Fireworks & Fashion Week

November has started off at a pace with Startech supplying the stage, lighting, sound and video wall for the Jack FM Music Stage at the Oxford Fireworks in South Parks followed by supporting 3 shows at Oxford Fashion Week.

This is the second year Startech have teamed up with Jack FM to provide entertainment in South Park before and after the Round Table's fireworks display and bonfire. Startech's famous red canopy became home for the evening to Jack FM's Selfy and Caroline as well as Glide FM's Jason. Using our LED curtain we provided the countdown to the fireworks and helped advertise the sponsors of the event.

Startech were also technical partners for Oxford Fashion Week 2012, helping to produce shows at Oxford Town Hall and at the Ashmolean Museum. The Town Hall events were attended by over 300 people and required Startech to create a stunning lighting design whilst not detracting from the fashion on display. Shanks used Startech's own Mac 700's, MTPro 324W's & 90P's alongside generic lighting to create some superb effects on the set and around the architecture of the Town Hall using our Chamsys Maxi Wing as control. The sound system chosen for this was our Turbosound kit setup and operated by Grebe.

After producing two shows at the Town Hall, Startech moved to the far end of Cornmarket to setup for the Haute Couture Show at the Ashmolean. Time was tight as the Ashmolean closes it's doors to the public at 6pm and guests were invited to attend the pre-show drinks at 8.30. All Startech's staff were fully aware of the short schedule and worked efficiently to produce a fantastic show within the time allowed. Once again Grebe was in charge of sound, this time using our Bose system. With the short period of time allowed to set up this show, we opted to use more generic lighting pre mounted on stands. This worked well in the Ashmolean where space is precious and so are the displays. As well as using generic lighting for the catwalk, Shanks also used Anolis LED Battens to light the displays in the museum, which created a great effect.

As well as the main event, we were asked to provide some atmospheric lighting in the atrium area where pre and post show drinks were to be held. This had to be quick to set up and take down as we had to fit in to the security schedule at the Ashmolean. Chris installed 20 colour changing LED Parcans throughout the Atrium whilst Simon installed MTPro 324W on the balcony to light up the statues. The whole event went smoothly and Startech had managed to pack down the entire show even before some of the models had taken off their make up.

Conferences and new staff

ADT have selected Startech to produce 6 conferences throughout September and October across the country.

With the conferences taking place at 5 venues over the space of three weeks, including 2 on the same day, a lot of planning has taken place to ensure no detail is over looked. The conferences in Daventry, Reading and Crewe have each been individually designed whilst at the same time trying to minimise changeovers in between each event.

This mainly has it's biggest impact on the set we can use and to overcome this, Startech's newest member of staff, Richard McAllister, has taken on this challenge and as well as taking set from the warehouse has been building tailor made pieces on site.

Richard has joined the team at what is proving to be an exciting time with conferences nationwide as well as preparing for all that Bonfire night and Christmas will have in store for us.

Walk like an Egyptian

Startech were very proud to have produced the recent British Egyptian Society Conference, Education: The Best Investment for the Future. The conference was held simultaneously in London and Cairo, with presentations and speakers in both venues broadcasting across two continents.

Startech provided staff and equipment in London at the Brunei Gallery whilst Roy was in Cairo ensuring that the Egyptian end of the conference was running smoothly.

Two screens and a full set were installed in London to ensure delegates could see the presentations and presenters whether they were in London or Cairo.

Startech's team worked through the night in London to ensure everything was ready for the conference to begin on time on the Tuesday morning and when the live connection to Cairo was made all the planning was worth it as the conference went without a hitch.

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.