--- title: "Behind the Console: Meet ETC Trainer Gianni Bertoli" description: Discover Gianni Bertoli's journey in lighting design, his experiences with ETC consoles, and the importance of training for the next generation. image: https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Italy%20Trainer%20Gianni%20Bertoli.png --- - [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/meet-trainer-gianni-bertoli#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) # Behind the Console: Meet ETC Trainer Gianni Bertoli ![Katherine Stamp](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/katherine.png?width=34&height=34&name=katherine.png)By [Katherine Stamp](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/katherine-stamp) 29 Oct 2026 ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Italy%20Trainer%20Gianni%20Bertoli.png)  A career in lighting can take you in some unexpected directions. For Gianni Bertoli, it started at 17, when an opportunity to help out behind the scenes at a theatre near Florence, Italy, sparked an interest in the world of lighting and technical theatre.  Since then, Gianni has worked across opera, theatre, exhibitions and events. He trained in Lighting Design at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, worked as an assistant to lighting designer Pasquale Mari, and in 2023 joined ETC’s team of trainers. We spoke to Gianni about his journey into lighting, how he developed his technical knowledge, his experience with ETC consoles and what he enjoys about training others. He also shares his thoughts on the challenges facing young people entering the theatre industry, and why he believes training has played such an important role in growing the ETC community. **Welcome, Gianni. Can you tell us a little about your work and how you got into the industry?** Hi! I currently work as a lighting designer, mainly in opera and theatre, with some work in exhibitions and events. I got into this world when I was 17, while I was attending the acting school at Teatro della Limonaia in Sesto Fiorentino. In the second year of the course, I was asked if I wanted to help the venue’s technical director during get-ins. From that point on, I became increasingly fascinated by what was happening behind the scenes, partly because acting wasn’t really my strong point! I spent the next 10 years working in theatres and with local production companies around Florence. Then, in 2017, I attended the Lighting Design course at Teatro alla Scala. From 2018, I started working as an assistant to Pasquale Mari, and over time I began designing my own shows and productions too. **Do you remember the first time you used an ETC product?** Excluding [Source Four](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Entertainment-Fixtures/Source-Four/) profiles, the first ETC product I used was the [SmartFade](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Legacy/Console/Smart-Family/SmartFade/Features.aspx), around 2008 or 2009. It was being used in one of the venues during the Intercity Festival. **What do you think are the strengths of ETC consoles, and why are they your first choice?** ETC consoles are my first choice because they're easy to use and their syntax is logical and straightforward. They've also become almost a standard in theatre in Italy. Understanding how they work means I can make precise, targeted requests when I’m working as a lighting designer. The Color Path tool, for example, is one of the functions I use most often. It allows me to manage colour transitions effectively, particularly when fixtures are transitioning from white, and helps me stay as consistent as possible with the director’s choices. ![SourceFour\_family\_300cmyk-600x338](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SourceFour_family_300cmyk-600x338.jpg?width=600&height=338&name=SourceFour_family_300cmyk-600x338.jpg) **Can you tell us about your experience with training? How did you learn about lighting technology and the “tools of the trade”?** I've always been curious about how the things I use actually work. For me, “it works, so it’s fine” has never really been enough. Whenever I came across something new, I wanted to understand it. My first few years in theatre were very much self-taught. I would take apart and put back together anything I could find, mainly lighting fixtures and dimmers, and I studied the manuals for the consoles I had access to. I also attended a number of courses and workshops on lighting and lighting technology organised by theatres, companies and the Accademia della Luce. I think that even going back over subjects you have already studied can teach you something new. When I joined the course at La Scala, I had the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals and learn a great deal, not just technically but also about ways of working and good technical and interpersonal practices. Working in different theatres and environments, and talking to people who have spent their whole careers in this field, means there's always something new to learn. ![Eos\_Apex\_macro\_800](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Eos_Apex_macro_800.png?width=600&height=300&name=Eos_Apex_macro_800.png) **How did the opportunity to become an ETC trainer come about?** From 2019, I started using [Eos](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Consoles/Eos-Consoles/) consoles in more depth. When I felt I needed to take a structured course, I contacted the London office directly. They put me in touch with ETC Regional Sales Manager, Davide Gabbani, and within a week, I was at the Guidonia office taking a course with Stefano De Vito. From then on, as I continued to study, we stayed in regular contact. In 2023, the opportunity came up to join the group of ETC trainers. **What kind of people do you find on your courses? What do you think their main technical and knowledge needs are?** The people attending the courses are very diverse. On the basic course, you find people who've never worked in the industry before, students from different academies, and people who are already working with consoles and complex systems and want to learn a new programming language. In these situations, it is the trainer’s job to give everyone the information and tools they need to get something meaningful from the training. ![Image (43)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Image%20(43).jpg?width=600&height=450&name=Image%20(43).jpg) **I imagine you work with a lot of young people. How do the younger generations approach this industry? What are their biggest areas of curiosity and what challenges do they face?** Many of the courses are aimed at the theatre world, and for young people this environment can sometimes feel distant and difficult to understand. It is still connected to ways of working that are rooted in the past. Understanding the theatre environment is perhaps one of the biggest challenges for young people. In terms of technology and working practices, particularly in Italy, there hasn’t been enough meaningful development. **What are your thoughts on ETC’s commitment to training?** I believe training is one of the things that has enabled ETC to grow over the last few years. Being able to attend an [Eos](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Consoles/Eos-Consoles/) course every month, somewhere in Italy, has helped to build a large community of users. The support provided by the company and, above all, by the community of programmers, operators and trainers has created an ecosystem that continues to grow and develop. --- Want to find ETC training near you? Visit our [Training page](https://www.etcconnect.com/Training/) to see upcoming courses in your region.  *[![IT\_Casa\_BlogBanner\_960x150](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IT_Casa_BlogBanner_960x150.jpg?width=960&height=150&name=IT_Casa_BlogBanner_960x150.jpg)](https://www.etcconnect.com/IT/Casa.aspx?utm_campaign=Italian%20training&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=banner960x150)* - - - 0 [#Eos](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/eos) [#SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) [#FEATURED](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/featured) [#lighting design](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/lighting-design) [#Lighting designer](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/lighting-designer) [#Italy](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/italy) ### LD Hannah Kerman Talks Lighting in the World of Television [Next article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/ld-hannah-kerman) [Katherine Stamp](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/katherine-stamp) ![Katherine Stamp](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/katherine.png?width=180&height=180&name=katherine.png) Katherine joined ETC in 2016 with a background in entertainment technology marketing. Although based out of the London office, she currently resides on the fringe of Sherwood Forest, famous for the legend of Robin Hood. Katherine enjoys traveling, reading, walking, theme parks and live music. She’s also a qualified hypnotherapist – but don’t let that scare you! #### You may also like [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Alberto.png)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/alberto-gottardi) [Eos](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/eos) ### [Alberto Gottardi and the Elegance of Lighting Programming with Eos](https://blog.etcconnect.com/alberto-gottardi) By [Katherine Stamp](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/katherine-stamp) 16-Jul-2026 Every now and then, we come across a story that feels very familiar. It’s the kind of journey many people in our industry have lived in one way or another. It starts with a bit of curiosity, a chance... 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