Says UEP's Steve Butcher: "The concept always involves creating a comfortable and high tech looking environment to reflect a trendy up-to-the-minute industry. Working this space at the Northumberland means we have to juxtapose our temporary setting appropriately against the Victorian splendour of the room."
It was also the first live event for UEP's brand new 12mm pitch LED screen, which has just been delivered to their warehouse in Buckinghamshire.
The Mobile Choice set was based around a 24ft by 8ft deep 3:1 aspect ratio trimmed as high as possible, below which was the LED screen, made up from 34 panels.
Both surfaces were used for the awards graphics and stings, sponsors logos and ambient video footage that ran during parts of the show, all helping to ramp the excitement and anticipation of the 250 plus guests, who also enjoyed a gala dinner during the Awards ceremony, followed by an after-show downstairs.
Butcher's elegant and practical lighting scheme included 20 of UEP's new Robe LEDBeam 100 fixtures, which were deployed around the set. Some pointed forwards to produce audience looks and back lighting for the presenter and winners, while others upstage of the set wall were used as back and up-lighters through the screen which has a degree of transparency.
The majestic pillars running along the length of the Ballroom were up-lit with Robe LEDWash 600 LED moving lights in a series of tasteful colours and combinations.
Clay Paky Sharpies were used for beam effects around the room, and the front of the stage and presentation area was key-lit with profiles rigged on a ground-supported front truss. Lighting was controlled by an Avolites Pearl Tiger console.
The same front truss was used to fly a Christie 12k projector that fed the screen with visual content, all of which was produced by Rob Butler. The source material was stored on a laptop and replayed via that and a Kramer graphics switcher.
For audio, UEP installed a compact EAW speaker system. Having worked in the venue many times before, the team already knew the optimum sound design needed for the space and the nature of the event.
In this case, eight EAW JFX 290 speakers on stands and two AEW subs were utilised, together with a selection of lectern and radio mics. It was perfect for all the speakers and presentations, as well as small and unobtrusive. Audio was mixed through a Yamaha LS9 console.
Steve Butcher worked with five UEP technicians plus local crew for the in and out, and the event was another big success for the leading consumer magazine.
Says Butcher, "We know how the client likes to work and what they need on the day, so it all went very smoothly, even though the schedule was tight. Good and detailed planning is essential, together with having a great crew on site and the appropriate equipment to realise the design without any compromises."
(Jim Evans)
