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There were multiple reasons why Girls Aloud’s 10 tour needed to excel in production values to impress the fans. As their celebratory run of shows drew to a close, it came to light that this had not just been a 12-date reunion, but a goodbye to their loyal supporters. “Thistourhasbeenanamazingexperienceandtheperfectchancetosaythankyouforbeingonthisjourneywithusthroughadecade,”atweetpostedaftertheshowinLiverpool-thelasttimethestarswouldperformtogetherasagroup-said.
WORKING WITHIN PARAMETERSProductionManager,IainWhiteheadhasworkedontheband’sfirsttheatretourthroughtotheirgrandfinaletouringproduction.“Thisshowisbiggerthanthey’vedonepreviously,certainlyintermsofthingsliketheamountofvideoscreenused,”hecommented.“They’vedoneflyinggagsandhadBstagesbefore.There’sabitmorebeenspentonvideo,
stagesetandtheSchnick-Schnack-Systemslightboxesthroughthestagesetandaroundthedownstageedge.” InitiallytheproductionteamusedGirlsAloud’sprevioustourasaplatform,givingthecrewanunderstandingoftheanticipatedoutcome.“Weexpandedthingsfromthere,addingthingslikeextradancers.ThegirlswantedtorehearseinLondon,sowerehearsedinEarlsCourt2,involvingspendingabitmoreonrehearsalsthaninthepast,”saidWhitehead. “PeteBarnes,ourshowdesigner,isgreatatworkingwithincertainparameterssohe’llhaveagoodideaofthelimitationsintermsofthestageandtheamountofmoneytheywanttospendonanLEDscreenandfromabuildpointofview,thetimeitwilltaketogetitinandout. “Whenthey’resixtoursdownthelineyouhavetocomeupwithsomethingthatdoesn’tlooklikeapreviousshow.BethHonan,theshowproducerwantedthegirlstocomeoutovertheaudienceonaGirlsAloudsignthatthelettershavedepthto,ratherthanjustbeingflat.”
TheGirlsAloudsignandstagesetwasmadebyProductionNorth,withsomeelementsrentedfromLSLivesuchasthesubstructureontheBstageandtherollinglegframes.“Thebandwantedacleanlookingset,butnotjustflatwithnothingonit.Theywantedtobeabletomakeitcomealivesofordifferentpartsoftheshowweneededsomethingthatcouldchangecolour,flashandaddexcitement,”saidWhitehead.
FEMININE BUT EDGYPeterBarnes,thedesignerofthestagesetandlightingrig,hasaworkingrelationshipwiththebandthatextendsbacktotheirformation.“IhavealwayslitGirlsAloudsincetheirfirstWhat Will The Neighbours SaytourIn2005,whichwasatheatretourthatstartedatRhylPavilion-asdidsomanypopbands’firsttoursintheirdayandstilldotoday.IfirstrehearsedwithBoyzonetherebackin1995,”saidBarnes,whohaslitshowsfornearlyfourdecades. Barnesoptedforafemininebutedgyset
THE LATEST OUTING FROM GIRLS ALOUD WAS ALSO THEIR LAST, WITH PERFORMANCES THAT WERE MORE VISUALLY TECHNICAL THAN BEFORE. THE POP STARS DELIVERED A CELEBRATION OF 10 YEARS OF SMASH HITS WITH THE HELP OF A TEAM OF COMMITTED PRODUCTION EXPERTS. TPi’S ZOE MUTTER CAUGHT THEIR PENULTIMATE PERFORMANCE AT NOTTINGHAM’S CAPITAL FM ARENA.
ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
GIRLS ALOUD SAY A FOND FAREWELL AFTER A DECADE OF HITS
design,followingtheshapeofaclassicdiamondring.“Asthesayinggoes,‘Diamondsareagirl’sbestfriend’.Ithoughtthatshapesuitedtheshowastheycouldhardlybedescribedasapinkandfluffygirlband,”continuedBarnes.“IthenaddedtheangularLEDscreenstocomplementthatshape.TheyinturnprovidedlightingpositionsinwhatIfeelisthemostimportantareaforeffectslighting-behindthegirls. “Whilstallshowsneedtobelitsoyoucanseetheperformersandsotheylookniceonthesidescreens,mostoftheexcitementfromthelightinghappensbetweenstagelevelandaheightofaroundeightmetres.” WhenitcomestolightingashowlikeGirlsAloud’s,mosteffortgoesintoattractivebeameffects,thelightsinthestairsfromtherearandfollowingthedancersaroundthestagewiththewashlightsonthefronttruss,explainedBarnes.Thatiswhereavideocamerabecomesanimportanttoolatrehearsals;tonotewherethedancersareateachsectionofthesong. Themainprioritywastocreatedifferentperformancelevelsandareasaswellasentrances.Barnescontinued:“Ithinkitisimportantattimestoseparatethegroupandthedancers,sowhilstitisonebigshowitisobviouswhothestarsare.Havingthestaircaseandrampsinthesetallowedthistohappeneasily.”
A COMPLETE VISIONWorkingalongsideBarneswasBethHonan,whohasbeenashowproducerandchoreographerfornineyears,duringwhichtimeshehasproducedallofGirlsAloud’stours
andhundredsoftheirTVperformances.“IwantedtheshowtoreflecthowIsawthegirls-asveryglamorousandbeautiful.Ithadtobeapopspectaculartoshowcasetheirmassiveamountofhitsingles,”sheexplained.“IwasveryinfluencedbytheVictoria’sSecretshowsinAmerica,whichalwayshavefabulouscatwalksandlotsofsparkle.AsthesetdesignwasbasedonadiamondshapealltheLEDwasplacedondiagonallines,whichmadeitlookmuchwiderthantheusualvertical.” Thesetdesignneededtobehuge,butatthesametime,slickandopen.Honanwantedanareathatcouldhold11dancerswithoutthembeingblockedvisually.“Thelargestaircasemadefromlightboxworkedperfectlyforthis.IlovedthewayIcouldinstantlyalterthefeelofthestagebysimplychangingthecoloursonthestaircaseandthecatwalk,”saidHonan.“TheBstagewasalsocreatedusinglightboxsoitwasacompletevisionwhenlookedatasawhole.” Honanwantedahuge3Dlogocreatedthatcouldflyovertheaudience.Sheelaborated:“IwantedthemtostandontopofitfortherevealandwhenitflewtotheBstage.Thechallengewasworkingouthowtogetthemoffitduetotheheightwithoutintroducingstairs.Ithadtobeasslickaspossible.” Thebandopenedtheshowwitharoutinefeaturingfivemicstands,whichHonandidnotwantpresetwhenthekabukidroppedtorevealthem.Ascissorliftwasthereforebuiltintothestartofthecatwalk,whichwasdroppedwithfivemaledancersonitwiththestands. “Atasetpointinthesongafterrevealingthegirlswerosethedancerstostagelevel,whileatthesametimethelogowasdroppingtothe
floor,”continuedHonan.“Thedancersplacedthemicstandsinthecorrectpositions,thegirlsunlockedtheirbeltsandthedancersliftedthemoffthelogoontothemainstage.Thelogothenflewupintheair.Ittookalittletimetogetthetimingscorrectbutworkedgreatasanopener.” WhenthebandlandedontheBstageHonanhadtomakesurethemaledancerswouldmovefromthemainstagetotheBstagehalfwaythroughaperformancetogettotheband.Theyhadasettimetodothis,whichneverchanged. Theband’sHeadofSecurity,MarkDawson,workedwiththedancersateveryarenatoguaranteetheyknewthepathtobetaken.ToallowGirlsAloudtogetbacktothechangingareaaftertheBstagesectionaroutewascreatedthroughtheaudienceanddownthearenacorridorsinblackness.“Thiswasabigchallenge,butworthit,”saidHonan.“Ibroughttheattentionbacktothemainstagewithadancebreakastheyranthrough.Theywerethenrevealedonthemainstagebyfivemanlifts.”
