A design team from Complete Production Resources and Impulse Creative Group (both of Orlando) utilized this expanded area to inject a new level of dynamism and energy into the storied club with a beefed-up lighting rig that features an array of fixtures from Chauvet Professional.
Located in the 86-year-old Firestone Tire and Auto Building, Firestone Live! cut its teeth as a nightspot and concert venue during the early EDM boom of the 1990s. Rolling Stone and Billboard ran flattering pieces on Firestone Live!, which was hailed as one of the "freshest nightclubs in the world". But after time began to take its toll, management stepped up with ambitious plans for a rehab that ultimately enabled the 20,000sq.ft venue to maintain its vitality without losing a beat.
Lighting was a big part of the rehab plan. "The old lighting system was pretty basic by today's standards," said Lucas Peterson of Complete Production Resources, which was responsible for redoing the lighting system at the club. "The owners wanted an updated look that would energize the surroundings. Our mission from the owners was pretty clear: give them a lighting system that was more dynamic and more engaging for their customers."
Armed with this directive, Complete Production Resources partnered with Impulse Creative Group for lighting design services. Peterson and Scott Abshire of Complete Production Resources went to LDI in Las Vegas with Justin Geiger and Nate Selvitio of Impulse Creative Group to look at their lighting options. They met with Dwight Slamp of Chauvet Professional at the show and put together a new lighting package.
"We went largely with a Chauvet rig, because we were familiar with the company's products and knew we could expect great performance while staying within our budget," said Peterson. "Going to LDI, we agreed that the lighting rig we put together had to have two features. First, it would have to represent the latest technology, because we didn't want Firestone Live! to fall behind the curve again. Second, it would have to be flexible, because this is a multi-functional building, being a concert venue with live bands, a dance club with DJs and a place for corporate events. So the same fixtures would have to do multiple things."
Based on these criteria, Peterson and his team put together a rig that included eight Q-Wash 436Z LED RGBW moving washes, 16 Legend 412 RGBW LED moving washes, eight Legend 330SR Spot moving fixtures, eight COLORado 1-Tri Tour par-style fixtures and one Amhaze II water-based haze machine. This lighting rig is controlled by a grandMA on a PC with a fader wing.
"The adjustments made to the club's overhead design allowed us to do a great deal more with our new rig," said Geiger of Impulse Creative Group. "By dropping the stage three feet, we created a 15-foot trim from the floor to the truss. This gave us better angles for lighting performers on stage. The Legend 330SR Spots are used to get some dynamic looks on stage when there's a live performer. It's got excellent colour rendering capabilities and a wide zoom range (5-24 degrees) so it gives you a lot of good options; plus it's incredibly bright."
When Firestone Live! becomes a dance club rather than concert venue, the Legend 330SR Spot fixtures on the overhead stage trussing are directed at the crowd on the floor. Packing a powerful punch of 62,200 lux at 5m, the Legend spots are well suited to make the transition from stage fixtures to audience/dance floor light.
(Jim Evans)
