Tag Archives: Chauvet Lighting

LD profile: Jordan Chance

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Six questions with Jordan Chance, lighting designer and owner of Luxe Productions design company. 

1. How did you get into this field?
Lighting is something that has been growing within our company and I’m privileged to learn from people within the industry who I really respect.  Lighting caught my interest when I saw how it can dramatically change a space.  I started to feel passionate about it when I noticed that you can take two basic ideas, implement one of them differently and end up with a bigger, more dramatic effect. After that discovery, I started to look for the best possible ways to setup in order to bring fresh ideas to rooms  and obtain the biggest effects.

2. What do you think is the next big thing in the lighting industry?
Obviously LED fixtures have changed the lighting industry for the better.  Now that there is so much versatility in effects, the big question is, how to maximize that effect.  I think battery operated fixtures with built-in wireless DMX are awesome and those features help with setup and tear down time.  It would be great to see powerful, LED gobo projector with a temperature control — this would allow for minimal power consumption and pinpointing the proper white to suit the event.

3. What has been your favorite design/project?
I love anything that hasn’t been done before.  If it seems ridiculous or really difficult, I am immediately interested. One of my favorite projects this year was lighting Martin Estate.

4. What was the biggest unforeseen obstacle that you’ve faced in one of your designs, and how did you overcome it?
We recently lit an event at a beautiful, spacious venue with tons of character. They have an amazing custom floor that we did not want to damage, so had to run DMX and power throughout the ceilings and walls to get our fixtures where they needed to be.  It required a scissor lift, took a lot of time, but when we finished, there weren’t any visible wires and it looked awesome.

5. Complete this thought: A show without light is like…
A show without lights is like no presents on Christmas day — disappointing.

One-on-One with Rasheen Williams

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Rasheen Williams, a member of the Chauvet team for almost eight years, is the customer service manager at Chauvet. Read on and get to know a little bit more about him. IMG_4549

1. Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Miami.

2. Why Chauvet?
I was introduced to lighting at my previous job and chose Chauvet because of my growing interest in it. Because of my audio engineering background, and since audio has always gone hand-in-hand with lighting, my transition from audio into lighting was pretty easy. My favorite part of the job is helping our customers achieve their vision when it comes to creating their light shows. We address any questions or concerns they may have along the way, in order to help them meet their goal.

3. Where did you work prior to joining the Chauvet team?
While working towards my audio engineering degree at S.A.E. School of Audio Engineering, I was the Floor Supervisor at Power Carpet Cleaning. I went on to work for Everlast Productions where I set up audio and lighting for events.

4. Favorite food?
I would have to say chicken Parmesan and pasta garnished with sun-dried tomatoes. Add some garlic bread, a great Caesar salad, some Beringer White Zinfandel and call it a meal.

5. Favorite type of music?
As a musician, I listen to every single type of music. In my massive music collection, you will find everything from jazz, hip-hop, R&B, funk, Neo-Soul, rock ‘n’ roll, pop, country, classical — the list goes on and on.

6. Favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy video editing, as well as writing and producing music. I am a big movie buff, so you can also find me on my couch watching movies from Netflix with my wife and kids.

7. What is one thing about you that people would be surprised to learn?
I produce music and videos professionally, as well as play drums. Because of these skills, I was able to pay my way through audio engineering school.

8. A show without lights is like…
A dull carving knife going against a Thanksgiving turkey — it ain’t going to cut it!

LD Profile: Chris Allen

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Six questions with Chris Allen of Red Eye Audio and Lighting,

1. How did you get into this field?
I started in theater in high school, as an actor, and picked up some of the tech side just by being there. When a friend of mine and I started a local music event, we needed lights, so since I had the most experience out of the two of us, I was chosen. It turned out to be quite addicting, and here I am almost 10 years later, still at it.

2. What do you think is the next big thing in the lighting industry?
Projection has really taken off in the past few years. I remember doing my first show with projections a couple years ago, and going into it I thought it was very new and dynamic. Three years later, I’m still impressed with what tricks people are pulling with them.

3. Do you have a favorite fixture (and why)?
My SlimPAR™ 64 [wash lights] offer a ton of options and pack quite a punch. They’re small enough to fit almost anywhere, and they are useful in just about any situation.

