Billboard magazine recently ranked tours around the world by total ticket sales from November 2021 through October 2022. They included the following artists: 1-Bad Bunny, 2-Elton John, 3-Ed Sheeran, 4-Harry Styles, 5-Coldplay, 6-Rolling Stones, 7-Red Hot Chili Peppers, 8-Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe, 9-Kenny Chesney, and 10-The Weeknd. The Showtime section within PLSN’s January 2023 issue focuses on the lighting, staging and video production teams and equipment supporting these tours. Here’s a preview of what readers will find.
1: Bad Bunny
Lighting Company: Christie Lites
Video Company: NEP Screenworks
Production Team*
- Production/Show Designer: Travis Shirley
- Associate Lighting Designer, Head Programmer: Chris Smith
- Lighting Directors: Krizia Velez, Menga Cruz
- Christie Lites Rep: Robert Roth
- Lighting Senior Project Manager: Robert Braccia
- Lighting FOH Techs: Ryan King, Evan Robecap
- Lighting Crew: Greg Kocurek, Leonardo Roman, Sean Hedricks, Jeff Koonce, James Brazil, Vaneik Echeverria, Angus McIntosh, Daniel Ford, Kekona Tinajero, Antoinette Globis, Kanehoalani Tinajero, James Higgins, Cole Mehmert
- VJ: Mandy Pagán
- Video Content: Sturdy
- Video Director: Kevin Fisher
- Video Engineer: Rick Popham
- disguise/Notch Programmer/Operator: Spencer Pokorski
- Screenworks Rep: Randy Mayer
- Screenworks Project Manager: Brad Reiman
- Screenworks Crew Chief: Billy Stewart
- Robocam Operator: Chris Jones
- LED Engineer: Jeff Rapoport
- LED Techs: Brittany Groth, Camera Operator; Ethan Weir, South America Crew Chief; Ben Renschen, South America Robocam Operator; Hassan Alkahili, Camera Operator; Kyle Jones, Handheld Camera; Chris Juarez, Jason Datin, Julian Van Bussel, Arnold Simmons
*World’s Hottest Tour
Gear
- Brompton Technology, Disguise, Elation, GLP, Martin, JEM, Lycian, MA Lighting, MDG, Panasonic, Reel EFX, Robe, ROE Visual, Ross Video, Sony, Syncrolite
2: Elton John
Lighting Company: PRG
Video Company: Solotech
Production Team
- Set Design: Stufish Entertainment Architects/Ray Winkler
- Lighting Designer: Patrick Woodroffe
- Assistant LD: Terry Cook
- Lighting Director: Kevin “Stick” Bye
- Assistant Lighting Director: Lars Kristiansen
- Lighting Crew Chief: Corey Tom
- Lighting Crew: Scott Amiro, Kevin Hartrum, Michael Rihehart, Andy Horn, Simon Port, Douglas Eder, Codey Meskey, Josh Bazett-Jones, Trent Lomprey
- PRG Rep: Curry Grant
- PRG Project Manager: Jon Morell
- Video Content: Treatment Studio
- Treatment Studio Team: Sam Pattinson, Lizzie Pocock, Helen Campbell, Matthew Sanger
- Video Director: John Steer
- Video Crew Chief: Kim Hampton
- disguise Media Server: James Gardner
- Video Programmer: Zach Peletz
- Video Engineer: Rob McShane
- LED Techs/Camera: Stephen “Bone” Grey, Scott Luton, Terrance Adiko, Ken Bowman, Mario Juarez
- LED Wind Bracing: Tina Skjerseth
- LED Techs: Robby Maclean, Brian Rood
- Solotech Rep: Paul Becher
- Solotech System Engineer: Nick Ruoco
- Stage Construction & Automation: TAIT
Gear
- AJA, Ayrton, CHAUVET, disguise, Fujinon, Grass Valley, MA Lighting, Panasonic, Robe, Ross Video, PRG, Saco
3: Ed Sheeran
Lighting Company: Lights Control Rigging (LCR)
Video Company: CT Touring
Production Team
- Show/Lighting Designer: Mark Cunniffe
- Lighting Programmer: Alex Passmore
- Lighting Operator: Matt Jones
- Video Director: Phil Mead
- Video Operator: Ben Lapworth
- Video Content: Twotrucks Productions/Matt Cromwell; Evoke Studios/ Vincent Steenhoek, Urs Nyffenegger
- Production Manager: Helen Himmons
