For the launch of the Play Station Portable (PSP), High Output had to transform the lobby of the Sony building on Madison Avenue in New York City - which features an oversized Spiderman used in the Macy's parade. To complicate matters further, the lobby is a public space until 11:00p.m. "The whole event was a challenge because the space is really not designed for shows," said Smith. "Add to that loading into the room in the middle of the night while it's raining, and it makes for an interesting couple of nights."
Luckily for Smith and his team, the lobby of the Sony building features a number of steel girders overhead to facilitate the rigging of truss and the accompanying lighting rig. "We really did not having enough time or space to do everything that one might want for a show like this," remarked Smith. "But that is always something that you have to deal with. We flew a lot of truss overhead which helped transform the room and we had a number of stands around the room to help give interesting angles for the fixtures." The event itself featured a DJ stage as well as food and (soft) drinks for the all-ages attendees. At midnight, everyone was invited to get in line to purchase their own PSP.
"It was a pretty 'over-the-top' event all round," noted Smith. "But it was great to have a light on a show like this that was as dependable as the Alpha Spot HPE. It has hot-restrike capability, even though we did not need it, and it's a nice, bright fixture for its wattage - the optics are really good. I was, and am, very happy with them."
(Lee Baldock)
