Over 1,000 people enjoyed the event during an evening of entertainment hosted by Radio 2's Jeremy Vine and Sir Steve Redgrave - an official 'send-off' party to wish the GB Olympic team success at the upcoming Athens Olympics. Leeds and London-based Logistik were called in to oversee the event's creative and technical production including the design, graphics, dressing and venue themeing for the event.
The night culminated in live performances by international artists including Gabrielle, Mike & The Mechanics and Amy Winehouse. It was recorded for broadcast by Radio 2, and a post-event DVD will be produced by Logistik Vision, the company's video production department.
Logistik's production director Attila Keskin and project manager Will Sutton headed up the team. Theming was Olympic-orientated, with the main room's set and scenic backdrop including a set of bespoke Olympic-style rings, complete with British Olympic Association branding, created by Logistik Inspire, the company's theming division.
Keskin - an experienced LD and production co-ordinator before joining the Logistik team - approached some of the UK's top production suppliers and asked for good deals to allow the charities to gain the maximum benefits from the event. Lighting equipment was supplied by VLPS, sound by GPA, live video production by XL Video and crew and staging came from Gallowglass, while Cover It Up draped the set. The venue was divided into two entertainment spaces for the occasion - the main banqueting hall, and a dancefloor and disco area.
Video production included four large projection screens and six plasma screens around the main space, complete with scenic Greek-themed surrounds, fed by Barco high-powered projectors. XL Video also supplied a three-camera IMAG system (live directed by Nick Fry) and PPU for the event. The entrance and reception area featured another two screens and Barco projectors.
Kent-based GPA supplied a Funktion One Resolution 5 sound system with 218 subs for the main auditorium. They ran a 'twin line' front-of-house and monitor set up - with two consoles at each end - to ensure the most efficient between-act turnarounds. This utilized a pair of Midas XL4s at FOH and a pair of Heritage 3000 consoles onstage, plus lots of XTA gates, compressors and SiDDs for system management. Monitors were Turbosound 330 wedges and they used the new E M Acoustics subs for drum fill, plus a Shure PSM 700 in-ear system for Mike & The Mechanics and Gabrielle. All band and venue audio elements including advance liaison with the various band's engineers, were co-ordinated by GPA's Howard Smart, who worked on the night with a crew of six.
Main space lighting was designed by Attila Keskin and Graham Feast, and programmed and lighting directed by Feast for the show. It featured over 80 moving lights, a mix of VL6Cs, VL2000 washes and VL5s plus various generic fixtures. The large dancefloor lighting rig was hung off a 10-legged ground support system, continuing the pillar theme, each of which was dynamically up-lit. Fixtures included VL5s, VL2000 spots and VL2000 washes.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
