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Freelance Stage Lighting Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Video Storyteller

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$125K - $150K/yr

A decentralized capture model-equipping and directing distributed teammates and freelance crews to ... Strong hands-on craft across cameras, lighting, audio, and editing (Premiere, Resolve, or ...

Prepare input lists, patch sheets, stage plots, and console show files in advance of load-in, and ... Partner with the Live Event Producer, video and lighting technicians, and freelance crew to deliver ...

... lighting, and stage management--with end-to-end logistics and strategic storytelling, we turn ... Manage the recruitment and procurement of event subcontractors and freelancers, utilizing and ...

... lighting, and stage management-with end-to-end logistics and strategic storytelling, we turn ... Manage the recruitment and procurement of event subcontractors and freelancers, utilizing and ...

... lighting, and stage management-with end-to-end logistics and strategic storytelling, we turn ... Manage the recruitment and procurement of event subcontractors and freelancers, utilizing and ...

In this role, you will be a hands-on contributor across every stage of production -- shooting ... Operate camera, lighting, and audio equipment on location and in-studio * Execute on creative ...

Direct run-of-show, stage direction, and technical coordination (A/V, lighting, FX). * Oversee ... Coordinate collaboration with external partners and freelancers based on project requirements.

Direct run-of-show, stage direction, and technical coordination (A/V, lighting, FX). * Oversee ... Coordinate collaboration with external partners and freelancers based on project requirements.

Direct run-of-show, stage direction, and technical coordination (A/V, lighting, FX). * Oversee ... Coordinate collaboration with external partners and freelancers based on project requirements.

... Lighting Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or a related design discipline, highly preferred ... freelance support, local production experience, or other early-stage practical exposure.

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Freelance Stage Lighting information

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$71

How much do freelance stage lighting jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance stage lighting in the United States is $62.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60.34 and $68.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance stage lighting professional?

A freelance stage lighting professional is an independent contractor who designs, sets up, and operates lighting for live events, such as concerts, theater productions, and corporate functions. Unlike full-time employees, freelancers work on a project-by-project basis for different clients and venues. Their responsibilities include creating lighting plans, programming lighting cues, and ensuring that lighting enhances the overall atmosphere of the event. Freelance stage lighting professionals often bring their own expertise, creativity, and sometimes equipment to each job. They need to stay updated on the latest lighting technology and safety standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance stage lighting professional?

To thrive as a Freelance Stage Lighting professional, you need expertise in lighting design, electrical knowledge, and familiarity with stage production, often supported by relevant technical training or a degree in theater arts or lighting technology. Proficiency with lighting consoles (such as ETC or GrandMA), DMX control systems, and lighting software like Vectorworks is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you adapt to different venues and collaborate with production teams. These skills are crucial for creating impactful visual experiences, ensuring safety, and delivering professional results on varied productions.

What are some common challenges freelance stage lighting professionals face when working with new production teams?

Freelance stage lighting professionals often encounter challenges such as quickly adapting to unfamiliar venues, collaborating with new technical crews, and aligning their design vision with a production's specific requirements. Each project may require using different lighting equipment and software, so flexibility and strong communication skills are essential. Building rapport with directors and other crew members early on can help ensure smooth integration and successful show execution.

What is the difference between Freelance Stage Lighting vs Stage Lighting Technician?

AspectFreelance Stage LightingStage Lighting Technician
CredentialsVaries; often includes lighting courses or certificationsTypically requires technical training or certifications in lighting
Work EnvironmentProject-based, freelance gigs at various venuesEmployed by a venue or production company, working on specific events
Employer & Industry UsageIndependent contractor, hired per projectFull-time or part-time employee, working within the industry
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for freelance opportunities or gig workSeeking employment or roles within venues or production companies

Freelance Stage Lighting involves independent work on various projects, offering flexibility but less job security. Stage Lighting Technicians are typically employed by venues or companies, providing consistent support for events. Both roles require technical knowledge, but their work settings and employment structures differ significantly.

More about Freelance Stage Lighting jobs

What cities are hiring for Freelance Stage Lighting jobs?

