The evening featured performances from double BRIT Award winner Lady Gaga (International Female Solo Artist and International Breakthrough Act), duets from Florence and the Machine (MasterCard British Album for Lungs) and Dizzee Rascal (British Male Solo Artist) and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, as well as performances by Cheryl Cole, Lily Allen, Kasabian, JLS and Robbie Williams, many of whom are regular Sennheiser users.
"The BRITS is a very similar type of show to the MTV European Music Awards and relies on similar support," says sound designer Derrick Zieba. "The RF requirements are very complex and for that reason having the Sennheiser team on hand is essential in order to have access to all the bands we need to licence on site for the show."
All audio requirements, including its own Sennheiser-based shout system, were supplied via Britannia Row Productions. An EW 300 G2 with Vulcan IEM launch system was available for all artists using in ear monitoring, as well as for the pyrotechnics operator. EM 550 dual receivers, plus G3 handheld transmitters, were used by Lily Allen (SKM 945 G3), Dizzee Rascal (SKM 935 G3 custom Gold) and Florence Welch (SKM 935 custom Gold), whilst EM 3532 dual receivers, plus SKM 5200 with either Neumann or Sennheiser heads, were employed for all presenters, including host Peter Kay whose mic sported a Neumann KK 105 head.
Fearne Cotton, who hosted the backstage artist interviews, used a custom Swarovski crystal encrusted SKM 5200 handheld. Alicia Keys used an EM 3532 dual receiver, plus SKM 5200 with MD 5235 head, whilst Cheryl Cole utilized an EM 3532 dual receiver with SK 5212 miniature transmitter and HSP 4 custom headset. The show also featured a Sennheiser first, with Robbie Williams and his monitor engineer Charlie Bradley using the new EW 300 G3 in ear monitoring system.
"As well as the usual high level of service they provide, Mark and Andy did some extraordinary things for us that we just wouldn't have time to do ourselves, and that no other supplier would do," recalls Zieba. "For example, a highlight of the show was the duet between Dizzee and Florence. Dizzee has a special mic, but Florence doesn't. However, her management decided they would like to have one.
"So Andy stripped out a mic, gave the shell to one of the Blackfriars team, who took it away and sprayed it gold. Florence used it for the show and it was virtually indistinguishable from Dizzee's mic.
"This was a request that came upon us instantly and without warning, at a time when all my sound crew were extremely busy. It's something we just couldn't do without someone like Andy who can make that sort of thing happen."
"It's always an honour to be part of the team that works at The BRIT Awards," concludes Mark Saunders. "It's a high pressure environment, so using equipment we have the utmost confidence in is of paramount importance. The SKM 5200 radio mics used by the presenters have performed flawlessly again this year and we know they can even carry on even after being thrown into the crowd."
(Jim Evans)
