Lighting Designer Massimo Tomasino used Clay Paky lights for Secrets of the Sea; a musical that was the focal point of the Qatar Marine Festival in Doha. The event was a fusion of Qatari and international music, which stems from a cultural exchange and huge cooperation between local and Italian artists. The composer Renato Serio composed the dance music together with Faisal al Tamimi. Tomasino cancelled all prior commitments in order to focus on the event, which the Choreographer and Director Gino Landi had already decided to entrust him with. There were several large moving elements on the set, including…
Author: Stewart Hume
The Australian Pink Floyd Show (TAPFS) rehearsed at Bedfordshire’s Millennium Studios before embarking on their 2016 European tour, featuring an impressive lighting rig and experienced crew from Entec Sound & Light. Renowned Production Designer Rob Sinclair and Lighting Designer Louisa Smurthwaite, together with TAPFS’ Lighting Director and Programmer, Tom Mumby, have created the band’s first all-new show design since 2011. “Rob and I work together often, and when he was asked to give Tom Mumby a hand with the new design, I was delighted to become a part of it,” said Smurthwaite. “Pink Floyd is one of the…
Dubai based eclipse Staging Services supported one of the biggest and most anticipated New Year’s Eve celebrations in the region; the David Guetta NYE party. The company provided full technical supply alongside special effects support from Stage FX and lasers from Laser Grafix. The event took place in the Dubai Media City amphitheatre, a venue that the eclipse team are well acquainted with, a fact made apparent by the lack of changes requested after the initial rigging structure was built. “Nothing had to be changed, from the moment the client walked in, not even the trim heights of the trusses,” said head…
Three new African countries, South Africa, Angola & Nigeria, embraced the singing competition with all three series recorded at and broadcast from Stage One, Sasani Studios, Johannesburg all featuring over 100 Robe moving lights prominently on their respective lighting rigs. Johannesburg based production company Multi-Media is co-ordinating and supplying all technical elements – including lighting, sound, video, rigging and staging – for broadcaster AMPN (African Media & Productions Network) TV over an 11 month period which ends in July 2016. Multi-Media’s Technical Project Manager, Chris de Lancey put together the team including Lighting Designer Joshua Cutts, who was asked on-board…
d3 Technologies has named the Foundation for Audio-Visual Commerce & Engineering (FACE), in Boom, Belgium, as its new reseller in the Benelux region. FACE recently supplied an exciting 3D mapping project in Bokrijk, Belgium with d3 gear and hosted a d3 Open House this month. A full-service provider for the entertainment industry, FACE was formed in 2010 to supply audio, lighting and video hardware, software and services. Karel De Piere, CEO of FACE, said: “d3 and FACE share a lot of the same values. We both believe in innovation through technology. d3’s solutions are a great addition to our existing…
d&b audiotechnik has introduced its new multipurpose, omnidirectional subwoofer. The B22-SUB houses two 18-inch neodymium drivers in an efficient bandpass horn design producing high sound pressure levels and an extended frequency response. The B22 is a new take on the d&b audiotechnik B2-SUB. The B2 became well known for its signature sonic performances, however the omnidirectional B22-SUB promises increased performance, a modern appearance and improved internal cabinet bracing. The B22-SUB is the largest d&b omnidirectional subwoofer, but when used in multiples of three and in CSA mode (Cardioid Subwoofer Array), they exhibit impressive rejection towards the rear. To increase flexibility, the B22-SUB…
La Trakalosa is a large, 20-member Mexican ensemble that turned to the extra impact that Elation Professional’s powerful Platinum BX beam light provides when the band played bigger venues. “The Platinum BX is now a part of the great concerts of this band,” stated Edson Rivera of Elation partner Adimsa, who supplies lighting packages for many of La Trakalosa’s bigger shows, including Platinum BX beam lights. “When it’s a big show they want to up the production value. If it is a venue where there are 10,000 people or more then they look to make a bigger impact and the…
Lighting Designer Amy Barnett approached Entec to provide a lighting equipment package for the recent European tour by Chris Norman. It was the first time she’d worked with the west London-based lighting rental specialists, which she chose because: “After a few initial phone conversations I had complete confidence in the company to deliver what I needed, and they were very helpful and friendly.” Project Manager, Noreen O’Riordan, commented: “It was actually our second tour with Chris Norman as a supplier and our first working with Amy, which we found really interesting. We love to see new and upcoming LDs doing…
A lineup of HARMAN’s Martin lighting fixtures illuminated the way for acclaimed metal band Mötley Crüe’s final tour. Lighting Designer Matt Mills deployed an array of Martin Professional MAC Viper AirFXs, MAC Quantum Washes and Atomic 3000 DMX strobes in a light show intended to dazzle huge arena crowds. Mills’ previous work includes tours with Nelly Furtado, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed and Linkin Park. The tour began in July 2014 and covered more than 80 cities in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. The tour will wrapped with a three-night run at the Staples Center, culminating in a final show…
