"The design is based on versatility and change on the fly," says Fallon. "We were trying to achieve a design and system that would work in multiple venues, from fairs to arenas to casinos to corporate shows. Having a multi-media show gives me the versatility - it's large enough and yet compact enough."
"DL1s with the Digital Eye gives us the ability to use live camera shots. Chas Herington [of Zenith Lighting], from whom we sub-rented the DL1s, bought the D-Mix pro system which has Hog software personality; it allows us to live-switch cameras via the Wholehog 2."
Fallon uses the DL1s with the Digital Eye cameras in various ways throughout the show. "We take the DL1s and point them into the audience and replay the audience on projectors so they are responding to themselves. We also use content from Catalyst and, for example, put into it a live image of a guitar during the guitar or keyboard solos, so it allows us to incorporate a live shot."They also videotape fans prior to the show. "We videotape them, take footage, import it into Catalyst and play that on the walk-in, so they're another part of the show . . . We're getting amazing response from other lighting designers, promoters, managers who didn't know that they could do this with the equipment."
Besides surprise at the functions of DL1 and the Digital Eye Technology, Fallon says many are surprised at how well the DL1s read. "We're getting the DL1s to read in conjunction with 10K projectors. So many people are surprised as to how they look, as many people thought the DL1s weren't bright enough. But I tell them that it all plays back to how you design your show. By working your content and moving light package together, the results were fantastic."
HES digital lighting equipment has completely changed the way Fallon designs a show, and saves on production and transportation costs as well. "In the past, we used to have a hard flat set. Now we can simply change content. There's no huge air freight bill for sets - we just carry disks now."
"We incorporate the show into one truck. We don't carry truss and motors - the promoter provides that. We show up with the DL1s and Catalyst and we're up and running in one hour, and down in 45 minutes! The whole system packs down the floor of a 53-foot truck. It allows us to spend money on content rather than trucking, and management is really hip to that! It's just two guys doing it - myself and Keith (Hoagland) - a departure from what country acts are doing. Traditionally you had either the smallest tour or the big 4-5 truck tour like Brooks & Dunn. This is how the future is - just carry a media package and a moving light package and do a multimedia show."
Fallon has two packages of content, one for indoor shows and one for outdoors. "If we have no white backdrop, if we're outside using a soft cyc which blows like sailboard in the wind, I do my content in black and white and can project it on the black background and let it read. I couldn't do that easily using straight video."
The DL1s have proven their road-worthiness on this tour, he says. "DL1s have survived a sandstorm at a rodeo in Greeley, Colo.; 110° temperatures and rain from hurricanes in Florida.""I'm discovering new things every day with DL1 and Catalyst, and LeAnn is hip to it. She's sold on it. She's big on the toys. She's already planning future projects and asking me, 'Where do we go next?' "
(Lee Baldock)
