Dubai Rocks for Peace One Day
Fifteen leading production and technical services companies - including Al Laith Event Services, Creative Technology (CT) and EFM Event Logistics supplied equipment, crew, skills, resources, expertise - and substantial energy - free of charge - to create a stunning show environment for three days of action-packed concerts staged at Dubai's Aviation Club.
The first night was headlined by popular singer/songwriter Ali Campbell, founder of UB40.
Set against the current backdrop of mass protests, civil unrest, violence, military offensives and the desire for political change in key areas of the Middle East, a resonance and urgency was added to the values embraced by Peace One Day (www.peaceoneday.org) and the importance of boosting public awareness of its goals.
The concept for the Concerts - which also lined up a host of local talent including Juliana Down, Absolace, The Brownies, Maplejacks, The Shine, and many others - was germinated by Jo Marshall from Al Laith Event Services, who is a passionate supporter of Peace One Day.
Timing wise, he thought it would be ideal to stage the first night Concert alongside the annual EFM Party, a social and networking event with some serious gravitas hosted by the international freighting and logistics specialist, EFM. This has evolved into a bit of a phenomenon, becoming a must-go destination for the movers-and-shakers of the region's busy event industry.
Marshall states, "We have a reputation for staging world class events here in the UAE and neighbouring countries, so this seemed an ideal opportunity to help raise the profile of a great cause, in the process showcasing the premium standards and quality of work that companies and individuals based here can produce".
Marshall initially shared the idea with Mike Llewellyn, Group Managing Director at EFM who was equally as enthusiastic. A list of EFM's top clients was drawn up, which included Al Laith and the three other main sponsors plus several others, who were asked if they wanted to get involved. Marshall was "really impressed" by the response. "Absolutely everyone was up for it!" he reports.
From there a truly remarkable, almost magical, synergy developed, which spread infectiously to other service companies and production suppliers, getting the ball rolling and creating a buzz in the air.
The Concert broke new ground in being the first ever such event in Dubai, and the largest show ever to be staged at The Aviation Club, with the biggest and most sophisticated array of production equipment.
It involved some intense logistics, imagination, foresight, hard work and collective energy to produce a truly unique event. Such was the success, reception and reactions, that plans are already being formulated to make it an annual landmark.
"It is the most enjoyable project I've ever worked on,” said Marshall after the first night - a feeling echoed by all who helped make it happen, together with hugely positive feedback from the public and those who attended and enjoyed.
Nick Jevons from the UK was brought in as 'production visuals designer', who was given a blank canvas and a kit list as his starting points, from which he designed a fabulous looking rig - also including video elements - to cater for all the artists.
His aim was to get lights in positions for good overall stage coverage and to create an interesting looking back wall, which also included nine columns of white Stealth screen from CT.
The back wall lights were arranged on a series of trusses hung below one other, giving a tasty looking multi-level upstage lighting feature adding depth and elegance to the picture. The lighting fixtures were interspersed in between the Stealth columns which could be broken up and used in sections - simple and effective, giving a big, dynamic rock 'n' roll feel and a great visual fluidity to the space.
A Martin Maxedia media server - operated in stand-alone mode - was supplied by Neumann & Müller to play out content to the Stealth, featuring special clips and footage created for the event by Jevons. This enabled each song to have a distinct look, feel colouration and character of its own.
In addition to the onstage Stealth screen, CT supplied two side screens made up from Lighthouse R7 surface, each measuring six panels wide by five high, and these were used for a three camera IMAG mix, directed by Eduardo Ferrari. He used a GV Kayak mixer/switcher stationed in the stage left portable cabin.
CT also supplied the two Christie 20K HD projectors for FOH projection onto a stretched white Showtex kabuki that was jettisoned at the end of the Peace One Day showreel as Campbell and his band took to the stage. They performed a stonking set that energised the audience with numerous UB40 classics and crowd-pleasers.
All things video were connected via a site-wide fibre system. A 103 inch plasma screen was installed in a central location on the adjacent Aviation Club pool deck where the EFM party was rocking. This showed a TX relay of the performance to amassed revellers.
Once Ali Campbell's set finished, the side screens were used to relay the Champions League football for the many Concert goers who decided to party on at the Irish Village for the rest of the evening.
CT's Damien McGurn says, "This was a brilliant event for many reasons. Apart from Peace One Day being so NOW and relevant, it broke new ground staging a large and fabulous looking and sounding show at this venue".
Apart from being a major success, the Concert brought a fresh, invigorating and different impetus to the UAE production scene. The atmosphere was incredible and there were many happy, smiley people at the end of it, not least Jo Marshall.
He summates, "The teamwork was outstanding. While everyone concentrated on making their own dedicated areas work, when needed, they also pitched in and helped one another, all of which made the production run like a dream. Everyone's had a great time.... and we now have a solid foundation on which to build future Peace One Day live events in the UAE".
While the co-operation, spirit and harmony between all the companies, individuals and departments was an invigorating shared professional and personal experience, it has also helped put the principals and aspirations of the Peace One Day organisation in front of several thousand new and potential supporters.