Over R2 million was raised in aid of youth development at the fourth annual Chefs
Who Share – the Art of Giving Back. Since its inception, CCPP Group have supplied
the full technical for the black-tie gala event which is usually hosted in the Cape
Town, but this year was brought to the Johannesburg City Hall. The set was
designed by cNic and built by Dream Sets.
This annual charity event saw top international chefs arrive in Johannesburg to cook
alongside South Africa’s finest talent, ending the experience at a fundraising gala
dinner. “The client is very particular,’ commented Clint Cawood, who established
CCPP in George in 2006. “While they never give us free reign, they provide detailed
guidelines which at the end of the day are great for everyone.’
Cawood invested in a DiGiCo S21 prior to the event. On the lighting side, Lans
Pepler from CCPP programmed on a grandMA2 ultra-light to wash the Edwardian
styled Johannesburg City Hall which has been described as a jewel in the heart of
the city, in colours of amethyst with accentuations in amber.
As there are no hanging points in the venue, a layer scaff formed the backdrop of
the set to allow the rigging of a floating Projection screen. “It was a major
construction just to hang the screen literally 2.5m in the air,’ said Cawood. “The
idea was simple but it really worked. It was delivered by Dream Sets and I always
work well with them.’
The lighting equipment list included 12 x Philips Selecon 2K Wash, 120 x Longman
FacePars (used in the venue and the gallery entrance), 16 x Robin LEDWash 300s, 4
x Robin DLS Spots, 8 x Martin Quantum Washes and 8 x Martin Quantum Spots.
While CCPP supplied most of the equipment, they hired additional gear from Solid
Rock Event Technical.
The classical arches of the venue and the dramatic pipe organ, one of the largest in
Africa which has over 6000 pipes, were up lit with Robin LEDWash 300s, creating a
silhouette effect.
“The DLS Spots also worked very well,’ said Cawood. “We used the shutters on the
banner walls, lighting the band on the main stage as well as a smaller stage area
where the focus was on a single artist who performed during set changes.’
The greatest test, besides a tight load-in, was learning the audio desk in time. “But
it worked out perfectly! The DiGiCo support at DWR Distribution certainly
contributed to putting it together without a problem.’
Cawood started his career when he was in grade 8. “I started doing teeny bopper
events in the Garden Route and started saving the money that came in to buy gear.
It grew from there and ten years ago, I was able to start CCPP.’
