volume 1 issue 8 2008 MCI Updates the Ultimate Smooth Ride DesignworksUSA-styled TOUR BUS call us at 1-847-285-2171. Now featuring 450 HP 2007 EPA Compliant The number one selling Bus in Tour the USA continues to improveSuspension for the Wide-Ride conversion our with smooth rides and great looks body market. The J4500c with standard comes shell conversion J4500 MCI The shocks. FSD Koni featuring slide-outs. 3 to up with equipped be can and headroom interior of 89" class-leading For 2009, the EPA-compliant engine significantly reduces emissions, while providing great fuel economy and performance. learn aboutTo the many 2009 improvements we've made with feedback from our customers, converters and operators, please Cummins ISM, Wide-Ride Suspension, Electronic Stability Control, Reverse Sensing System, additional 12 or 24 Volt Alternator, and many other enhancements made with input from our customers. To schedule a test drive today, call 1-866-MCICOACH. ® www.mcicoach.com The updated 2009 J4500 conversion shell © 2008 Motor Coach Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. shown with 2 optional slide-outs. MCI TOUR BUS Ad_bluev.2.indd 1 8/22/08 12:09:55 PM TOUR LINK 2009 REGISTRATION Jan.22-25.2009 REGISTRATION FEES FULL CONFERENCE Includes all panels, minigolf/lazer tag/go-carts, lunches, dinners & awards show. Regular (Register between Dec. 1, 2008 – Jan. 25, 2009) – $325.00 each Advanced (Register between Nov. 1, 2008 – Nov. 30, 2008) – $300.00 each Early Bird (Register before Oct. 31, 2008) – $275.00 each Walk-ups (Register onsite) – $350.00 each ADDITIONAL FEES Spouse Registration – $100.00 Industry Dinner/Awards Show ONLY (Included with full Registration) – $100.00 Mother Hubbards Cupboard Tour Link Conference 2009 In an effort to further the education for students and young people who wish to THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE make a career in the live entertainment world, Tour Guide is offering the EVENT PRODUCTION CONFERENCE opportunity for the industry to sponsor a student or students at the above IN THE WORLD! registration cost. This cost will include accommodations and all Tour Link functions for the students. This event brings production managers, tour managers, business managers, transportation Name: ______________________________________________________________ companies, concert service personnel, crew, hotels and Company: ___________________________________________________________ venues together for the most talked-about conference in event Street Address: ______________________________________________________ production history. _____________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________ State/Prov.: ______________________ Dates: January 22-25, 2009 Postal Code: ________________________ Country: ________________________ Phone: ___________________________ Fax: ______________________________ Where: Phoenix Marriot Mesa Email : ______________________________________________________________ 200 N. Centennial Way Additional Names: Mesa, Arizona 85201 _____________________________________________________________________ 800-456-6372 marriott.com/PHXMM _____________________________________________________________________ Number of full conference registrations - QTY: ___________ fax form to 615. 256.7004 Spouse ($100) q ) TOUR GUIDE MAGAZINE: Mother Hubbards Cupboard - QTY: ___________ 615.256.7006 Industry Dinner Awards Show ONLY($100) - QTY: ___________ TOTAL: ____________ Payment Type: q CHECK q CREDIT CARD: ______________________________ on the COVER con Bruce Springsteen 26 Nothing Between the Band volume 1 issue 8 2008tents & the Crowd but the Music Audio Analysts 34 It's still Audio Communications Direct 36 In Direct Contact with "The Boss" Fly on the Wall 12 mpm listens in on a conversation between Lighting Designers Brian Hartley & Roy Bennett on the wall 12 6 L-Acoustics Radiohead, in-Rainbows, storms the globe 7 XTA 26 all I need is my XTA 8 Lectrosonics Santa Fe Opera selects Lectronics wireless technology 10 Tour Manager Q&A q&a: DJ Walton 12 Fly on the Wall mpm listens to 2 Lighting Designers 16 Video Wisconsin helping businesses communicate 18 PID at Plasa 2008 10 18 22 20 North Carolina Cultural Center credibility beyond its size 22 grandMA rocks the house for "WrestleMania" departments 24 Milos set the stage in Belarus 4 Editor's Notes 20 Venues 26 Bruce Springsteen nothing between the band 6 Sound 22 Lights & the crowd but music 10 Tour Manager Q&A 24 Staging 34 Audio Analysts 12 Fly on the Wall 40 Advertiser’s Index it's still audio 36 Communications Direct 16 Video in direct contact with "The Boss" 40 Advertiser's Index mobile production monthly 3 FROM THE