LIGHTWEIGHT AND PUNCHYTocreatealightingdesignwithwowfactor,Barneschose52ClayPakySharpysontheLEDscreensandontheBstagefortheirlightweightandpunchiness.FurtherSharpyfixtureswereplacedaroundtheBstage.ClayPakydistributor,AmbersphereSolutions,alsovisitedrehearsalstoshowBarnesthenewSharpyWash330. TheLDalsoused30PhilipsVari-LiteVL3500washesaswashlightsbecauseoftheirbrightnessandreliabilityand24MartinProfessionalMACIIIsasprofiles,believingthem
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ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
Opposite: The band made a grand entrance standing on a 3D logo that flew over the audience. Below: Visuals created for the set design and concept by Lighting and Show Designer, Pete Barnes; The 10 tour was the last time Girls Aloud would perform as a five-piece; VER supplied LED screens in the form of 240 panels of WinVision 9 in the main screen and 60 panels in each of the six columns; The band members wore red dresses at the end of the show, which looked ‘incredible’ under the followspots, according to Lighting Director, Neil Trenell.
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tobethebrightestprofileavailableofferinglargebreakupgoboeffects. “WhenIdesignedthesetforGirlsAloud,knowingthattheSharpy’stightbrightbeamwouldmakesmallworkofcuttingthroughthebrightnessoftheLEDscreensgavememorefreedominhowthefinishedsetlooked,”hesaid. “OntheGirlsAloudstageIwantedtomountthelightsdirectlyontotheLEDscreentoavoidaddinganothersixtrussesandabunchofmotorstoliftthem-alongwithalltheassociatedextrawork.AstheSharpysaresolightIwasabletomountthemdirectlyontheexistingframesfortheLEDscreen.” LEDplayedasizeableroleinthedesignandallthestairswereinternallylitwithSchnick-
Schnack-SystemsLEDstripstogivethemabrightinternallight.“Then,ofcourse,thereweretheLEDscreens,whichalwaysplayalargepartinmostmusicshowsthesedays,”saidBarnes.“UnderthethrustandtheBstage-deckedwithfrostedperspex-Iused20RobeCityskapeXtremeLEDfloodstocreateabrightunderlitfloor.”Thisilluminatedthecatwalkfortheaudienceviewingitfromhighupinthearena.
SHAPE AND FORMWithawealthofexperiencebehindhimworkingonavarietyofstylesofproduction,NeilTrenellwasbroughtontothetourasLightingDirectortobringBarnes’designstolife.ItmighthavebeenhisfirsttourwithGirls
Aloud,buttheLDhadalreadylitCherylCole’ssolotourandsomeoftheband’sone-offprojects.“Pete’sdesignwasverymodern,angularandwithalotofshapeandform.Manyanglesarerepeatedinthelightingrig,setandsidescreens,”saidTrenell. “Theshowlooksgreatandtherearequitealotofcostumechanges-asyoumightexpect.Thegirlswearsomereddressesattheend,whichlookfantasticunderfollowspots.Itisallverycleanandglamorous,”headded. WhenprogrammingTrenellmakessurelightingandvideocomplementeachother-takingabasecolourfromthevideotouseforthelighting.“Themood,toneandtexturevisuallydictatestheshowsolightingleadssomepartsandvideoleadsothers,”addedtheLD.
ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
Below: Monitor Engineer, Jon Lewis; The video, projection and LED team; Lighting Director, Neil Trenell.
“TheSharpysalwaysfillanarenaandtheRobeCityskapeXtremesaregreatforlightingtheLEDperspexandgiveareallyniceglow.” WhileHSLsuppliedalllightingfixtures,Trenell’scompanyFIX8GroupprovidedthelightingcontrolpackagefortheshowalongwithaGreenHippoHippotizermediaserver,fromwhichhealsotookdirectcontrolofthefootageappearingontheLEDscreens.“MylittleofficeatFOHdoesn’tchangetoomuch.IalwaysuseanMALightinggrandMA2forcontrollinglighting-I’mprettyspoilt,”saidTrenell.“TheMA2isaverystrongconsoleandwehadmultipleusersontheprogrammingside,withonlyfourdaystoprogrammealongsideFraserWalker.Thelatestfeaturesaddedtotheconsolemakeamassiveimprovementwhenworkingwithtimecode-noweverythingisatyourfingertips.”
