pushing faders or running cables. I didn’t come to university with a significant background in working with technology, so my knowledge in that area developed slowly over time. A willingness to learn and the capacity to evolve were just as important as technical skills.

I learned that attitude and commitment will always outweigh simply knowing which lighting fixture is best for the job (though that certainly helps!).

How did you find getting a job after graduating?

I graduated into a world still recovering from the pandemic. Venues were still restricted, masks were mandatory indoors, and social distancing was still very much in place. My first role was working as a tech in opera houses and theatres.

The first thing I realised is that university doesn’t prepare you for everything; it provides a fantastic foundation of knowledge, but the real world won’t always be as gentle. You will meet people who don’t value your opinion or who talk down to you. Roll with the punches, grow, adapt, and keep learning.

Several people (who I will name later, to give them the full credit they deserve) helped me push past this stage. Designers I knew through bands I socialised with, and techs I worked with who wanted to nurture my passion for the industry, played a huge role in my growth. Networking is key in this industry—there’s always someone nearby who can open a door for you.

This eventually led to freelancing opportunities with larger companies, working as a board op in small venues, and finally, the big prize: going on tour.

What have been your best jobs so far?

Working with STARSET and Corey Taylor have been the highlights of my career so far.

Corey Taylor (frontman of Slipknot and Stone Sour, two bands I religiously listened to growing up) gave me my first opportunity to tour as a board operator, using an Avolites Diamond 9. Up to that point, the largest shows I’d worked on as a board op were in 600-capacity clubs, so jumping to 5000+ venues was a deer-in-the-headlights moment. The support I received from tour manager Josh Sobeck and lighting designer Jarred Roberts was absolutely top tier, as was Corey himself! They all gave me space to find my feet, encouraged me, and never let my head drop on the tough days.

STARSET has been, is, and always will be my dream job. I’ve been personally connected to the band for years, and they were a huge reason I wanted to work in live events in the first place! Singer Dustin Bates and bassist Ron DeChant have always supported me and even played a role in some of my AMATA projects.