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06 TPi MARCH 04

tpi 2004 awardsTHEY ATE, THEY DRANK, THEY FELL OVER ... IT WAS THE NIGHT THAT THE INDUSTRY’S BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE CAME OUT TO PLAY ANDCELEBRATE... AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT WAS THE BEST YET!

On Monday 9 February, over 700 people from allcorners of the live event production industry attendedthe TPi 2004 Awards — the third annual TotalProduction International magazine awards event — atthe Novotel London West in Hammersmith.

Hosted by former Spandau Ballet bassist turnedactor Martin Kemp, the event saw 25 awardspresented to the great and good of the productionworld, with winners including Jake Berry (ProductionManager of the Year), Robert Collins (FOH Engineer),Baz Halpin (LD), Blue Leach (Video Director), LSDFourth Phase (Lighting Rental Company), Star EventsGroup (Staging Company) and Carling AcademyBrixton (Venue).

Highlights of the evening included the presentationof The Editor’s Award to video director DickCarruthers. The audience — in its usual lively andirreverent mood — erupted as TPi’s MarkCunningham invited special guest Led Zeppelin rocklegend Jimmy Page to the stage to help present theaward.

This year’s Lifetime Contribution Award went tothe original founder of Brilliant Stages, Charlie Kail —an award presented to him by VLPS Chairman andproduction veteran Brian Croft — and Robbie Williamstour manager Andy Franks picked up not only apersonal award, but also the first one of the night, forLive Production of the Year.

Production managed by Rob Day, the styling of theevent was designed by Nick Jevons and PhilipWinward’s company Electric Fly Productions, whileCreative Technology headed a list of suppliers whichincluded VLPS Lighting Services, Essential Lighting,Pulsar, HK Audio, JSS Audio, Dimension Audio, Avcom,S+H Technical Support, Star Events Group, Kroos andLitestructures.

Key to the organisation of the event wereMondiale’s core team of Andy Lenthall (who sourcedthe new venue, handled initial negotiations with CTand drove the marketing of the event), Sally Clark (thetireless event co-ordinator and Stage Manager) andMark Cunningham (who scripted the show andformulated its content). Show Caller Alex Clayton’sinvolvement was also highly valued as she workedthroughout the afternoon on streamlining andtightening cues.

Taking inspiration from the successful IlluminatedVideo Workshop that it hosted at Three Mills Studiosseveral years ago, Creative Technology produced astunning integrated stage set for the Awards, resultingin what was hailed by many as the slickest presentationyet seen at an industry awards event.

CT’s involvement followed Mike Walker’s initialapproach last summer when he offered TPi a completeturnkey production package, and followed it up withthe offer of Electric Fly as the scenic/video design team.

Electric Fly designed a series of abstract suspendedmedia displays.

Moving from the Hilton Metropole in EdgwareRoad to the Novotel for this year’s event meant thatthe improved sightlines would lend themselves to amore creative video display approach, but even theimpressive computer renderings didn’t prepare theteam for the astonishing reality of the system when itwas up and running!

Much credit goes to Rob Day and his team whodisplayed immense professionalism by making ElectricFly’s design work in a practical sense with their ‘can do’attitude. The result was achieved by suspending 60Barco iLite 8 LED displays in random-length columns,with some panels ‘floating’ in mid-air. Mounted on thetruss behind were a further 60 Barco iLite 10s in asimilarly-designed configuration, receiving ambientgraphics from a pair of laptops via the LED processors.

Floor-mounted at the rear of the stage was a 10 x6 Barco high-resolution D7 daylight screen, displayingvideo and the event’s animated logo (as well as theabstract graphics). Stage left and right were twoconventional fastfold front projection screens fromAvcom Hire in 16 x 9 configuration (respectively usingBarco SLM R10 and G8 DLP projectors) and sixPioneer 50-inch plasma displays.

CT’s playback devices included Beta SP,Powerpoint, Graphics machines and Doremi disk

recorders. They also fielded a three-camera (Sony D30) PPU, with Magic DaVEdigital video effects switcher. As well as live camera I-Mag and graphics ‘stings’throughout the event, there were three video inserts — a clip of Robbie Williams atKnebworth, Helen ‘Hels Bells’ Smith’s pre-recorded award acceptance frombackstage on David Bowie’s US tour, and a showreel montage of Dick Carruthers’greatest video directing achievements.

