On the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day last April, over 150,000 people gathered at the National Mall in support of The Climate Rally hosted by the Earth Day Network. Baltimore, MD-based Event Tech provided full production as well as production management for the rally and chose to use a majority of CHAUVET LED fixtures to light the event keeping in line with the show’s green theme.  Event Tech selected 24 COLORado 3 as blinders, 24 COLORado 1B for back lights, and a stream of 30 COLORado Batten 72 Tour were placed on the upstage truss and on the ground for accent lighting.

The nine-hour event featured performances from several artists including Sting, John Legend, the Roots, Honor Society, Fallout Boys’ Patrick Stump and Passion Pit. The artists rotated with speakers such as Reverend Jesse Jackson and Avatar director James Cameron.

This marks Event Tech’s third year of involvement in Earth Day activities, “with responsibilities increasing each year,” said Vice President Mike Aug who served as the event’s production manager.  Aug said that when it came to lighting, the biggest drawback was competing with the sun because the stage faced west and, “it was a day time event for the most part, ending around 7:15pm.”  Fortunately, “It was an overcast day” and the lights, “looked good on camera” he said. The decision to go for lights capable of an intense, rich, saturated wash paid off he said.

Ever since the launch of the COLORado fixtures, Event Tech has had a long-standing relationship with CHAUVET. “The COLORado line is a really great tool” Aug said.  Event Tech had the COLORado fixtures in mind for the rally from the beginning. “We recently purchased the COLORado Batten for two events because of its true color correction capability, partially with Earth Day in mind where LED was an obvious choice as opposed to conventional lighting.”  The rig consisted almost entirely of LED fixtures because they are the most viable eco-friendly lighting source available to date. The support CHAUVET offered also prompted Event Tech to choose the COLORado fixtures. “CHAUVET helped us through setup and offered remedies and solutions,” Aug said. “The fixtures performed flawlessly for the show.”
www.chauvetlighting.com

For the Gear Heads:

Stage Lighting System

• 5      20.5×20.5×10′ truss, upstage
• 4      20.5×20.5×10′ truss, mid/side truss
• 5      91″ Thomas pre-rigged truss, downstage
• 8      CM 1ton chain motor, 60′ lift
• 1      8way 3phase motor PD
• 2      35′ Watch Tackle Block & Fall
• 30    Par 64 1 k MFL fixtures, front light
• 24    COLORado 1B, RGB LED par (back light)
• 18    COLORado Batten 72 TOUR, LED striplight (back light)
• 12    COLORado Batten 72 TOUR, LED striplight (ground row)
• 12    L&E broad cyc light, scrim uplight
• 24    COLORado 3, 3cell RGB LED (blinders)
• 12    Elation Impression LED moving head
• 8      Martin MAC 700 Profile, moving head fixture
• 1      DMX Arena Hazer
• 1      20″ blade variable speed fan
• 1      24x20amp 3phase Edison/19pin PD
• 1      24way x 2.4k VX DMX touring dimmer rack
• 1      GrandMA full-size, moving light console
• 2      XSP-3B 1×5 3pin isolated DMX splitter
• 1      DMX control snake, 250′
• 5      6ckt chrome lamp bar
• 2      6ckt stagepin fanout, 6′
• 4      4/0 5wire feeder cable, 50′
• 2      4/0 5wire feeder cable, 10′
• 1      4/0 5wire tie ins
• 1      40′ wire rope ladder
• 1      60′ horizontal lifeline system
• 1      50′ self-retracting lifeline, galv steel cable

Lighting Personnel:
LD: Clyde Johnson
ME: Julia Racicot
ME: Damon Jones
Production Manager: Mike Aug