What we did for New Year

Startech were pleased to supply 3 weddings, in the week between Christmas and New Year, with technical support are area where our attention to detail can help create that special day.

The biggest of these was at Worton Farm near Witney, with our Technical Manager, Shanks, installing lighting both indoors and outdoors throughout the 2 marquees and grounds. As well as providing lighing for the ceremony and wedding breakfast, Shanks was also there to manage the power supply with 2 generators supplied by John F Hunt, an important role for any outdoor event, as well as run the lighting for the evening's band & disco.

Startech also installed lighting for a wedding at Conference Centre Oxford and a PA system in Sunningwell.

As well as the lighting the wedding at Conference Centre Oxford, Roy, our Managing Director also supported a New Years Eve party at the same venue across the two largest rooms. All this on top of our normal support to our regular clients over the festive period.

A lot's happened since our last blog entry

Jack FM and Startech on Bonfire night

Startech supplied the full production setup for the Jack FM concert at Oxford Fireworks

The 44th Oxford Fireworks display saw £11,000 of fireworks go off and Startech were there to ensure it went with a bang!!

Startech's red canopy stage acted as host for the Jack FM concert in South Park on Saturday night. The low energy LED wash & LED profiles, operated by a Zero88 Leapfrog, were mounted around the arches to compliment the LED video screen.

Sound was provided by our Turbosound Floodlight system and run on our Yamaha LS9 by Grebe as well as being operates remotely via iPad.

The day started at 9am with all the crew setting up the stage and canopy, by 2pm everything was set-up and ready to go, with soundchecks planned for 3:30 we were well ahead of schedule.

25,000 people came through the gates to see the fireworks, wicker man and the Jack FM stage. Acts included Owen Paul and Charlie Simpson, from Busted.

Startech's LED screen made it's first outdoor appearance at Oxford Fireworks.

A 3 metre square version of our LED screen was used as a backdrop to all the artists on stage for the Jack FM concert at South Park.

With Shanks and Simon running the screen, this made a huge impact with the audience and with Jack FM themselves. A Corio 2-3360 allowed seamless switching between 3 computers running different packages, although it can be run using only one computer. This gave great flexibility on screen, with graphics from Jack FM, the Royal British Legion & all of the acts to be used during the night including a countdown to the start of the fireworks.

For more information on how the LED screen could work for you call us on 01865 722522.

Oxonmoot returns

Last weekend saw the annual gathering in Oxford to celebrate the life and works of JRR Tolkien, and Startech were there to help.

One of the events during the weekend is a cabaret evening in the Dining Room at Lady Magaret Hall which Startech provided LED lighting for. In previous years the cabaret has been lit by more traditional fixtures, but that has meant laying 50 metres of 63 amp cable to get enough power in to the room. This year Startech worked closely with Mike Percival from Oxonmoot to provide almost a completely LED rig which could be powered from the existing supply in the room.

After the event Mike sent us the following:

Everything went very smoothly indeed. I think the bottom line is that we proved that in fact in a space that size it is perfectly possible to light an event of the nature of ours with 100% LED lights. I did use the source 4s
for two items - but one was laziness (the performer revealed at the last minute they wanted to use more of the acting area than they had told me when I plotted their lights, so it was easier to add in the source 4s than to
re-plot the LED profiles, but they would in fact have been better), and the other I only really included them because they were there!

Finally for now, please say a huge thank you to Chris and especially to Nigel for their help, without which our event wouldn't have gone as well as it did. 

New Operations Manager at Startech

Startech have taken on a new Operations Manager. Simon Wilkinson will be looking after the day to day hires and marketing as well as being the first point of contact for most of our customers.

Simon comes to Startech after spending 5 years as the Stage Manager at the New Theatre in Oxford. He has been actively involved with a number of youth and amateur groups across the county and is looking forward to helping out many similar groups in his new role.

Startech help launch the Land Rover Evoque

Hartwell launched the new Land Rover Evoque last week and Startech was there to help show off the new 4x4 at it's best.

Startech provided above and below car lighting, to give the cars that extra sparkle, as well as providing large screen to show all the promotional information. 


Beverley Bailey from Hartwell Cumnor asked Startech to supply and operate lighting for the launch night and the following test drive day in a marquee near Frilford. Beverley thanked Shanks, Startech's Technical Manager, for his work. "On behalf of Hartwell management and sales team I would like to thank you for your help with the launch of our new vehicle.  The lighting was perfect for the occasion and Shanks overcame the problems we had with the generator and distribution box without any hesitation."

A light at the end of the tunnel

Startech have undertaken a fascinating project installing a temporary lighting system into a railway tunnel to forewarn bats of incoming trains. A series of birdies have been rigged along the length of the tunnel and programmed to light up from the central point out to each end. This is designed to encourage bats to move into less exposed crevices and out of the line of oncoming trains.

This project is taking place in preparation for the new Oxford to London rail link via Bicester, which will involve a more regular and higher speed trains passing through the tunnel beneath Wolvercote roundabout.

Although the lighting design is simple to put in situe, there were a number of teams coordinating their aspects of the install and of course there was the added complication of working on a live railway line and during the night. Startech accepted the challenge and emerged from the train tunnel with sooty smiles.

The trial will take place over the next month to establish whether the lighting will have the desired effect on the bats, in which case a permanent installation will be put in place.

http://tiny.cc/y3i39

Sponsors of the Great Tew Horse Trials

Startech went for a rainy day out to the Great Tew Horse Trials at which we sponsored a cross country jump.