ORLANDO – After the Hard Rock Live Orlando was originally built in 2001, the production team operated over the next 11 years without a lighting system upgrade. So to update the venue, Production Manager Brian Mandigo and Lighting Director Mark Tringali received approval for a full system upgrade consisting of Philips Vari-Lite VL880 Spot and VLX Wash luminaires supplied by Zenith Lighting.
More details from Philips Vari-Lite (www.vari-lite.com):
“One of the original reasons Hard Rock Live was built was to do a lot of TV production plus the live events,” said Mandigo. “We needed a lighting rig with more intensity that packs a punch and has crisp gobo projections for texturing and color mixing,” added Tringali. “Color temperature is also very important and I have always been a big fan of the color mixing capabilities and the color temperature of Vari-Lite fixtures, so after working with Zenith Lighting we knew the VLX Wash and the VL880 Spots would work perfect for us.”
“We bought into the VL880 Spots when they first came out and when speaking with Brian and Mark about their needs, we thought the output of the 800 watt lamp inside the VL880 along with its outstanding color temperature control would work perfect for them,” said Adam Vidaurri of Zenith Lighting. “Plus we felt the punch of the VL880 gave them the perfect complement to the VLX Wash and once they saw the lights in action they decided to go with a complete Vari-Lite package for the install.”
With a production calendar that operates year-round and encompasses everything from concerts to corporate events, Mandigo and Tringali needed the lighting system to not only be powerful, but it also had to be flexible and provide a multitude of capabilities.
Tringali said, “All of our trusses are on motor controls so that the room can handle the needs of any client. With the VL880 Spots and the VLX Wash fixtures we have now, clients often come in and decide they don’t actually need to bring any additional lighting and that is a very nice feeling.”
The trim height from the stage deck to the steel is set at 44 feet and the trim trusses at 25-30 feet off the deck. So to get the maximum use out of their new fixtures, Mandigo and Tringali hung 16 VLX Wash luminaires in the front of house truss for an even wash, while also placing 12 VL880 Spots in the truss and then four on the stage deck to take full advantage of their power and gobo capabilities. The result, a new lighting system that has given them everything they need and a bit more.
Mandigo explalined, “The VL880 Spots and VLX Wash fixtures crush the room as far as intensity and it looks great. We did our own corporate event not too long ago with the fixtures and it was just stunning. Our corporate IT manager and CEO were absolutely blown away and for them to notice is a big deal because they typically don’t notice the lighting.”
Said Tringali, “I love the zoom, color temperature and color mix of the VLX Wash. The fact that you can go from tungsten all the way out to a 5600K color temperature is unbelievable. The VL880 Spots speak for themselves. With the power of the 800 watt lamp, their stock gobo patterns are awesome and their color mixing is simply beautiful.”
“When we first got them all in the air and turned them on they put so much energy and excitement into the room,” added Mandigo.
“Sometimes it’s hard to come up with the correct descriptive words for something like this, but for us it was just a sense of pure excitement and we couldn’t believe this was our new rig. From a production stand point what Philips Vari-Lite has done with the VL880 Spot is taken a medium-sized fixture and packed a lot of power and flexibility into it. I think it’s incredibly important with the way video is playing such a powerful role in not only concert settings but all types of events, you need this type of fixture that can do it all for you.”
With production team is also pleased with the support from Zenith Lighting.
“We all have vendors we like to use, but Zenith care about the relationship and they are very thorough,” said Mandigo. “They spent the time to educate us on what fixtures were available instead of just trying to make a sale and they’re always here for us in every capacity which is why we have, and always will, continue to partner with them.”
