ORLANDO, FL — The 2007 Parnelli Awards gala honored the best and brightest of the live event industry Friday, Nov. 16, at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Fla. The hundreds in attendance constituted a Who’s Who of players in the live event industry, and they all rose to their feet in honor of Lifetime Achievement award winner Gerry Stickells and Audio Innovator award winner Bob Heil. Even the stars paid their respect, with members of Velvet Revolver, Queen and Jimi Hendrix’s band offering their kudos via video. All the Parnelli winners — as voted on by readers of PLSN and FOH — were celebrated in the awards ceremony that honors the best of our business.
For audio, Tom Young won FOH Mixer of the Year for his work with Tony Bennett, and Stuart Delk won the Monitor Mixer of the Year Parnelli. Sound Image was named Sound Company of the Year and Carlson Audio won the award for Hometown Hero Sound Company.
Seth Jackson won the Parnelli for Set Designer of the Year for his work with Toby Keith. The award for Staging Company went to Mountain Productions, and Tait Towers won for Set Construction. Atlanta Rigging took home Rigging Company of the Year honors. And Strictly FX lit it up with their Pyro Company of the Year award.
On the lighting side of things, Patrick Woodroffe won the Parnelli for Lighting Designer of the Year. Upstaging won the award for Lighting Company of the Year, while the Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year award went to Theatrical Lighting Systems. Nocturne won the honor of Video Rental Company of the Year, and Kevin Daniels received the Parnelli for Video Director of the Year.
Transportation honors were handed out as well, with Four Seasons Leasing winning the Parnelli for Coach Company of the Year, Road Show taking home the award for Trucking Company of the Year and Rock-It Cargo hauling off the award for Freight Forwarding Company of the Year.
The evening ended with the awards for Production and Tour Manager of the year. Chris Adamson was named Production Manager of the Year, and Fitzjoy Hellin won Tour Manager of the Year.
The Parnelli award is named after Rick “Parnelli” O’Brien, an extraordinary production manager and person, who exemplified the four Hs: Humanity, Humility, Honesty and Humor. The Parnelli award recipients exemplify these same qualities, which go beyond pulling off that impressive gig to moving the industry forward.
Here is a complete list of the winners:
Lighting Designer of the Year 2007: Patrick Woodroffe
Set/Scenic Designer of the Year 2007: Seth Jackson
Lighting Company of the Year 2007: Upstaging
Staging Company of the Year 2007: Mountain Productions
Set Construction Company of the Year 2007: Tait Towers
Video Rental Company of the Year 2007: Nocturne
Rigging Company of the Year 2007: Atlanta Rigging
Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year 2007: Theatrical Lighting Systems
Pyro Company of the Year 2007: Strictly FX
FOH Mixer of the Year 2007: Tom Young
Video Director of the Year 2007: Kevin Daniels
Monitor Mixer of the Year 2007: Stuart Delk
Sound Company of the Year 2007: Sound Image
Hometown Hero Sound Company of the Year 2007: Carlson Audio
Production Manager of the Year 2007: Chris Adamson
Tour Manager of the Year 2007: Fitzjoy Hellin
Coach Company of the Year 2007: Four Seasons Leasing
Trucking Company of the Year 2007: Road Show
Freight Forwarding Company of the Year 2007: Rock-It Cargo
