The VH-1 Presents Pepsi Smash Bash featuring John Legend, Fergie and Kanye West, was hosted by Taye Diggs outside Dolphins Stadium on the NFL Experience Concert Stage. Recorded to HD by MTV Networks the Thursday before the game, the concert was telecast on Saturday night. Friday night Telemundo's Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Fiesta featuring Don Omar, Ivy Queen and Aventura was taped on the same stage for broadcast as well. Spike Brandt at Artfag provided production design for both concerts.
"The same equipment and rig was used for each event," notes Patrick Dierson. "Two grandMAs and a backup unit were on hand with three NSPs. They controlled various Martin MAC 2000 Washes, Profiles, Performances, conventional dimming and special Syncrolite SXB-5/2Ds. Two grandMAs, networked to run in a multi-user mode, were operated by two people at all times. We also had the backup grandMA in session, which allowed guest designers to run their shows themselves while still enabling the lighting directors to control the fixtures."
A third pre-game event was the NFL Super Bowl 2007 Bayfront Park party for NFL executives and VIPs. Held at Miami's Bayfront Amphitheatre, it was headlined by New Edition, Blondie, and REO Speedwagon. Dierson and Richard Wold were lighting directors for the festivities with Pat Brannon video director and Artfag's Spike Brandt production designer. Three non-networked grandMAs were among the party's equipment complement.
(Jim Evans)
