19 November 2010
… the postcard read, “wish you wer here.” The best thing about doing a gig in Mauritius is knowing that there is a professional rental company on the island stocked with familiar brands to partner with. No…there won’t be time to let your hair down, as Jason Fritz from Strike Productions can confirm, but the reward is to think, “I did that”, when looking at the amazing photos of the event afterwards.
Strike Productions were asked to provide the full technical for a large conference hosted over four days in Mauritius during October. Over 600 delegates attended the conference which included cocktail functions, a concert followed by a beach party and a designated club area.
“The client is visionary and dynamic, they came up with incredible concepts and their attention to detail was spectacular. They were very clear on what they wanted and expected nothing less than the best from our technical team,” said Jason. “A clear brief makes it that much easier for me to deliver.” It was imperative to partner with a technical company in Mauritius that could supply a brilliant product and good technical equipment in order for us to cut down on shipping costs.
Impact Production Group
Strike had a month and a half to put everything together. Jason flew to Mauritius for a site inspections and to meet up with possible suppliers. One of them was Impact Production Group, which has been running for ten years.
“I would like to mention Impact,” says Jason, a bit of a hardworking perfectionist. “They were great, established , took notes of all my requirements and their feedback was unbelievable.” Jason was impressed with their impeccable warehouse; it’s a company that would give any company in South Africa a run for their money. They are well equipped, cables on racks, lights in boxes, everything clean and labelled. “This put me at ease to know that I was partnering with a like minded technical company,” he said. Impact also supplied marquees, water effects, stage, fireworks, decor and furniture.
From South Africa, Yvonne Langley from Decor-d-Zign was the mind behind the decor and really did remarkable work.
Frenchman Ariel Lamothe, Impact’s director commented, “Everything was technically planned and designed by Jason in such a way that the set up was just another detail… we knew in advance that it would be stunning. Looking at the clients faces and smiles during each and every event, Jason was right and he definitely knows what he is doing.”
The Strike Production team, comprised of Jason, Marco Duvenhage (AV), Jaco de Wit (Audio), Thabo Selolo and Freelancer Philippe Roche (“The Mad Frenchman”).
Logistics
“Logistics was a real challenge due to the back to back outdoor events during five consecutive days and three days conference running at the same time,” said Ariel. “We had to have strict logistics and organisation in order to deliver systems to run on time for focussing, programming and finally the events. The merging between the Strike and Impact crew was a natural and nice fusion. We are used to our country which made the job not too difficult. At Impact we like to say: Preparation is 80% of the job done, the next 10% is for set-up and the last 10% is the adaption on site and fighting with the weather…”
VIP Dinner
A clear marquee set in front of the beautiful old ruins of an old gunpowder fort was the artistic setting for the VIP Welcome Dinner. Static lighting with a violinist playing background music created a graceful atmosphere. “There was nothing flashy,” said Jason. “We lit the marquee with 16 x LED Parcans. The main building, a restaurant set on a hill close by, was lit with 8 x 1K Cyc Lights and 4 x 1.2K Robe Spots.” 
Conference
Conferences with top calibre international motivational speakers, were held over three days. The conference was technically simple and straight forward. Two large screens with a smaller centre screen was used alongside a 7.5K Projector. Standard CamCard monitors were used along with plasmas. Two cameramen from Impact did an outstanding job. The room lighting, consisting of 6 x bars of Par 64s, was sufficient to allow delegates to make notes. To create ‘mood’, Jason used 8 x LED moving heads. “Impact say they make them,” said Jason. “If they do, they work like a dream”. Also included were 4 x 1k Fresnel and 6 x Profiles. A truss, with Par 36 Pin Spots, toned the screens.
Fountain Cocktail Dinner
A laid back welcome dinner saw Bedouin tents and buffets set around an outside fountain area. “We kept it uncomplicated and all lighting was done with 4 x bars of Par 56s,” Jason explains. “The tents were placed in a horseshape, the outside coloured in amber while the inside of the tents were lit in blue. The actual fountain was lit with 12 x LED parcans all controlled by an Avolites Pearl. “We had two Pearls at our disposal during this time and we ‘piggy-backed’ from gig to gig.” 
Dine Around A “Dine Around” evening where Strike provided a PA was enjoyed by delegates and gave them opportunity to eat at any of five restaurants. The main purpose of this event was to keep everyone away from the beach as it was secretly being transformed to host a concert and beach party the following sundown. Concert at Sea “The brief from the client was to have a stage in the middle of the sea,” said Jason. The area was in a lagoon close to a little island. The team from Impact and Jason had to obtain permission from the authorities to do this and also had to ensure that the ground would be sturdy enough. Thankfully the client had chosen an area which was on a flat solid rock. 
