Lighting and visuals rental company HSL supplied lighting equipment, LED video screens and crew to the recent UK leg of the Chase & Status No More Idols tour, where Neil Carson's high energy lighting was much appreciated.
Carson has worked for Chase & Status for the last two years. The band shares the same management team as Pendulum, another artist to whom HSL provides lighting.
However, this is the first time Carson has used HSL to supply both lighting and video - a process likely to happen increasing frequently following a recent major investment in Martin EC10 and EC20 LED screen product. "It makes things very straightforward dealing with one source for all these elements," says Carson.
The Chase & Status project was managed for HSL by Mike Oates, who says: "We always enjoy working with Neil. He has great imagination and flare and the Chase & Status show is exciting, atmospheric and a great fusion of lighting and video."
Carson designed the screen architecture - based on a central upstage block of EC10 in the middle, about 6m wide and 2.5 deep - flanked by three columns of EC20 at 5m, 4m and 3m high respectively, which added real depth and three-dimensionality to the stage. The modular design allowed it to be easily - and practically - reduced to fit into smaller venues, whilst ensuring aesthetic continuity.
Their video content is created by The Light Surgeons. In addition to animations and raw, edgy ambient sequences, on this leg of the tour it featured special footage of all the Chase & Status vocalists, who appeared onscreen for their songs - and sometimes onstage for real.
If you're wondering how much this has cost them, the McManus' said they've saved on electricity by switching to LED lights.
"We didn't have to replace a lot of lights because they last longer and use less energy," Pennington said.
The family said they try to be courteous to neighbors my making sure the display doesn't twinkle all night.
Playback was stored on an AI media server, triggered by timecode from the band at the start of the track. Carson could tweak parameters like the screen intensity from his Chamsys MagicQ 100 lighting desk to match the space and the variable daily configuration of the lighting rig.
HSL supplied 24 Clay Paky Sharpies - also a new addition to their hire stock. They were joined by 24 GLP Impression Zooms, which, like the Sharpies, were dotted all over the towers. They are among Carson's current favourite LED washes and were joined by 18 x 2-cell moles and 12 Atomic strobes.
On the deck were six Martin MAC 3K profiles, strung out along the back wall, used for powerful back lighting effects and highly effective silhouetting of the band. On boom stands upstage of the band were six i-Pix BB4 LED wash lights, six 2-cell Moles and six Atomic strobes.
2011年12月12日 星期一
2011年11月6日 星期日
New Orleans hotels step up their game with wave of renovations
The attention may have been on the Hyatt Regency as construction crews worked to deliver a sparkling new hotel last month following a six-year closure. But it was hardly the only hotel in New Orleans undergoing a renovation.
More than two dozen New Orleans area hotels are currently undergoing, have recently completed or are about to begin renovations, according to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau and interviews with hotel general managers throughout the city.
"You're seeing an entirely new face put on the hotel industry in New Orleans," said Stephen Perry, president of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. "All of this is happening because it's frankly the right time to do it and we're trying to get set up for the next five to eight years."
While some of the work is routine maintenance, changes at other hotels are being driven by upcoming special events, market demand and competition.
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside is investing $20 million to give 1,162 rooms and suites at the hotel new carpet, window treatments and lighting among other things before the end of next summer. The hotel also is undertaking a construction project at its health club.
The revered Windsor Court Hotel will spend $22 million replacing 80 percent of the hotel's furniture, General Manager David Teich said. The property's bathrooms will also receive new fixtures and showers, and a spa is being added on the fourth floor next to the pool. Renovations started in June and will end later this year.
The Sheraton New Orleans is putting $45 million toward guest room, public space and lobby refreshing to begin in December and commence at the end of next year.
Those hotels join the New Orleans Marriott, Hotel Monteleone, the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, Royal Sonesta and others.
"There is a tremendous amount of investment happening in this city and not just at hotels," said Al Groos, general manager of the Royal Sonesta. "There's a little bit everywhere."
This recent wave of hotel updates follows one of not too long ago, when some properties damaged because of Hurricane Katrina used insurance proceeds to conduct renovations.
The Hilton, for instance, redid 460 guest rooms in the low-rise portion of its building in 2009. In 2007 and 2008, the Marriott also completely remodeled its lobby and elevator systems.
Both are now undergoing renovations.
"After Katrina was the first phase of renovations," Perry said. "What our properties are doing now is taking those renovations to another level."
Groos, whose hotel will spend $16 million by December 2012 to renovate its guest rooms, said he believes many of the investments reflect a renewed commitment in New Orleans by hotel owners nationally.
"Owners of these types of properties don't invest in things they don't think have long-term potential," Groos said. "What you're seeing is people putting their money where their mouth is. They are investing in the long-term viability of the city as a tourist destination."
