Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa based Technical Solutions Agency TechRig supplied technical production – including nearly 200 Robe lighting fixtures – to the 2012 annual DFC Conference & Gala Dinner for medical aid and insurance giants, Discovery.
The event was staged at Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg over two days, and included two evenings of entertainment spectacular and Award presentations starring Lindiwe Bungane of ‘Dream Girls’, among other vocalists plus a full dance troupe.
Lighting was designed by TechRig’s Robert Grobler, and the very stylish set created by Michael Gill. The two separate evening’s programmes were enjoyed by over 1000 people.
A large trussing system was installed over the 30 metre wide stage, based on three concentric circles with a series of trussing spines coming off the largest circle on the outside of the two smaller ones.
Kendall Dixon co-ordinated all the event’s rigging requirements which totalled 98 points!
The lighting rig needed to be flexible enough to add plenty of razzmatazz for the large full–on musical production numbers, and also be able to cover the slick Awards presentations.
Other highlights of the two evenings included a draw to win a Range Rover Evoque.
Grobler’s lighting design included 60 Robe ROBIN 600 LEDWashes and 24 LEDBeam 100s. Sixteen of the LEDWash 100s were positioned on the rear-most truss circle and used to light the Evoques when they were revealed, and the 600s were dotted around the rest of the trussing, utilised as primary stage and set washes in a wide variety of colours and hues.
Seventy-eight Robe LEDForce 18s RGBW PARs were rigged above the audience on additional trusses, providing a smooth and even wash across the vast area.
Thirty-eight Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs were also positioned over the stage, used for sharp beams and gobo projections onto floor and set, which included an impressive 30 metre curved projection screen upstage.
TechRig owns a large stock of Robe fixtures and has been steadily investing in the brand over the last five years. Grobler uses them on all his major shows, “They are my workhorse fixtures,” he says.
It was the first time that Grobler had occasion to use the selection of pre-set colour temperature whites available on the LEDWash 600s, with which he was well impressed, “They were excellent, giving me all the same effects as if using 2K blonds or fresnels …. But without the harshness”.
Other advantages over and above traditional 2K blondes or fresnels are the light weight and low power consumption of the LEDWash 600, in addition to having all the versatility of a quality LED moving light – like movement and smooth colour mixing – at your fingertips.
It was also the first time he’s used the LEDBeam 100s which he loved, “The brightness and punch from such a small unit is incredible!” he declares. These are fast becoming another hugely popular best-seller for Robe.
Grobler programmed and ran lighting – which also included other moving lights and generics – for the Discovery shows from a grandMA full size console.
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