Cities with the most Freelance Stage Lighting job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Stage Lighting jobs?

The most popular types of Stage Lighting jobs are:

What states have the most Freelance Stage Lighting jobs?

States with the most job openings for Freelance Stage Lighting jobs include:

Infographic showing various Freelance Stage Lighting job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $130,079 per year, or $62.5 per hour.

Senior Video Storyteller

Socure

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$125K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

Why Socure?
Socure is building the identity trust infrastructure for the digital economy - verifying 100% of good identities in real time and stopping fraud before it starts. The mission is big, the problems are complex, and the impact is felt by businesses, governments, and millions of people every day.
We hire people who want that level of responsibility. People who move fast, think critically, act like owners, and care deeply about solving customer problems with precision. If you want predictability or narrow scope, this won't be your place. If you want to help build the future of identity with a team that holds a high bar for itself - keep reading.
About the role
We're hiring a Senior Video Storyteller to own the vision, quality, and development of Socure's video-end to end. This is a storyteller first: someone who lives in narrative and creative integrity, and who has the production depth to make sure the story survives everything it takes to get a video over the line.
You'll partner directly with marketing and corporate communications to turn business goals into video that moves people-with social video as the heartbeat of the work. You understand how to win attention in the first second and earn it through the last, across formats and platforms.
What makes this role different is the model behind it. We won't fly one person to every shoot. Instead, you'll design a decentralized capture approach-equipping teammates, field staff, and freelance crews to film in their own locations-while you hold the creative line. That means setting the pre-production and post-production standards (the coverage, the specs, the brand guardrails) so that footage coming in from many hands still cuts together as one coherent, on-brand story. Your production knowledge isn't about doing every job; it's about knowing what has to come together upstream so the story doesn't break at the seams downstream.
What You'll Own
  • The creative vision and narrative integrity of Socure's video work, from concept through final cut.
  • Scriptwriting and storytelling that ladders directly to Socure's brand and business goals.
  • Best-in-class social video, tuned to the platform, the audience, and the moment.
  • A decentralized capture model-equipping and directing distributed teammates and freelance crews to shoot remotely.
  • The pre- and post-production standards (shot lists, capture specs, file handling, brand guidelines) that keep decentralized footage edit-ready and coherent.
  • Creative direction on set and at distance: casting and hiring video talent, briefing crews, and protecting quality across every shoot.
  • Project logistics, budgets, and timelines-managed in service of the story, not at its expense.
  • Post-production quality: editing, motion, sound, color, and versioning across cuts and formats.
The Ideal Background
The person we're looking for has likely operated at a senior creative producer or director level and has a track record of standout, original work-the kind of content people remember. Beyond craft, they've built creative capability, not just executed against it: scaling teams or distributed creative networks from the ground up, and managing external partners, vendors, and freelance talent to deliver at a level a small in-house team couldn't reach alone.
They're equally fluent across social, digital, and broadcast, comfortable owning the full arc-strategy, ideation, production, and distribution-and they know how to negotiate and manage the relationships that make ambitious video possible. Above all, they bring a relentless, self-directed bias: they go deeper, iterate faster, and don't quit on hard problems.
What You Bring
  • Proven experience owning video end to end-from blank page and blinking cursor to final export.
  • A portfolio that shows storytelling range and results, with real depth in social video.
  • Strong hands-on craft across cameras, lighting, audio, and editing (Premiere, Resolve, or equivalent)-enough to set the standard, even when others hold the camera.
  • Experience building or operating distributed/remote capture models, and managing vendors, partners, and freelance talent.
  • Producer-grade instincts for budgeting, scheduling, and on-set direction-used to protect the work, not bury it in process.
  • A relentless, self-directed approach to hard creative problems.
Why This Role Matters
Video is how Socure earns attention in a crowded, converging market. This role isn't a single set of hands-it's the person who owns how the entire company captures and tells its story at scale. If you want to build the system, not just the next clip, this is the seat.
Socure is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in all its forms within our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
If you need an accommodation during any stage of the application or hiring process-including interview or onboarding support-please reach out to your Socure recruiting partner directly.
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