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Video of the Week: Clay Paky B-Eye

Johnson Systems J-PACK Series

Johnson Systems J-PACK Series

Let’s face it, the way we use power devices is changing. This is a reflection on the changing fixture counts in our rigs. We have fewer traditional incandescent fixtures, of course, and a bigger percentage of gear with solid-state LED light sources. In addition, among incandescent fixtures, the shift to lower-wattage compact filament is reducing dimming loads.

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Windows: A View from the Top

Automated lighting consoles are amazing machines built on powerful software platforms. These systems are usually composed of many different “windows” that can be displayed on various screens on the console and/or external monitors. Many of these windows have very specific purposes with color-coding, viewing options and more. Every lighting programmer should have an understanding of the common types of windows and their uses.

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U2 atop Rockefeller Center for the Feb. 17 premiere of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Photo courtesy of NBC

Lighting U2 on Top of the Rock; Quick Cues, More

U2 harnessed the beauty of the New York City skyline glimmering on a wintery night as their panoramic set. You could call it “Elevation” meets “360°” — the mashup of two tour names for the band. The band sang “Invisible,” but the only invisible aspect about it were the behind-the-scenes challenges that came with performing outside, 70 stories up on the Top of the Rock observation deck atop Rockefeller Center’s tallest building in bone-chilling Polar Vortex weather.

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Illustration by Andy Au

Power of the Pen

There’s an old line I like to use. “You cannot win if you do not play.” Some think that may refer to gambling, or playing the lotto, but I look at it a different way. I look at it as, “Nothing’s gonna happen unless you make it so.” Rarely will someone give you something without you asking for it first. Lord knows this is true about getting a raise in the entertainment biz. Nobody’s giving you one unless you ask for it. But there’s a lot of ways to help yourself in life, to win a few bucks back, if you just pick up a pen.

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Sean McCarter

LightParts Names Sean McCarter Sales Manager

AUSTIN, TX — LightParts Inc. named industry veteran Sean McCarter sales manager, a newly created position. McCarter previously served as repair coordinator at LightParts, joining the company after a long tenure with High End Systems. In his new role, McCarter will be responsible for all inside and Internet sales activities at LightParts, including parts and equipment sales, both new and used.

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Moe. Winter Gigs Lit with Robins in the Rigs

Moe. Winter Gigs Lit with Robe Moving Lights

SYRACUSE, NY — Preston Hoffman of Pulse Lighting, LD for jam band Moe., used 16 Robe Robin Pointes and 16 LEDWash 300s for the band’s East Coast U.S. winter tour, relying on three companies to provide the much-in-demand fixtures — KM Productions, Main Light Industries and TERI Productions.

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Concert and Corporate Productions (CCPWA) general manager Sean McKernan noted that their new Jands Vista L5 hit the road soon after it arrived in the company’s warehouse early last fall and hasn’t spent much time in the warehouse between gigs.

CCPWA’s Jands Vista L5 Stays Busy on the Road

PERTH, Australia — Concert and Corporate Productions (CCPWA) general manager Sean McKernan noted that their new Jands Vista L5 hit the road soon after it arrived in the company’s warehouse early last fall and hasn’t spent much time in the warehouse between gigs. “We got it mid-September and we only had it in our warehouse for 12 hours before it went out on its first tour,” he said.

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ASOT 650 at Jaarbeurs in Utrecht Feb. 15, Area 1

Dutch EDM Trance Event Lit by Robe

UTRECHT, The Netherlands — For “A State of Trance” 650, which drew some 32,000 EDM fans to the Jaarbeurs here Feb. 15, LD André Beekmans used 48 Robe Robin Pointe fixtures and 88 LEDBeam 100s. Flashlight from Utrecht and The Purple Group from Schijndel provided gear for the event.

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Jake Bugg tour photo by Rodney George

PRG Supports Jake Bugg Tour in U.K.

LONDON — In support of his second album, Shangri-La, Jake Bugg set out on a U.K. tour, including headlining the first Albert Session of 2014 at Royal Albert Hall on Feb. 21, 2014. LD Stuart Farrell worked with PRG’s Scottie Sanderson to clear the logistical hurdles of lighting a wide range of venues, with Vari-Lite, Martin, Sunstrips and I-Pix BB4s supplementing some of the installed rigs.

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LD Ryan Burton found that a highly portable Jands Vista S1 was still powerful enough to meet his needs while touring with Ben Rector on the artist’s 34-date autumn tour of the U.S. to promote his latest album, The Walking in Between.

Portable Jands Vista S1 Meets Needs of LD on Ben Rector Tour

NASHVILLE — LD Ryan Burton found that a highly portable Jands Vista S1 was still powerful enough to meet his needs while touring with Ben Rector on the artist’s 34-date autumn tour of the U.S. to promote his latest album, The Walking in Between. Jands’ North American distributor, A.C. Lighting Inc., worked with Special Events Systems to supply the Jands Vista S1 for this tour.

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