It’s been hard during lockdown, trying to keep myself motivated and productive. A real uncertainty as to when live shows and events will be back up and running leaves you a little deflated. To try and keep the mind working and a spring in my fingers I have given myself a few targets. Some personal, some business: from learning Python to, and my favourite, coming up with 10 designs and creatives.
Over the past 8 weeks I have really enjoyed stepping back and re-reading some of my ‘inspiration’ books and media (mostly architecture books and pages). Relearning Vector Works, getting stuck in properly with Cast WYSIWYG and playing/learning the GrandMA3 (both thanks to TSL Lighting).
So far I have managed to concept 6 of my 10 designs. Always starting off as pencil on gridded paper and then moving to a CAD program. I currently have 5 of the concepts rendered from WYG and wanted to share them.
Concept – 002
An arena size design, with an offset stazge, 4 towering screens and its sharp shape, this stage is about impact and overwhelming the audience. The lighting follows a ridged truss layout that is complimentary to the set and stage. It steps with the set and spears out into the audience. Flanked by a lighting array in each wing, this stage makes an epic Insta photo.
The centrepiece, 4 X LED walls, housed in 1m recessed ‘doorways’, start at 8×2.5m and finish at 5×2.5m, stepping down and setting back up to 6m. The set has real depth, allowing us to bring the stage to life. The doorways, housing the screens, have manlifts at the base of each, allowing for entrances and exits of performers.
This design is perfect for a solo artist or group. It has space for dance routines, and is interactive with the ability to choreograph with the screen content, and a runway that takes the artists further into the crowed.
Concept – 004
One I have had sketched for a while. Keeping the band encircled by a horse-shoe truss, keeping the audience’s attention to the central stage. Ideal for a 3-4 piece band or DJ. The lighting boldly follows the symmetrical set design. Creating picturesque and breath-taking looks, maybe so breath taking as to forget to take a photo. To add another dimension, the central 5 truss are automated allowing us to transform the stage in front of the audience’s eyes.
Then using wide, sweeping and anbionic content, wrapped around the band on the super wise up-stage video wall. Incorporating a range of precisely animated spreads, wide eye-catching scapes and warped live cameras. The screens don’t over power the stage, but give it an evolving background that flows with, and compliments the performance.
Concept – 005
Another one from my sketch book, but improved. I love encasing the performance area with shapes and eye-guiding lines. The ability to draw the audience’s attention to specific parts of the stage for impactful moments, causing the highest emotional impact.
This performance area is housed within a cube. Built of a 6-sided cube set piece frame outlining the eye catching stage, with a U/S corner piece to give an end of area depth. The stage is also flanked by 2 LED walls on motion systems, with the ability to box in the performance area or open it up. There is also a top screen in the same fashion.
Initially only the cube part of the stage will be visible, with the screens down, creating a confined and claustrophobic feel. With the wings and top of the rig hidden back black drape on a kabuki system, ready to drop at the most impactful moment. Opening the stage up and allowing the whole show to breath.
Concept – 006
This is a fresh idea, evolved from an event I was going to be working on before COVID happened. It was concepted with Tom Misch in mind, but would work with many artists. Placing them in a 360 circular stage, with multiple kinetic truss, set and screen pieces. It incorporates the moving sun from Tom’s music video with Yussef Dayes for ‘Lift Off’
The central point of the design is the stage itself, drawing all eyes, no matter where into it. There is a massive sphere above the stage roughly 4m in diameter. The stage is made up of a 10-7 x 10-7 hollow circular LED screen directly above the stage, on 4-point kinetic truss. The sphere can be projected onto and also lit by lighting, allowing for a huge range of looks.
My passion comes from collaborating with other creatives and artists to build a show from the ground up. Coming up with ideas and basic designs now, where we can take our time to get it perfect, and then hitting the ground when we can finally get back out and make a show.
There are creative decks to go with each design and I would love to chat about your next event.
All the best Tuck