4. What has been your favorite design/project?
My last project, designing the lights for “Valhella” with The Baltimore Rock Opera Society.  They were amazing people to work with, and they gave me a lot of room to do whatever I wanted. They dared me to dream big and I did. I kept getting compliments that it was the best lighting they’ve ever had. So having lots of creative freedom, a great crew to work along side, and tons of positive feedback made “Valhella” a once in a lifetime kind of show.

5. What was the biggest unforeseen obstacle that you’ve faced in one of your designs, and how did you overcome it?
For one show, I was unsure how to get all the different colors and looks that the director wanted onstage with a limited number of fixtures. Since the set was static and all the action took place in the same areas on stage and all that needed to change was the color, we rented color scrollers. I didn’t know we had the budget to rent them, but apparently we did. They were a bit of a hassle to get to work with the design exactly how I wanted, but in the end they saved the show.

6. Complete this thought: A show without light is like…Dancing in the dark. Sure, the music is still great, but you can’t see the REAL action.

Valhella image courtesy of Heather Keating

Chauvet a Hit at Music Florida 2013 Conference

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Chauvet recently traveled to Orlando for the Kempke’s Music Florida 2013 music conference held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. Jeremy Pace, southeast territory manager for CHAUVET® DJ, and Corey Silverman, president of Kor media & lighting, showcased both CHAUVET® Professional and CHAUVET® DJ gear to more than 300 church executives from all over the nation. Among the fixtures on display was CHAUVET® Professional  COLORdash™ Par-Quad 7 PAR-style fixture, powered by seven quad-colored RGBA LEDs projecting a deeply saturated output and any variation of white, without multi-colored shadows.

One-on-One with Stéphane Gressier

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Stéphane Gressier is the international sales director at Chauvet and has been a member of the team for almost two years. Read on and get to know a little bit about him.

1. Where are you from?
This is a question I always struggle to respond quickly to. Here is a synopsis: I was born in France, but my first home was Vietnam for 7 years, France for 2 years, Jordan for 2 years, France for 3 years, Venezuela for 7 years, Brazil for 2 years and now the United States where I have established roots between Los Angeles and Miami with my wife and children for the past 21 years.

2. Why Chauvet?
I got to know Chauvet because I purchased a Scorpion™ Storm FX laser from Guitar Center a few years back.  Having been an amateur DJ in my college days, I always kept an interest in sound and lighting trends by doing some gigs here and there.  All this changed when I was given the opportunity to interview with Albert Chauvet in late 2010 and got a glimpse of what Chauvet was about. From then on, I felt I was hit by lighting and the story is still unfolding. I have to say this about Chauvet — the incredible talent our people bring together, along with the drive to succeed, fosters a working environment that feels like a family. We all watch out for one another with the ultimate goal of delivering the best product and support that money can buy to our beloved customers and end users.

3. Where did you work prior to joining the Chauvet team?
I am the former general manager of the U.S. business unit of a Spanish flooring and roofing manufacturer with factories in Spain, the United States and Central and South America.

4. Favorite food?
Vietnamese cuisine — hands down. However, I enjoy the foods of all the countries I have had the opportunity to visit.

5. Favorite type of music?
Any music that generates all types of emotions, whether it’s salsa or merengue when I have a hitch in the hips, movie soundtracks or any modern dancing music.

6. Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Spend time with my family, photography and motorcycling.

7. What is one thing about you that people would be surprised to learn?
People are always surprised to learn that I am Eurasian because it physically does not show. However, if they were to meet any of my late grandmothers, they would say, “WOW!”

8. A show without lights is like…
A show without lights is like hearing without seeing.

CHAUVET® Professional on AVNation

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Our own Mike Graham, product manager for CHAUVET® Professional and ILUMINARC®, participates in this lively conversation about lighting and video in the AV world on AVNation.

Join hosts George Tucker and Mike Postupak and additional guests Christian Samuelson of  Xross Point AV and Aaron Medow of NBC Sports.

Listen to the podcast now: The LIVE Life Episode 6: It’s Not Radio.