- Production Director/FOH Engineer: Chris Marsh
- Tour Managers: Mark Friend, Amanda Thomson, Kim Gray
- Stage Manager: Matt Caley
- TAIT Automation Op: Kirsten Eddy
- Halo/Chandelier Automation Ops: Kim Bennett-Abbiss, Andy “Paris” Hilton
- LCR Rigging/Mike Oates
- Rigging/Technical Design: Wonder Works/Jeremy Lloyd
- Engineering Consultancy: Cundall/Rasti Bartek
- Steel System Fabrication: Stage One/Nic Kidd
- Stage Fabrication & Automation: TAIT/Logan Lower
- Set Fabrication/Automation: WiCreations/Koen Peeters
- Plectrum (Guitar Pick Video Screen) Fabrication: Twenty-Three/Kristof Soreyn
- Pyro: Pains Fireworks
- Trucking/Transport: Pieter Smit/Steven Kroon; KB Event/Stuart McPherson
Gear
- Ayrton, Brompton Technology, disguise, Follow-Me, GLP, Kinesys, MA Lighting, Martin, Panasonic, ROE Visual, Ross Video
4: Harry Styles
Lighting Company: Solotech
Video Company: Solotech
- Creative Director: Molly Hawkins
- Creative Producer: Baz Halpin
- Lighting and Production Design: Baz Halpin / Silent Houses
- Assoc. Lighting Designer: Eric Marchwinski
- Lighting Director: Jesse Blevins
- Lighting Programmer: Tyler Santangelo
- Lighting and Video Programmers: Eric Marchwinski, Zach Peletz, Kirk Miller / Earlybird Visual
- Production Manager: Eric Piontkowski
- Video Director: Larn Poland
- Video Content: JT Rooney and Silent Partners Studios
- Screen Producer/Creative Director: David Emmanuel Fafard
- Screens Director & Programmer: Steve Foster
- Screens Technical Producer: Kirk J Miller
- Notch Designer: Heath Saunders
- Project Manager: Leah Younesi
- Animation Studio: Open the Portal
- Animation Producer: Jason Milov
- Lighting Crew Chief (North America): Dave Carr
- Lighting Crew Chief (South America): Sam Stuart
- Lighting Techs: Mark Hodgman, Mark “Foxy” Hollis, Brandon Stewart, Cedric Vermette, Tiffani Ferrell, Christian Alvarado, Adrean McDonald
- Video Crew Chief: Will Stinson
- disguise Server Tech: Tim Jones
- Video Engineer 1: Briony Margetts
- LED / Lead Cam: Micah Wickre
- LED Techs: Zane Moore, Jared Odom, Allan Bolland, Jack Gurdon, Scott Grund
Gear
- Chroma-Q, disguise, Grass Valley, MA Lighting, Notch, Panasonic, Robe, TMB Solaris, Vari-Lite
5: Coldplay
Lighting Company: Upstaging
Video Company: PRG
Production Team
- Co-Creative Directors: Misty Buckley and Phil Harvey
- Production Designer: Misty Buckley
- Lighting Designer: Sooner Routhier
- Video Designer: Leo Flint
- Special Effects Designer: David Kennedy/Strictly FX
- Technical Production Designer: Malcolm Birkett
- Creative Project Manager: Grant Draper
- Production Director: Jake Berry
- Technical Manager: Russell Glen
- Stage Managers: Paul Traynor and Sean Robinson
- Lighting Director/Operator: Shaheem Litchmore
- Lighting Programmers: Joe Lott, Matthew Kemp
- Lighting Vendor: Upstaging/Rep: John Huddleston
- Upstaging Project Manager: Matt Gohring
- Lighting Crew Chief: Daric Bassan
- Electrician Crew Chief: Mike McGillion
- FOH Tech / Operator: Fraser MacKeen
- Robe Robo Spot Tech: Jason Arhelger
- Lighting Crew: Charlie Collins, Rob Corman-Savage, Like Dobson, Amy Kozak, Daniel Liswood, Calvin Mosier, Andrew Mueller, Kevin Royan, Kyle RutkowskiVideo Director: Ant Barrett
- Screens Director: Josh Koffman
- Video Programmer: Dan Trenchard
- Video Crew Chief: Phil Johnston
- PixMob Wristband Programmer: Shaheem Litchmore
- Special Effects Crew Chief: Michael Barrett-Bourmier
- Special Effects Laser Lead: Ashley Neal
- Special Effects Pyro Lead: Victor Negron
- Special Effects Confetti Lead: Alan Grant
- Head Rigger: Bjorn Melchert
