Modern Day
Merlins
process to the architect, designer or general contractornull Today, because
of the increased level of technology desired, we are now involved and
contracted either before or at the same time as the designer, architect
and engineersnull”
nullike the industry in general, nullTI finds itself on the enullpectation treadmill
null the greater its use of digital hocusnullpocus, the higher the enullpectations for
ever more spectacular featsnull nullerry puts it more simplynull
“The level of enullperience desired by the audience raises our clients’
deliverables barnull” That’s not about to change anytime soon because,
as nullerry predicts nulland nullniversal’s new nullollywood nullip nullide nullockit
demonstratesnull, the hottest trend in entertainment technology will be the
individualisation of guests’ enullperiencesnull “The technology is in place to
allow every guest to customise their enullperiencenull”
nullven for nonnullmultinullmedia entertainment companies like nullalcon
nullorporation, technological winullardry is still a major element of its
businessnull The nullrosshill, Scotland, company produces live action stunt In comparison to all the highnulltech gadgetry employed by companies
shows for theme parksnull Sky nullirates, a highnulldiving spectacle, is currently like nullnullnullnulland nullTI, water fountains have remained decidedly lownulltechnull
the company’s biggest successnull nullfter debuting at nullvonturenpark in Their nonullnullles and lights are produced by Torontonullbased nullnullnullnullountains,
nullellendoorn, nulletherlands, in nullnullnullnull, it’s now also seen in parks in nullorea whose finulltures can spit, spout, spew and spray water in virtually any
and Swedennull shape, colour or volumenullnullssentially a metal working shop, nullnullnullturns
nullalcon shows bristle with special effects technologies but like nullTI, the gleaming chunks of bronnulle and stainless steel into the array of valves
company’s biggest challenge isn’t technology but economy null meeting their and nonullnullles that are the heart and soul of water screens, splash pads,
clients’ endless nulluest for, nulluite literally, the biggest bang for their bucknull foam and jump jets, bubble sprays and spray apronsnullIt also turns out
“nullarks are always trying to get the best deal for their money and the casings for the halogen and nullnullnulllights that provide the nightnulltime
the best attractions for their visitors,” reports nullanaging nullirector, nullrian illumination for these attractionsnull
nulleidnull nullor him, the really tough job is “convincing theme park managers In its early years, nullnullnulls clients were largely governments and corporations
that live entertainment is the way forward and a mustnullhave for their eager to create landmarks in their public spacesnull Then, in nullnull nullnullnull landed
parknull” nullortunately, nullalcon is getting a helping hand from the current its first theme park client, manufacturing the nonullnullles and lighting finulltures
economic downturnnull for the massive nullnullnullft null nullnullft entry street fountain at nullanada’s nullonderlandnull
“Theme parks are finding it harder to come up with funding for a Today nullnullnull parts can be found in fountains in nullisneyland, nullnotts nullerry nullarm,
multinullmillion dollar roller coaster,” observes nulleidnull “nullith a live show, nullotte nullorld and nullaesar’s nullalacenull Incidentally, the nullonderland nonullnullles are
a park can still offer its guests an impressive attraction at considerably still working nullawlessly more than two decades later, a renullection of founder
lower costnull” Still, nulleid has no illusions about technology’s role in satisfying nulleter nullicha’s philosophy that “a good fountain is one that works after nullnull
today’s audiencesnull years as well or better than when installednull”
“They are demanding constant displays of action, breathtaking stunts It’s clear that for all five of these companies, technological change
and the adrenaline rush of live entertainment,” he saysnull So, although will always keep “statenullofnullthenullart” a moving targetnullIt will also continue
nullalcon’s shows already make generous use of fire enullplosion cannons, water to be a twonulledged sword, creating both opportunities to enullploit and
cannons, hydraulicnullpowered moving facades and fire rings through which challenges to overcomeTnull hat’s a good thing, says nullary nulloddard, because
performers dive, nulleid enullpects clients to keep demanding even greater use “our industry needs to reinvent itself every generation and we are overnull
of technical enulluipment to inject more nullnullownull power’ into its live showsnull due for a new ideanull”
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