Editor Notes from Editor Guy: HOME OFFICE STAFF This month we are happy to have the Bruce Springsteen ph: 615.256.7006 • f: 615.256.7004 Tour as our cover feature. Our chief writer, Michael Beck, email: [email protected] was given all access to two shows on this tour, one tourguidemag.com stadium gig in the band’s home of New Jersey, and one 750 Cowan St • Nashville, TN • USA 37207 arena show in Georgia. We think you will find his cover- age of the differences between the two productions an Publisher: Larry Smith interesting read to say the least. On tour with “The Boss,” [email protected] are Audio Analysts and Communication Direct, both of which are also featured in this issue. Editor: Chris Cogswell [email protected] Also, we have the unique opportunity of listening in on a fly on the wall Advertising Coordinator / Contributing Writer: Deslee Gonzales conversation between two of the most in-demand Lighting Designers [email protected] working today: Bryan Hartley and Roy Bennett. Hope you enjoy it! Chief Writer/ Photographer: Michael A. Beck [email protected] We have a Tour Manager Q&A with Alicia Key’s DJ Walton. This will Contributing Writer: Mike Wharton become a regular feature for us, as more and more Tour Managers, Production Managers and other willing participants involved. Send [email protected] your requests to [email protected] and I will fol- Contributing Writer: Bill Abner low up. [email protected] Contributing Writer: Jessi Wallace Keep in mind that Tour Link 2009 will be here before you know it. [email protected] (January 22-25, 2009) Although we are currently revamping the site, Art Director / Graphic Designer: Kristin Searcy we currently have registration available now at tourlinkconference. com. Now through October 31, the early registration is only $275. [email protected] [email protected] New website will be up and running shortly. We are once again in Mesa, AZ at the Phoenix Mesa Marriott. Sluggos awaits! Webmaster: Michael Stalcup [email protected] Please let me know if you have any ideas to improve our publications. I am always open to input to help promote the industry. See ya next month when we feature Rascal Flatts current tour. TOUR LINK BOARD OF ADVISORS Benny Collins, Nick Gold, Jon Nevins, Stuart Ross, Bobby Schneider, Jay Sendyk, Seth Sheck, Chris Cogswell Nicki Goldstein, Chuck Randall, Michael Waddell tourlinkconference.com ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE Jessi Wallace • Nashville [email protected] ph: 615.256.7006 • f: 615.256.7004 Gavin Allen • West Coast [email protected] ph: 818.635.8747 • f: 615.256.7004 PUBLISHED BY Anvil Productions, LLC ph: 615.256.7006 • f: 615.256.7004 [email protected] ©2008 Anvil Productions, LLC. Nothing may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit any and all editorial content included in this publication. The publisher has made every attempt to insure accuracy and consistency of this publication. However, some listings & information may be incomplete due to a lack of informa- tion provided by various companies listed. Please send any inquiries to the attention of the publisher. All advertising appears at the paid solicitation of the advertiser. Anvil Productions, LLC, can not be held liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies appearing in this journal in the form of editorials, listings or advertising. Member of: 4 mobile production monthly IT PUNCHES ABOVE ITS WEIGHT ITS ABOVE PUNCHES IT new ALPHA 300 SPOT HPE | SPOT | WASH | BEAM Compact and EXTREMELY BRIGHT*, the new Alpha 300 projectors boast all the potential of the Clay Paky Alpha larger sized projectors. Excellent value for money. (*) Alpha Spot HPE 300 and Alpha Spot 300 produce double the brightness of their best known competitors in the same power category. Alpha Wash 300 even beats them by approx. +20%. The brightness of Alpha Beam 300 is triple that of a standard 1200 W Wash projector.. 8607 Ambassador Row, Suite 170B Dallas, TX 75247 Phone: 214-819-3200 Fax: 702-942-4607 E-mail: [email protected] www.claypaky.it Sound Radiohead, In Rainbows Storms The Globe With L-ACOUSTICS has returned to the road this summer in support of its latest album, In Radiohead Rainbows, which shook up the record industry when it was first made available online last October for basically whatever price fans chose to pay.projects. Jim Warren and Sharif el Barbari l-acoustics.com After a handful of initial US dates start- ing in May, followed by a European/ prised of 15 V-DOSC® cabinets with SB28 subwoofers driven by LA8. We UK tour in June and July, the highly three dV-DOSC hung below for front-fill. have also used the SB28 in cardioid con- innovative and critically acclaimed band