Features
Bells & Whistles & Shiny New Toys: The Hot New Stuff In Sound, Lights & Video
null – Bells & Whistles
Tim Murch and Laurent Vaissie
While technological advances mean more elaborate and impressive shows for fans, such as Lady Gaga’s Las Vegas residency with audio supplied by L-Acoustics with more than 200 speakers, more tech can mean more responsibility.
Shaun Clair of Clair Brothers, which made its name in sound but also offers technological services, said a concern is cyber-terrorism and network security at a time when it’s a matter of when and not if a cyber attack takes places.
As for the just as persistent but perhaps more mundane concerns, lighting directors are dealing with new products constantly being produced replacing perfectly functional existing models, while lighting and production companies could make better use of existing inventory.
The current climate also creates much barrier to entry, as one conference delegate was told when asked how to enter the production business.
With an arena show easily containing up to $20 million worth of equipment, the Production Live! attendee was simply told by PRG’s Tim Murch, “You answered your own question, you don’t have enough money.”
Asked what the biggest concern of the next 5-10 years is, L-Acoustics North American CEO Laurent Vaissié, somewhat jokingly summed up with simply, “As long as people and governments don’t mess it up and blow up the planet, we’ll have a great show..”