Full Name: David ‘Duck’ Cicero Burns

Place of Birth: Orlando, Florida

Date of Birth: 08/25/65

Profession: Owner, East Coast Lighting and Design, Inc.

Your first professional experience?
A summer job at OAP back in 1982.

How was East Coast Lighting born?
It seemed like a good idea in the bar ... then everyone I knew started helping me. Next thing I knew, we had both gear and gigs.

Why lighting, and not some other production discipline?
Are you kidding? Did you really just ask me that?

What are East Coast’s core markets?
Although we are involved in concerts as well as corporate, our plan is to move more into touring work.

Your most satisfying recent gig?
It is still happening; we got a long-term deal with the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre in Atlanta and put in a killer rig!

Which manufacturers make your life easier? Electronic Theatre Controls, Martin Pro, LEX Products, Leprecon and Apollo.

Who have been your biggest career inspirations?
My inspirations are the guys that took the time to teach me when I started - Ronnie Norris, Peter ‘Wookie’ Magdarz, Steve Dunaway, Lynn Wheeler, Robert Roth, Michael Keller, and Jim Stevens. More recently, it’s been Bob Foley, Rod Gibson, and the work of Bryan Leitch and Jim Lenahan (Ed. Note - Jim, isn’t it about time for some more sushi?). I also need to thank Chris ‘Donut’ Donati for his continuing selfless support of the East Coast Lighting Design vision of world domination.

Your most notable achievement?
Getting a date with my (now) wife, Kelle. I chased her for eight weeks while we were working on a Salt-n-Pepa tour together - before she finally said yes. Now she can’t get rid of me.

What would get you out on the road?
It would have to involve AC/DC.

What was the last live show you attended as a punter?
Neil Young at Chastain Park - it was awesome!

And the last CD you purchased?
Purchased, right? The John Mayall & The Bluesbreaker ‘Beano’ album, that shows Eric Clapton reading a Beano comic book.

Any hobbies or vices?
Jamming with my eight-year-old, Aidan, and racing with my four-year-old, Kieran.

How did you get tagged as ‘Duck’?
‘Classified’.

What materials do you refuse to work with?
Are promoters considered ‘materials’?

What advice do you have for the young people who are considering a career in the lighting business?
Med school - seriously - Listen, listen, listen - and learn. If you have a question, ask it.
And just because you can program doesn’t make you a lighting guy - so learn the whole trade.