 

CHAUVET® Lights Take Over Cedar Point Amusement Park

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Cedar Point, the second oldest operating amusement park in the United States, brings more color and excitement to its guests with more than 850 CHAUVET® fixtures installed throughout the park. Coloring the rides, the midway area of the park and “Luminosity, Powered by Pepsi” interactive show are about 145 Legend™ 412 moving yokes, 150 MVP™ modular video panels, 135 COLORado™ 1-Tri IP lights, fixtures from CHAUVET®’s ILUMINARC® brand and much more. See them all in action. For part I of the video click here:

LD Profile: Paul Carter

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Six questions with Paul Carter, lighting designer and owner of LED MAN design, install and support company in Toronto, Canada.

1. How did you get into this field?
I started as a LD in the early ‘80s and have worked with major recording artist and club acts, which are a passion of mine. I really like to see new bands react to a bigger lighting and FX show than they are used to. I started specializing in LED lighting for bands several years ago and have evolved that into making my own mobile LED Liteboxes that bands can take to any show and fit in most car trucks. The boxes feature a quick setup and add impact to their light shows. I supply LED lights, design, installation and support for bands, clubs, DJs and events. A high school friend and neighbor Doug Adams, owner and lead designer of PyroTekFX, gave me a chance to do lights for his first band in the early ‘80s. I learned lighting by touring with his band and many others to follow. Almost immediately, I saw the importance of lighting in a show and how it affects the mood and impact of a band’s performance. I became more and more passionate about lighting and I consistently try to outdo myself with design ideas, no matter how small or large the show is.

2. What do you think is the next big thing in the lighting industry?
LEDs are the “it” factor when it comes to lighting. LEDs are by far the greatest advancement in lighting since moving head lights. I think in the very near future LEDs will be the primary light source everywhere, not just in the entertainment industry. Anyone using LEDs in their daily shows will tell you their huge advantages. My clients are amazed at the flexibility, beauty and advantages, when using or switching to LEDs. That being said, I think LED technology is still evolving and there are still huge unforeseen advancements that will take LEDs even further and make them even more unique then they already are. There are no limits to this technology.

3. Do you have a favorite fixture (and why)?
Currently, the CHAUVET® SlimPAR™ 64 is my primary LED lamp for many reasons. It has a slim, lightweight, design and a powerful LED output. I would say about 25% brighter than any LED PAR in its class. But, probably my favorite feature is the ability to chain the power, one lamp to the next from the back of the lamp. This is a huge time and cable saver when building a show or using them when I build custom LED box designs and bars. Everything you want you can find in a SlimPAR™ 64 and there is no surprise that this is my most requested fixture.

4. What has been your favorite design/project?
Since my company has gone full LED, my favorite project so far is the Rehearsal Factory in Mississauga Ontario. The owners had a clear idea of what they wanted for their showroom—a big show. The room showcases new and seasoned bands from Canada and around the world, so it was important for them to make it the best that it could be. At the same time they were also concerned about power availability in the room and expensive hydro costs. I provided them with the answer: LEDs. I designed the room with 24 SlimPAR™ 64 wash lights, two blinder LEDs and a CHAUVET® Hurricane™ Haze. The entire show fits on a single 30-amp breaker. Gone are the days of dimmer racks and three-phase installs. A simple wall switch and the LEDs are on. This is a great room to showcase the power, flexibility and beauty of LEDs. Their clients love it and it has become a great revenue stream for their already booming rehearsal business.

5. What was the biggest unforeseen obstacle that you’ve faced in one of your designs, and how did you overcome it?
Working with an Alice Cooper tribute band back in the mid ‘80s. This was no small production and was even endorsed by Alice Cooper himself. The band at the time was used to the standard, back, mid and front truss with the odd floor light. Things matched and made sense. But that isn’t the vision I had when I was hired. My design was anything but symmetric. It was chaotic and nothing matched. Lights looked as though they were just dropped somewhere on the stage and turned on. Trusses were standing or leaning up against things. It was a beautiful mess, but there was a lot of thought put into this design. I used even split gel colors (two colors scotch taped together) to add more oddness and irregularity to the show. The band and management didn’t understand, but I was sure I was creating the right atmosphere and eventually my design fit the show perfectly. About several months of band uncertainty, Alice Cooper was playing in the city and our band was invited out to the show. To their surprise, the lighting design was a “chaotic-nightmare,” asymmetric chaos in all its glory. Now, whether my design concept was borrowed or great minds think alike, I was vindicated. The moral to the story is, be true to your design.

