grandMA mingled with music royalty when lighting designer Demfis Fyssicopulos selected a grandMA full-size to control, lighting and video components in Prince’s “Welcome 2 America” engagement in the New York metropolitan area.
Prince played two shows at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey then moved to Madison Square Garden for three performances before and after Christmas. The in-the-round stage was shaped like his famous, unpronounceable name symbol – essentially three catwalks joined by a circle. His band played in the center of the loop.
The entire stage was outlined by Nocturne V-9 LED screens, driven through a Control Freak Systems media server with audio and MIDI control, which were treated as lighting elements. Fyssicopulos used the grandMA to control the CFS VU meter function that feed the video cells outlining the stage so they could modulate to the music.
MIDI was also used as a triggering signal for visual effects. Signals came from the different musical instruments into the Control Freak rack and triggered a cue list for the particular song. Fyssicopulos teamed with lighting director Garry “Sport” Waldie before and during the shows to make changes on the fly as Sport ran the recorded cues.
The grandMA controlled the CFS rack and a lighting system of Vari*Lite VL3500Wash, Bad Boys and Martin moving lights. Four cameras mounted on tripods plus two robotic cameras and at least one handheld camera recorded the shows. Video was fed by IMAG.
Malcolm Weldom was production manager for Welcome 2 America with Dan McDonough, Jr. the crew chief.
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