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Growing with the Artist: Roy Bennett and Prince

Prince photo by Dreamstime

Growing with the Artist: Roy Bennett and Prince

How an Unknown Musician and a Young LD Paved Each Other’s Career

In the late 1970s, Roy Bennett was a young tech working for Zenith Lighting, a vendor with a Los Angeles office at the time. The head of the company knew that his employee wanted to get into the design part of the lighting business and promised him if he ever got a call, he would submit his name. In 1980, that call came from an unknown singer from Minneapolis that few had ever heard of. This was the start of a 14-year relationship between two young men who ended up rising to be the pinnacles of their respective industries.

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Prince and Sheila E photo from Dreamstime

Lighting the ‘Purple One’

PLSN Talks with Several Designers About illuminating Prince

It was a sad day in the city of Minneapolis last month. The musical icon who put the First Avenue performance venue and this city on the musical map had passed on. The streets outside the club where Prince Rogers Nelson had filmed Purple Rain some 30 years ago closed down as the masses gathered to “get through this little thing we call life.”

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Stage/Set/Scenery trade fair in Berlin, June 2017

Stage/Set/Scenery Event Set for Berlin from June 20-22, 2017

BERLIN, Germany – The organizers of STAGE | SET | SCENERY, an international trade fair and conference for theatre, film and entertainment technology, announced that their next event is set for June 20-22, 2017. The event focuses on stage machinery, drive and control systems, architecture and planning, lighting, acoustics, audio, video and media engineering, studio technology, events, museum technology, decoration and furnishings, make-up and costume design and safety engineering. The event takes place every other year.

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From left, Back Row: Tom, Toranj, John, Shawn and Paige. Front Row: Travis, Veronica, Kristin, Betty Ann and Jen

The Ruzika Company Celebrates 30 Years in Lighting Design and Theatre Consulting

IRVINE, CA – The Ruzika Company, a lighting design and theatre consulting studio, recently celebrated their 30th year in the business. Led by Tom Ruzika, the team now supports a broad range of projects, including hospitality, retail, gaming, residential, educational, theme parks, theatre facility planning, and live entertainment. Pictured here are, from left, back row: Tom, Toranj, John, Shawn and Paige; and, front row: Travis, Veronica, Kristin, Betty Ann and Jen

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Jimmy Fallon interviews Michelle Obama. Photo courtesy NBC

Fred Bock Lights ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’

Fred Bock has been lighting The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since Fallon debuted as the new host of the iconic show on Feb. 17, 2014. After decades on the West Coast, having left NYC for “beautiful downtown Burbank” in 1972, The Tonight Show returned to its roots, moving back to the East Coast. Bock was no stranger to the fast pace and ever-changing setups lighting for late night TV. Over the years, he has lit a number of NBC productions and projects, including 16 years on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

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Reliable Design Services founder Matt Panther

Reliable Design Services

Reliable Design Services, (RDS) based in Quinlan TX, is a custom fabricating company. While originally founded to manufacture specialty projects for the aviation industry, production companies in the entertainment industry have sought their expertise as well.

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The show fills London’s Saatchi Gallery through Sept. 4, 2016, then moves on to 11 more cities around the world.

‘Exhibitionism’ Showcases the Rolling Stones’ 50-Plus Years in Music

Exhibitionism, a major museum retrospective of the Rolling Stones’ long career in music, is taking over both floors of London’s Saatchi Gallery through Sept. 4. The multi-media show includes more than 500 artifacts. It’s produced and curated by Australian event company IEC (International Entertainment Consulting). After the London exhibition ends on September 4, the giant production will tour another 11 global cities over the next four years.

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Jason Aldean performs with Ayrton fixtures

Jason Aldean LD Mike Swinford Includes Ayrton Fixtures for “We Were Here” Tour

NASHVILLE — Jason Aldean, who recently completed the Australian leg with his “We Were Here” tour, is currently on tour across America. Aldean’s tour picks up on the country artist’s hit single, “Gonna Know We Were Here.” LD Mike Swinford included Ayrton MagicDot-R, MagicRing-R9, IntelliPix-R and MagicBlade-R fixtures in the rig. The setup includes five overhead lighting pods Each is equipped with 36 MagicDot-R fixtures and rigged on Show Rig Whirligigs.

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