Spike Brant of Nimblist Calls on CHAUVET Professional Color STRIKE M for Bon Jovi at MSG

	"We used the scenic pods for eye candy, as well as blinders. They gave us a nostalgic retro look, with a modern touch. It was our one element of motion, something that has been core to so many past Bon Jovi designs," says Brant. Photo: Cherie Hansson

For rock band Bon Jovi's recent performance at Madison Square Garden, creative director Spike Brant, of Nimblist, and his team, including lighting designer, programmer, and lighting designer Felix Peralta; video director Tony Bongiovi; screens producer Grant McDonald; video programmer Hayden Katz; and creative director for content Linda Strawberry, delivered a production that projected intimacy while also unleashing dynamic looks that reflected the vibe of each song.

Focused on the center of the 52'-wide performance area, the rig, which had a 45' trim, featured steps and risers fronted by battens, a massive video screen with lights behind it, and four customized 8' square scenic pods running across the top. Built by 4Wall Entertainment and automated with the Tait Navigational System, the scenic pods played multiple roles, according to Brant.

"We used them for eye candy, as well as blinders and much more," he says. "They gave us a nostalgic retro look, with a modern touch. It was our one element of motion, something that has been core to so many past Bon Jovi designs."

The pods were loaded with lighting fixtures, anchored by the CHAUVET Professional Color STRIKE M, which, like the rest of the rig, was supplied by 4Wall. Each pod featured 18 Color STRIKE M strobe-washes, arranged in six rows of three units each. Also featured were Color STRIKE Ms on two vertical towers and four audience trusses.

The Color STRIKE M, Peralta says, "is like a Swiss Army knife for a lighting designer. We could be super delicate at times and violent when needed. We also featured this fixture's tilt capabilities within the pods and created some super unique handcrafted looks as a result. That was the goal -- never have them look the same!

"The Color STRIKE Ms also served as great audience blinders when called upon," Peralta continues. "The audience lighting at a Bon Jovi show is always part of the experience! Fans are singing almost all the time and are engaged with Jon and the band throughout. They also became a big part of the IMAG story that we told. Tony Bongiovi did a great job night after night capturing these amazing audiences at The Garden."

Brant and the design team began working on the previz in December, before the video team saw the lighting plot. This contributed to the seamless connection between lighting and video. "We didn't go overboard on video," he says. "A lot of live camera was used and special content created by Linda and her team, including Felix's daughter, Isabella Peralta."

Much of the video content was of the robust singalongs that rang out throughout the show. "We tapped into the MSG house light in addition to our own rig to reach out to the sellout crowd," Peralta says. "Our main goal was to extend the show out to the audiences -- they become an extension of the show and the experience. The audience lighting was all very balanced and purposeful. You're able to 'feel' the audience without it looking like a PTA meeting or a parking lot! And of course, there were occasions when it was a full audience sing along and we wanted them to really be featured."