A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd

PSI goes to the White Sapphire Ball

29th October 2009

Asked onboard by event organiser, actress and local celebrity Séaínin Brennan, PSI was challenged with a brief of creating something original with a high WOW factor for the occasion, which featured entertainment from the cast of Riverdance and other leading theatrical productions for the 400 VIP audience.

PSI's Sean Pagel presented a production design, which included the wrapping of the end of the Europa's Grand Ballroom in a combination of high and low resolution Color Web™ LED surface.

This provided a highly dynamic backdrop, making a dramatic visual impression whilst offering the practical facility of being able to run text, sponsors logos and other video content via a Hippotizer Express media server.

The Color Web feature also enabled the room to be extended out from the 10 metre stage width to include an additional 5 metres either side, adding depth and dimension to the performance area.

A major technical challenge was the 6 metres of headroom, reduced to 5 metres with the 1 metre high stage. The PSI crew utilised the in-house flying facilities over the stage and also built ground supported trussing goal posts to provide left and right side wings.

They flew a rear truss, and used an existing front house bar for front-of-stage lighting positions.

Due to the expedient stage space, 10 x Robe ColorWash 250 moving lights were selected - for their compact size - and hung on the back truss to give beam and movement effects, together with 8 Martin Professional MAC 250s chosen for the same reason. Another 6 MAC 250s were positioned on the floor upstage, with another 6 Robe ColorWash 250s on the front house bar, used for stage washes. Front key lighting was provided by 4 x ETC Source Fours.

The dinner tables and audience were illuminated with 6-way PAR bars overhead, all hooked into the stage lighting system.

Show lighting was operated by Joe Byrne using a Jands Vista T2 console, working alongside Alan Clarke, who operated the Hippo in stand-alone mode.

Outside the Europa, PSI placed 4 Studio Due 3kW Space Flowers either side of the red carpet to add to the excitement and hubbub of arriving guests.

Time and access was exceptionally tight! The load-in was at 3 a.m. on the day of the event to be ready for 6 p.m. doors! All the equipment had to be moved up to the first floor Ballroom via a small service lift - a feat achieved by 18 crew including sound, and some fantastic teamwork.

Sean Pagel comments, "It was great to be involved in this event. Séainín approached me early on, so I had a good deal of input from the start. It is a very worthy cause about which Séainín is totally passionate, so we were all well aware of needing to maximize the money raising potential by providing top class event production at a good price".

Louise Stickland