ADJ lights hip hop legend DMC in Vegas
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For the second year running ADJ sponsored 2019’s event, providing lighting, video and effects production for the main stage which hosted educational seminars throughout the day and a welcome party featuring hip hop legend DMC of Run DMC.
The 23rd annual Mobile Beat DJ Conference welcomed hundreds of delegates for four non-stop days of educational presentations, equipment showcases and evening networking parties. The keynote seminars as well as the Monday evening party were hosted on an impressive stage in a huge ballroom at the Tropicana’s Convention Centre, featuring a lighting rig designed and programmed by ADJ product specialist Edgar Bernal.
Edgar used a selection of ADJ’s flagship products and new fixtures to create a flexible rig that could be used both to highlight the guest speakers during the day and help to get the party started at night. These were arranged across two trusses - one positioned behind the stage and the other hung above the audience - and also lined up along the back of the stage. This allowed Edgar to illuminate the speakers and performers on stage, create static ‘warmer’ looks that set the tone for the conference and then generate engaging mid-air beam and ‘eye candy’ effects for the evening party.
The headline performance from DMC didn’t disappoint, packing in hits including My Adidas, It’s Like That and Walk This Way. It was this culminating part of the event that Edgar used as inspiration to design his lighting rig. “When I found out that DMC of the legendary Run DMC was going to be the headlining performer, I knew I had to specify the best fixtures that ADJ has and program a good selection vibrant looks to create a dynamic backdrop for what I knew would be a high energy show.”
For key light Edgar used four of ADJ’s Encore Profile 1000 Colour LED-powered ellipsoidals, alongside eight ADJ Saber Spot RGBW fixtures for colour washing, which ensured the performers were well illuminated wherever they moved on the large stage. “I wanted to make sure that the artists would look great from the audience,” explains Edgar. “I was able to achieve an excellent warm white from the Encore Profile 1000 Colors and could see, from people taking photos in the crowd, that DMC looked great.”
Edgar was also prepared even if the action temporarily moved off stage. “DMC’s performance was electric, as I knew it would be, and since I also knew that he often likes to get out in to the crowd I wanted to be ready. For that reason, I had eight of the ADJ Vizi Q Wash7 fixtures rigged to the front truss. With their motorised zoom function, these could be used for beam effects for some of the show but then when I needed to light the crowd and make them part of the show I could.”
Four of ADJ’s versatile Encore Burst 200 fixtures were positioned along the truss at the back of the stage to provide backlight, audience blinder and strobe effects at different points throughout the event.
For profiles, Edgar utilised four of ADJ’s brand new Focus Spot 4Z fixtures alongside four ADJVizi Hybrid 16RX and eight Vizi CMY 300 units. To enhance these moving beam effects, Edgar deployed two of ADJ’s Entourage faze machines, one on either side of the stage. Then, to add additional impact when DMC entered the stage, ADJ’s new Entour Ice low-lying fog machine was also put to use.
To complete the stage setup, 16 of ADJ’s high resolution AV2 LED video panels were arranged into two separate screens that provided facades for a pair of on-stage DJ booths, one for the event’s resident performance DJ, Jason Jani, and the other for DMC’s tour DJ.
(Jim Evans)
