Production manager Jerry Holcomb worked with Bandit's project manager Matt King and business development officer Brent Barrett to make the 360 degree stage lighting design a reality. "Brent and Matt always help me achieve my vision and design to actual workable rigging plots and fixture patch," said Holcomb. "We even set up a couple days at their Nashville location to pre-program and get ready for the tour."
"We appreciate the opportunity to work with Jerry each year from his initial concept through the finished product," said Barrett. "Jerry's temperament along with his experience and knowledge promotes and encourages teamwork and cooperation between the tour and the vendors. He represents Winter Jam well!"
Bandit provided Clay Paky K20 B-EYES, Martin Vipers, Robe Pointes, Martin Atomic 3000 strobes, VariLite 3500 washes, Martin Auras, Chauvet Nexus 5x5s, Chauvet Nexus aw 7x7s, 5m strips of LED tape and GT Tyler truss. With the need to keep sightlines open due to the 360 degree end stage, Holcomb utilized fixtures mounted on top of ground supported Tyler truss to accentuate the newly designed diamond stage.
Part of the spectacle of Winter Jam is the abundance of talent, each with their own varying sound, looks and sets, which Holcomb accounted for in his stage design. "Artists are bringing anything from Robe Tungsten-lamp static lights to a faux country-style front porch with Martin Vipers hung in the windows as set pieces," he said, "So leaving the stage basically empty and then building for each act is a must."
As with any production that features multiple performers, Winter Jam's production team wanted each act to look and feel different from those that were just on stage, a challenge that was made easier by the varying music styles and the fact each band provided their own floor package. "But getting all that production on and off the stage with minutes of changeover time is always a challenge," Holcomb added. While that may have been the case, Holcomb shared Bandit crew chief Nikki Dotson and lighting techs Gabe Hodge and Jessie Hochinyavong do a great job in making sure the daily lighting needs are operating at the classic Bandit standard.
(Jim Evans)
