Robe for TPi Awards 2014

	TPI Awards: Lindsey Markham, Caroline Beverley, Julian Lavender (all from Neg Earth Lights); Tpi Awards 2014 presenter Huey Morgan; Dave Ridgway (managing director, Neg Earth); and Bob Schacherl, CEO of Robe Lighting Inc.

Robe once again sponsored the annual TPi Awards with the supply of more than 300 moving lights for the 2014 event. Produced by TPi Magazine and Mondiale Publishing and staged at the Novotel West London in Hammersmith, the event honors the technical and creative achievements of the live production / event industry over the preceding 12 months.

The lighting equipment included 32 Pointes, 82 CycFX 8s, 28 MiniMes, 90 LEDBeam 100s, 44 LEDWash 600s, 20 DLF Washes, 8 DLS Spots, and 28 MMX Spots -- all from Robe's Robin range.

The stylish and appropriate lighting for the gala dinner, attended by over 1,000 industry professionals and presented by Fun Lovin' Criminal's front man Huey Morgan, was designed primarily by Nick Valdez from rental company Siyan. Working alongside Valdez, lighting designer James Scott, of Times Design, programmed and operated on the night.

The more than 300 moving lights were supplied by Robe and rigged by Siyan.

The lighting design was based around six trusses traversing the room and two trusses -- front and back -- flown above the stage. Three further trusses, positioned along the back wall, picked up the main LED screens.

Robe CycFX8 LED Batons were employed to up- and down-light the voile lined walls. Ten units were rigged on each of the three video trusses, six were positioned on the floor to cover the caterer's access, and the remainder were spread around the perimeter of the room to up-light the voile drops.

The diminutive LEDBeam 100s were used primarily to illuminate the tables throughout the two rooms. The two real challenges being the lack of trim height in some of the areas, and keeping the LEDBeams -- normally used for their piercingly bright beams -- at the right intensity to maintain the overall ambience while lighting the dining areas sufficiently for the guests to see their food.

"I think we've discovered a far more flexible modern replacement for the traditional pin-spot," comments Scott.

The LEDWash 600s were used as a general wash light, and to provide the main wash for the B stage in the center of the room.

The DLF Washes were used as the main stage and runway key lights, while the MMX Spots and Pointes were used to create complimentary gobo looks across the voile lined walls. The Pointes were also used in saturated colors to cut through and contrast with the general wash, adding bold blasts of color around the room.

Sixteen MMX spots projected primary colors and hard-edged gobos onto the drapes from beneath the video screens.

Six different lighting themes were created for the different awards sections and each time the video graphics changed their ident style, the lighting changed to suit. Digital Insanity supplied eye-catching visuals based on a retro 1970's UK movie-with-US-influence vibe ... complete with a modern twist.

The big overall challenge was keeping the lighting interesting, exciting, and fluid but most importantly complimentary to the awards ceremony itself. Twenty-seven categories of winners plus videologues meant the careful blending of lighting with video content was no mean feat.

On the Robe fixtures, Siyan's Valdez commented, "While we're all familiar with these Robe fixtures in a stage environment, I was keen to show how they can be utilized on an event like this. The Pointes and the MMX spots worked well together with the LED fixtures to provide a subtle and effective treatment of the room."

A total of 19 universes, driven by a grandMA2 light console, were output via a mix of NPUs and Art-Net boxes.

Lighting designer Scott worked with a Siyan crew of six -- crew chief Karl Lawton, Matt Morris on dimmers, and technicians Anna Mac, Dan Everitt, Jo Zilm, and Dan Terry plus Siyan project manager, Tom Grant.

Scott is a keen advocate of Robe products and really appreciated the opportunity to put the kit through its paces. Of all the luminaires he used for the awards, the CycFX8 was a particular favorite.

They were effective during the opening VT sequence and utilizing the zoom facility, he was able to use them as a sweeping batten with a variable zoom effect for a "wow" factor.

The DLS Spot, MiniMe, and yet more CycFX8 were used downstairs for the after-party areas.

In addition to providing the event's lighting, Robe sponsored the award for "Favorite Lighting Rental Company of the Year," which was presented by Bob Schacherl, CEO of Robe lighting Inc., and won by Neg Earth.

The event production manager was Liz Madden of the No Nonsense Group and Amy Wright was the event manager.