Posted under Case Studies

Black Light’s maintenance service is arguably the best in the business. But just how far will we go to help? The answer is provided by the work we do for Argyll and Bute Council. We provide the Council with a full maintenance service for a large number of far-flung village halls and other community venues. Our maintenance teams drive to some of the remotest corners of Scotland, including the islands of Islay and Bute, to fulfill this contract. We like to say that, if we can do it there, we can do it anywhere.

The maintenance contract was secured when Argyll and Bute Council contacted us to help them service the sound, light, stage and AV systems in its schools, village halls and other venues. These are dotted throughout the West Coast and surrounding islands. The Council has an obligation to keep the systems in these venues safe and functioning and needed a team they could rely on – they came to us.

Taking maintenance expertise to where it’s needed.

We now provide an on-going service for 14 community properties. This involves a rolling annual maintenance programme that covers each venue and encompasses a wide range of inspection and upkeep services. Our team travels all around the country in their van, which contains all the necessary test equipment and spares.

The team that travels around Argyll and Bute has a unique mix of creative and engineering skills and includes time-served, qualified electricians. Black Light staff are members of the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC). This accreditation means that we can test and certify installations in-house. It underlines our commitment to the highest standards of customer service and health and safety.

We got the job thanks to the quality of service we supply. Our service is cost-competitive and involves the minimum of fuss. We also provide the Council with comprehensive reports on the status of each system we maintain. Hassle-free, we provide peace of mind – wherever we have to work.

Posted under Case Studies

Rose Street is one of the most famous streets in Edinburgh. For the past two Christmas seasons, Black Light has brought the street to life and added to the festive mood of Edinburgh’s shoppers with a beautiful lighting display. This has been designed to perfectly compliment the area’s historic backdrop. The project illustrates how Black Light can solve complex architectural problems. It shows how we can work unobtrusively to meet a challenging brief and keep all stakeholders happy.

This rather unusual installation opportunity came our way towards the end of 2007. The City of Edinburgh Council asked Black Light to help design and implement brand new seasonal lighting for Rose Street. The brief was to provide a solution that was festive, non-traditional and which would withstand the worst weather that Scotland could bring. We were also told that the installation should be energy-efficient and that it should have the minimum amount of impact on the street’s many residents. To solve these challenges we adopted a teamwork approach that drew on our talents in both events management and installations.

Working with Chris Chapman of the Council, we devised a system using Blachere LED ‘fairy light’ strings that would span the street along its entire length. These were to be supported on stainless steel wire rope catenaries (to reduce corrosion) at intervals across the street.

Tackling the safety challenge

All the equipment had to be fixed at a height that would allow traffic, including articulated trucks, to continue using the street, and that would discourage vandalism. As an added complication, the Council was very concerned about the type and locations of any fixings used – the last thing they (or we) wanted was fixings, or worse, stone blocks failing and falling to street level.

To meet this stringent brief, Black Light carefully selected fixing locations and used resin-bonded threaded anchors. Each of these was pull-tested before the installation of the catenary wires. We worked closely with the Council to keep residents informed. For example, we put a leaflet describing what we were doing through every single door on the street.

Black Light’s qualified electricians and IPAF-qualified access equipment users worked quickly, efficiently and quietly. They completed the installation on time, hitting the tight deadline set by the Council.

The Council said “…Black Light came up with a very neat job, which was safely executed…I’m pleased with the result, and congratulations to Paul and his team.” The project Health and Safety advisors commented, “…I would say Black light have been very good.”

The Council’s satisfaction in our work was underlined in 2009 when we were asked to extend the Rose Street lighting display. We responded by creating an even larger display. We hope to continue to light up Edinburgh’s Christmas for many years to come.

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Black Light has worked with one of the biggest construction companies in the UK, Laing O’Rourke, to provide schools in Perth and Kinross with state-of-the-art cinema and theatre equipment. The £1m project highlights our technical expertise and the importance we place on consultation. Thanks to the skill of our team, eight schools now have exceptional new facilities that can be enjoyed by both their pupils and their local communities.