In addition to its impressive work in the main event room, CT presented a foyer

demo rig of its recently-acquired Barco MiPix Modular Intelligent Pixelbloc, which isfast finding favour with production and event managers.

JSS Audio, in partnership with HK Audio, supplied the event (and daytimeprogramme) with its full PA requirements. The main event system consisted of 12HK VT108s, five VT112s, four VT115Xs, two compact self-powered FASTs and apair of self-powered DARTs, plus four Cohedra subs. At front of house was the newMidas Verona desk (piloted by engineer Jason Lister) plus copious outboard, including

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a rack of Klark Teknik Helix digital EQ devices. Processing was conducted via HKAudio’s Digital Field Controller.

In the foyer, JSS installed L.U.C.A.S. 1000 and XT compact systems; the discoarea used a six-box self-powered ACTOR system, while the PSA conference roomhad four FAST loudspeakers at its disposal.

Jem Walker of JSS commented: “My plan was to use HK’s Cohedra line arraysystem, based on our successes at other similar corporate functions. Unfortunatelywe were advised that we wouldn’t be able to fly it and get the appropriate dispersion

angles, so we went for a system that was far from being what I would have ideallyspecified.”

Dimension Audio supplied all wired RTS comms systems and Motorola walkietalkies, and PMI provided a noise free radio comms system to interface directly tothe RTS system.

Lighting Designer was Nick Whitehead and the rig was furnished by VLPSLighting Services who supplied 24 VL6C spots, seven VL3000 spots, six VL1000tungstens and eight Martin MAC 2000 washes. Further equipment was sourced

Above: Marco van Beek presents the Unsung Hero Award to Chris Coates; Andy Franks; Star Events Group’s Roger Barratt; Chris Trimby; JakeBerry; Total Fabs’ Chris Cronin; Charlie Kail and Brian Croft; Views from the audience.

Previous page: Dick Carruthers receives The Editor’s Award from Mark Cunningham; Jimmy Page in full flow; Martin Kemp presents the SoundRental Company award to SSE’s Emma Barwell and Heather Penn; Chris Coates; Alan Chesters; Blue Leach; Blink TV’s Bill Lord; Barry Halpin andMartin Kemp.

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Top Row: Sally Clark and Rob Day inspecting the stage; FOH Engineer Jason Lister and hissound crew. Second Row: Mark Cunningham and Alex Clayton finalise cueing; CT fielded athree camera crew. Third Row: Andy & Fiona Lenthall; Lighting was piloted by LD NickWhitehead and programmer Martin Seymour. Above: Dinner time with (L-R) Dick Carruthers,Andrew Zweck, Gareth & Sandra Jones, Peter Guyan, Joy Carruthers (Dick’s mother), JimmyPage, Mark Cunningham, Sally Graham and Diana Scrimgeour.

through Essential Lighting (a Whole Hog II controllerand two followspots) and S+H Technical Supportadded to the lighting palette by supplying the pinspots for table lighting. CT also added 24 ETCSource Fours for lectern/logo cover and stage

washes. Color Kinetics LED Colorblasts for internallectern lighting, and Avolites dimming for thegenerics.

Pulsar Light of Cambridge played a big part in‘beautifying’ the foyer, chill out zone and disco

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room, using a total of 50 ChromaPanels, 40ChromaBanks, 24 ChromaCubes and 20ChromaDecks across all three areas. Pulsar receivedsupport from LiteStructures who provided a number ofthe ChromaDecks as well as the LiteDeck stage for DJLittle Miss.

Rock Constructions supplied the staging along withfollowspot platforms and manufactured the ratherluxurious lectern. Star Events Group handled the

trussing and rigging requirements, while John-HenriMills’ company Kroos supplied 15 local crew for theload-in, 15 for the load-out, plus an additional 14 crewwho remained to assist with rigging, divided betweentwo shifts.

FEEDBACKMartin Kemp, a household name through his actingroles in EastEnders and The Krays, was praised by many

for his hosting skills and generous acknowledgement ofthe production industry. After the event, hecommented: “It was a fabulous looking stage, the videoscreen design looked amazing and the content of theevening was really well devised. It was great to beinvolved.”

