Held at Gallagher Estate, the Microsoft event was a conference launch and expo for
three new products – SQL 2016, Windows Server 2016, and Microsoft System
Centre.
The concept of a triangular motif that would be projection mapped onto the stage
was proposed by Jon le Roux, the MD of Keystone Productions. Each of the three
sides of the motif represented one product.Production designer Chris Bolton then
pitched a design centring around a large tetrahedron that would be projection
mapped and also lifted to reveal the stage. It was this concept that was pitched to
the client, Tourvest.
To realise the concept, an extensive lighting array was assembled: 12 Martin MAC
Quantum washes, 6 Martin MAC Viper Washes, 18 Martin Mac Viper Profiles, 12
Robe Robin Pointes, and a Grand MA 2 Lite Console. Says Keystone’s Jade Manicom,
lighting designer on the launch, “Gallagher can be a difficult venue to light because
it feels so vast. Martin Professional’s Quantums did not struggle to give the venue
the light and colour needed to create the conference space. Along with the MAC
Vipers and the great beams they provide, the venue lit up very well.’
The major challenge, says Manicom, was the one day load in for the size of show
that it was. “This was the largest conference that I have run to date. It was quite a
daunting experience but once we got through the opening sequence, the rest of the
show fell into place and the conference ran smoothly.’
