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Sex Sells, Compliance Saves

Sex Sells, Compliance Saves

“As a rock star, I have two instincts: I want to have fun and I want to change the world.” — Bono

 

On a recent late spring day, a rock star walked out on stage before a live audience of 5,500 very enthusiastic people. It was a big stage with a huge video backdrop framed by black soft goods that were splayed by parallel beams of white light. As the man in a black shirt, jeans and tennis shoes made his way downstage center, the house erupted in wild applause. And then he pitched the new Apple iPhone.  

Becoming a Vampire

Walk into any venue after midnight during pre-production for a show and you will find several creatures dressed in black lurking in all areas.  These “people” often only come out after dark and seem to leave the venue once the sun comes up.  They usually work in darkness and yet they wield total control of the atmosphere, at least in terms of lighting.  The cast and other crew members often only see the lighting crew and automated lighting programmer as their paths cross, coming and going from the venue.  The lighting vampires often seem confused as they exchange “good mornings” with the other staff members at 9 p.m.  There are many pros and cons to working the “late shift” as an automated lighting programmer and also many things to consider as you switch from “normal” work times to overnight, then back to normal.

Making an Honest Living

In the last issue (PLSN, June 2008) I joked about the usefulness of being able to BS your way through a difficult gig. But while I was pondering what I wrote last month, I realized that what is important in our profession is just the opposite. I think what makes someone good is that they run a fair business, earn their money the old fashioned way and don’t rely on BS to save a few bucks on a gig.

Trouble by the Gallon

As I write, the cost of a gallon of diesel fuel had just topped $4.25 and crude oil is $130 per barrel, reflecting double-digit price spikes during some weeks in June and April. The rising cost of fuel has prompted the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to project a record high diesel fuel bill in 2008, with expenditures of $135 billion on fuel in 2008, up from the $112.6 billion spent by the industry in 2007. God knows what the price of fuel will be in July when you’re reading this, but at the current rate of increase, petroleum-based fuels are rising at about 92 times the national inflation rate.

The donut table

  Every couple years I decide to go back on the road and live on a tour bus. It generally takes me about 72 hours to realize why I stopped doing this. But then I look at the money coming in and realize it’s a good thing.

lites and video again

   This month I got to program a tour that wasn’t all hard rock music. Quite a change for me after the last 5 concert tours I programmed this year.

PowerLift Winch Series from J.R. Clancy

SYRACUSE, NY — J. R. Clancy, Inc. said its new PowerLift variable speed 0-20 feet per minute motorized winch can minimize “bouncing” at the start or end of a move. The new winch (product number 018-P0220V) has a load capacity of 2,000 pounds. The company is also introducing its PowerLift fixed speed 20 feet per minute motorized winch (product number 018-P0212), with a load capacity of 1,200 pounds.

Bonnaroo 2008

            Recently I was acquired by a company based out of Omaha, Nebraska named Theatrical Media Services (TMS) to LD the comedy tent for Bonnaroo 2008. If you don’t know what Bonnaroo is then look it up. In brief, Bonnaroo is music festival that has been annually held in Manchester, Tennessee over the years. When it started it would bring bands in that were notably out of the jam band scene with an attendance of 60,000 people. Now it has evolved into a mainstream festival bringing acts like Pearl Jam, Metallica, and The Police with a force of 90,000 fans in attendance along with the jam bands still rocking out.