Features

FRONT of HOUSE Checks In with the PMs Running the Top Tours of 2016*

The job of the production manager is to get the show on the road, then keep it running like a smooth, well-oiled machine. As the commander of the team of technicians, riggers, wardrobe and caterers, this person is the problem solver.

 The Prolight+Sound (April 4-7) and Musikmesse (April 5-8) conventions returned to Frankfurt, Germany for their 2017 editions, and drew crowds to see the latest in M.I., pro audio and lighting gear from hundreds of manufacturers from around the globe. Everyone enjoyed the pleasure of a week of unseasonable sunshine in normally cold Frankfurt, especially as people stateside were dealing with cold weather, high winds, rain and snowfall.

Acclaimed British multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier rose to Internet fame with his split-screen YouTube videos, covering some classic songs in his own multi-faceted, original style. Since then he has collaborated with some of the world’s great musicians, as well as continuing to develop his own unique sound — gaining a well-deserved reputation for exceptional musicianship and musicality.

Okay, so you might not get that Tesla P90D this year, but here are some essential — and highly useful — items that any sound… Read More »Great Holiday Gift Ideas for the FOH Reader

The 16th Annual Parnelli Awards was on track to be its typical high-energy, funny, and emotional show … and then Tom Petty surprised the audience by taking the podium. He flew in himself and 11 members of the Heartbreaker family to give accolades to his long time tour manager, Richard Fernandez, who received the live events highest honor, the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award.

This could be Richard Fernandez’s list of clients, or your favorite playlist on your iPod: The Cars; Crosby, Stills, & Nash; Bob Dylan; Eagles; Faces; Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; Boz Scaggs; Neil Young; Frank Zappa; and more.
It’s likely both.

If Greg Mackie had just stopped at his 1970s company, TAPCO, his contributions to pro audio would have been worthy of a lifetime achievement award. But then, in 1988, he founded Mackie Designs, introducing the groundbreaking CR-1604 audio mixer three years later. In 1996, the company expanded beyond analog audio mixers, creating digital mixers and powered speakers. And now he’s again involved in innovation, this time with M&W Audio, partnering with former Trident Audio designer Peter Watts. “We wanted to create better products at affordable prices that fit the evolving music scene with wide dynamic ranges that fit the music of rock ‘n’ roll,” Mackie says. And that’s exactly what he did.

Here’s a look at the regional finalists in the 2016 Hometown Hero Sound Company of the Year award.

There are many ways to judge the vitality of our industry — ticket sales, manufacturer’s bottom line, new hires. As we compiled the voting for this year’s Hometown Hero finalists, we noticed that there are so many new companies being honored. Not that these are “new” companies, per se —most have been around for a quite a while (one since 1976). But this year, only two have been in the winner’s circle before. What do these winners get? A nice certificate suitable for wall-hanging; a chance to come to the Parnelli Awards show on Oct. 22 and win Regional Company of the Year; but perhaps most important of all, bragging rights. Let’s meet the regional winners!

Perhaps it was this year’s return to the Las Vegas location or perhaps a burst of election year optimism, but the 2016 InfoComm expo was an absolute success on every level. One clear indicator was the record-setting 1,000 exhibitors — including 211 new exhibitors — that filled some 527,105 net square feet of exhibit and special events space the at Las Vegas Convention Center from June 8 to 10.

Simulcast Audio Solutions for 40,000 Attendees in Three Arenas in Two States

Since they began in 1997, the Passion Conferences have long served to bring college students together for worship with a lineup of concerts and speakers. Over the years, they have expanded, with events and tours around the U.S. and the entire world. This year, with the promise that “three locations will be connected across two cities with a single heartbeat,” the conference was held simultaneously at three large venues in two different cities, all linked together to share content via an Optocore digital fiber network and satellite redundancy. The three-day conference saw attendance at more then 40,000 people, with six bands and six guest speakers to entertain the crowds in all three cities.