Save The Date: Oct. 25 2017 – 7th Annual Touring Career Workshop

Are you new to the industry?  Are you looking for advice and help on how to break into and maintain a healthy touring career? Looking to make contacts and new friends around the industry?

Chris Lisle’s Touring Career Workshop is the perfect event for you.  On Wednesday, October 25, 2017 The Touring Career Workshop takes place from 5pm to 9pm at SoundCheck Nashville, TN.  The main event and session begin at 6pm.  The Touring Career Workshop is open to anyone and everyone. Cost… NADA… FREE!

Where:

SoundCheck Nashiville

750 Cowan St.

Nashville, TN 37207

This years sessions include:

• Getting the Gig
• Touring and Retirement Planning
• The Roadie Lifestyle
• Situational Awareness and Safety
• Touring 101
• Production Manager Panel
• Balance: Family and Relationships
• One on one with Joy Black, Adam Warren, Troy Von Haefen, RJ Stillwell

Registration for this year’s workshop will be open on Monday September 18.

Learn more about the Touring Career Workshop by visiting: touringcareerworkshop.com

Re-Post: Prelite Studios Uses Previz to Aid Apple Product Launches

In our industry, we do some pretty amazing stuff with some very interesting people and companies.  It is a well known fact that I am a big fan of Apple products.  When I hear of a story involving them and our industry, I have to share it.  Prelite Studios, (www.prelite.com), helped Apple launch the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus last year in San Francisco by providing lighting designers and OneRepublic previsualization of the space well before show time.

More from PLSN and the Press Release

The latest iPhones and Apple TV launch, announced by Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook introduced new models of Apple’s popular smartphones with many new features and improvements.  More than 13 million units of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus were sold in the first three days of their availability.

Prelite partner Tom Thompson, who also served as the event’s gaffer and assistant lighting designer, and Prelite host Brooke Kimple spent six days at the Civic Auditorium providing previsualization services to production lighting designer Paul Efron of Seeing Eye Lighting Design and guest LD lighting designer of OneRepublic A.J Pen.

“Prelite offers out-of-the-box thinking for the best way to approach a project and attain your goals efficiently,” says Thompson.  “Using Prelite meant we were able to work on site before the immense lighting rig was installed and working.  Big events come with enough stress.  Prelite relieves any additional stress by providing the time to build and program looks so everyone is ready to go when lighting and scenic elements are set up.”

“My experience with Prelite was 100 percent positive,” says A.J Pen.  “From the precise fixture placement to the perfectly animated stage and screen movements, the Prelite model was indeed an accurate representation of the real live event.  There is simply no way that I could have pulled off the show that we did without pre visualization.”

“I use Prelite all the time, especially for an event like this where a single rig must provide for the needs of more than one designer in a compressed rehearsal schedule,” says Paul Efron.  “Prelite allowed us the time needed on the front end, while we were waiting for staging and scenery to be installed, to explore a variety of options to address what has traditionally been the challenge of lighting a black set for video production.”

Apple is known for its clean, elegant and minimalist staging. ”The lighting is designed to maintain focus on the presenters, product and content” says Efron. “However as the event is live streamed to millions of people worldwide, our challenge is to still light for the best quality video production possible while minimizing the amount of “visual noise”. For this particular launch we were directed to provide something a bit different from what we had been doing in the past while still working with the same scenic materials and traditional black background.”

The audience and rig itself provided much of the backgrounds for the multiple camera shoot which also included 2 Jib cameras”.

The event marked a departure from previous launches since it was held at the Civic Auditorium for the first time.  “The venue was recently renovated and is primarily used for arena concert events, so it’s basically a shell,” Efron notes. “We were tasked with transforming that shell into a world class black box theatre making the build out quite extensive.”

The set consisted of three three-dimensional black “monoliths.”  The center monolith, featured a single rear projection screen.  Spaces between the center monolith and the two outside monoliths formed dark “infinity tunnels,” which served as entrances and exits for the presenters.

