If you've read enough of my jargon, you realize I'm a big believer in "giving something back". In other words, for years people have spent their time teaching me my craft. So now I spend time teaching others the same thing. But this morning I had something cool given to me.
There are times when a conventional desk needs to trigger an automated desk or vice versa. The most common type of console triggering automation is… Read More »Know the ID for each triggered device
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Scenic designer Michael Hotopp and his creative partner/scenic designer Bill Hoffman have worked together for two decades on myriad productions — touring theatre shows, trade shows, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular — but nothing could have prepared them for working during the last eight years on ice sculpture installations as part of the Ice series for the Gaylord Hotels. Working on Christmas-based themes, they have created walk-through attractions that depict famous holiday characters and events, but this past year they got a real treat — designing the Ice! How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
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Every year I design the set and lighting for a traveling rock show called “A Taste of Chaos”. Ten bands will perform on 2 stages every night. Each year I take a few young kids and try to school them in the art of setting up and lighting a rock show. Some pass with flying colors while others flounder miserably.
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When Kevin Mitchell of Sugar Society booked the legendary Rabbit in the Moon at Amos’ Southend, his ace up his sleeve was Jack Kelly of Eye Dialogue, who had four years of experience doing shows at the Charlotte, NC music hall. He handed Kelly the tour rider and asked if he could light it for $4,000.
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Everyone knows that networking skills can help with a job search — at least the kind of networking that circulates your name, abilities and career… Read More »Networking can help your career
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As an automated lighting programmer, I am often tasked with helping to automate the playback of a production. There are several approaches that are used in our industry for various types of automated lighting playback. There are also times when the lighting console needs to trigger other de-vices to ensure that the production is synchronized by the lighting console. Whether using MIDI, MIDI Show Control, Timecode, analog signals, or other custom triggers, it is important to understand the choices and how to use them.
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If you think working on a musical with multiple sets is tricky, try tackling a touring show where the venue changes almost daily, and the size of the venue expands or shrinks depending upon where you are. That’s the challenge that production stage manager Shawn Pennington and head electrician Lynnette Provost face on the current national tour of Gypsy. The show chronicles the rise of Gypsy Rose Lee, whose stage mother tried for years to make her a star until their waning fortunes landed their act in a seedy burlesque theater, where financial desperation and failed artistic aspirations transformed a sweet young woman into a seductive stripper.
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Lighting and stage designers have the tools at their disposal to create shows that a previous generation of LDs could only dream about. But the complexity of today’s sets and shows often requires repeat visits to the electronic drawing board, with an occasional reality check from someone eyeing the budget and logistics.
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BUSINESS
Who: Michael Cannon, CEO, 4Wall Entertainment Lighting
What: Rentals, sales, installation and design of entertainment lighting
When: Founded in 1999 with partner Bill Lairamore
Where: HQ in Las Vegas with locations in New York and Phoenix
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Dec. 1, 2007 was World Aids Day, a day set aside by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of the global AIDS epidemic, and Gearhouse South Africa was busy supplying design, full technical production and crew for the 46664 Concert staged in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium.
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Following the huge popularity of TV’s Dancing with the Stars comes Dancing with the Stars — the Tour. The tour features a revolving door of celebrity guests and dance numbers. On a recent night, for example, “Mr. Las Vegas” himself, Wayne Newton, made an appearance, along with Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan, who was voted off the show early in the season, to the dismay of many. Also on board for the tour were emcee/dancer Drew Lachey and dancer Cheryl Burke.
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