Atlanta Rigging Systems Constructed a Technological Marvel
The word, “amazing,” is often overused when describing an accomplishment or event. It also has different connotations, in that in can be complimentary in one sense, or derogatory in another. Consider; “That was amazing!” Or, “I’m amazed that guy can find his own….[insert word].”
FRANKFURT, Germany — Prolight + Sound, arguable the largest trade show of its kind, closed on April 7 after a successful run. Last year, more than 43,000 visitors swooped down on 940 exhibitors. It took me four full days in 2017 just to cover the lighting and video areas.
LD Bob Barnhart on the Long Path to Lighting the Super Bowl Halftime Show
Super Bowl LI took place in Houston on Feb. 5, 2017, and while the world will never really know if the halftime show’s patriotic themes gave the team from New England the edge they needed for their come-from-behind second half victory, the general consensus was that the show itself was a marvel.
PLSN Checks In with the PMs Running the Top Tours of 2016.
Three Industry Pros Define their Role on the Road
Road manager. Tour manager. Sometimes the titles are interchangeable. Above all, it means this: Make your artist happy. And make the show happen. Whatever it takes.
It was a good three days of walking the floor this year, with all of the 350 booths located in the same hall. Attendance seemed moderate this year, as there seemed to be more room to walk the aisles without bumping into people. Of course, there was still the usual logjam at the Blizzard Lighting/Mod Truss booth where the party never seemed to stop, especially when you have life-sized Rock’em Sock’em Robots for us full-sized children to play with! Rest assured, there was plenty of cool things to see this year, and we have compiled a list of the 100 companies we felt had something worthwhile on display.
The Production Designer Turns to Upstaging for Set, Lighting and Video for Weezer’s Co-Headlining Tour with Panic! At the Disco
Production Designer Robb Jibson was in a quandary at the start of the summer. He had a design for a Weezer tour in place with all of his production elements: the set, lighting and video. But he was short on time and stuck with a budget. Even so, if there’s one thing Robb is good at, it’s accumulating friends in his home in the Midwest. So with paperwork and a glimpse of a plan, he hopped on his vintage Italian scooter and trekked out from his Chicago home to the cornfields outside of town. More specifically, to the Upstaging shop in Sycamore, IL.
The Country Artist Kicks Off an Epic Weekend of Music and Sports at Bristol Motor Speedway
Kenny Chesney’s 2016 “Spread the Love” tour officially ended the last week of August as this country artist normally does, with a couple of sold out shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. The “No Shoes Nation” showed up in full force for a six-hour show that lasted late, bypassing the curfew that was extended by the local authorities to allow the artist all the time he wanted to perform.
Tour Manager for Faces, Eagles and Tom Petty to Accept Industry Honor at Gala Event on Oct. 22, 2016 at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
This could be Richard Fernandez’s list of clients, or your favorite playlist on your iPod: The Cars, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Bob Dylan, Eagles, Faces, Tom Petty & the Heart Breakers, Boz Scaggs, Neil Young and Frank Zappa. It’s likely both.
“Danny O’Bryen is a visionary with a promoter’s mind,” says Mark Haney, video director and Parnelli Board of Advisors member. “He saw video as a way forward and a way to bring more value to the ticket buyer. He saw that this was the future and is really one of the biggest innovators in our field.” O’Bryen of Screenworks will receive the 2016 Parnelli Visionary Award Oct. 22, at the Parnelli Awards gala in Las Vegas. He’s the ninth live event professional to receive this annual award for career achievement, and the first from the video side of the industry.
Here’s a look at the regional finalists in the 2016 Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year award.
There are many ways to judge the vitality of our industry — ticket sales, manufacturer’s bottom line, new hires. But from where we’re sitting, it seems especially telling that, for the first time in a long time, there are so many new companies being honored for their service in their region. Not that these are “new” companies per se — heck, one has been around since 1983. But it’s a dynamic, interesting bunch, and we’re pleased to present them to here. Let’s meet the regional winners!
Country Music Event at Daytona Speedway Revs Up for the Long Haul
In this month’s issue of PLSN, we present a focus on two festivals, starting with the inaugural Country 500 event, which debuted over Memorial Day Weekend at Daytona International Speedway. We also cover the fourth annual BottleRock Napa Music Festival, which also took place May 27-29 on the opposite side of the country; that article can be found here.