Tait Towers -- the leader in innovative design and quality staging for the touring entertainment industry – has fabricated and delivered a state-of-the-art rock and roll stage system to the Bon Jovi Tour 2008. Designed by Performance Environment Designer, Spike Brant, the stage will afford concertgoers a unique and cutting edge concert experience.
With over 57 confirmed shows, set to begin at the Qwest Center in Omaha, NE on February 18 and ending at Twickenham Stadium in London on June 28, Tait Towers is proud to provide Bon Jovi a customized stage complete with a Tait Towers signature creation; four Venetian blind video screens, suspended from an elaborate track truss system, encompassing the stage in a horseshoe shape for maximum impact and flexibility. Both the track truss and under upstage is constructed of Chromalloy steel which is much lighter and four times stronger than normal steel. In addition, 18, 2-ton chain motors hold the track truss, and 16,000 pounds of automation and scenery, in the air.
The Tait Towers Venetian blind video screens are comprised of double-sided video monitors allowing concertgoers to see the projected images from every possible angle. The blinds expand from a 10’x10’ screen to a 10’x30’ showing the concert in 360*. When the screens are expanded, the audience can view the performance through the blinds. Each video blind has four axes of motion. Tait will work in daily collaboration with an Automation Tech on tour with the band.
Bon Jovi will utilize the Tait Towers Venetian-blind video screens for live playback as well as original video content.
The Bon Jovi Stage:
The back section, or upstage side, is constructed from 62 custom deck panels using Martin Video ‘LC 1140’ – a low resolution LED screen with the capability to rotate from 180 degrees to 90 degrees. The upstage deck moves in tandem with the Venetian blind video screens. Two techs – one responsible for the stage deck, the other responsible for the Venetian blind video screens – work together throughout the live performance to ensure a seamless choreography of stage movement and video imaging.
The front section, or downstage side, is a traditional rock-and-roll stage design with several key Tait Towers innovative technology features.
The Venetian Blind Video Screens - Four Axes of Motion:
The first axis is a curved track allowing the video screens to track the perimeter of the stage by traveling along the horseshoe shaped track truss.
The second axis is rotation, rigged from a rotator allowing the Venetian-blind Video Screens to rotate a full 360 degrees.
The third axis accommodates the need for live playback and original video content to be broadcast to concertgoers by allowing the Venetian-blind Video Screens to move up and down as a solid unit.
The fourth axis allows The Venetian-blind Video Screens to revert back to the original Venetian blind style starting point.
Details of Note:
$1.5 million control system.
Outputs positioning to video control handled by Control Freak in collaboration with Tait Towers.
Output allows an expanding screen to include more video content rather than cropping or changing the ratio of the existing video content
Upstage controlled by hydraulic proportional valve, 30 tons of servo controlled force, all linked by one Ethernet cable.
Each Venetian screen is 28 Venetian sticks with 1570 V9 high resolution video tiles designed and supplied by DeKalb, IL based live video company Nocturne Productions.
Required 4500 parts to fabricate and assemble, all parts designed by Tait Towers technical designers.
Video tracking system uses more than 3 miles of control and power cabling, and requires 200 amps of Three Phase 220 VAC. The system has 8 winches with a 4000# capacity each.
About Tait Towers
Tait Towers is a world leader in innovative design and quality staging and scenery for the touring entertainment industry. The firm, started by lighting design pioneer Michael Tait, began in 1978, when Tait was working for the super-group Yes. In the early 70’s, Michael Tait developed one of the first self-erecting ground support lighting towers, his signature creation became known as Tait Towers.
In February of 2006, Tait Towers announced it’s newly formed executive team with James J. “Winky” Fairorth and Adam D. Davis as equal partners with company founder Michael Tait. Fairorth, having joined Tait Towers in 1984, serves as the company’s President. “Tait’s competitive advantage stems from the philosophy ‘You are only as good as your last show.’ Our craftsmanship is at the top of our industry, we are known for having superior product – in both design and construction - with a lifespan greater than the client.”
Now Vice-President, Davis started working at the company in 1997 as a project manager. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in theatrical design. “It's an honor for me to be a part of such a creative and credible organization that works with cutting edge designers and clients who push the limits of the touring industry,” he says.
As a world-renowned stage manufacturer, working with popular cultures’ most influential artists, Tait offers inspired innovative design, flawless execution and common sense logistics to the biggest tours scaling the planet. “We turn cocktail napkins into reality!” claims Fairorth. It is this attitude that brings the stages to life that performers from The Police to the Spice Girls appear on. The company consistently demonstrates their ability to make hastily drawn napkin sketches a larger-than-life stage design reality.
Tait Towers specializes in Sets, Staging, Lifts, Tracking, Motion Control for touring shows and Live Multi Media Events. Skilled craftsmen work every level of a project to ensure the end result is superior to anything comparable. The company continues to experience an active production schedule which includes providing staging and scenery for The Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, The Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Tour, Martina McBride, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, The Spice Girls, Super Bowl Halftime Shows, MTV VMA’s and many more.
www.taittowers.com ; www.vermillionmediagroup.com
1 comment:
I've seen the stage that Tait Towers built for Bon Jovi and I have to say it is breathtaking! It really is a modern way to view a concert...definitely unique! It really makes the concert going experience that much more enjoyable.
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