A good automated lighting programmer will always prepare for the tasks at hand long before the trucks are loaded. Most lighting companies will prepare the fixtures, cables, truss and more prior to the first load-in. In the same manner, an automated lighting programmer should prepare the show file and console configuration before arriving on site. There are many important procedures and provisions that you should follow when you are beginning a new project.
Read More »That giant sound you heard coming from Europe last month was the falling expectation that the world would come to an end when they started the Large Hardon Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. It turns out that fears of the collider destroying the world through the production of microscopic black holes never materialized. What did materialize was an anticlimactic flip of the switch that started the collider — not that you would have noticed had the press not been there. In the long term, what is learned from these particle collisions could change the way we view the world. In the short term… yawn… stretch… yawn.
Read More »“To most outsiders, modern mathematics is unknown territory… a mass of indecipherable equations and incomprehensible concepts. Few realize that the world of modern mathematics is rich with vivid images and provocative ideas.”
— Ivars Peterson, Mathematical Association of America
DENVER — The Democratic National Convention (DNC), which took place at the end of August, was in not one but two Denver landmarks, the Pepsi Center, shown here, and Invesco Field, home to the Denver Broncos. Two venues meant that Production Resource Group (PRG), which provided both lighting and scenery for this year’s DNC, would need to coordinate, assemble, construct and deliver two massive sets and two complete lighting systems, each facing strict deadlines for load-in and load-out.
Read More »CARLSTADT, NJ — City Theatrical, a company that designs, develops and manufactures wireless DMX equipment, has been granted U.S. Patent number 7,432,803 for its wireless technology, which covers the transmission of DMX, RDM, and ACN via the means of FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) radios as well as DHSS (direct sequence spread spectrum) radios, in the 2.4 GHz range. Also covered are the bi-directional broadcast of data, and the concept of a remote monitor for RDM and ACN.
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KRISTIANSAND, Norway — Moving lights and LEDs are brightening up Spot, a multi-zone nightclub that opened here recently. Over 600 Anolis LED fixtures and Robe moving lights have been installed in the two-story, 400-capacity venue.
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SANDHURST, U.K. — Large-format projection joined the fireworks, orchestra and chorus for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst’s 2008 “Music on Fire” extravaganza. The biannual three-day mixed-media event and “Firework Prom” attracted up to 10,000 visitors per night to the main training center for British Army officers, with proceeds going to the Army Benevolent Fund.
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LISBURN, Northern Island — A destination for fans of Irish linen, with perhaps a few lost tourists seeking the capital of Portugal, Lisburn offers a variety of live performances from the Island Theatre, which recently invested in an Avolites Pearl Tiger lighting console.
Read More »SAN ANTONIO, TX — Glenn C. Martin III, president of Texas Scenic Company, announced his departure as the second phase of an ownership change within the company proceeds. “Five years ago, we began a program to transfer ownership of Texas Scenic Company to our strongest asset, our employees. This transition began with the sale of my family’s stock to the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The next step was for my shares to join my family’s,’” Martin said.
Read More »NEW YORK, NY — The ESTA Foundation is sponsoring Behind the Scenes 2008 raffle prizes at the LDI show Oct. 24-26. The winner will receive a $10,000 gift certificate for travel anywhere in the world. Second prize is a $2,500 Amazon gift card and third prize is a $1,000 Amazon gift card.
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Nowadays everyone is concerned with power consumption for two logical reasons. One, we want to save ourselves some cash, either at the pumps or in our house with heating oil, and, two, we want to save our planet by lowering our fossil fuel consumption and emitting less toxic waste into our atmosphere. I firmly believe that the time has come to start getting rid of incandescent light bulbs, not just in our households, but also in our stage work. We are facing obstacles in doing this, but really, is it something our industry cannot overcome? I don’t think so. It seems we are well on our way.
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HOLLYWOOD, FL — Chauvet recently named Roland Gelman as product marketing manager and appointed Mike Graham sales support manager. Gelman previously worked as product manager for Black & Decker’s lighting portfolio, which includes LED work lights, rechargeable spotlights and lanterns. Graham held several positions at Coemar USA including customer and technical services manager and regional sales manager.
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