LAS VEGAS – Before ceremony co-founders Patrick Stansfield and Terry Lowe could pull off their idea of establishing an awards program honoring the memory of Rick “Parnelli” O’Brien, they needed to reach out to the live event production industry for a helping hand. The industry has continued to respond, year after year, and the 19th annual event, set for Jan. 17, 2020, is on track to become the biggest gala yet.
The elves working through the holidays on final preparations for the Parnelli Awards gala, taking place at the Anaheim Hilton during NAMM 2020, are able to do what they do thanks to the largesse of a long list of secret Santas. We’d like to once again express our gratitude and be mindful of the importance of their generous support.
For the fourth year in a row, Group One Ltd., which distributes a variety of pro audio and lighting brands in North America, returns in the top-tier Platinum spot.
The list of Gold Sponsors, meanwhile, includes All Access Staging & Productions, Bandit Lites, Bose Professional, d&b audiotechnik, Elation, G2 Structures, Gallagher Rental Inc., Global Trend Pro, High End Systems, Martin by Harman, Maryland Sound, Master FX, Meyer Sound, Moo TV, NAMM, NovaStar, PRG, Pyrotecnico FX, Pyrotek Special Effects, Rat Sound Systems, Robe, Rock-It Cargo, RZI Lighting, Screenworks/NEP, Solotech, Sound Image, Special Event Services (SES), Stageline, Strictly FX, Tait, Ultratec Special Effects and VUE Audiotechnik.
The list of Silver Sponsors includes ACT Lighting, Hemphill Brothers, On Tour Logistics, ROE Visual and See Factor. The Parnelli Awards will also once again be supported by production partners including Access Event Solutions, Atomic Design, Elation and TPI. Those stepping up as Cocktail Sponsors include Brown Note Productions, Chauvet Professional, East Coast Lighting & Production Services (ECLPS) and TLS Productions. And Pyrotek Special Effects also returns as the after-party sponsor.
The three Parnelli Awards honoring career achievement are going to Mark “Springo” Spring (Lifetime Achievement Award), Michael T. Strickland (Visionary Award) and Karrie Keyes (Audio Innovator). The first NextGen Parnelli award will also be bestowed this year during the ceremony, hosted this year by John Waite. The dinner and awards ceremony, set for 7 p.m., follows a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and is followed by an after-party at 10 p.m.
For more information and last-minute reservations, visit www.parnelliawards.com.