GO WITH THE MUSICWhileTrenellprovidedallcontentplaybackontotheLEDscreensviatheHippotizermediaservers,Ray‘Moose’Shaw’[CatherineJenkins,TheBeachBoys,Seinfeld]directedcameraswithhisteamfromXLVideoandtechniciansfromVER. “We’veallhadtoworkverytightly,”commentedTrenell.“ThelightingguysworkedwiththevideoguystobuildtheLEDscreenbecausetherearelightsontheside.LEDisabigpartoftheoverallvisuallookandwe’reusingWinVision9,whichisreallystrongoncamera. “Videoisintegraltothetourandit’safast-movingshow,withthegirlsconstantlydancingandmovingaroundthestage,”saidMoose.“TherearethreeofusfromXLVideo-myself,JeroenMarainandDarrenMontague-andwe’reprovidingprojectionandcameras.VERaresupplyingLEDscreensintheformof240panelsofWinVision9inthemainscreenand60panelsineachofthesixcolumnsalongwiththreecrew-GaryKing,RayWhiteandRobinToye.” ProjectionsuppliedbyXLVideocameintheformofapairofBarcoSLMR12+projectorsandtwoAVStumpfl16ftby12ftIMAGprojectionscreens.“Flexibilitybeingoneoftheiradvantages,theBarcoswerehungupsidedown
onthetrusswithfourhangingbrackets,”saidMoose.“Thetrusseswereangledtoenableabetterviewinthetallervenues,thekeystonesoftwareallowingthistobepossible.” ThreeSonyD50camerasfilmedtheshow-twoontrackanddollyinthepitandonelonglensatFOH.DuringtheshowthebandmovedtotheBstage,atwhichpointoneofthepitcameraswaspositionedatFOHandtheothermovedtothefrontofthethrust. “Thegirlssingalternatelinessoyouhavetogowiththemusic,”continuedMoose.“Youcan’tcatchallthewordsastheymovearoundsomuchandweonlyhavethreecameras.” MooseoperatedaGrassValleyKayakdesk,whichhehasusedonnumerousoccasions.Trenell’sfeedfromtheHippotizerwassenttoMoose,comprisingaselectionofclipsfromBlinkTVinbetweenthesupportactandGirlAloud’sperformance.“TheKayakismyfavouritemixerandIfinditveryergonomic.Ihavebigfingerssoitreallyhelpsme,”commentedMoose. “ContentfromtheHippotizerisdisplayedthewholetimeonthemiddlescreen.AtthetopofthetourNeiltoldmewhenhewouldfirethegrandMA2sowhenIknowit’scomingIcuethemup.ThereareonlytwoVTsduringtheshowjustonthesidescreensandthenonthebackscreenthereisvideoallthetime.”
AN EXTRA DIMENSIONAddingtotheshow’svisuality,Pyrojunkiesprovidedawealthofpyrotechnicsthroughoutthetour-flameunits,lowsmokemachines,goldandsilverconfettisquaresfromStadiumShotcannonsandcustomredandwhitefeathersoutofitsvapourblowers.KevinBullardstartedoffasatheatrelightingtechnician10yearsagobeforemovingintospecialeffectsandpyrofouryearsagowhenhestartedworkingforPyrojunkiesonprojectssuchasDownloadFestivalandthe2012Olympics. “Pyromakesaproductionmoredynamicandgivestheaudiencemoretolookat,”hesaid.“Forthisshowitgivesanextradimensionwhilstworkingintheaudience’speripheralvision.” Adecisionwasmadeforpyrotofeatureineightsongsfromtheset,notincluding
