It's been 10 years since I went to Russia to light a gig. Last time I was there, I had one of those gigs from hell, where it took 2 days to set everything up and it still didn't work correctly. I'm here to say they've come a long way.
Last weekend I went to Moscow to cover a Rihanna show they booked in the local enormo dome. The touring system the crew were carrying could not make the overnite drive from the gig the night before, so the production crew called me to ask for help. I was flown overseas to try and replicate the lighting system with whatever gear I could find in Russia.
At first I laughed, simply because I was ignorant. I thought I would find a bunch of older used Macs and bad cables and have to do my best. Boy was I surprised when I found everything to be the opposite. Not only did they have most of the latest equipment I spec'd, but the majority of it was in fine working order.
Right off the bat they had a maxxyz console for me. I had doubted anyone in the country had one, but there it was. It even had the beta software in it I had requested. They had plenty of Mac and VL fixtures to replicate my rig. The only real issue was that the local lighting company had no Robe spots for me to use. I had to substitute VL3k's for them. Not that I hate the VL's, but they just simply cannot perform to dance music like the Robe's can. They look nice with superior optics, but they move like an old dog who just got kicked in the rump.
I simply can't use these fixtures for any show which requires quick even movement. I mean I use them, but I cringe when I try to pan and tilt them in any effect. Unfortunately half of this show is about turning the arena into a disco when neccessary.
The crew spoke no English, but I had a lovely interpreter next to me the whole time. The crew were simply amazing. They had a big show in the arena the night before. That show ended at 11 PM and the guys had one night to turn it around to my show.
I went down to the gig around midnite to see if they had any questions. None. They just asked for the addresses of all my moving lights so they could match my patch. That done, I went back to bed. How pleasantly surprised was i to come back to the gig at 9 AM and see everything hanging in the right place and working. I can't get half the lighting companies in America to do this right in this much time.
Of course there was one problem. In Russia they think stage right is stage left. The rest of the world has it backwards, as it was explained to me. But no worries, I simply adjusted the soft patch in the console in a few minutes and life was grand again.
No longer will I think of Russia as a third world country in terms of lighting and video. I will be glad to go back there anytime. I just have to make sure I get at least $100 per day perdiem. And drink local beer. A bottle of Heineken will cost you 20 bucks. A local brew is only about $12.
