When: Aug. 24-25, 2026, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern
Where: The Voxel, 9 West 25th Street Baltimore, MD 21218
This two-day, introductory hands-on workshop, based on John Huntington’s book Introduction to Show Networking, explores the basics of networks and how they work in show systems such as lighting, sound, video, and even stage machinery. Basic networking concepts, IP addresses and assignment methods, subnet masks, low-level network operations and physical topologies will be introduced through lectures and then explored through hands-on labs done on participants’ PC or macOS laptops. Network device control will be explored, and other topics like VLANs, multicast, simple routing and broadcast storms will be demonstrated in group exercises. This class counts for ETCP-recognized training.
In this workshop, the material is introduced and explained through lectures and then explored through hands-on labs and group demonstrations. Ideally, participants will read Chapters 1-4 of the Introduction to Show Networking book in advance, but this is not required.
Click Here for Info on Required Computer Needs for Participants
Click Here for Workshop Overview
Cost:
Early Bird Pricing through Aug. 9:
Member: $499
Non-Member: $549
Late Rate (Aug. 10 - Aug. 20):
Member: $549
Non-Member: $599
Registration closes Thursday, August 20th, at 11:59 pm EDT.
Click Here for Parking and Accessibility Info
DISCLAIMER: This class is contingent upon a minimum of 10 attendees and will be cancelled if this minimum is not met. Please do not book flights and/or hotels that cannot be canceled without a cancellation fee until we know that the class minimum has been met. We will likely make the call on August 10th. Southwest Airlines does not charge a cancellation fee, nor do most hotels that are booked directly, as long as they are cancelled within 24 or 48 hours of the planned arrival.
Instructor:
John Huntington is an author, educator, entertainment and show control systems consultant, and sound engineer. He is also an award-winning photographer and storm chaser. Huntington is a Professor Emeritus of Entertainment Technology after more than 24 years at New York City College of Technology, also known as Citytech, which is part of CUNY. At Citytech, he led the audio, live video and networking/control areas, and for more than 20 years designed the show control systems and oversaw the A/V for the Gravesend Inn® haunted attraction.
Huntington's book Show Networks and Control Systems was the industry standard until it was retired in 2023 and replaced with two books: Introduction to Show Networking (2020) and Introduction to Show Control (2023). Details on all books here.
Mr. Huntington has written more than 50 published articles, one of which—Rethinking Entertainment Technology Education—won USITT's Herbert D. Greggs Merit award in 2004; the 2019 follow-up to this article, Bridging Art and State-Of-The Art, also won the same award. He has sound designed over 20 productions in New York City and regional theatres like Seattle Rep, and has given more than 50 master classes, workshops, presentations, papers, and talks at conferences and trade shows throughout the United States.
In 2005, Mr. Huntington was first appointed by ESTA’s Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) as a "Subject Matter Expert" for the entertainment electrician certification test.
Mr. Huntington taught as a visiting professor at the Yale School of Drama for 14 years; taught sound design at NYU; worked as a Systems Consultant for George Kindler's show and audio control firm Thoughtful Designs (a PRG company); as sound engineer at the Metropolitan Opera House and for the annual Met Opera/New York Philharmonic summer parks tour; as a systems engineer for Production Arts Lighting, working on projects like Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island casino; as technical editor for Theatre Crafts and Lighting Dimensions magazines; and his first job out of college was with Bran Ferren's legendary special effects firm Associates and Ferren, helping to build projectors for Pink Floyd and working on (and even appearing in) movies like Little Shop of Horrors and The Manhattan Project.
Mr. Huntington studied technical design, production, theatre engineering and sound at the Yale School of Drama (MFA) and Ithaca College (BFA). He lives in New York City and is a member of Local #1 IATSE stagehands. Mr. Huntington is also a die-hard music fan, whitewater and sea kayaker, mountain and road biker, and chases tornadoes each spring in the plains.