volume 1 issue 9 2008 - Mobile Production Pro

LightsRascal Flatts Tour Geared UpWith Vari-Lite LuminairesLifeis a highway when you’re the top selling artist in allmusic genres. Grammy Award-winning country musicgroup Rascal Flatts is currently on there Bob That Head tour carrying 60VL3000 Spot luminaires and 48 VL3500 Wash luminaires.“Since I started doing lights 22 years ago, Ialways wanted to use Vari-Lite luminaires andhave a complete rig of Vari-Lite products,” saidlighting designer Andy Knighton. Andy’s wishcame true with an all Vari-Lite rig. Knightonhas a remarkable lighting team as well. “I amextremely lucky to be surrounded by a handpickedteam from dealer Bandit Lites,” saidKnighton. “Excellence comes to mind when Ithink of my Rascal Flatts team.”Knighton’s team designed lighting for thesuper-sized set mastered by Bruce Rodgers ofTribe Designs.The team had their work cut out for them.From top to bottom the show is a mecca ofvisual and audio surprises. “I first wantedthe horsepower necessary to provideadequate lighting in a heavy video world,”said Knighton. “Horsepower” is the bestway to describe the rig,” added Knighton.The luminaires had to compete with andcomplement LED walls with video.“Secondly, I needed to satisfy the criteria forlive video and camera,” said Knighton. Someof the shows are set on lawns in amphitheaterswhere the audience is captured on screenwith the band. “I placed some of the VL3500Wash luminaires out on the lawns of thevarious amphitheaters to provide an excitingatmosphere outside,” said Knighton. “Outsideenvironments often are without haze, yet theVari-Lite luminaires still provide beams. Theluminaires are not so excruciating to look intowhen you hit the crowds in the face yet thecrowd is fully and uniformly lit.”And lastly, Knighton needed to set the lightinggroundwork for the aerial portions of the show.The VL3000 Spot luminaires provided texturewith gobos to all the aerial looks and to the set.“The optics are great on this luminaire,” saidKnighton. “If you’re not careful, one can seefingerprints on the gobo projection. How coolis that?,” added Knighton. “Exceptional beamoptions are capable with the narrow lens on theVL 3500 Wash luminaire. I used the luminairesto simulate sky trackers.” This lighting isstrong and creates a feeling of motion for theaudience.22 mobile production monthly