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Los Angeles, January 4,
2007
American Idol champ and Nashville recording artist Carrie Underwood,
touring in support of her album “Some Hearts,” is
traveling
light as she crosses the country with the grandMA Lite console
distributed exclusively in North America by A.C.T. Lighting.
Underwood’s album has sold more than four million copies
since
its release; her national tour is focusing on the fair and festival
circuit.
The lighting for Underwood’s show was built in rehearsals
with a
grandMA console by lighting designer Seth Jackson. Bandit
Lites’
lighting director, Drew Gnagey, who partnered with David
“Fuji” Convertino to program and direct the show,
is
touring with Underwood armed with a grandMA Lite. “We
programmed
on a full grandMA and took a grandMA light on the road and
it’s
been seamless,” says Seth Jackson. “It’s
as if
it’s the same console.” Jackson and team programmed
the
show so it not only includes the lights they’re traveling
with
but also features an overhead rig matching their touring rider.
“This has been Carrie’s year for coming up in the
ranks,” notes Jackson. “She’s rising a
lot faster
than anyone expected.” During the summer she opened for Kenny
Chesney on his US tour, which also featured a grandMA. “We
went
into the Vision suite of set designer Mike Swinford, jumped in and
started programming.”
“Later, Carrie opened for Brad Paisley and also began touring
on
her own,” Jackson adds. “With the Paisley system we
dedicated a certain number of lights for Carrie. We went into a virtual
studio and programmed in Vision so if we did a date with Brad we used
the full rig and if we did our own date with Carrie we could specify
exactly what we needed. We could replace lights with similar fixtures.
We were able to do this because the grandMA could adapt. No matter who
Carrie was playing with, it didn’t make a difference -- she
had a
very consistent show.”
“Fuji” says that programming the console for
Underwood was
a unique experience. “We had to program the grandMA with the
limited package Carrie was carrying and adapt it to the Paisley rig. We
also had to make sure that her lights looked fabulous for her own
shows. It was quite a thing to change everyday."
“But the grandMA made it quick and easy to change the fixture
type and update the presets,” he points out. “We
did the
model and Vision programming on Paisley’s VARI*LITE rig but
Bandit’s lights for Carrie were Martin MAC 2000s. We could
just
walk in, change the fixtures and go. That enabled us to do a lot of
cool stuff.”
With Underwood now touring on her own, the grandMa “has been
flawless and solid. No crashes. It just rocks!” Jackson
concludes.
"This tour demonstrates the grandMAs flexibility. It is not just for
huge shows, it is perfect for shows that change fixtures and format
from one part of the tour to another. Flexibility is one of the
grandMAs greatest strengths," commented A.C.T Lighting CEO, Bob Gordon.
MA Lighting is
exclusively distributed by A.C.T Lighting.
A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T
Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge
products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company
provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its
clients.
For more information call 818-707-0884.
Copyright © ACT Lighting 2009. All rights reserved.
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