The all-action schedule included a 12-night residency by Bon Jovi and shows by Leona Lewis, Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, George Benson & Marti Pellow and Al Green & Michael McDonald, with the real logistics-twister presented by the dates for Leona Lewis's four shows and Aerosmith's one, all dotted within Bon Jovi's run. Leona's show entailed four separate ins and outs - three of them either side of Bon Jovi's, with Aerosmith slotted right in the middle of both of these.
In the Summit office, the technical requirements and logistics for the busy contract are co-ordinated by project manager Simon Frost and administrator Kate Parsons.
The Bon Jovi show was the most complex in terms of rigging, involving 117 points - 33 dead hangs and 84 bridles - and totalling 52.3 tonnes of flown production equipment. It also entailed a 40ft wide upstage trussing section with tracking for the video screen staying in the venue, and being flown out to 25m so the other shows could be easily and comfortably rigged and accommodated underneath.
Simon Frost and Bon Jovi's chief rigger Mike Farese worked closely together to ensure that the operation ran as smoothly as possible.
Leona's show involved 85 points, 15 dead hangs and 70 bridles and weighed 28.3 tonnes, while Aerosmith had 50 points (11 deads and 29 bridles), weighing 26 tonnes and luckily, both shows featured straight trusses for lighting and video, and standard PA rigging out of the roof, with four and three hangs a side respectively for Leona and Aerosmith.
Where possible, Summit keeps the same riggers working on the same shows for continuity and efficiency with teams structured to be overseen by experienced rigging supervisors to ensure a swift and safe operation.
Simon Frost says, "Constant communication and co-operation between all parties ensures that everything stays on track and is a testament that pre production planning is vital."
Kate Parsons confirms that "Thorough preparation and planning together with getting a strong, consistent team of riggers was a crucial factor in the successful turnaround of these shows, enabling everything to run smoothly and efficiently."
(Jim Evans)
