These have been added to the existing hire stock which already includes over 60 Robe fixtures, incorporating Spot 250 and Wash 250 XTs and Media Spinners. "We'd been looking at the 575 AT Series for some time," says Production Plus's technical director Andy Miller, who's relationship with Robe UK goes right back to the start of the company. "The optics are great, it's a cost effective product and the service and support from Robe UK is very good," he concludes.
One of the first outings for the new 575 AT fixtures was a gala ball event at the Hilton International Hotel, Park Lane, London, for the Hilton Community Foundation Ball charity. Production Plus is a preferred supplier at this major hotel and event venue.
The gala was staged in the Grand Ballroom and featured a performance by Tony Hadley and his Big Band, a charity auction presented by actor Christopher Biggins, a full gala dinner and a lighting design by Dave Gibbon. Gibbon is a regular on the Production Plus live event team as well as also having designed Tony Hadley's lighting for the last six years along with that of many other international artists.
The stage was built in the centre along one of the room's widthways walls, complete with six flown trusses - four out in the room and a front and back over the stage - plus two projection screens flanking the stage and an LED starcloth at the rear. The 16 Robe 575 Spots and Washes were flown on the front and back trusses over the stage - Washes on the front and Spots on the back.
Gibbon also specified a further sixteen Robe Spot 250s and Wash 250s which were hung all over the room trusses. These were joined by Source fours with break-up gobos for illuminating the audience and pinspots, with LED PARs used to illuminate the upstage drapes and the drum kit.
Gibbon is an experienced LD and has used Robe fixtures on many different shows and occasions. He likes the gobo options on the ColorSpot 575s, plus the quick and smooth movement and the general quality of the optics, adding that they were all rock solid reliable as you would expect from Robe products. "Overall they are great creative tools for an event like this where lighting has to be versatile and fulfil multiple roles - from setting the mood of the room to more practical functions like lighting the band."
He ran the show lighting from an Avolites Pearl 2004 console, and says that it was a smooth event all round from the production and presentation angle and a great success as a charity fund-raiser.
(Chris Henry)
