At this year's Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama, white sandy beaches, a mosaic of inspiring music, and a reliable lighting package that can weather anything were the recipe for uninterrupted fun. Production company TMS chose to go with the proven IP protection of Elation's PROTEUS multi-environmental luminaires for the Shoreline Stage at this year's Hangout Fest held on Alabama's southern Gulf Coast. With the summer heat, frequent thunderstorms, and a windy salt spray setting, TMS sought the robust durability and weather-resistant performance of the market's leading line of IP-rated luminaires.
Held May 17-19 on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, with production management provided by Lambda Productions, the annual three-day music festival is the perfect kick-off to summer. Both established artists and emerging talent play on five different stages. AEG/Hangout Music Fest produces the event.
Non-IP is not an option.
TMS has handled lighting production for the festival for many years and chose a nearly all-Elation PROTEUS rig for the Shoreline Stage this year. TMS's Ben LoPreto collaborated with festival techs on the design, utilizing feedback from some of the festival's past lighting designers to refine the setup while staying within scope and budget. He says that although the festival did not specify IP-rated gear, it was the only way for TMS's peace of mind.
"There is no way we were going to send non-IP rated fixtures to a stage that's quite literally at the shoreline," LoPreto stated. "If we had sent a bunch of non-IP gear to the festival and had it all returned broken before the summer even really starts, that doesn't help us. We needed something we could send out that could withstand the elements, return to the shop for a quick cleaning, and then do more shows."
Located right on the water's edge and subject to considerable weather, the stage itself also necessitated the use of IP-rated equipment. LoPreto explains, "Festival organizers wanted to keep the view to the ocean behind the stage, so there were no sidewalls or curtains to the stage, which meant only the roof structure provided protection from any weather. That meant if rain came from any direction other than straight up, the fixtures got wet. When we saw the stage and where it was positioned in relation to the ocean, and knowing we were using torms and dropdowns to hang fixtures, we knew the rig had to be IP rated."
Downstage positions
LoPreto heard from previous LDs that the front light options on the mobile stage were subpar, so he went with four vertical trusses and cantilevered those out as much as possible, an extended position that meant lighting fixtures were exposed to the weather.
"During the daytime, when we didn't necessarily need front light, we used the PROTEUS RAYZOR 1960's sparkle effect and fun eye-candy macros out to the audience and had the PROTEUS LUCIUS doing fun gobo looks into the audience as well. When it got dark, we had the 1960s washing the stage along with the LUCIUS spot fixtures to light up the band like a regular front light. It was nice not to have to worry about losing those front light fixtures if it rained."
Upstage
Moving toward the upstage in the vertical truss configuration, LoPreto had to arrange the fixtures to allow LDs—many of whom were accustomed to horizontal truss setups—to clone their designs easily.
"We went through a lot of iterations but came up with a scheme that worked for both the headliner bands and the other acts," LoPreto comments. "We ended up laying out the fixtures in a type of horizontal pattern on those vertical trusses—PROTEUS RAYZOR 1960, PROTEUS LUCIUS, and beam lights—in a mid-stage and upstage configuration to make the cloning process easier."
Another consideration, he says, was the absence of video so as not to hinder the natural backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico. Festival organizers did, however, want something upstage to fill the void behind the acts partially. The solution involved a series of vertical torms where LoPreto could position lights, and fortunately, the PROTEUS RAYZOR 1960s fit inside. "We had to hang them in a specific way and make sure it was perfectly level but they just fit!" Hanging from the bottom of each torm was a PROTEUS LUCIUS.
Shipping containers
At the very last minute, LoPreto and his team were asked to light signage and provide aerial looks from shipping containers placed on either side of the stage. The choice fell to the PROTEUS RAYZOR 1960. When the stage wasn't in use, the fixtures projected searchlight-type effects into the sky, while during the day, they gave LDs more audience eye candy. Lighting the container signage was Elation PALADIN, another "tried and true" IP fixture that TMS regularly uses for building lighting or signage.
This year's Hangout Fest experienced inclement weather, as it often does, but the IP-rated Elation fixtures lived up to their reputation. LoPreto concludes, "They got a good amount of weather, and all came back to the shop covered in a coating of salty sea spray. Our guys washed them down, cleaned them up, and they were good to go."
Note: Elation PROTEUS MAXIMUS, PROTEUS RAYZOR 760, and DTW BLINDER 350/700 IP fixtures also featured on Hangout's Boom on the Beach Stage with design and lighting supply by Music Matters Production.
Crew
Jason Witty - Crew Chief // FOH Lighting Programmer
Alex Bechdolt - Dimmer Tech
John Finical - Lighting Tech
Gear
22 x PROTEUS RAYZOR 1960
16 x PROTEUS LUCIUS
4 x PALADIN
About Elation
At Elation, we represent the elite in the lighting industry. We design and manufacture a comprehensive range of best-in-class entertainment lighting products valued by production/rental houses and lighting designers worldwide. Our dedication to extraordinary quality and creative solutions has established us as the go-to choice for professionals. With a storied legacy of brilliance, our influence extends from iconic stages to cutting-edge studios across the globe. We also offer an advanced line of lighting control products through Obsidian Control Systems and a full range of dependable specialty effects called Magmatic. We invite you to take a closer look at www.elationlighting.com
