cjLights Lighting Console Optimization is a hands-on, strategy-focused workshop led by CJ Barnwell for designers and programmers who are balancing more shows, fewer tech hours, and increasingly complex rigs. Centered on ETC Eos based workflows (with concepts applicable to most modern consoles), this session focuses on how to think about console structure, not just which buttons to press. Topics include building and maintaining a reusable base file, consistent channeling and numbering systems, efficient use of palettes, presets, effects, Magic Sheets, snapshots, macros, and Direct Selects, and when automation tools like AutoMark actually save time or don’t. Rather than prescribing a single “correct” workflow, the workshop emphasizes intentional consistency, library-based thinking, and decision-making that allows designers and programmers to move quickly without sacrificing clarity or flexibility. Special attention is given to real-world constraints common in academic and regional theatre: short tech periods, changing venues, shared consoles, and limited setup time. Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can immediately apply to speed up programming, reduce repetitive work, and carry successful systems from show to show, whether working on a main console, a laptop, or a touchscreen-driven setup.