one end and then put people in cubicles on the field to watch the game because they just got in the finals . So , that would be a pretty big piece for us …
I ’ m also working on a French television show that we ’ ve done the last couple of years that shares Atlantic Canadian and Quebecois artists . The challenge that they ’ re having this year is that the budget is the same ; however , in Atlantic Canada , when you bring someone in , you have to quarantine them for two weeks . Well , now they have to budget for that two weeks for any artist , so that chews up part of the budget and where is it going to come out of ? Typically sound and lights .
So , they ’ re working on that now and then we ’ re right into the Halifax Comedy Festival . One of the challenges there is it ’ s normally held at the Spatz Theatre at Casino Nova Scotia , but with the social distance spacing , the numbers didn ’ t work . So , I had a chat with the venue that we ’ re doing the French TV show in , which is a large club , and because of the social distancing and the way that they bubble it in Atlantic Canada , you can actually get more people in a club because you can sit groups down together and they won ’ t have to wear masks . So , it actually worked out better for them moving to the club .
aspect to the shows . As long as everyone stays safe , we hope that our list of lighting and livestream projects keeps growing !
MATT VEY : Our live events are still shut down , so our team has taken the downtime and created the SSI Soundstage . With this , we are hosting bands in our warehouse that we have converted to a livestreaming soundstage . Local groups are booked for Friday and Saturday shows that go live on Facebook at 9 p . m . We have links for people to send donations that are used to support the stream . We have also reached out to local businesses to offer sponsorship opportunities . The sponsorships also help keep the events going week to week .
HOWARD UNGERLEIDER : There ’ s no business coming in , monetarily speaking . We ’ ve had to lay off some people . I ’ ve kept my core nucleus of full-time people still on salary with the aid of the Canadian government , which has been very good . I ’ m sitting on two boards right now related to the # WeMakeEvents campaign , which is a global effort and we have one up here in Canada as well .
JON STANNERS LIGHTING DESIGNER & TECHNICIAN AT RED ROVER ENTERTAINMENT
HOWARD UNGERLEIDER DESIGNER & PRINCIPAL AT PRODUCTION DESIGN INTERNATIONAL
MATT VEY MANAGER OF SALES & INSTALLATIONS AT SSI
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PIERRE MARLEAU : Right now , because we ’ re lighting only , it ’ s been very , very quiet . Our world is basically corporate and the last gig we did was in March , a corporate fundraiser , and then after that everything shut down . We ’ ve actually done one project on July 1 st . It was basically lighting the old library for the University of Calgary . So , they did a fundraising event where they decided to light a bunch of key buildings across the city in their corporate colours and stuff .
There ’ s been a lot of inquiries about lighting up buildings and conferences that people keep postponing for three months and then pushing them three more months down the road . So , so far it ’ s been really , really quiet .
JON STANNERS : After spending a few months trying to figure out what our company should do , clients ’ requests basically made the decision for us . As concert touring was put on hold , our local theatre clients were the first to call us back . Our company happened to have some video gear so , in addition to offering our usual production management and lighting design options , we were able to add the livestream
That has been occupying a lot of my time , and we ’ re also trying to put together a laser and lighting art exhibit that we can show people while keeping social distancing and such . But other than that , there ’ s no other projects that we ’ re working on , only because I am trying to create a project . There are no calls . We ’ re a big special effects and laser company and no one wants to spend any money on any of that at the moment . People are very afraid and gun shy about what ’ s going on .
PL & P : Because of the shrunken events market and the COVID-19 restrictions on the events that are happening , have you had to adapt the services you ’ re offering and / or take on any projects outside of your usual scope ?
FLYNN : Solotech was fast to turn around and use its knowledge and expertise to develop a COVID-19 offering to support clients with technological needs in a social distancing era . That includes detection systems , disinfection lamps , webcasting , digital signage solutions , and much more . Solotech is also building an e-commerce strategy to be able to reach out to clients in new ways and adapt to their needs .
Fall 2020 |
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