volume 1 issue 9 2008 - Mobile Production Pro

pm featureshow group production services featureShow Group Production ServicesRascal Flatts, Catwalks and Practical DesignsShow Group Production Services(SGPS) was asked to take alook at the rigging, trussing andautomation needs of the latestRascal Flatts tour by our oldfriend (and former employee ofShowLites) Kendall Carter.sgps.netCarter, working as Production Manager on the tour,wanted the most efficient, reliable, speedy and manpowereffective rigging package he could get. Knowing that hehad enough other logistic and operational worries on thetour already, he did not want or need anymore. Carterintroduced SGPS to Bruce Rodgers of Tribe Design, whowas responsible for the conceptual design of the show andimmediately started to assist with truss layouts, riggingpoint positions and calculations. Handling the basic trussand rigging requirements even with the unusual curvedtruss sections and space issues was not a problem for SGPSdue to its extensive in-stock and in-house custom fabricationcapabilities.The challenge on the production was the automationneeded for the opening effect. The band fly in on a customcurved catwalk system built by Brian Sulvan thatthey had already contracted with John McGraw for theengineering design and fabrication. The idea was to comeup with an efficient “Mother Grid” to incorporate theautomation winches to safely fly the catwalk system, thatmatched the already established physical design of the catwalkas developed by McGraw. Determining the weightsinvolved, the speeds of movement required and meetingthe stringent safety specifications set out by McGraw tooka few attempts until everyone was confident with the finalapproach.ShowRig, having helped revolutionize and completelymodernize the overall approach to rigging in the filmindustry over the last few years, has recently concentratedits efforts on getting back to its roots in the touringmusic industry. With the help of state-of the-artServo Motor based automation products controlled bythe Navigator Motion Control software from FisherAutomation, it has been very successful in reestablishing itsleading position in the touring marketplace. It have beenespecially successful in the country music field with suchacts as Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn,Carrie Underwood and now Rascal Flatts. It is lookingat the possibility of opening a third location in Nashvilleearly next summer.Its rock ‘n’ roll heritage continues as well with suchrecent clients as Motley Crew and Tom Petty outthere amongst others with full ShowRig Systems.Currently ShowRig is putting a lot of attention into developingits scenic fabrication business, ShowFabrications,Inc., now with full CNC based capabilities both in LosAngeles and Las Vegas. With sets built for recent clientslike Van Halen, Barry Manilow and Carrie Underwood,ShowRig sees itself able to offer the same sophisticatedmanufacturing techniques as Tait Towers, at a costeffective price mixed with the practical design and packagingcapability.ShowRig just completed “Giant Flying Coffins” for thecurrent Metallica Tour at John Broderick’s request, whichturned out very well and demonstrates its ability to turnconcepts into practical touring reality in a quick period oftime.Ongoing plans include the expansion of ShowStagingRental Services, with a new generation of rolling stagesdue out early next year, and a wide range of servo-basedelevators and tracking systems to replace the use ofmessy hydraulics systems wherever possible.So SGPS, Inc. now covers all production needs (excludingsound, lights and video), including ShowRig, with truss,conventional chain hoists and now automation rental services,ShowStaging with rolling stages, elevators and riserrentals and ShowFabrications with custom sets. 532