ON THE ROAD: Rihanna
Below: Rihanna’s musicians entertained the crowds; Show Rig provided automation and custom trusses for heavy objects such as a piano; The lady herself followed Jim Webb’s stage cues on the technical set which was made functional by Show FX and All Access Inc.
THIS ISN’T 1989 For Kenn MacDonald, working in the touring live production industry became a natural personal progression after being brought up via a family working within music. Said MacDonald, “Joe Sanchez went through
several pryo vendors and chose us.” For the last five years, the Pyro Technician has toured the world with the likes of Creed, Shakira, NKOTB and Enrique Inglasias for Pyrotek Special Effects Inc., the only company Sanchez felt fit the bill for the Loud tour. To tastefully incorporate the pyro side of
the design into the show, the concepts were created between Jamie King King (Producer), Carla Kama (Designer) and Lorenzo Cornacchia, President of Pyrotek Special Effects Inc. during pre-productions in LA. Said Cornacchia: “When I met Joe and Carla
In LA, it was great because they gave me their ideas and then allowed me to present ideas that would fulfill their needs. I have worked with Jamie King on several productions and understand he needs and wants; that surprising “WOW“ factor.” Running all pyro through a system called
Pyro Digital, which has been relied on for some great productions in its history, the controller is wired and fires pyro through modules rather than individual lines. All the CO2 effects are fired via a Jands ESP ii 24/48 lighting console. During Raining Men (a Nicki Minaj duet),
Rihanna shoots the cues herself from a cannon, the result being that three lucky fans get an exclusive souvenir T-shirt.
PROPS FOR PERFORMERS Loud called for a number of mechanical and scenic props. “Having worked with Creative Director Jamie King in the past, specialising in building custom props which have to operate safely with performers in mind, ShowFX are the usual go-to company for this type of show,” said Founder and President David Mendoza. “Unlike standard scenery pieces, performer’s props have to be built as prototypes for rehearsals, then modified and fine-tuned and then built for the road. This is a process we’ve gone through on every Jamie King show - he loves his mock props!” When Mendoza first started the business
in 1982, it was known as MagiCraft and specialised in designing and building magic
48 • TPi JANUARY 2012
props, quickly establishing a clientele which included illusionists David Copperfield and Siegfried and Roy. “As pop artists began adding more spectacle to their productions, MagiCraft was tapped to provide illusions and effects for their concert tours. Michael Jackson, who loved magic, featured a number of illusions by Mendoza in his 1993 Dangerous Tour, which led to the business expanding into the manufacturing of sets, staging elements, lifts and props for the touring industry, no longer just building for magicians.” Other musical clients incorporating magic
from Mendoza included Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. As the company expanded its business, the company name was changed to ShowFX in the late ‘90s to better represent the diversity of its capabilities. ShowFX provided structural design and
fabrication of the S&M bed prop in Rihanna’s show, which was designed by Leroy Bennett. The Reveal Sphere and Pink Military Gun Set piece were designed by Mendoza working from King’s sketches and notes from meetings. The multi-leveled Scaffold Set was also designed and built by ShowFX. Explained Mendoza: “All the sets and props
were designed to be quickly disassembled backstage after their use, and all had to integrate with the show’s mobilator, which moved the sets on and off stage. The sets needed to be roadworthy, low-maintenance, quick set up and strike, and effectively packaged to use minimal truck space. The usual challenge of working within in a tight timeframe was managed by keeping in close touch with the production personnel during rehearsals and staying on top of the ever changing needs of the director and performers.” Another important part of the stage set up
came via All Access Inc, the global staging and production rental company which has provided stage rentals and set construction services for over twenty years for a multitude of high profile artists and events, and now operates in multiple locations worldwide. The company’s President, Erik Eastland, (who co-founded the company with Clive Forrester) worked closely with Creative Designer, Leroy Bennett, on Rihanna’s Loud tour to turn his vision into a creative, yet practical and entertaining reality. One challenge for the experienced team at All Access - who supplied a lead carpenter to the
tour - was to adapt the original renders of the set. The initial renders would have meant that only a small audience would fit into the design when it was built and placed into an arena environment. This had to be scaled down and yet still retain its original, creative integrity. As of March 2011, All Access acquired equipment from B & R Scenery and consequently re-fitted a pre-existing stage, which used B & R kit. All Access Infinity boxes were requested
for a major part of the staging plan, and the products outlined the A stage and decorated the band risers. The boxes were built with 1,000 channel LED tape with mirror backing. Inset into the stage was a turntable, four ribbon lifts, a conveyor, and a video cluster that looked like speakers and reached almost 14ft high. Rihanna’s dancers climbed on the video clusters during the show’s various highly choreographed dance routines. At the upstage centre there was a ground-
supported curved video wall that opened and closed. Additionally, ego Ramps, an apron and mosh pits all added to the set design to create a dramatic connection to the audience. On the B stage, there was a lift with further infinity boxes on the drum riser. All Access played an important roll behind the scenes when it provided one of its tracking Mobilators products, a mechanically propelled riser which enabled the set pieces from prop masters Show- FX to be easily moved during load ins / outs.
RECORD BREAKING ROUTE It’s taken less than six years for 23-year-old Robyn Rihanna Fenty to break record after record. Her fifth studio album, Loud, sold more copies in its first week of release than any of her previous records to date. It also lent its name to her 2011 tour, a production which had an imense impact not only on her worldwide fans, but on the crew who traveled through continents, making the studio success breathe life. The tour included 10 sold out dates at London’s 02 arena. Production Manager Joe Sanchez was at the helm of the phenomenon. He concluded: “Doing 10 shows at the 02 is
a great achievement. She’s played more shows at one venue on one tour than any other female artist, so to be her Production Manager, there is a great sense of achievement.” TPi
www.rihannanow.com
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