The networking aspects of the event were not loston Kemp and Jimmy Page, both of whom werereunited with several people from their touring pasts.

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First row (vertical) from top: Martin Kemp; Ian ‘Tommo’ Tomlin and Tony Laurenson from Eat To The Beat; Paul Ward and Bob Doyle. Second row:Tim King of Phoenix Bussing; Marco van Beek introducing Andy Lenthall as the PSA’s new GM; McKenzie Group’s Josh Rosen and Nigel Downspicked up the award for Carling Academy Brixton; Kemp at the lectern. Third row: David Keighley of LSD Fourth Phase takes the Favourite LightingRental Company award; An irreverant Robert Collins collected his award to the strains of Eric Clapton’s ‘Layla’.

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“It’s incredible,” said Page. “This isn’t normally thekind of event that I’d attend, but I’m so glad I took upthe invitation because there have been so manyfamiliar faces who I haven’t seen for years.”

Page also saw fit to dampen industry rumours ofa full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour in 2004, tellingTPi: “You’d think that with the success of our DVDthe band members would have grown closer, but thetruth is we’re probably talking less than we have in along time. So that probably tells you all you need toknow about any chance of a tour.”

Among the happy revellers was LSD FourthPhase’s David Keighley, who said: “The Awards nightwas a great event, the best yet.” Tim Roberts of theEvent Safety Shop said: “The whole thing lookedstunning and the move to the Novotel reinforced theupward drive of the event.”

Andrew Zweck of Sensible Events commented:“Congratulations on a high-class event. It was wellorganised, professional, and successful. I spoke to alot of people who really enjoyed it.”

Speaking on behalf of CT, Mike Walker said: “Wewere delighted to have been appointed as AVprovider for the TPi Awards this year. I thought theshow was outstanding and I was really proud of whatour technical team achieved on the night.”

The event did not so much end as gradually fadeaway, with the partying carrying on in the foyer bars,chill out zone and various other areas of the Novotelwell into the early hours. It was said that TPi’s editordidn’t actually bother going to bed, and finally left thehotel at 2pm the following day, still dressed in histuxedo. Anyone willing to admit to a greater feat ofheroism (or should that be stupidity?) should contactus immediately!

See overleaf for the full list of award winners.

A big thanks to our event sponsors Music ByAppointment, The Leading Hotels Group, Midas,Klark Teknik, Shure, Martin Professional, Star EventsGroup, Columbus McKinnon, Tomcat, Rock-It Cargo,EFM, Chapman Freeborn, StageAccess.com, Barco,Advance Tapes, Pulsar and Litestructures.

Photography by Jim Ellam,Louise Stickland, Jerry Gilbert& Graham Brown

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Party Gallery: including... DiGiCo’s MariaFiorellino; Jane Monk; a Music Travel trio;Jerry Gilbert and Kiera Leeming; Rick Wilsonand David Neale; Malcolm Mellows and PhilFreeman; Chris Mounsor and Lee Spencer.

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Live Production of the Yearsponsored byMusic By Appointmentand The Leading Hotels GroupROBBIE WILLIAMS:WEEKENDS OFMASS DISTRACTION(THE ESCAPOLOGY TOUR)

Front of House Engineer of the Yearsponsored by MidasROBERT COLLINS

Monitor Engineer of the Yearsponsored by ShureCHRIS TRIMBY

Lighting Designer of the Yearsponsored by Martin ProfessionalBARRY HALPIN

Set Designer of the Yearsponsored by Star Events GroupALAN CHESTERS

Video Director of the YearBLUE LEACH

Rigger of the Yearsponsored byColumbus McKinnon & TomcatPHIL BROAD

Production Manager of the Yearsponsored by Rock-It CargoJAKE BERRY

Tour Manager of the Yearsponsored by EFM& Chapman FreebornANDY FRANKS

Tour/Production Assistantof the Yearsponsored by StageAccess.comHELEN ‘HELS BELLS’ SMITH

