DENVER, CO — Rich Barr, a veteran tour production manager, co-founded Perfect Storm with meteorologist Mike Chapman to help those in charge of concerts and other outdoor events guard against severe weather hazards.
More details from Perfect Storm (www.perfectstorm.tv):
“The responsibility of protecting audiences, crew and gear falls to the production and promoters,” says Barr. “Keeping everyone safe has to be a priority. Unfortunately, there is very little support in place to help large, outdoor events do this efficiently.”
Barr, with his intricate understanding of production, together with Chapman, a well-known meteorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, have created Perfect Storm. Designed to educate, advise, and implement weather safety procedures for any live-event, their innovative team is dedicated to changing the way the entertainment industry approaches weather.
Unlike other generic weather services, such as local forecasts, airport reports, or phone apps, Perfect Storm offers a direct approach to the needs of each client. With radar coverage around the world, a tactical weather strategy is created for accurate, down to the minute weather warnings. Providing summarized user-friendly details every twelve hours, events can customize what they need.
Along with a twice-daily forecasts, the team works together with clients to optimize productivity during the most challenging conditions. With mobile weather stations, this applies to both venue sites and transportation, as well live events. Coordinating with drivers, for example, allows trucks and buses to avoid large patches of dangerous conditions, such as possible tornados, blizzards, or hurricanes. Sometimes, detouring only a few miles around the heart of a storm can insure a smoother, safer ride for all, and ultimately lower insurance rates for the show overall.
Since its launch in the summer of 2014, Perfect Storm has had the opportunity to work with Drake, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, One Direction’s “Where We Are” Tour, Beyonce and Jay Z’s joint tour “On the Run,” as well as several other one-offs. Invested in their client’s success, each situation is addressed with fresh eyes in order to address each individual need. Perfect Storm is not just suitable for touring shows and large events, though, but also for venues, specific locations and even full cities around the world.
“It is becoming mandatory for show managers to have weather emergency strategies,” offers Barr. “So much is at stake. Not only the gear and performance are at risk, but the safety of every individual working or attending the event. Perfect Storm is able to make this as easy and effective as possible. It’s an important duty that should not be overlooked.”
