Today we’d like to introduce you to Addison Severs
Hi Addison, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out drawing and painting when I was little. My mom is super awesome at art, and my dad has some talent as well, so everything sort of fell into place for me. When I was in 7th grade, I got the opportunity to become the Audio Visual Technical Director for my school, getting to design and install audio and lighting systems as well as run them for various events. This is where I fell in love with lighting and audio design. When I graduated from Lake of the Woods High School in Baudette, MN, I moved down here to Duluth to attend UMD as a studio art major, emphasizing sculpture and ceramics. In freshman year, I scored a job with the Duluth Haunted Ship where I was one of the lead designers. I was able to learn and teach my self so much about the Immersive Entertainment Industry here. After my first semester at UMD, I got an internship at Walt Disney World in the Disney College Program, where I worked and got my foot in the door at Disney in Orlando, FL for 6 months. Once that was over, I came back to Duluth to continue my work as a designer on the Haunted Ship. After 3 years working on the Duluth Haunted Ship, I got a job at Audio Visual Resources and Sound Central here in Duluth where I am now an Audio Visual Technical Designer for events as well as a Lighting Designer while attending UMD. I also have recently started a small leather craft business on the side where I make leather belts, wallets, keychains, and bags with leather made in the USA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never as smooth as you plan it to be. Granted, I was lucky with having everything fall into place for myself with my jobs and internships. Although, balancing school, an essentially full time job, and all of my hobbies does get tedious.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Lighting Designer for Audio Visual Resources and Sound Central. I specialize in designing lighting rigs for concerts and events, as well as programming and executing the lighting design. Something I am most proud of is with my limited time of a year of being at this job, I have learned so much about the industry and have worked with many well known artists such as Prof, Vanilla Ice, Hawthorne Heights, and more. Something that sets me apart from others I think would be my knowledge of not just lighting design, but about design in general with my Immersive Entertainment background my schooling in fine arts. My goal in my designs at events is to immerse guests into each event, taking them out of the real word and putting them into a totally different one free of worry and stress.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking has been a huge help for me, especially when I worked at Disney. If at anytime I thought someone might have a lead to a possible job in the future, at the end of the conversation I give them my business card with my name, phone, and email on it. At Disney, this actually led to an Art Director for Disney Special Events giving me a call to come visit his office. He told me I’d be a great Art Director one day and to keep him in mind as a finish my schooling. I still talk to him once in a while, and he has provided some great advice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.addisonseversportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatomicmixers?igsh=MWE2ZG94dGZmdjg1dg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/addisonsevers?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
