As FOH engineer Jason Moore explained when asked about the criteria for the PA, "We were looking for the best possible sound we could get in a small, powerful package that would allow us to find a happy medium between amphitheatres, theatres and arenas."
Production manager, Javier Alcaraz, said that, "Delicate Productions, one of the companies competing to provide audio for the tour, had asked me to listen to the Martin Audio MLA system. So I went to a demo in North Carolina where I listened to MLA and was floored. I called Jason and told him, 'I think this is the rig for you, where we are, and what we need to do with the tour.'"
Moore says, "Javier really opened my eyes to what MLA could do in terms of controlling the sound, a key factor in theatres with balconies and sheds with aluminum roofs and other kinds of problems. As it turned out, the MLA system we were looking at could perform the way we needed it to, no matter what type of venue. Plus I was pleasantly surprised with the rig. I'd never been on the MLA before, but it wound up exceeding my expectations."
According to Javier, size was also a factor: "For the tour, they gave me three production semis for all the sound, video, production, backline -- everything. And with the rig coming in as small as it did in the truck (the footprint was ridiculously tiny) that was a big help."
The actual MLA system supplied by Delicate consisted of 11 MLA enclosures, one MLD Down-fill, six MLX subs per side and Display 2.0 software. The audio set-up also included Martin Audio WT2s for front-fill and LE1200S stage monitors. Avid Profile consoles were used for FOH and monitors.
The tour included two opening acts geared to Gomez' fan base -Christina Grimmie and Allstar Weekend - in addition to Selena and her band, The Scene, which consisted of a keyboard player, drummer, bass player, guitarist/musical director and two background singers.
As Moore enthuses, "This tour was really efficient and awesome considering the budget. All of the stars came into alignment for this considering the PA and crew and how well we all got along. We had a really nice asymmetrical lighting and video package and minimal staging which was very effective ... plus a small but effective PA system that sounded really good."
(Jim Evans)