More than two dozen New Orleans area hotels are currently undergoing, have recently completed or are about to begin renovations, according to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau and interviews with hotel general managers throughout the city.
"You're seeing an entirely new face put on the hotel industry in New Orleans," said Stephen Perry, president of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. "All of this is happening because it's frankly the right time to do it and we're trying to get set up for the next five to eight years."
While some of the work is routine maintenance, changes at other hotels are being driven by upcoming special events, market demand and competition.
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside is investing $20 million to give 1,162 rooms and suites at the hotel new carpet, window treatments and lighting among other things before the end of next summer. The hotel also is undertaking a construction project at its health club.
The revered Windsor Court Hotel will spend $22 million replacing 80 percent of the hotel's furniture, General Manager David Teich said. The property's bathrooms will also receive new fixtures and showers, and a spa is being added on the fourth floor next to the pool. Renovations started in June and will end later this year.
The Sheraton New Orleans is putting $45 million toward guest room, public space and lobby refreshing to begin in December and commence at the end of next year.
Those hotels join the New Orleans Marriott, Hotel Monteleone, the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, Royal Sonesta and others.
"There is a tremendous amount of investment happening in this city and not just at hotels," said Al Groos, general manager of the Royal Sonesta. "There's a little bit everywhere."
This recent wave of hotel updates follows one of not too long ago, when some properties damaged because of Hurricane Katrina used insurance proceeds to conduct renovations.
The Hilton, for instance, redid 460 guest rooms in the low-rise portion of its building in 2009. In 2007 and 2008, the Marriott also completely remodeled its lobby and elevator systems.
Both are now undergoing renovations.
"After Katrina was the first phase of renovations," Perry said. "What our properties are doing now is taking those renovations to another level."
Groos, whose hotel will spend $16 million by December 2012 to renovate its guest rooms, said he believes many of the investments reflect a renewed commitment in New Orleans by hotel owners nationally.
"Owners of these types of properties don't invest in things they don't think have long-term potential," Groos said. "What you're seeing is people putting their money where their mouth is. They are investing in the long-term viability of the city as a tourist destination."
2011年9月9日 星期五
A little civic-minded flash in Tremont: editorial
Around 8:30 Friday evening, during the Tremont neighborhood's monthly Art Walk, something very cool is going to happen. A switch will be thrown and 17 LED light fixtures attached to buildings along Professor Avenue will come to life.
That moment will mark the culmination of a 2-1/2-year grass-roots effort to make a neighborhood that includes some of Cleveland's hippest restaurants, galleries and boutiques feel even safer and more welcoming.
And the driving force has been a group of (mostly) young professionals who call themselves 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas to Keep You Believing in Cleveland.
The group's goal is pretty simple: Make this a better place to live.
When 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas held a civic brainstorming session in 2008, one idea that quickly gained traction involved better street lighting, for aesthetic and safety reasons. After some consideration, they picked Tremont.
As volunteers, they sought expertise from the corporate world, neighborhood groups and City Hall. They raised money with help from Tremont restaurateurs, and immersed themselves in the study of lighting systems. There were setbacks and disappointments, but tonight, in the city where Charles Brush introduced the electric arc streetlight in 1879, 10,000's tenacity is going to pay off.
The array of lights that will fire up may not be as extensive as originally hoped, but, as 10,000's co-President Erin Smith says, it's a start -- and if stakeholders in Tremont or other neighborhoods want to expand on it, she and her colleagues have shown them how.
It is easy to complain about what isn't being done or what someone else ought to do to make Cleveland better. But it's inspiring when passionate volunteers show that, through hard work and tenacity, this city can find ways to renew itself.
That moment will mark the culmination of a 2-1/2-year grass-roots effort to make a neighborhood that includes some of Cleveland's hippest restaurants, galleries and boutiques feel even safer and more welcoming.
And the driving force has been a group of (mostly) young professionals who call themselves 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas to Keep You Believing in Cleveland.
The group's goal is pretty simple: Make this a better place to live.
When 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas held a civic brainstorming session in 2008, one idea that quickly gained traction involved better street lighting, for aesthetic and safety reasons. After some consideration, they picked Tremont.
As volunteers, they sought expertise from the corporate world, neighborhood groups and City Hall. They raised money with help from Tremont restaurateurs, and immersed themselves in the study of lighting systems. There were setbacks and disappointments, but tonight, in the city where Charles Brush introduced the electric arc streetlight in 1879, 10,000's tenacity is going to pay off.
The array of lights that will fire up may not be as extensive as originally hoped, but, as 10,000's co-President Erin Smith says, it's a start -- and if stakeholders in Tremont or other neighborhoods want to expand on it, she and her colleagues have shown them how.
It is easy to complain about what isn't being done or what someone else ought to do to make Cleveland better. But it's inspiring when passionate volunteers show that, through hard work and tenacity, this city can find ways to renew itself.
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