"Since it is named red, white and rock, I really wanted to step it up this year musically, and I think we nailed it," explained Allison Burchett.
The event, whose funds all stay local to the Knoxville area, took place at a television studio at Scripps Networks Interactive, home to HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, and the Travel channel.
Lighting designer Giff Swart utilized the wide array of house lights, and then added White Spandex truss socks and White Spandex columns as accent pieces, which worked well with a huge white spandex cyc serving as the colour palette.
"We love challenges," laughed Burchett. "We had the Scripps company meeting, complete with a live broadcast to thousands of employees, then flipped the room to do the very intimate Sara Evans charity event, then flipped the room yet again for a WICT (Women in Cable Telecommunications) event the next morning, all while trying to use many of the same elements to save each of the clients as much production costs and labor/trouble as possible."
Bandit also donated the use of its GRN Lite LED fixtures, providing an energy efficient alternative with brilliant colour washes. Lighting director Gavin Lake utilized GRN battens for front and back light in addition to the GRN Pars for truss toners and highlighting the accent pieces.
"I want to thank Ken Lowe and Melissa Sykes and their extraordinary staff at Scripps for making this event happen," said Bandit's chair, Michael T. Strickland. "A big tip of the hat goes to Sarah Trahern, CEO of The CMA, who got the ball rolling with Sara Evans. I also want to thank Sara Evans and her incredible team for being such a pleasure to work with. Lastly, I wish to thank Allison Burchett for working so tirelessly to make this event come true."
(Jim Evans)