thosewithlowsmokeeffects.BullardusedaGalaxiscontrolsystemfromGermancompany,Pyrotech,whichwaschosenbecauseitisrobust,simpletouseandprogrammeandaboveall,wireless. “Theoldmethodssawusrunninghundredsofindividualwiresoverthestagetotriggervariouseffects,”explainedBullard.“WiththeGalaxissystem,wecanplaceseveralwirelessmodulesaroundthestageandkeepcablerunstoaminimum.Galaxisallowsyoutofindfaultseasilyandprogrammetheshowrapidly.Wecannowloadinandsetupmuchquicker.” Safetythroughoutthepyrosectionsoftheshowwasparamount,withthreemetresclearancebetweenanypyropodsandtheaudienceneededatalltimes.“Whenitcomestopyro,it’smainlydowntorehearsalssoalltheperformersknowwheneverything’smeanttobegoingoffandwherenottobe.Icanalsoseeeverythingonstagesoifanyone’stoocloseIwon’tfireaneffect,”addedBullard. ForSound Of The Undergroundtheshowopenedwithlowsmoke-smokethatclingstothefloorandproducesawateryeffectonstage.Thiswasfollowedbynine9mhalfsecondjets-ashowerofsparksthatgooffalongthebackofthestage-andthenattheendofthesongthereweresixgoldflittermines,aninstanteffectthatfiresagoldglitteryeffectintotheair.DuringLife Got Coldmorelowsmokeappearedonstagetoemphasisethesoftballadynumber.DuringJumpsomeextralargewhiteflashesfeatured,producingabangandbrilliantwhitelight. OthereffectsusedincludedlargesparkleflashesattheendofLove Machine,whicharesimilartoawhiteflash,butslightlymorevisualassparklyelementsbutarefiredupintheair.ColouredminesthatcameacrossfromupstageandmidstagefeaturedinSomething Kinda Ooh,whicharethesameasthegoldflitterminesbutfirecolourintotheair. ThetrackSomething Newsawmoresilverminesappeardownstageandfourconfetticannonsacrossthefrontedgeofthestage.“Weintroducedmorelowsmokeandredandwhitefeatherswereblownacrosstheaudienceattheend,”addedBullard.
ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
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Below: Stage Manager, Stephen Reeve, and Production Manager, Iain Whitehead; PA Technicians Jack Murphy, Bill Laing and Ralph Smart.
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FINISHING OFF TO A HIGH STANDARD“Thebiggestlessononthistourhasbeenfinishingoffeverythingtoahighstandard,”commentedStageManager,StephenReeve.“IainWhiteheadiseagleeyedonthefinishingsideofthingsandthegirls’safetyisparamount.” Thebulkoftheshowisloadedinfrom7amuntil3pm,afterwhichacoupleofhoursisspentworkingontheminutedetailstomakesureeverythingistothehighestofstandards.“Thisispartlybecausethegirlsarerunningeverywhereinhighheelsandtherearequickchangeoversbackstagesoittakesabouttwohourstofinisheverythingoffandthenwe’restraightintosoundchecksandopeningdoors.Westartat7amandthenworkstraightthroughto6.30pmwithoutabreaksoitisalongday,”headded. WhileontheroadReevestartedhisdaybyworkingcloselywithHeadRigger,PaulBurke,tomakesuretheywereworkingtothesamefootprintandhaveenoughroombackstageforthequickchangearea.“ThenextdepartmentIsupportissetandIworkcloselywithSiJames,HeadCarpenter.WetalkthroughthepositionofourBstage,whichhastomarryupwiththeflyingtrackthatRigger,DaveJolly,isresponsiblefor.Thishastobeworkedoutbetweenmyself,Paul,IainandSitogetitintherightplacesowecanlandattherightpoint,”explainedReeve. Whenthelightingdepartmententerthevenue,thegreatestrequirementtheyhaveisforpower,riggingandcrewtohelpputequipmentup,soReeveensuresthisrunslikeclockwork.
“Thevideodepartmenthavethesameneeds.Theirangledscreenscanbequiteamissiontogetintoplace.Thesehavetoberiggedverticallyandthenswunginandlandedonstage.Thesescreensaresubhungfromthelightingtrussessoasthelightingteamsetuptheirdimmerracks,soundstarttosetuptheirmonitorworldandtheangledvideoscreenshavetobebuiltaroundlotsofotherkit.”
