Award-winning lighting designer, Aaron Swetland faced the singular challenge of having to adapt his already massive rig for television with an additional 88 Sharpys, 20 Syncrolite fixtures, 34 3500 washes, 20 MAC Auras and 24 Bandit 5x5s. Giant artwork scrims were added above stage right and left with 30ft trusses above them, while a 60ft lighting truss was placed centre downstage from the usual downstage truss for television lighting.
For his inaugural stadium show, Swetland focused on filling the space while being mindful of the challenges that accompany television shoot such as key light levels, levelling, and balancing the light difference. While typical concerts consist of the stage being much brighter and bolder, Swetland kept it more subdued in the interest of getting a good shot on camera.
"It changes the dynamic of the show," he explained. "You are not just lighting the show for the 65,000 people in the room; you are lighting the show for the millions that may watch it on TV as well."
While Aldean is no stranger to playing to crowds of more than 30,000, Swetland says the Sanford Stadium show was a wild adventure.
"It's definitely an experience that I'll never forget: being able to work with Jason from when I first started, and we were still doing some clubs with about 500 people, and now we're doing stadiums with 65 thousand people. That's pretty surreal to work with one single band for that long, and to be a part of that climb of their career is really something special."
(Jim Evans)