At the conclusion of the general session OneRepublic came on stage to rock the audience with a three-song set.  Thanks to Prelite, Pen was able “to create both a unique mood that bridged our ‘normal’ live show with the context and setting of the Apple event, as well as to program accents and flourishes that the band is used to feeling from the light show,” he explains.

“During our rehearsal period we experienced some unforeseen delays and consequently were only able to run each of our three songs once before the live show.  With estimates of the potential live-streaming audience being in the hundreds of millions, it was impossible to place a value on the confidence that working with Prelite afforded me.

“The team was exceptionally helpful and attentive during the entire experience,” Pen adds.  “Although the OneRepublic performance was just icing on an elaborate cake, they all made me feel as if our brief moment was one of the most basic and important ingredients of the entire event.”

Via: PLSN.com

PLASA Announces Upcoming Focus Events

Now that LDI is over, PLASA has announced the next couple of PLASA Focus events in the US and UK.  Here is a listing of the upcoming events around the country.

• Nov 12-13, 2012 – Stamford Connecticut
• Apr 30, May 1, 2013 – Leeds England
• May 15-16, 2013 – Orlando Florida
• Sep 10-11 2013 – Austin Texas
• Feb 5-6, 2014 – Nashville Tennessee

I personally LOVE smaller events like this.  I have been to one of them and plan on getting to more.  They are a little more relaxed than the big shows.  They allow for more one-on-one time and not the big rush to get around to see every single exhibitor with fear of missing something.  I highly encourage you to take up the chance to visit one of these FREE events!

Learn more about PLASA Focus and all of the upcoming events at www.plasafocus.com.

Are You Ready for #LDI2012?

It is the calm before the storm, the Wednesday before LDI 2012 opens in Las Vegas. I am already in town preparing for the long weekend of lighting goodness. Before the festivities commonsense, there is still some work to be done. Here at iSquint, we have been hard at work for the past couple of months preparing for the big day on Friday.  We have something special to announce!  We are in the final stages of preparing for the big news. So, before you head to the show floor on Friday, make sure to check out iSquint.net.

Now, are you ready for this long weekend? Here is a listing of some of the big things going on around town.

• Thursday: The Parnelli Golf Tournament at Arroyo Golf Club
• Thursday Night: PLASA Rock Our World Awards
• Thursday Night: Las Vegas Club Crawl
• Friday 10am – 5pm: SHOW FLOOR IS OPEN
• Friday Night: The LDI 25th Anniversary Party
• Saturday 10am – 5pm: SHOW FLOOR IS OPEN
• Saturday 5pm: LDI Awards Ceremony on the show floor
• Saturday Night 7pm: The 12th Annual Parnelli Awards
• Sunday 10am – 3pm: SHOW FLOOR IS OPEN

If you are walking the show floor and have a mobile device, save a tree and download the FREE LDI 2012 Mobile App.  It is available on Apple App Store, GooglePlay and Blackberry Store. It is SO much better than the paper edition and a TON lighter. It includes all the great information found in the print edition along with the ability to get directions on the show floor, plan an agenda and some neat other features.  So SAVE A TREE!

Safe travels everyone and see you all around Vegas and the show floor!

Breaking News: 4Wall Throwing Industry Party at #LDI2012

Remember two years ago, the last time LDI was in Vegas? With a party like this, how could you forget?! Time to relive it again this year!  Details of the 2012 4Wall Industry Party are out!

When: Friday, October 19th @ 8pm

Where: Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar; 3824 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, 89119

– the building in the back, just one mile south of the LVCC

What: All you need is your show floor badge to get in.

This year is a bit special.  It is also the LDI 25th Anniversary Party sponsored by 4Wall Lighting and UsedLighting.com. What can you expect… showgirls, music from the industry band, The Swingin’ Johnsons and a 4Wall staple, an OPEN BAR… till 11pm.  If you are heading to LDI, clear your calendar Friday night, you will NOT want to miss this one.

Breaking News: PLASA Focus Stamford in November 2012

Just before PLASA Focus Nashville opens tomorrow, details have spilled that PLASA is planning yet another Focus series of mini/regional trade shows in Stamford, CT in November 2012.  The only details released so far is that PLASA Focus Stamford will take place November 12-13, 2012.

