This was the debut event for Sensation in South Africa and the staging of it brought about quite a few "firsts" for technical supplier, Gearhouse SA, as well.
Gearhouse was contracted to G and G Productions, through technical consultants Strike Productions and worked hand in hand with technical production manager, Dave Tudor and Mushroom Productions, who handled the overall local production of the event. Project manager Anthony Banks, handled the onsite co-ordination of Gearhouse's technical elements with the assistance of Madeleine Whitehead.
Banks explained that for Gearhouse the main challenge of this event was the sheer scale of it: "It's a truly massive event. Over the get in, show and dismantle period, a total of 330 technical people and 260 stagehands were involved in just our part of the event ... that's close to 8000 man hours altogether!"
This was the biggest rigging event ever carried out by the company. Rigging operations manager Kendall Dixon, together with a team of 14 riggers installed 136 motors in the roof for the set and lighting requirements. In addition, each point was bridled resulting in a final 272 hanging points.
The main PA ring comprised eight stacks of L-Acoustics V-Dosc, each with their respective 6x 8 L-Acoustics SB28 Subs whilst the second ring was made up of a combination of 24x Kara and 48x Kudo, each with their respective SB18 and SB118 Subs.
The entire audio system was distributed via Neutrik OpticalCon Quad FibreOptic with six Lake LM44s running DANTE.
Gearhouse was commissioned to supply a substantial portion of the lighting rig including MAC2000 profiles and washes, Robin 600 LED's, Martin Atomic strobes and a variety of cabling to run these and the production's travelling rig as well.
Structures operations manager Anton Hattingh's department was involved in the assembly and installation of the 14 m wide circular main stage. Another circular stage of 9m wide and 1.5m high was constructed atop the main stage with a revolve mechanism (supplied by Sensation) for use during the DJ sets. The revolve stage ensured that the DJs were visible to the entire audience.
Although the AV component of the event was small in comparison to the other technical elements, it was nonetheless integral to the event. Gearhouse supplied 4, 18k Christie Roadster projectors, double-stacked at each of the two circular screens to relay live feed from camera and to announce the DJs as they started each session. Cameras, control gear and screen surfaces all travelled as part of the international production.
Gearhouse's Power division provided multiple synchronised generators to supply power for lighting, audio, AV, lasers, motors and hoists.
(Jim Evans)
