3G Productions (3G) is a dynamic full service technical production company headquartered in Las Vegas, NV active in helping deliver some of the most ambitious and innovative live shows, concerts and festivals plus broadcast, corporate and industrial events. Over the last 18 months the company has invested heavily in Kinesys automation equipment – including Elevation drives, Kinesys Vector control, DST trollies and tracking truss, which is compatible with the Kinesys Elevation system, together with Libra Cell load monitoring systems, Kinesys Array PD-ES power distros and other infrastructure, much of which has been acquired in the last year.
“The Kinesys system is rock solid and does exactly what it says. It’s known for both innovation and practicality, while being accepted widely as an offering of a premium automation solution” stated 3G CEO, Keith Conrad. In 2021, the company embarked on a substantial investment plan to ensure that their audio, lighting, video, and rigging equipment featured the latest, best, and most appropriate technologies to offer clients truly outstanding service, and this included taking a new look at automation and its growing creative role in shows and events.
Underscoring the importance of developing knowledge and expertise in specialized technical disciplines, 3G had already identified rigging and automation as a growth area, and invested time, resources, and energy into streamlining the department augmenting their commitment to ‘one stop shop’ service. All of this led them to Kinesys. Conrad observes how the creative trend for designs incorporating automation was blossoming and seized the opportunity to create and fine tune a specialized automation division that works closely but separately to their rigging team.
He thinks that Super Bowl 2023 – with Rihanna and dancers suspended on seven flying platforms – gave the concept of automation and how it could energize and boost the presentation of a live show. “Designers started getting increasingly innovative and creative with how they can apply it to stage architecture and lighting to great effect. With safety a key aspect, and Kinesys’ proven track record of being super-stable” Conrad notes. “We did some comparisons and concluded that it was the best option for automation, with the best support. The TAIT connection also further strengthens the brand.”
They developed a good relationship with Kinesys, and this Spring made a large purchase, some of which – through fortuitous timing – went straight out on the road with the Dave Matthews Band tour to facilitate a production designed by Fenton Williams.
Conrad was impressed with the speed of the delivery and turnaround time as the kit, consisting of a vector control console, 16 ½-ton Elevation Liftket motors, 8 x DST Trolleys, and over 36’ of Litec track truss, which arrived at 3G Productions on a Thursday and was loaded onto the tour trucks the following day.
Other projects on which 3G’s Kinesys has recently been used include Jo Koy’s 2024 US Tour, which with 3G’s Andy Ruiz as the Lead Designer; and the main stage at Lost in Dreams 2024 for Insomniac in July. Additionally, last year the Kinesys system was out with the K-Pop sensations, Black Pink, including for their acclaimed Coachella performance and their international tour.
Conrad also believes that having the Kinesys system in 3G’s inventory will broaden their horizons and open new possibilities in the touring and corporate worlds. Several technicians have already been sent to the TAIT Training Lab at Rock Lititz for Kinesys training, and 3G is constantly on the lookout for new Kinesys operators.
The company now has one of the largest automation inventories in the country, with upwards of 65 Kinesys Elevation 1+ driven motors, three Vector consoles, 7 Kinesys PD-ES Array Power Distros, over 100’ of Litec tracking truss, and a dozen DST Trolleys. The Kinesys Libra Cell intelligent loadcell shackle system for accurate monitoring and reporting completes all the systems supplied to a wide variety of projects.
Further information from Kinesys: www.kinesysusa.com
