--- title: "Video: Zak Al-Alami explains live concert busking with Eos – et cetera..." description: Zak Al-Alami, the Lighting Director at Jazz at Lincoln Center and Arc3 Design, talks about busking with ETC's Eos consoles. image: https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Basic-Busking-on-Eos-Thumbnail-750x500.jpg --- - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [ABOUT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [AUTHORS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [CONTACT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [![EtCetera_319x104](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "EtCetera_319x104")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) [![ETC Blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "ETC Blog")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) Search ## [![blog-header](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-header.png?width=476&height=155&name=blog-header.png "blog-header")](https://www.etcconnect.com) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [✕](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/04/organized-improvisation-live-concert-busking-with-eos#gwen-offcanvas-primary) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) # Video: Zak Al-Alami explains live concert busking with Eos ![Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/kate.png?width=34&height=34&name=kate.png)By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 20 Apr 2017 ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Basic-Busking-on-Eos-Thumbnail-750x500.jpg)   New York based programmer Zak Al-Alami is the Lighting Director at Jazz at Lincoln Center and Arc3 Design. He recently stopped by the ETC video studio to talk us through his process of busking for concerts and other live performances. ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Zak-Reflection.jpg?width=1280&height=720&name=Zak-Reflection.jpg) Zak Al-Alami reflects on his work ### What is busking? “The general idea of busking is being able to light something on the fly,” says Al-Alami. “All of it is about getting to a place where you have a comfortable level of organized improvisation….It could be busking a dance set, it could be busking an EDM concert, or it could be busking for a band that you know and tour with, but their set list is so vast and their shows change so much from night to night that it’s not worth cueing it out like a regular theater show.” ### Building your toolbox A busking toolbox includes pre-programmed content, arranged for quick and easy access during a show. This content includes groups, effects, focus palettes, color palettes, beam palettes, submasters (Zak is a big fan of inhibitive subs), macros and cue lists. Here are some of Zak’s content layouts: ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Content-Layout.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Content-Layout.jpg) On the right-hand Gio screen: useful macros arranged for easy access – including a “lifesaver” macro that safely returns the stage to a base cue. ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Direct-Selects-1.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Direct-Selects-1.jpg) Effects and parameters live on the left-hand Gio screen ![Busking with Eos](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/magicsheet.jpg?width=1467&height=825&name=magicsheet.jpg) Working on a smaller console? Magic Sheets can give easy, hands-on access to information stored elsewhere on the desk. ### Watch the full video to see Zak in action Watch the full video below to hear Zak explain how he sets up his Eos software show file and see him program songs in real time.     *Want to learn about other Eos topics? Do you have busking stories of your own? Let us know at blog@etcconnect.com.* - - - 0 [#Eos](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/eos) [#SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) [#Programming](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/programming) [#Control](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/control) [#Video](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/video) [#Gio](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gio) [#Live programming](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/live-programming) [#GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) [#LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) [#NYC](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/nyc) [#Eos Motorized Fader Wings](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/eos-motorized-fader-wings) [#Zak](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/zak) [#Busking](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/busking) ### Happy Earth Day from ETC! [Previous article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/04/happy-earth-day) ### DIY skee-golf…powered by Cobalt [Next article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/04/diy-skee-golf-powered-by-cobalt) [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) ![Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/kate.png?width=180&height=180&name=kate.png) Kate joined ETC in 2012 after several years spent creating sets, props, and the occasional hack lighting design in the basement theaters of New York City. In addition to writing for ETC, she has worked on numerous in-house design projects, including tradeshow booths and the New York office’s Art Deco lobby. In her free time, Kate practices figure drawing, explores obscure corners of NYC, and pines for mountains. #### You may also like [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ChannelTrack_closeup.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/01/monthly-museum) [Consoles](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/consoles) ### [From the Museum: Channel Track 2](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/01/monthly-museum) By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 24-Jan-2017 Over the years, ETC has amassed a collection of relics from the lighting industry’s past. In this series of posts, we bring these artifacts back into the light and share them with you. This month’s... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/01/monthly-museum) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Museum_ELS2-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/01/from-the-museum-the-first-official-etc-console) [Consoles](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/consoles) ### [From the Museum: The first “official” ETC console](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/01/from-the-museum-the-first-official-etc-console) By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 11-Jan-2019 We continue our [tour](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/from-the-museum) through ETC’s repository of gear and ephemera of lighting days gone by with another entry from the company’s early history: the 1982 Entertainment Lighting Control System... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/01/from-the-museum-the-first-official-etc-console) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/MonthlyMuseum_Vintage_photos-4-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/05/vintage-lighting-control-photos-you-didnt-know-you-needed-in-your-life) [History](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/history) ### [Vintage lighting control photos you didn’t know you needed in your life](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/05/vintage-lighting-control-photos-you-didnt-know-you-needed-in-your-life) By [Kate Foster](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster) 2-May-2017 Welcome to the latest edition of the [Monthly(ish) Museum](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/from-the-museum), where we explore the storeroom of vintage lighting industry equipment and ephemera in ETC’s collection. [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/05/vintage-lighting-control-photos-you-didnt-know-you-needed-in-your-life) - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [About](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [Authors](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [Links](https://blog.etcconnect.com/links) - [Contact us](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Privacy Policy & Legal Notices](https://www.etcconnect.com/Privacy-Policy-Terms-of-Use-and-Acceptable-Use.aspx) [CA Transparency Act & Transparency in Coverage](https://www.etcconnect.com/About/California-Supply-Chain-Transparency-Act.aspx) [Do Not Share My Personal Info](https://www.etcconnect.com/Do-Not-Share-My-Personal-Info/) [CA Privacy Rights](https://www.etcconnect.com/CA-Privacy-Rights/) ![ETC blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/ETC-logo_footer-wh.png)   ![ETC 50 anniversary](https://www.etcconnect.com/uploadedimages/Main_Site/Images/50yr_160x80.png "ETC 50 anniversary") [![ETC social networks](https://www.etcconnect.com/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Images/social_Footer.png "ETC social networks")](https://www.etcconnect.com/Get-connected.aspx) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kate Foster", "url" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/kate-foster" }, "dateModified" : "2022-11-15T21:03:01.987Z", "datePublished" : "2017-04-20T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Video: Zak Al-Alami explains live concert busking with Eos – et cetera...", "image" : [ "https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Basic-Busking-on-Eos-Thumbnail-750x500.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/04/organized-improvisation-live-concert-busking-with-eos", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Logos%20-%20Icons%20-%20Design%20Elements/ETC_4c.png" }, "name" : "ETC" } } ```