SUMMER | FEATURE
running and the pensioners either
dancing in their famous scarlet
jackets or sitting and watching
from their windows in the Long
Wards which have a great view
of the stage. There is often a lot of
waving between our audience and
the pensioners in their windows.
What is new/innovative this year?
We have only made a handful of
changes to Live at Chelsea since
its inaugural year in 2015 and this
year was no different. We tend to
use the same suppliers where we
can due to the fact that it helps us
in knowing our suppliers know the
site, the challenges and the duty of
care we have to bring to such an
important and historical venue.
How do you go about choosing acts
for the demographic?
The artists are chosen very
carefully by the promoters to suit
the location and surroundings
of the Royal Hospital. They have
the difficult task of taking in to
consideration that we like to keep
the Chelsea Pensioners content
and tapping their feet (and they
soon tell us when they aren’t
impressed!) whilst choosing an
act that can sell to the capacity
that our temporary concert venue
holds and can also work within
the staging and AV/LX restrictions
that we necessarily have.
What special technological
additions help make the festival
great?
As our stage is positioned in
front of the colonnades, the clock
tower, the Great Hall and the
Chapel our production team do a
great job of up-lighting these parts
of the building to make sure they
really stand out which creates an
incredible backdrop to the show.
I believe that the main drawing
point that makes our event
great is nothing to do with any
technological additions, in fact
it’s the complete opposite. We are
pretty low key with that because
it’s the building but more so the
human element that makes it
such a unique and special concert.
The Chelsea Pensioners are the
greatest visual aspect, dancing
along with the audience or waving
from their windows. They often
wander around the site, chatting
to customers, posing for photos
and telling jokes and stories. They
are really welcoming to us and the
audiences and it makes it a real
pleasure to have the honour to
produce these concerts.
Suppliers list
• Promoter / Event
Management -
Kilimanjaro Live
• Health and Safety
Advisor - Rock Safely
• Production
Management- LarMac
Live
• Audio - Capital Sound
• Lighting - Coloursound
• Power - 4th Generation
• Bars - One Circle Events
• Seating / Grandstands -
Arena Seating
• Stage - Acorn
• Marquees - Key
Structures
• Toilets - PTL
• Trakmats - Entertee
• Picnic Benches - GT
Trax
• VIP Furniture - Event
Hire UK
• Dressing Room
Furniture / White Picket
Fence - Inner Sanctum
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