Portrait of the Artist as a PAR 60
Lighting and projection have always been considered technical crafts that support the artist, but what about when the lighting and projection are themselves the art, extensions of an artist?
E1.31: An Offer You Can’t Resist
Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and learn about the latest and greatest protocol to take the lighting industry by storm. It’s not DMX, it’s not Art-Net, and it’s not ACN. No, I am talking about ANSI E1.31.
When Welding, Weld; When Not Welding, Don’t Weld
Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul.” —Will Durant
Let’s face it — most of us got into this business to get out of having to get a “real” job. If nothing else, we’re here because we enjoy doing more than we enjoy reading and writing.
Cable Management
The efficiency of the load in and out of any show is directly related to the cable management of everyone involved,” says production manager/rigger Dano Rowley. The man is right. One of my pet peeves is a sloppy stage with cables strewn all over the place.
Kenny Chesney Tour Keeps it All in the Family
In January of 2002, Ed Wannebo resigned from his production manager position for Tim McGraw to be the manager of a new production, the first headlining tour of McGraw’s opening act, Kenny Chesney. Since that tour eight years ago, Chesney has evolved into one of the biggest names in country western music and the touring industry at large.
Chicago Pays Tribute to Master Architect with LED-Lit Pavilions
A tribute to architect Daniel Burnham, who is credited with drafting the first master plan for Chicago 100 years ago, includes two temporary pavilions designed by two of today’s leading architects, each lit with Iluminarc architectural lighting fixtures. The pavilions, in Chicago’s Millennium Park, were designed by Amsterdam-based Ben van Berkel and Zaha Hadid of London and lit by LD Tracey Dear of Dear Productions.
Audiotek Keeps Costs in Check for $7 Million Irish Nightclub
The Mantra Garden Bar & Club, an investment of about $7 million, might have racked up an even more impressive cost total if Frank Murray, proprietor of sound and lighting specialist Audiotek, had opted for something besides the PR Lighting fixtures for the double-floor venue.
Keeping it Fresh
I find automated lighting programming is always lots of fun as I am a self-admitted “lighting geek.” However, all programmers find there are times when it can be tough to get our juices flowing when working on a show. Whether it is programming yet another song (they all sound the same after a while), working with the same rig over and over, or just doing too many gigs back to back, we all find ourselves stuck in a rut at some point in our careers.
Jake Berry, 2009 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
From AC/DC to U2, Berlin to Yes, Janet Jackson to Tina Turner, Cher to Madonna, Barney to Walking with Dinosaurs, Bob the Builder to the Wiggles, Metallica to the Rolling Stones — tour manager Jake Berry has earned a backstage pass to some of the most successful and biggest acts in the business and to rock ‘n’ roll history itself.
Big Wheels Keep On Turning
In an economic downturn, maybe “flat” should be considered the new “up.”
Other industries are getting gutted in the current economic climate, but transportation industry leaders in the touring industry are grateful for “business as usual,” which remains (mostly) good. The caveat is that customers want better pricing. And some companies outside of the concert/touring business who happen to have some big trucks are trying to elbow into the market. And if the recorded music industry continues to struggle, its decline is making touring a more important source of income for artists, and that’s good for industry transportation professionals.
Show Report: PLASA 09
If you went to PLASA 2009 at Earl’s Court in London looking for that whiz-bang- hallelujah got-to-have-it life-changing product on the show floor and you didn’t find it, maybe you aren’t looking hard enough. If the Next Big Thing (NBT) didn’t seem to materialize, it’s probably because the last NBT — LEDs, media servers and networking — are still unfolding before our very eyes.
Hometown Heroes 2009
They do the staples of live event industry: fairs, festivals, street parties and sometimes even weddings. They put as much heart, sweat and creative energy into the local event held on the high school playground as that one-off Dave Matthews show or that kinetic jaw-dropping corporate launch. They are the local heroes who, day-in and day-out, do what needs to be done, with little recognition. But the Parnelli Board of Directors and those at PLSN are honored to recognize the achievements of these six diverse companies.