- Head Carpenter: Flory Turner
- Automation: Adan Maldonado
- Trucking: Upstaging
- Cameras: PRG
- Special Effects: Strictly FX
- Staging & Scenic: TAIT, Stageco Group, EPS America
- LED Wristbands: PixMob
Gear
- ACME, Arctos, Astera, Ayrton, Barco, Blackmagic Design, CHAUVET, Claypaky, Depence, disguise, Erica, FireOne, Grass Valley, hazebase, MagicFX, MA Lighting, Marshall, Notch, Panasonic, PixMob, PRG, Robe, ROE Visual, Sony, Tyler Truss, X-Laser, Yestech
6: Rolling Stones
Lighting Company: Neg Earth Lights
Video Company: Nighthawk Video
Production Team
- Stage Design: Stufish Entertainment Architects/Ray Winkler
- Show Design: Woodroffe Bassett Design/Patrick Woodroffe, Terry Cook
- Production Director: Dale “Opie” Skjerseth
- Lighting Director: Ethan Weber
- Head of Lighting: Keith Johnson
- Lighting Crew: Barry Branford, Grant Hickey, Peter “Kiss” Horne, Jason Hyne, Luke Radin, Zac Seleh
- Neg Earth Reps: Dave Ridgway, Sam Ridgway
- Image Design: Treatment Studio/Sam Pattinson
- Video Director: Mike Duque
- Video Engineer: Sebastien Lamoureux
- disguise Media Server Tech: Yves Van Ackers
- Video Crew Chief: Ben Rader
- Handheld Camera Ops: Mike Nelson, Josh Phebus, Jason Kollias
- FOH Long Lens Camera Ops: Simon Difazio, Matt Thonus, Tim Mattefs
- Jib Op: Ryan Woods
- LED Techs: Austin Colby, Scott Light
- Nighthawk Video Rep: Todd LePere
- Stage Fabrication: Tait Headquarters/Carol Scott, Matthew Hales
- Freight Forwarding: Rock-It Global/Duane Wood, Martin Corr
Gear
- AJA, Ayrton, CHAUVET, Cirro, disguise, Elation, hazebase, Grass Valley, MA Lighting, Martin, Nighthawk Video, Notch, Saco, SGM, TAIT,
7: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Lighting Company: Premier Global Production
Video Company: CT Touring
Production Team
- Production/Lighting Designer: Scott Holthaus
- Lighting Programmer/Technology Integrator: Leif Dixon
- Production Manager: Narciso “Narci” Martinez
- Stage Manager: Guy Habosha
- Assistant Stage Manager: Joshua Perree
- Lighting Crew Chief: Peter “Pepper” Schofield
- Lighting Techs: Matthias “Lumpy” Vollrath (Robo Spots), Killian Holt, Kurt “Mullet” Crosley, Colt Hester, Kenneth “Hondo” Lansden (Dimmers), Robert “Junior” Jones (Trucks & Lighting), Brian Smith II, Timothy Gallup, Amanda Ritchie
- PGP Project Manager: Anthony “Geddy” Kordyjaka
- PGP Rep: James Volhoffer
- Video Director: George Elizondo
- Media Operator/VJ: Joshua Upton
- Video Engineer: Shane Watson
- Video Crew Chief: Michael Wilson
- LED Techs: Christopher Small, Jordan Whyment, Morgan Delong, Keith Blackard, Jeff Apregan, Stephan Peters
- CT Touring Rep: Van Jarvis
- Head Carp: Jason Spisak
- Video Roof Rigger/Carp: Steven Davidson
- Head Rigger: Gabriel Wood
- Rigger: Charles Anderson
- Automation: Jeffrey “Woffee” Breisacher
- Electrician: Arturo Martinez
- Production Coordinators: Luke Bell, Heike Kraemer
- Set Company: Twenty-Three
- Trucking: Pieter Smit
Gear
- Ayrton, Blackmagic Design, CHAUVET, CT Touring, Elation, MA Lighting, Marshall, Panasonic, Robe, ROE Visual, Ross Video, SGM Light, Sony, TMB
8: Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe
Lighting Company: Fuse Technical Group
Video Company: PRG
Production Team
Def Leppard
- Production Designer: Paul Normandale
- Lighting Designer: Kenji Ohashi
- Tour Manager: Jessica Squire
- Production Manager: Chris Adamson
- Production Coordinator: Sinead Madden
- Stage Manager: Danny Spratt
- Lighting Crew Chief: Kevin Cassidy
- Lighting Techs: Christian Alvarado, Armando Figueroa, Shawn Gallen, Oscar Canales, Gabriel Prince, Javier Camacho, Ian Cassidy, Tomas Soltau, Thomas Wallace
