LONDON — 50 Cent and his group G-Unit returned to London on July 17 for a one-off gig at the O2 Arena. White Light answered the call from producers Musicalize, providing a rig that included Clay Paky Sharpys, Vari*Lite VL3500s, Martin MAC Vipers and i-Pix BB4s along with Phillips Showline SL NITRO 510 strobes to support the lighting design by LD Fraser Elisha.
More details from White Light (www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk):
Having sold more than 30 million records worldwide as well as achieving multiple accolades such as thirteen Billboard Awards and a Grammy Award, 50 Cent remains one of the biggest rappers in the world. The concert at the O2 Arena was the first time since 2007 that both he and G-Unit had performed at the venue.
Produced by Musicalize, the UK’s fastest growing live music showcase organizers, they approached White Light to act as a lighting supplier who could not only deliver within a limited timeframe but also create a sensational spectacle for such a prolific one-off performance.
Having the concert at London’s O2 Arena meant that it was being held at the busiest stadium in the world, with the venue selling more than 2.5 million tickets on an annual basis. This year alone it has already welcomed acts such as Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Take That and Paul McCartney, with 50 Cent being the latest in a legendary line-up. White Light’s Project Manager Josh Yard comments: “This concert ticked every box for us. Not only were we working at a prolific venue but also supporting one of the most notable names in the music industry today”. During the concert, White Light worked closely with Lighting Designer Fraser Elisha who was tasked with constructing the lighting set-up for the evening. He comments: “For this particular show, I wanted an edgy look that would suit the style of music being played. I wanted the whole production to be as immersive as possible and for the lighting to play a holistic role in the overall experience for the audience. Fortunately White Light was able to help me achieve this with its extensive selection of equipment and expert advice”.
Fraser opted to use the Clay Paky Sharpy due to the frequent movement in the show whilst the Vari*Lite VL3500 and Martin MAC Viper were used to create an intensive feel. The audience lights were i-Pix BB4s whilst the strobe lighting was created by the Phillips Showline SL NITRO 510. Fraser adds: “Just looking at the list of equipment used, it was fantastic having such varied resources available to me. Not only that but due to the specifications of the O2 Arena, there were often times when things needed to be changed at the last minute or some additional equipment needed to be brought in. White Light were always understanding and responsive to anything that needed addressing; something which we were extremely grateful for”. The show also saw White Light utilise the Prolyte S36PRA truss – a piece of equipment which the complete production solution specialist has recently invested in and already utilised on the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular. Josh adds: “As the number of concerts we work on increases, so does the equipment we require for these. The truss was ideal for this occasion as it is extremely light and compact meaning we could have complete confidence when offloading at the venue”.
Whilst the concert was a huge hit at the sold-out O2 Arena , the preparation for the event was just as successful. Fraser comments: “White Light helped to produce the rig from the drawings I made and would always consult me if anything needed changing. Their warehouses were made available to me for two days which was a huge help. It meant I could be nearby while the system was being built and enabled me to meet the crew and discuss the practicalities of the rig – something which proved invaluable when we arrived at the arena”. Josh adds: “What’s great about any project such as this is that we can allow the creatives working on the show to use our Wimbledon-based premises. Whether it’s the warehouses to pre-rig or our on-site production suites in Studio15, we have the facilities in which designers such as Fraser can implement their ideas and make sure these are as strong as they can possibly be; ultimately leading to a better experience for the audience”.
The fact that White Light was chosen to work on such a prolific event cements its growing presence in the world of concert touring, having already worked on concerts for Jessie J, George Benson and most recently Frankie Valli and Gladys Knight. Josh comments: “It’s inspiring for us as a company that we are asked to provide the lighting support for artists such as 50 Cent and G-Unit, especially at a venue like the O2 Arena. We are constantly proving how efficient and reliable we are when it comes to concert touring and this is an area in which we will hopefully continue to grow”. Mark Dawson, Production Manager on the show, adds: “The team at White Light did a sterling job. All of the equipment was extremely well prepped in their London-based facilities and their crew were really efficient on the day; something which was vital in the limited time we had to set-up. Ultimately I couldn’t have asked for more from them”.
