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In Memoriam: Chris McGregor, Production Designer & Creative Visionary, 61

Chris McGregor

Production Designer and President of San Francisco-based Stage II Productions, Chris McGregor died of a heart attack on Monday, July 31, 2023, at 61. McGregor is widely known for his creative work for Phish and The Residents as well as lighting and production design for numerous events. His passing was initially confirmed by The Residents, who he had worked with since 1989. McGregor earned a BFA degree from the California Institute of the Arts in 1984.Read More »In Memoriam: Chris McGregor, Production Designer & Creative Visionary, 61

Christien Methot Debuts His Light:Bridge Across the Seine in Paris

International Light Artist Christien Methot enabled Parisians to see their beloved Seine River in a new light when he created the world’s first Light:Bridge with Ayrton Cobra phosphor laser source luminaires. For one July night, Methot, the Principal Lighting Designer at New York City-based Design One Lighting Design, used 10 powerful parallel beams of light to project a ‘bridge’ across the water near the Passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Senghor footbridge, which links the Left Bank’s Musee d’Orsay with the Right Bank’s Jardin des Tuileries.  From far away the light beams appeared to be a sturdy, physical crossing.  But as people approached it, the ethereal nature of a bridge built of light was revealed. 

Dude Perfect Lets Loose the ‘Panda-monium’ with Bandit Lites and 46 Entertainment

Viral Internet sensations Dude Perfect recently wrapped their high octane 24-city Panda-monium Tour with a lighting system designed by 46 Entertainment and provided by Bandit Lites. Former college roommates Tyler “Beard” Toney, Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett “Purple Hoser” Hilbert, and Cody “Tall Guy” Jones famous for their crazy stunts and trick-shot battles have amassed 59.6 million YouTube subscribers and 11.8 million Instagram followers.Read More »Dude Perfect Lets Loose the ‘Panda-monium’ with Bandit Lites and 46 Entertainment

Industry Leaders Step Up for 22nd Annual Parnelli Awards

With about six months to go, the 22nd Annual Parnelli Awards are on track to break several records – first and foremost, the number of companies stepping up to make the evening of the live event industry’s award show a success. “I’m humbled by not only the number of progressive companies sponsoring our industry award show this year, but who is stepping up,” says Parnelli Awards Co-Founder and Executive Producer Terry Lowe. “Not only is it wonderful to see so many who have supported continuously from the first shows like All Access Staging and Productions, Harman Professional, and Sound Image, but also great to welcome first-time sponsors joining us this year.” First time supporters of this year’s gala include Eagle Production Co., Eventric/Master Tour, and Spider Ranch Productions.Read More »Industry Leaders Step Up for 22nd Annual Parnelli Awards

District 5 Creates Cool Beach Vibe for Brian Kelley with CHAUVET Professional

Sometimes a name just seems to feel right. Such was the case with Brian Kelley’s “See You Next Summer,” the latest his from the singer/songwriter formerly of the multi-award winning (CMT and ACMA) duo Florida Georgia Line. Recorded after a long hard pandemic lockdown, Kelley’s sound strikes the hopeful chord of new beginnings, with its laid-back beachy sound, and engaging sing-alongs, punctuated by some moving and thoughtful ballads. This combination has been winning the star a large following as a solo artist. Its upbeat, laidback mood is reflected in the engaging lighting that is supporting Kelley’s music on tour.Read More »District 5 Creates Cool Beach Vibe for Brian Kelley with CHAUVET Professional

CHAUVET Professional Helps Clifford Michael Spulock Evoke Mood of ‘Newsies’

The deepest purpose of art is “not to convey, but to evoke,” the great novelist Jerzy Kosinski once observed.  Clifford Michael Spulock demonstrated the power of this principle when lighting the Slow Burn Theatre Company’s production of Newsies earlier this summer at the Broward Center.Read More »CHAUVET Professional Helps Clifford Michael Spulock Evoke Mood of ‘Newsies’

The ‘Give a Damn’ Factor

Jerry Slone, Production Manager for Luke Combs’ World Tour, sees a common thread in all the vendors supporting the trek: a high “Give a Damn” factor. “Mike Brammer’s ‘Give a Damn’ is really high,” Slone says, of the Special Event Services (SES) exec who is providing the tour’s lighting and audio, along with a G2 Structures K2i HD stage as well as trucking through sister company SET. “I would say that about all our vendors,” Slone adds. “Everybody really cares.”

‘Scalable’ Artiste Monet™ Carries the Load on Kelsea Ballerini ‘Heartfirst’ Tour

Country music artist Kelsea Ballerini’s popular Heartfirst tour moved outside in June and July with a lighting design by Nick Chang that featured Elation Professional’s versatile Artiste Monet™ LED profile moving head, along with Smarty MAX™ luminaires. The tour, extended to a third leg due to overwhelming demand, travelled all over the country. The lighting and video vendor for the tour was 4Wall Nashville.Read More »‘Scalable’ Artiste Monet™ Carries the Load on Kelsea Ballerini ‘Heartfirst’ Tour

ADJ: Dedicated Hydro IP Tester for In-House Maintenance Of IP65 Rated Fixtures

ADJ announces the immediate availability of the new Hydro IP Tester. This dedicated mobile service tool is specifically designed to assess the integrity of compatible IP rated lighting fixtures, including ADJ’s Hydro Series of moving heads. The compact device is intended for use by competent technicians at production companies, dealers, and rental houses.

Jose Lorenzo Commends NX4™ Control on UK Dance Productions

In 2022, lighting professional Jose Lorenzo used Obsidian’s NX2™ lighting console to great success on Giovanni Pernice’s This is Me dance show, so when the Strictly Come Dancing star decided to tour a bigger show in 2023—Made in Italy—the designer again turned to Obsidian, but this time upgraded to the greater control possibilities inherent in the NX4™.Read More »Jose Lorenzo Commends NX4™ Control on UK Dance Productions