"We have been heavily involved in Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations for many years," says Calder Sibbald, Black Light's head of hire and events. "This year was no different and we were delighted to work alongside Unique Events and other service providers such as Paragon Power Services to help Scotland welcome in the New Year in style."
The theme of the 2013/14 celebrations was Homecoming and Black Light supplied the equipment needed to bring this vision to life to the three key locations: Edinburgh, Stirling and Inverness. Working to a brief provided by Unique Events, Black Light sourced and demo'd products for the client and then used its experienced crew to deliver each specific lighting project to the required high standard.
"Thanks for all your hard work in ensuring Homecoming Hogmanay elements all went as planned," said Sharon Burgess from Unique Events. "Please pass on my thanks to all your team - we were very happy with the event."
In Edinburgh, Black Light supplied equipment to every one of the many Hogmanay stages that provide entertainment to the capital's world-famous street party. The company's main focus was, however, on the Keilidh and Rewinder stages, where revellers danced through the night. Black Light also helped illuminate the National Monument, City Observatory and Nelson's Column - the location for the traditional Hogmanay Torchlight Procession (for which it also supplied lighting and production support).
Black Light supplied a wide range of specialist equipment, including 28 Studio Due City Colour LEDS and 30 Robe City Skape 48s, along with a variety of lighting desks.
"A major part of the Hogmanay celebrations were the Homecoming Hogmanay events which took place at 20:14 on the night of 31 December in various places around Scotland," says Sibbald. "We supplied the 'Super Big' lights needed to bring this spectacular vision to life at locations such as Stirling Castle and Inverness Castle."
The key challenges that Black Light's team overcame on this project included the crewing and logistical challenge of getting significant amounts to kit to multiple locations at a busy time of the year. Its team also had to deal with the challenge of working in and around some of Scotland's most important historic monuments.
(Jim Evans)