TOP OF THE RANGEFOHEngineer,GaryBradshaw’sstellarreputationintheindustryandexistingrelationshipwithProductionNorthwerekeyinhimjoiningtheGirlsAloudtouringteam.DespitehavingworkedwithCherylColewhenshesupportedTheBlackEyedPeas,the10tourwasthefirsttimehehadmixedFOHfortheband. “ItrytospecifyDiGiCodesksandtheSD7isthetopoftherangedesksoyoucan’tgetanybetterthanthis.Ichoseitbecauseit’sthebestsounding,hasdualredundancyandtheonboardprocessingisgreat.Thereareacoupleofoutboardeffects,butit’sjustkitI’mfamiliarwith-LexiconreverbsandTCdelayMIDI’duptothedesk,”hesaid. “ForprocessingthereislittleforPAEQ,it’sjusttheEQonthedesk.SystemTech,BillLaing,doesthetimealigningandweplaytracksintheafternoonandtweakitmanually.” Bradshawdidn’tneedtouseanyspecialeffectsontheband’svocals,onlysomereverbonthedelay,afewspecificcuesandchorussingoncertainsongs.“Whatisverychallengingwiththem-andIdon’tknowanyotherbandthatdoesthis-isthateven
ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
Below: Pyro Technician, Kevin Bullard; FOH Engineer, Gary Bradshaw.
inonelineofoneverseallfiveofthemwillsingbitsoftheline,”addedtheFOHengineer.“Oneofthemwillsingtwowords,anotheronewilldooneandthentheotherwillsingfourwords.Especiallywhenthey’reouthereontheBstage;theamountofnoisemeansyoucan’tjustleavethemup.Ihavetofollowthemaroundwordbyword,soIhaveitallwrittendownontheoverviewscreensoyoucanhavenotespersong.Ispendthewholeshowlookingattheoverviewscreen-I’mgluedtothatandifsomeonecomesupandtalkstoyouthenyouhavetoignorethemoryou’llmisssomething.WhenIworkedwithTakeThattherewerefivevocals,buttheydidn’tswaparoundlikethisineachline.” Bradshawworkedwitharound50inputs,sharingarackwithMonitorEngineer,JonLewis.Hecontinued:“Asthere’soneSDrackbetweenushehascontrolofthegain,butoncethat’ssetyounevertouchit.Ifyouneedanythingthere’sthetrim,whichwehaveindependentcontrolover.” BradshawwasimpressedbytheGirlsAloudmembersandtheirtouringcrew.“Thebandaregreattooandwhat’scomingoffstagemusicallyisincredible.It’sallverytight-drums,bass,guitarandkeyboards,”headded. OneofthemostimportantlessonsBradshawlearntfromtheexperiencehasbeenhowvitaldoingyourhomeworkis.“BeforewestartedIlookedonYouTubeatwhosingswhatandittakessomelearning,”hecommented.“There’ssomuchtolearnandit’sverycomplicatedsoIneededtowriteitdown.It’soneortwowordsatatime-andifyoumissitthenitdoesn’tmakeanysense.”
A FLAGSHIP SYSTEMWigwam-aregularsupplierofProductionNorth’s-deliveredafirstclassserviceforGirlsAloud’stour,providingcontrolsystems,mics,RFkitandPAsystem.“We’reusinga
d&baudiotechnicJ-Series-it’sthesystemWigwamhasmostspeakersandexperienceofandisreallytheirflagshipsystem,”saidSystemTechnician,BillLaing,whohasworkedasaregularfreelancerfortheaudiosupplierforthreeyears.“It’safairlystandardWigwamPA-60cabinets,withasidehangleftandrighttocoverthesidesoftheshowandsomed&bQ10frontfillsand20Jsubs.Itworksbeautifully.” BradshawwasalsoafanoftheaudioqualityachievedbythePAsetup:“Thed&bsystemwe’reusingisthebestyoucangetandit’swhatI’dchoose.Thistourisallaboutthegirls’vocals-it’sniceandwarm,notharsh.Thesoundissmoothandthesubiscontrollableandworksreallywell.”