The concert included a line up of South African performers followed by a DJ playing for a beach party afterwards. A full Nexo Line Array and M7 Digital Desk for FOH was used. The actual stage roof was a 12 x 10 ground support with clear top and no sides. The client wanted an open feel …. and yes, it did pour down and everyone danced in the rain. 
“For video we had what I call light-weight LED screens with Arkaos doing all the visuals which was on the island,” said Jason.
Equipment comprised of the following:
14 x Robe 700s
8 x Robe 1.2K Washes
4 x Martin Atomic Strobes
4 x Molfe 4 Lights
4 x Bars of Par 64 (to give key lighting for bands and positions)
32 x LED Battons (for visual eye candy on the stage)
8 x Robe 575 Washes (for the island behind the stage)
14 x Parcans (lighting up palm trees on the island behind the stage)
1 x Virtuoses Lighting Console
Jason would mostly programme the show and then let a technician from Impact run it as he in turn would leave the current gig to start programming the next day events. “It’s nice for the Mauritian guys to not just set up but also be part of running the actual event,” said Jason.
Gala Evening
The final Gala evening requested all guests to dress up in white. It was set around a swimming pool and included the performance of four artists. The main stage was built in the centre of the pool with clear decks. “It actually looked like the performers were walking on the water,” commented Jason. An additional three satellite stages were set up around the pool.
“The challenge was to light this very vast area,” he said and adds, “It was my biggest stress evening, purely to create the exact feel the client wanted.”
Bedouins were lit with 4 x LED washes and buffet tables with Par 56s and wind up stands.
The Main Stage was lit with 8 x Robe 1.2k Spots and a 1.2K Washes, strategically placed on cement islands. The islands, 2sqm in size, were permanent structures within the pool in which plants were kept. On a centre tower on the main stage were 4 x Robe 1.2K Washes, 4 x Robe 575 Spots.
For the area around the pools, restaurants and the likes, 48 x LED parcans were utilized as well as 12 x LED Light Boxes and a LED Bar.
The Decor was the fun part. When all parties involved put their head together, they came up with an idea to place LEDs into the solid white moulded chairs. “We cut a tiny square at the bottom of the chair to put in a 2 Watt LED par with red, green and yellow.” 
Ariel from Impact remarked, “The Decor team from SA were nice and sweet, and our thanks to Yvonne. They achieved outstanding set-ups throughout this period.”
For the video element of the show, 8 x 60 inch plasmas were rigged on the centre tower in the pool and in surrounding areas. A live camera feed from the stage area processed images to an additional ten x 42 inch plasmas, which were placed strategically in areas such as the bedouin and buffet sections.
“There was an attractive water feature at the end of the pool and I came up with the idea to up a water curtain for visuals,” said Jason and laughingly adds, “For the first time in my life I got thrown into the deep end to program a laser show.” There were four laser shows, three minutes each..
Club
“One last constituent which was a great idea came from the client’s side,” explained Jason. A club was created at a hotel which delegates could enjoy after attending the evening functions which usually ended by 11pm. “We used 8 x Robe 250 Washes on truss for height which were run on a Compulite desk. We had a nice strong thumping sound system which they partied the night way to, once again a Nexo Alpha system.”
In Conclusion
In ending, Jason extends his thanks to the client . “It’s always a pleasure to work for clients who treat the crew with such respect, looking after us in regards to accommodation and meals. They took such good care of us and made all the hard work worthwhile.”
Ariel agrees, “The client was so kind to everyone, he was very clear with what he wanted but also very confident in the team. Each and every person was treated with respect and friendship which is rare in these times. And I have to add, Jason was the one brining that cool atmosphere, that wonderful team spirit and making life easy instead of making it a nightmare!
Arial continues, “I want to thank Duncan Riley from DWR Distribution for introducing us to Strike a long time ago and to have allowed Impact Productions to have such a close relationship with most of the SA technical providers. I guess we have become South Africa’s favourite partner in Mauritius and I guess the only reason why is because we do our job with passion! This past event is just THE reference at the moment and will remain so for a long time I’m sure.
“Thanks again to Jason, Leah and all the Strike folks for those fabulous times together. We all have nice souvenirs in mind and a big smile looking behind us at this achievement with you guys! We wait for you to be back soon, even to spend a holiday and enjoy a rum on that sunny beach!”
…Don’t know about you, but my bags are packed!