Unsung Hero AwardCHRIS COATES

Favourite Sound Rental Companysponsored by Klark Teknik GroupSSE HIRE

Favourite Lighting Rental Company sponsored by PulsarLSD FOURTH PHASE

Favourite SetConstruction CompanyTOTAL FABRICATIONS

Favourite Staging CompanySTAR EVENTS GROUP

Favourite Video Services CompanyBLINK TV

Favourite Trucking CompanySTARDES

Favourite Tour Bus CompanyPHOENIX BUSSING

Favourite Freight CompanyROCK-IT CARGO

Favourite Travel AgencyMUSIC TRAVEL

Favourite Security &Crowd Management CompanyROCK STEADY SECURITY

Favourite Catering CompanyEAT TO THE BEAT

Favourite VenueCARLING ACADEMY BRIXTON

The Editor’s AwardDICK CARRUTHERS

Lifetime Contribution AwardCHARLIE KAIL

TPi 2004 AWARDS: THE WINNERS

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In the hours leading up to the TPi 2004 Awards event,the Novotel played host to the PSA's Annual GeneralMeeting and Open Forum, and DaytimeTP — a seriesof technology showcases and seminars by some of theindustry's leading names.

The companies who supported and benefitedfrom this new TPi initiative were Midas/Klark Teknik,Martin Professional, Marquee Audio (with YamahaCommercial Audio), d&b audiotechnik, Meyer Soundand Music By Appointment, which took theopportunity to promote its unique, all-encompassingon-line travel booking system which was of immenseinterest to visiting tour/production managers.

‘Understanding Line Array Behaviour &Technology’ was a six-hour seminar, sponsored byMeyer Sound and conducted by Mauricio Ramirez,which explained the basics of line array technology, andillustrated the differences between the various solutionsthat are currently available.

‘Speakers Behaving Badly’ was presented by JohnTaylor of d&b audiotechnik as a prequel to the monthly2004 'Sound System Design' seminars hosted by d&bin the Cotswolds. Down the corridor, a G&T withMartin Professional in the Mouton Cadet Suite was justthe tonic before getting one’s hands on the company’s

innovative new Maxxyz lighting controller.Meanwhile, Marquee Audio and Yamaha

Commercial Audio joined forces to give attendees thechance to evaluate digital and analogue consoledevelopments, including the PM1D, DM2000,DM1000, 01V96 and the PM5000, the latest inYamaha’s legendary analogue PM line.

Following the successful launch of its new eight-buss Verona console at NAMM, Midas choseDaytimeTP as the vehicle to present the console for thefirst time in the UK, as well as having it piloting thesound for the evening's Awards event.

Quick off the mark to match its interest with anofficial order for a Verona was Surrey-based rentalcompany PMI, whose owner Peter Maciuk is delightedwith his new investment.

Macuik said: "A significant part of our business iscorporate and the Verona is tailored to meet ourneeds in this market. It plugs the gap between theVenice, which although a great console, often provedto be too small to handle a mid–sized conference, andthe Heritage which is often physically too big. TheVerona, however, remains a compact console whilststill having eight sub groups, eight auxes and an 8x4matrix.

"The market has been crying out for a new desklike this, and the fact that it is Midas makes it instantlysynonymous with the quality required for today’scorporate market. The Verona is set to be a massivesuccess for Midas.’’

UK sales manager for Midas and Klark Teknik,Richard Ferriday was equally pleased. “We’ve had agreat response to the Verona from the outset, andPeter is not alone in his reaction. From our point ofview we’re delighted to have a solution to offer ourcustomers in a market where we had not been presentuntil now. It finally gives our customers the option touse Midas where previously they had no choice. Itexpands horizons for all concerned.”

Pleased with the formula of DaytimeTP was theKlark Teknik Group’s David Cooper. He commented:“I’d recommend it to any manufacturer with a newproduct to show, because the environment was veryrelaxed and for us there was much more time toexplain the attributes of the new Midas Verona consolethan would have been possible at a conventionalexhibition. The people who did come to our roomwere, without exception, high quality visitors and so itwas a worthwhile venture for us.”TPi

DAYTIMETPIS A HITWITHLEADINGNAMESClockwise from Top Left: Peter Macuik ofrental company PMI with his latest investment— the new Midas Verona console;Mike Case (centre) demonstrated Yamaha’sdigital and analogue desks;Seminars included presentations on line arraytechnologies; Music By Appointment’s teampromoted a new, on-line travel bookingsystem.

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