For the event, a package of lighting from Elation Professional was put together and operated by Sounds Unlimited Productions (SUP) of New Albany, IN.
According to Chris Hughes of SUP, who has handled the event for a number of years, the Barnstable Brown Gala presents a couple of unique lighting challenges. For one, it is held in a 40ft x 90ft tent at the private residence of Patricia Barnstable Brown, who co-hosts the party with her sister Priscilla Barnstable. Second, the entertainment is totally unscripted, with artists spontaneously joining each other on stage and serving up an eclectic mix of music - from pop to hip-hop to metal.
This year, for the first time, Hughes used a wireless control system, Elation's EWDMXT Wireless Transmitter with two EWDMXR wireless receivers. "In an outdoor tent there's a lot of swaying, and with guests moving all around, I'm always worried that cables will end up going where people are," said Hughes. "Using the wireless system eliminated this problem. The Elation system worked beautifully - not a hiccup."
Another concern with a tent is the low trim height. The lighting was rigged on a line of truss from Elation's sister company Global Truss, which ran down the spine of the tent. Directly overhead, Hughes positioned eight Elation Design Spot 250s, a 'hybrid' moving head that can transform from a spot to a wash by applying its variable Frost feature.
The Design Spots were used in wash mode as guests entered the tent. "With a trim height of just 15ft, the Design Spots gave good coverage from a close distance," said Hughes. Their versatility to be used as either a wash or spot was perfect for the evening's spontaneity, he added. "It's not just spot coverage. I programme a variety of individual and full-stage looks, because this is one party where you never know what's going to happen."
Two Elation Power Spot 575IE moving heads were used for stage colour and animation, and two Power Spot 575s provided backdrop animation. "We criss-crossed a couple of 575s to give the backdrop texture and movement," Hughes said. He also added five Elation Design 12 Brick LEDs, (three for front stage wash, and two for uplighting), matching their colours with those of the moving heads.
(Jim Evans)