PLASA is sure to announce more details about PLASA Focus Stamford tomorrow or in the next couple of days while PLASA Focus Nashville is underway.  Stay tuned for more details. You can check the PLASA Focus website in the next couple of days to learn more.

HES Hosting Events in Vegas and San Fran During June

Wanna check out some of High End Systems latest gear and/or get some training?  High End has announced two events happening this month. (Wow, we are in June already?!?) Here are the details from HES:

The activities begin June 12 & 13, 2012 with a Wholehog training session held at the ESP Vision headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This introduction course covers the Wholehog Control Software, which is used on the Wholehog 3 Console, Road Hog, Road Hog Full Boar, the Hog iPC and Hog 3PC.  Students will learn on Road Hog Full Boar consoles connected to ESP Vision.  Full seminar description and registration information is available here.

The Wholehog training will be followed by an open house event to be held on June 14, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, also in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Products on display will include intellaspot, Technospot, TechnoArc, trackspot Bolt, DLV and Road Hog Full Boar consoles.  Hands-on demonstrations from industry professionals allow attendees the opportunity to get up close and personal with all the technology.  Full details on the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino event can be found here.

If you are attending InfoComm, which just HAPPENS to be during the same time. If you can find time to peal away from the show floor, try and swing by.

After the Las Vegas events, High End System will again present a Wholehog seminar and open house in San Francisco, California.  The open house will be held on June 20, 2012 at the Ruby Skye. nightclub  Products on display will again include intellaspot, Technospot, TechnoArc, trackspot Bolt, DLV and Road Hog Full Boar consoles.  Customers will also have opportunities for hands-on demonstrations from industry professionals.  Full details on the San Fran event can be found here.

Wholehog training will occur at the same location in San Francisco on June 19 and 20.  The seminar will feature Road Hog Full Boar consoles connected to ESP Vision to allow for a complete training experience.  Full seminar description and registration information is available here.

Recap: 4Wall New York Vendor Show Case 2012

Where does time go? It has been some time since the 4Wall NY Vendor Show Case and I am just getting around to posting about it.  Back on May 17th, 4Wall held their annual Vendor Show Case in their NY warehouse.  There are a couple of reason why I love this event.

1. The BBQ! These guys go all out with Jimmy Cannon and Brian Dowd from ACT Lighting manning the Grills, Smokers and cutting boards. There is so much BBQ, hamburgers, and sides that you think you would be easting your last meal!
2. The intimate setting: I love massive trade shows, but the smaller ones are the best! Vendors have 6 feet area on top of road boxes to setup and show their products.
3. Smaller crowds: While I am sure 4Wall would love to pack the warehouse with guest, the smaller crowds mean more one-on-one time with the vendors!

It was a great event with a nice turn out of 4Wall customers and friends from around the NYC metro area.  Everyone showed off their latest products as well as some sneak peaks at what will be coming out later this summer and early fall. 4Wall not only filled up their warehouse with customers, but clients as well!

A.C. Lighting ACT Lighting Altman Lighting Apollo Arri Lighting BriteShot Center Stage Repair Chauvet Chroma-Q Chromlech City Theatrical Clay Paky Coemar USA Color Kinetics Desisti

Elation Enttec ETC Field Template GAM Products German Light Products Hippotizer Indu ElectricLee Filters Leprecon LEX Products Lighting & Electronics Litepanels Lycian Martin Professional Nila

Osram Prism Projection Robert Juliat Rosco SeaChanger Strand Lighting Strong The Black Tank Times Square Lighting TMB Tomcat Ultratec Special Effects UsedAV.com UsedLighting.com Vari*Lite

 

Here is a time lapse of the setup, the show case and a bit of tear down. Gotta love fitting 4 hours into under 3 minutes!

