"Bigger and better" also describes the size and design of Nocturnal Festival 2010's physical facilities, which encompassed six different stages featuring simultaneous performances. Most impressive of all was the Main Stage venue, a gigantic tent-like enclosure measuring 400' deep by 156' wide, outfitted with a stage and dance area inside.
Built by AG Light & Sound (Ronkonkoma, NY), the colossal structure stood nearly 60' high and included a full wraparound mezzanine level. "The roof system that we built alone was about 65,000sq.ft ," said Andrew Gumper of AG, noting that it took 17 trailers of gear to construct the enclosure and stage.
Stephen Lieberman of SJ Lighting handled the design of the stage and lighting (which was also supplied by AG Light). Although Lieberman typically designs 50-70 stages a year, and has worked on many previous Insomniac Events concerts, he described the 2010 Nocturnal Festival's Main Stage venue as, "The biggest structure I have ever done - and I've been doing this almost 20 years."
Such a large project called for big-time lighting/video products that could stand up to the challenge of this massive venue and its epic concert. Lieberman and Gumper opted for Elation Professional LEDs, moving heads and video screens.
Four differently-shaped video screens, configured with Elation's EVLED 256 and EVLED 1024 low and medium resolution transparent LED video panels, were positioned on stage, two on the floor and two flown in the air. The screens were constructed to appear 3D-like in shape, wider at the base then getting more narrowly graduated toward the top, resembling steps constructed from individual cubes. The two overhead screens were inverted to resemble an upside-down staircase.
Elation and its sister company Acclaim Lighting also provided much of the lighting featured onstage and in the dance floor area, accounting for nearly 200 of the 380 fixtures used in the venue. Twenty-four Elation 700-watt Power Spot 700 CMY colour-mixing moving heads and 24 of the company's 575-watt Power Wash moving head washes, lit up the large dance floor area.
Making a project of this size and scope come together was "a true collaborative effort," commented Lieberman. "I was really impressed with AG - their entire team performed 100%. If any one piece of the puzzle is not done properly, it can affect everything."
An integral piece of this puzzle was the Elation lighting and video gear, added Gumper. "The products were rock solid. They worked great for the job. Everyone was happy."
(Jim Evans)