A NATURAL CHOICEMonitorEngineer,JonLewis,[ACDC,PaulMcCartney,EricClapton]becameinvolvedinthe10tourbeforeChristmaswhenGirlsAloudweredoingpromoworkforthegreatesthitsalbum. “Whenmixingthisbandtheyallhavespecificideasofwhattheylikebecausethey’vegoneoffintotheirsolocareersovertheyears,”hesaid.“Socomingbacktogether,it’slikemixingfivesoloartists.It’sabusyshowandthere’salotoftimespentwatchingthembecausetherearealotofcuesforeachpersonsoacrossthewholeshowitreallymountsup.” Duetotheaudiencenoisesomemembersoptedforadull,drymixthatwouldcopebetter.Otherswantedamorerock‘n’rollmixthatwasguitaranddrumheavybecauseitiswhattheyhavebeenusedtointheirsolocareers.LikeBradshaw,LewischoseaDiGiCoSD7tomixwith.“It’soneofthefewouttherethatcancopewithproducingmixesforfivegirls,”themonitorengineersaid.“Withalltheeffectsthatgowiththat-plusabandanddistributionofwedgesandsidefills-IneededsomethingwithalargeframeworksoIcouldphysically
haveenoughoutputs.ThismeanttheSD7wasanaturalchoice.” WithGirlsAloudhavingbeenintheindustryforadecade,Lewisfoundtheycouldinformhimofexactlywhattheywantedfromtheirmixes.“There’sstillthechallengingaspectoftherebeingfiveofthemonalargestage,buttechniciansJackMurphyandRalphSmartarelikespottersformeandhelpmewatchwhattheyaredoingonstage,”Lewisexplained. “ItgetsbusyonstageandallthecostumechangesmakeiteasyforthemtoloseamicsoJackspendstheshowrunningafterthem.Duringtheirflyinggagtheyputonwriststrapsbecauseitneedstobesafeiftheyareflyingovertheaudience.” In-earsystemswerechosenoverwedges,theengineerhighlighted:“Theyareanecessityforashowlikethiswherethere’ssomuchmovementandfivevocalists.Bythetimeyouhavefivelivevocalsinwedgesalloverthestagethere’stoomuchambientnoise.” InadditiontotheIEMs,fourd&baudiotechnicC7sidefills-twodownthefrontedgeofthestageandtwoattheback-wereusedbythedancersfortiming.Theband-whowereusingSennheiser’sEK2000IEMreceiverpacks-madeuseoftwod&bQ-Subsdottedaroundthestagetoprovidelowend.ThegroupusedUltimateEarsUE7’sapartfromCherylCole,whochoseJHAudio11’s-themodelusedonhersolotour. “Everythingisreallydoneonjusttheirin-earsandwithaBstageoutintheaudiencetheyneedthemoryoucan’treallycontrolwhattheylistentoonthePA,”headded. AllvocalmicsusedwereSennheiserSKM5200SerieswithMD5235capsulesandEK2000receivers.ThemicrophonesandstandswerecustomisedwithblackSwarovskielementsbyCrystalRocked.Elsewhere,ShureSM91andBeta52Awereselectedaskickdrummics,theBeta57ApickedupsnareandAKG’sK451was
ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
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Below: The tour celebrated a decade of hits whilst saying thank you to the band’s loyal supporters.
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ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
Below: The band opened the show with Sound Of The Underground, which involved a routine featuring five mic stands.
usedforhihats.TheSennheisere904wasselectedfortomsandaShureSM81asaridemic.OverheadmicsontourwereAKG41,whilstaShureSM57waschosenasaguitarmicrophonealongwithanadditionalAudixD6forthekickdrumandthreeAudio-TechnicaAT4050condensermics.