HD Pro Audio has announced five new dates for AVID VENUE S6L Training. The first session is being held on 26 January, with subsequent events on 29 February, 15 March, 19 April and 17 May. The events will take place at John Henry’s Studio Three in London and will give engineers a comprehensive view of the features and operation of this advanced console, with some hands-on time as well. VENUE has long been one of the most trusted and requested live mixing systems in the world, and the legacy continues with VENUE S6L, a modular system designed to take on…
HARMAN Professional Solutions recently teamed with AV Vegas Concert Sound and Lighting to provide a comprehensive audio and lighting system for the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. The first Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon took place in 1998 as a simple race with bands along the course to celebrate and inspire each participant. It has since grown to 30,000 participants running in dozens of cities across the country, with the race in Las Vegas recognised as the signature event. For the third year in a row, AV Vegas relied on HARMAN’s JBL VTX line arrays and Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers…
US post hardcore band Night Verses has been hurtling through the depths of North America and Europe’s grittiest venues for the last couple of years, gaining momentum on the live circuit with punk and metal fans. On their last UK tour, TPi’s Kelly Murray spoke to Night Verses front man, Douglas Robinson, about how the right microphone can truly change an artist’s comfort zone on stage. Enter Sennheiser’s e935 dynamic cardioid ‘workhorse’… “Sometimes bands think you have to be really ‘nerdy’ if to want to know about microphones, but I don’t think so; I think of my microphone as my weapon!”…
The full conference programme of the ninth edition of the ILMC Production Meeting (IPM) has been announced, with topics including communication breakdown, international travel planning, and secure venue management in the light of the Paris attacks in November. The programme has been revealed following news that IPM will be held at a new venue this year – the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington, London – allowing organisers to increase delegate numbers by 20%. Up to 250 Production Managers, Sound and Lighting Engineers, venue personnel, suppliers and promoters’ representatives are now expected to attend. In addition to a cross-industry panel examining how…
Bristol-based lighting and visuals rental specialist Fineline was commissioned by production company The Fair to add a fabulous lighting ambience to the Islington Square Festival of Culture. The Islington Square Festival of Culture is a four-day event organised by the company at the heart of redeveloping the former site of the N1 post sorting office into a new and vibrant commercial and residential hub, due to launch in 2017. Fineline’s Rob Sangwell created a lighting scheme to illuminate a series of indoor and outdoor spaces on the site including a pop-up cinema, a live music stage, a children’s theatre, a…
DPA’s d:vote Instruments Microphones were used by all musicians taking part in Sinatra – The Man and His Music at the London Palladium. The company played a key role in a highly unusual theatre project that marked the centenary of Frank Sinatra’s birth by bringing him back to the stage of the London Palladium. The multimedia show took footage of Sinatra’s performances over his entire career and mixed them with a live 24-piece orchestra and a live cast of dancers. The result, which was described by reviewers as a cross between a tribute and a musical, was well received by audiences…
Production Resource Group (PRG) has appointed three new senior staff members in its UAE operation in a direct response to the growing demand within the Middle East region. Heading up the appointments is Director of Sales and Marketing, Matt Cooper. He joins PRG from a 10-year career in the hotel industry where he worked in some of Marriott International’s flagship luxury hotels in both the UK and Dubai. He brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, team development, proactive sales and account management and will contribute to the company’s growth on a local and global level. Working alongside Cooper will…
California-based Rat Sound Systems provided a full 360° of audio coverage for Bassnectar’s New Year’s Eve show in Birmingham, Alabama. The concert, which was held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center (BJCC) Legacy Arena, featured 72 Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) Anya modules flown in four double wide clusters. Bassnectar is well-known for his live performances, massive sound systems and light shows. Bassnectar NYE360, now in its fifth year, featured a rotating stage at the centre of the arena designed to deliver maximum impact to his fans. The Legacy Arena seats up to 19,000 and was completely sold out for the event. “After adapting…
Germany-based production and rental company, Feedback Show Systems, has added a Solid State Logic L500 Plus live console to its audio inventory. The company offers a full range of production services to high-end musicals, touring shows, and corporate events, and also provides a comprehensive dry hire service. Feedback’s first project with the L500 at FOH was the touring version of Shrek – The Musical. The show involved more than 20 Dancers, a large band, and over 130 different scenes. Feedback’s Managing Director, Bernd Schmitz, commented: “Switching to the L500 was straightforward and fast. The console met all of the very complex functional…