6. Complete this thought: A show without light is like…
… is just radio. Lighting sets a mood, creates excitement and impacts people, which makes it an integral part of any show. For me, it’s a passion.

On the Road: Backstage at Muny’s Dreamgirls

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The St.Louis-based Muny theatre’s production of Dreamgirls featured battery-powered, 100%  TRUE wirelessly-controlled CHAUVET® DJ Freedom™ Par and CHAUVET® Professional WELL™ wash lights in the truss tower set pieces that freely moved about its 94-foot stage. We have a couple of behind-the-scenes shots below. Enjoy.

The Muny theater in St. Louis, Missouri

Truss towers with Freedom™ Par and WELL™ fixtures take the stage

Truss towers with Freedom™ Par and WELL™ fixtures take the stage

Detail of Freedom™ Par in truss tower

Lighting Designer Seth Jackson and Asst. Lighting Designer Robert Denton (l to r)

LD Profile: Benjamin Brown

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Six questions with Benjamin Brown, lighting designer for Cason Cleveland Productions and theatre design technology student at Gainesville State College.

1. How did you get into this field?
About four years ago I was trying to discover what I wanted to do in college. I had started out in electrical engineering, but then I helped a friend set up the lights at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia, and found that I really liked the art and passion provided by the lighting. One of the best and luckiest parts about it was that the current LD left for school and I was left to learn the Jands Vista S3 console by the following Sunday. The next thing I knew I was doing every week concerts, proms and corporate lighting. I would like to eventually get into the lighting field in a bigger way. I am currently lighting designer for Cason Cleveland Productions while studying at Gainesville State College for theatre design technology, so that I can learn the little things I may have missed learning on my own.

2. What do you think is the next big thing in the lighting industry?
The next step in lighting is to change all moving lights to LED. It has been done to a certain extent, wash lights and smaller movers. But I feel that the first company to make a light like Martin Mac III Profile run off LED instead of bulbs will have found the future.

3. Do you have a favorite fixture (and why)?
My favorite fixture is a tie between the CHAUVET® COLORado™ Batten 72 Tour and the Elation Platinum Beam 5R. I like them for the same reason; they are both extremely powerful and bright for their size. COLORado™ Batten 72 Tour provides great color over the stage or even when I use them as blinders. I love the color options of COLORado™ Batten 72 Tour with typical RGB and then the extra white and amber. For me, LED lights only look good when they are actually the color as the beam at the bulbs and the CHAUVET® batten provides that. I also love straight lines in a stage design and the batten’s shape provides a natural straight line when looked at head-on.

4. What has been your favorite design/project?
My favorite design project is a youth conference that Lakewood hosted for 10 other churches. I was given the chance to fully design and run the show. I wanted to keep it kind of simple with tons of color provided by the 22 CHAUVET® SlimPAR™ Pro Tri fixtures and six LED Rain™ 64 lights. I used four COLORrail™ linear wash lights to light the “unshaken” logo. On the moving light end I had four Elation Platinum Beam 5R lights along with 20 other assorted Martin and Robe spot and wash fixtures. One of the coolest effects we did was to place eight CHAUVET® COLORado™ 2 Tour wash lights in the back of the room to bring the entire room into the show. To top it all off, I used 14 CHAUVET® PAR 64 and four COLORado™ Batten 72 Tour lights to create a blinding effect. It was all ran off Jands Vista S3 console for programmed scenes and presets and from Vista M1 for conventional and house.

5. What was the biggest unforeseen obstacle that you’ve faced in one of your designs, and how did you overcome it?
At one of the homecomings we put on last year we were not allowed to fly our lights. Having everything ground-supported made that design for a dance with over 1,000 students difficult. We would typically use lifts to get the truss high enough to shoot the lights on the crowd but we noticed with the bleachers pushed in, we could put the truss directly on them to create a cool over-shooting effect.

6. Complete this thought: A show without light is like …
… Walt Disney without a dream.