Visiting a variety of different sized venues, Sooner's starting point for the design was a series of corrugated, metal, graffiti art pieces in set carts which are positioned onstage. These were inspired by artwork that Canaan had created on his smartphone, bringing a real personal touch to the performance space.
The 12 x Pointes and eight LEDWash 600s were also rigged on the set carts and in various other positions on the floor and overhead trusses to get a good mix of focus positions.
Pointes were chosen because they are a small beam / profile luminaire that "gave me masses of looks and still packed a real punch" said Sooner, adding that they are also perfect for a band-and-trailer tour because of their size and versatility.
She reckons she used just about every feature on the Pointes which were looked after on the road by lighting director Tim Creedon.
As they programmed the show together at the start of the tour, they came up with a myriad of different ways in which they could use the Pointes in every song. "Sometimes they looked like beams, sometimes like wash lights - the sheer range of looks is incredible," she stated.
The LEDWash 600s were general illumination 'workhorses' and were also stretched in terms of functionality as much as possible, just like the Pointes. They were used for every permutation of colour, plus colour effects and chases through the individual rings.
Sooner started using Robe products in her work about two years ago and comments, "They are amazing - durable, bright and with a fantastic array of options."
The most challenging aspect of the Canaan Smith tour so far has been dealing with some of the smaller venues on the itinerary, in relation to fitting lighting and scenic elements into the spaces. Difficult though this can be, personally she loves designing for this level and size of production. "It's always fun and good for the brain to have to make something amazing out of a smaller amount of kit."
VER supplies the lighting kit and scenic pieces.
Sooner and her business partner of 10 years Robert Long have designed stages and lighting for a string of high profile clients including Rage Against the Machine, KISS, Motley Cr
