The event is a gift from First National Bank to their top 1,500 clients where all service providers rise to the occasion to provide an extraordinary evening. For the fifth consecutive year, EPH Production supplied the full technical, while lighting designer Johan Ferreira from BF Production Services created tender moments on a grandMA2 light.
The lighting rig consisted of 10 x Robe Pointe, 18 x Robin 600 LEDWash, 12 x Robin 1000 LEDBeam, 10 x Robin 100 LEDBeam, 24 Clay Paky Sharpy and six MAC 401 Dual LED wash.
"As a lighting designer this show is one of my annual highlights. It's dynamic ranging from opera to full on rock and is a world class event enjoyed by everyone involve," said Johan. "The design starts long in advance with the final signed off as early as March. Leon Pheiffer from EPH has a close relationship with the client and after many discussions provides me with a brief. We are always trying to move the event to the next level and my goal is to achieve a clean design, pleasing to both the client and audience."
While the client contributes with ideas, Johan is given creative freedom. "What I really enjoy is doing the full design from set to AV screen layout and lighting. This gives me the opportunity to ensure that every aspect of the design works in perfect unison."
Johan valued every fixture on the rig. "I used the 12 x Robin 1000 LEDBeams as FOH and for backlight. Because of the massive zoom and incredible output of these fixtures I know that I am well covered. For backlight I used them as a full back wash and also as beams on some of the items. Versatility in any fixture is very important and the Robin 1000 LEDBeam delivers."
The Robin 600 LEDWash fixtures were dotted on the stage trusses for on-stage wash. The Pointes and Sharpy fixtures were used as beam and effects lighting on the stage with some of the Sharpy units positioned on speaker towers.
Johan is a passionate MA user. "For me MA Lighting is the best lighting control out there. I love every aspect of the console as it is customizable to any LD and to any environment. MA really helps designers to achieve their vision and make it reality. If you can dream it, you can achieve it with grandMA."
(Jim Evans)