Photos from the 4Wall NY Vendor Show Case 2012

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Mark Your Calendars: Stage Seminars Super Saturday is January 21st in NYC

Stage Seminars Stage Lighting Super Saturday returns to New York City on Saturday, January 21st.  Are you going to be there?If you are in the city that weekend, it would be a good idea to head to the upper west side and check out some new products and maybe learn a thing or two. Here is more about Super Saturday:

A dozen theater lighting professionals will speak and about 20 industry lighting manufacturers will on hand and have technical personnel and equipment to demonstrate. The tentative program includes inspiration, fixtures, color, consoles, moving lights, trouble shooting, CAD, Virtual Magic Sheet & LightWright, paperwork, and other subjects. Starting at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011, the sixth-annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday all-day seminar will take place at the conveniently located Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City located across from New York City’s Lincoln Center.

Sounds like fun right?  You’ll find me there!  I am so excited, this is my second year going!  You should be too.  On top of a day of lighting glory and education, the organizers of Super Saturday have a special offer for you.  Scott Parker offered a discount code to the readers of iSquint to attend and save on Super Saturday.  Use the code and save $25 off the registration price… Now, you can save $50 if you register before January 7th! It’s easy, use the code iSquintVIP when you register. What are you waiting for?!  Go register for Super Saturday now! I can’t wait to see you there!

You can learn more about Super Saturday by visiting www.stageseminars.com.

Stage Lighting Super Saturday Returns to NYC for 2011

Sonny Sonnenfeld and Scott C. Parker announce that Stage Lighting Super Saturday selects New York City for its seventh annual seminar.

At 8:00 am on Saturday, January 21, 2012, the seventh-annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday all-day seminar will take place at the conveniently located Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City near Lincoln Center on Amsterdam Avenue and West 65th Street.

Once again, this popular annual seminar is designed for everyone involved in stage, architectural, or entertainment lighting. The sessions are not too basic nor too advanced. Everyone who attends will benefit. The intense all day seminar will be led by theatre lighting professionals leading sessions about inspiration, training, product, and just doing it.

Approximately 20 manufacturers and technical specialists will demonstrate equipment. Previous years’ supporters included Altman, GAM, Martin Pro, Lee, SeaChanger, Strand and more. Broadway lighting designer Ken Billington will present an inspirational session on the “Art of Stage Lighting.” Broadway lighting designer Richard Pilbrow will present a session discussing Virtual Lighting Control using various tools including the iPad.

For more information, please visit www.stageseminars.com or contact Scott Parker at super2012@stageseminars.com, 1-866-832-4390.

ETC CUE: A Glimpse of the Newest Eos Family Member – GIO

7/25/2011…at the welcome reception for the inaugural ETC CUE event, ETC surprised and delighted their attendees by rolling out 3 units of what will be the newest addition to their Eos family line of consoles, the Gio. Weighing in at just under 50 lbs (a bonus for shipping concerns) this new addition geared for the mid-range space will sport a similar layout for keyboard commands, 10 motorized faders, master faders, and the 2 touch screens that is familiar to Eos users.

Those two touch screens are housed in a thin section that will tilt flat for shipping, up for viewing, and can be locked at any position in between. One USB port is on the front, with more available on the back. 2 Ethercon ports, 2 DMX ports, and 3 DVI ports were also spied on the back.

This console also supports backlit keys (the “clear” button helpfully highlights in red when a syntax error occurs) and the backlighting of these keys will have dimmer control; as will the LED console work lights. The finish of the console is highly scratch resistant and easy on the eyes.

Set to come in configurations of 2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 outputs, the Gio is expected to list right between the Ion and the Eos price points.

Keep an eye out for the official release this fall for more and final details!

ETC CUE: Day 1 Keynote

7/26/2011…Today’s morning kicked off bright and early at 8 am with a fabulous address by Fred Foster.  The audience was held in rapt attention for an hour and a half listening to his stories about the history of ETC and just how much the company is for the people.   (Sadly my audio recording froze up and I lost the whole thing…)

However to end the address and kick off the morning sessions, there was a short colorful visual demo:

Yep; by now you’ve probably heard through the social grapevine that it is indeed truly coming…an LED Source Four.  There is it’s result right there: clean projection, 7-color plus the daylight (perhaps more?  I lost count when the gasps enveloped the room) flashed before our eyes on the screen, then this display of the Kick-Ass Daylight White.  It definitely is.  Look for more information in the coming 9-12 months.