To create the show needed, the production team called upon longtime tour provider Elite Multimedia who not only provided a gear list filled with the latest lighting technology, but also developed a custom set cart design to carry it all along the way.
"To really help us get the music out to the fans, we wanted to come up with a completely new lighting design for this tour," began Wood. "We've been fortunate to have this crew together for a while now and it's really great to see everything tailored around Eric as a songwriter and artist. We enjoy working with Elite Multimedia because they take the time to listen and are great at helping us showcase Eric in the best way possible."
"This is my second season touring with Eric and in the lighting design this year, I really wanted to challenge myself to use the latest technology to see how big of a look we could get," added Marcario. "I wanted to go with a rig that used less fixtures than in years past, but actually gain more functionality by using newer fixtures on the market that have more capabilities. We have worked with Elite Multimedia before so I knew they would be able to provide us with the perfect lighting needed, and that is exactly what they did."
Taking the time to fully understand the type of design Marcario and Wood envisioned for the tour, Elite Multimedia provided them with a lighting package that included Elation Platinum FLX, Ayrton MagicBlade, Philips Showline SL NITRO 510 LED strobe, and Elation Cuepix WW2 LED Blinder luminaires; with a grandMA onPC Command Wing for control.
"I wanted to give the Elation Platinum FLX hybrid fixture a look and it impressed me even more than I thought it would," admitted Marcario. "They have so many design capabilities and a great beam mode for a bright, tight beam with the switch of a DMX channel. We also really enjoy the Ayrton MagicBlade fixtures, and all of it together has allowed me to sort of stretch myself into some fixtures I hadn't used before."
"The relationship between Elite Multimedia and the team at Eric Paslay has been developing over a number of years and they really put their best foot forward once again to show us what we could create," said Wood. "They did a great job of tailor-fitting exactly what we needed for the tour to create the big looks we wanted, and they figured out exactly how we could carry it. They have been a valued partner with the Paslay tour and we are excited to continue growing together."
"When thinking about tour lighting, it can't just be about what is behind the band, it has to be about everything working together in perfect unison," concluded Marcario. "As a tour provider, Elite Multimedia seems to share that vision which only makes the show better for everyone involved."
(Jim Evans)