- Video Director: Chris Keating
- Media Server Operator: Jeff Bertuch
- Video Crew Chief: Cameron Dixon
- Video EIC: Brea Robbins
- LED Techs/Camera Ops: Kyle Brinkman, Cameron Trosper, Charlie Manning, Tyler Hubbell, Michael Quiroga
- Show Rigger: Ian Bracewell
- Lead Carpenter: David Boyd
- Automation Operator: Robert Prager
- SGPS Crew Chief: Angel Aguirre
- SGPS Operator: William Gurski
- SGPS Techs: Curt Christoff, Jordan Amici, John Palmer, Josh Fidelman
- Laser Techs: Bryan Mikulan, Josh Tkaczuk, Jay Urse
Mötley Crüe
- Tour Manager: Thomas Reitz
- Production Director: Robert Long
- Production Coordinator: Ashley Zapar
- Lighting Designer: Michael Cooper
- Lighting Director: Michael Willingham
- Video Director: Christian Lind
- disguise Media Server Operator: Allison Sulock
- Stage Manager/Lead Rigger: Rodolfo “Rudy” Rodriguez
- Carpenters: Curtis Adams, Tanner Robbins
- Pyro Crew Chief: Jon Taylor
- Pyro Techs: Naloni Hydo, Brendan Brainard
Gear
- CHAUVET, Claypaky, Galaxia, JEM, MA Lighting, Martin, MDG, NovaStar, Panasonic, Reel EFX, Robe, Ross Video, Sony, SGM Light, WinVision
9: Kenny Chesney
Lighting Company: Solotech
Video Company: NEP Screenworks
Production Team
- Production/Lighting Designer: Mike Swinford
- Programmer: Mark Butts
- Lighting Director: Phil Ealy
- Production Manager: Ed Wannebo
- Lighting Crew Chief: Kevin Tyler
- FOH Tech: Mike Marcario
- Dimmers/Networking: Travis Edwards
- Lead Moving Lights: Tommy Smith
- Lighting Tech: Moss Everhard
- Moving Lights 2: Gabe Vejar
- Spot, RoboSpot: Nick Monaco
- Stadium 1: Matt Larsen
- Stadium 2: Daniel Duncan
- Video Director: Jay Cooper
- Video Engineer: Corey Neal
- Video Crew Chief/Camera Op: Greg “Grit” Fredrick
- LED Engineer/Camera Op: Austin Smith
- LED Tech/Camera Ops: Gabe Lopez, Baylor Masincupp
- Camera Op: Scott Lootens
- LED Tech/Climber: Clay Sprankle
- Screenworks Rep: Danny O’Bryen
- Screenworks Project Manager: Brian Littleton
Gear
- Claypaky, ETC, GLP, JEM, MA Lighting, MDG, NovaStar, Robe, Ross Video, TMB Solaris
10: The Weeknd
Lighting Company: Solotech
Video Company: Solotech
Production Team
- Creative Director: La Mar Taylor
- Production/Scenic Designer: Es Devlin
- Lighting Designer: Jason Baeri
- Lighting Director/Assistant LD: Joe Bay
- Scenic Designer: Jason Ardizzone-West
- Screens Director/Producer: Loren Barton
- Video Director: Richy Parkin
- Production Manager: Rob DeCeglio
- Lighting Crew Chief: David Bergeron
- Network Tech/ SR Dimmers: James Owen, Patrick Kassabian
- Moving Light Tech 1: Vincent Cadieux
- Moving Light Tech 2: Anthony Michael Fiorillo
- Senior Lighting Tech 1 / SL Dimmers: Gabriel Foucault-Lemieux
- Senior Lighting Tech 2/ DS Dimmers: Ian Rehn
- Senior Lighting Tech 3 / Networking: Christopher Brunel
- Senior Lighting Tech 2s: Denis Ayotte, Michel Pomerleau
- Lighting Techs: Cecil Richard Nelson III, Christopher Baldwin, Mathieu Blais
- Video Crew Chief: Maxime Dubé-Morais
- Video Engineer/Shading/Robo: Nick West
- disguise Media Server Tech 1, Senior: Ian Bertrand
- Lead LED Tech: Alexandre Charland
- LED Tech, Seniors: Francisco Hernandez, Michael Levert, Luc Dubé
- LED Tech/Camera Ops: Lance Strader, Tyson Raw, Timothy O’Nell, Michael “Truman” Gardner, Jonathan Gagnon-Roy, Carmen Cayce
- Solotech Rep: Robert Kennedy
- Set Fabrication: TAIT
Gear
- ACME, CHAUVET, Chroma-Q, Claypaky, Depence, disguise, Elation, GLP, Grass Valley, JEM, Lightware, MA Lighting, Martin, MDG, PixMob, Robe, Saco, Theatrixx, TMB Solaris, Vari-Lite