SECOND NATUREWith65%ofits£30millionturnoverbeingentertainmentbased,ETTravelhasteamedupwithmanytouringpartiespriortoGirlsAloud,includingMuseandKillers.GirlsAloud’sTourManager,SeanFitzpatrick,hasbeenaclientofthecompanyforalmost20years,duringwhichtimeastrongbondhasbeenformed. “We’regivennumbersforeachpartywithdetailsofwhatroomtypesarerequired,budgets,locationdetails,theitinerarywithdatesandlistofvenues,”explainedManagingDirector,IanPatterson.“Weworktothatafterestablishingfromthetourmanagerhowandwhenthedifferentgroupswishtotravel.Sometimesaftershow,overnight,ondayofshoworonthedayoffinbetweenshows.” AlthoughtheserviceETTravelsuppliesisspecialised,itnowcomesassecondnaturetotheteam.“We’veadedicatedteamofpeopleinourIslingtonheadofficeandourotherofficeinManchesterthatareexperiencedinbookingtravelforsuchprojects,”continuedPatterson.“Onatourofthismagnitudethereareoften
lotsofchanges.Securitywasquiteimportanttoo-theyareahighprofileactsoweneededtoavoidfanattentionandpublicexposurewhenarrivingatordepartinghotels.” Sowhatisthesecrettoprovidingaflawlesstravelservicetoclients?“Flexibilityiskeyaswellasobservingbudgetaryconstraints-workingwiththerightpartnersandhotelsthatunderstandthenatureofthemusicindustry-lotsofchangesandatthelastminutehappenonthesekindoftours.Avoidingchargesforsuchissuesisamust,”answeredPatterson.
NO COMPLAINTSThesmoothrunningworkingenvironmentthroughoutthetourwasinpartduetoWhiteheadhavingchosensuppliershehadworkedwithbefore.“Weknowtheirabilitiesandtheback-uptheycanprovideus,”hesaid. “WehavenocomplaintsaboutbussingandtruckingfromRedburnTransfer,SilvergrayandNovaBussing.Theservicetheydeliveredwasexcellent.Similarly,OverTheTopRigginghavebeenfantastic.HeadRigger,PaulBurke,andDaveJolly,whodealswiththetrackingoftheplatformthatliftsup,trackstoFOHandlandsontheBstagehaveworkedtogetherverywell.Healthandsafetyisoftheupmostimportancewithrigging-they’reresponsibleforflyingeverythingabovepeople’sheadssoit’svitalthattheyknowwhatthey’redoing.”
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ON THE ROAD: Girls Aloud
Below: Show Producer and Choreographer, Beth Honan, wanted the show to reflect how she saw the girls - as glamourous and beautiful.
Meanwhile,ProductionNorthhasfoundWigwamtobeincrediblyhelpfulpre-tourandthroughouttheproductionasanaudiosupplier.“We’veneededtomakechangeslateinthedayonthisandothertoursandit’sdoneimmediatelywiththem.Youknowiftherewereanyissuesthey’dbedealtwithstraightaway,”hesaid. TheexperienceSnakatakhaveasacompanyandindividualcateringprofessionalsresultedinWhiteheadchoosingthemforthetour.“Youdon’tdealwiththeartistsSnakatakhaveunlessyouknowwhatyou’redoing.They’vecateredforGirlsAloudbeforeandweusedthemon
manyothertoursandtheIsleofWightFestival,whichisaverydifferenttypeofeventtothis,”saidtheProductionManager. “They’vehadnumeroustop10singlesandoutofthesongsinthesetlistyou’llprobablyfindabout18ofthosehavebeentop10sothesetlistprettymuchwritesitself,”Whiteheadconcluded.“Ipersonallylearnfromeverytour-justbydealingwithdifferentpeopleandequipmentmakesyourealisethewayyou’vebeendoingthingsmaynothavealwaysbeenthebest.I’dliketothinkthisbusinessisgettingmoreandmoreprofessional.Youseesomenewpeoplecomingintoitandsomeofuswho’ve
beeninthebusiness20oddyearscanlearnfromthosewho’vebeeninittwoyears-thatcanonlybeapositivething.”TPiPhotos: Sally Hayes, Dave Smith & Zoe Mutter
www.girlsaloud.comwww.productionnorth.co.uk, www.ls-live.comwww.redburn.co.uk, wigwamacoustics.co.uk
www.hslgroup.com, www.xlvideo.tvwww.pyrojunkies.com, www.verrents.com
www.snakatakcatering.comwww.silvergray.co.uk, www.ettravel.co.uk
www.novabussing.co.ukwww.fix8group.com
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