The project brief involved four primary and four secondary schools in rural Perth and Kinross. We were asked to provide all the schools with full drama school facilities (lighting, sound and AV systems) and to turn their assembly halls into high-spec. performance venues. We were also asked to provide the secondary schools with cinema systems (including 7m-wide projection screens) and fully-featured sound recording studios. When we were presented with the opportunity to get involved with this exciting project, we turned a detailed and technically challenging project brief into a costed proposal in less than ten days, so meeting the client’s strict deadline.

Consultancy for the project took place over an 18-month period, during which we undertook meetings with project managers from the Council, teachers and representatives from the school and the local community. Our main priorities during the consultation process were managing expectations and being honest about what could be achieved. As with all our work, we are happy to be challenged to be innovative, but always focus on producing a system on budget that works.

Creating cinemas and theatres in the same space

The project involved a number of technical challenges, including how to get spaces to function as both cinemas and theatres. These have specific and sometimes conflicting requirements. For example, cinemas require 5:1 surround sound (in these schools, we’ve actually installed 11 surround speakers!), whereas Theatre and Presentation-use needs sound that appears to come from the same location as the presenter in order to be intelligible. We solved this by installing a single high-specification 11-speaker system, and a very clever controller. At a touch of a button, the configuration of the room is changed from a cinema set-up, to a proper theatre set-up, thus providing ease of use (of a very complex) system for the end users.

Another challenge was presented by the fact that the primary school halls are all used for ball games. This meant that we had to develop innovative lifting mechanisms for the lighting rigs we installed. These feature electrically operated Pile Wind hoists that allow the whole truss, lighting, AV and sound systems to be hoisted out of harm’s way, and dropped back to the optimal height when in use – all at the flick of a switch!

The schools will end up with some of the best theatre systems in the country and fantastic cinemas that provide all the experience of a fully-spec’d multi-plex.

Amongst the equipment supplied and installed by Black Light were the following:

• Prolyte X30V Box-Section Truss
• Andolite Internally Wired Lighting Bars, Cord Patch Panels and Facilities Panels
• Zero88 Chilli Dimming and Outstation Systems
• Zero88 Betapack 3 Dimmer Racks
• Zero88 Jester Lighting Control Desks
• Selecon Acclaim Fresnel, Axial Zoomspot, and Hui Floodlight luminaires
• Yamaha IF-series Loudspeakers
• Yamaha PC-series Amplifiers
• Yamaha DME24N DSP Processors
• Yamaha Blu-Ray Players
• Tascam CD/MD/MP3 Playback
• Soundcraft LX7ii and Phonic Powerpod 1860+ Audio Mixers
• Shure + AKG Microphones, inc. SM57, SM58 and PGX-series Radio Mics
• Sanyo XF70 LCD Projectors (9000 lumens)
• Yamaha S112V Loudspeakers
• Tannoy V8 and i5 Loudspeakers
• Tecpro Stage Comms Equipment
• Show relay and paging system based round Cloud Mixer/Matrix
• EEE Unitrack and E-Rail Curtain Tracks

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Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party is often listed as one of the things to do before you die, so Black Light is proud to be part of what is one of the biggest parties in the world. We regularly provide equipment for the revelry and in 2008, provided lighting for the Mound Stage and D-J Stage at the west end of Princes Street. The annual event takes place in the City Centre, and nearly 100,000 people take to the streets.

Unique Events signed us up for 2008’s festivities because they like what we do. They asked us to be innovative, to keep things fresh and exciting and within budget. For both stages we had take the weather into account, rig quickly and keep strictly within weight limits and power requirements.

Lighting the mound and DJ stages

The specific brief for the Mound Stage was to provide intelligent lighting, crowd cover, and basic stage cover. To achieve the desired effects, we used VL2000 spots and washes. Five Spots were used to illuminate across the back of the stage and out into the audience. Two of these spots were used to give a feeling of real depth to the stage. Two washes were placed at the front corners of the stage to wash across the performers and also give moving colour at low level across the audience. Two 8 cell Molefays were also used to provide crowd ‘blinder’ lighting at the appropriate moments.

For the DJ stage we were given the challenge of making the audience feel like they were in a nightclub atmosphere. To do this we used 8 Giotto Spot 400’s around the front edge of the stage canopy to give some great fly-in, fly-out and fan effects. Palco 3’s were used to illuminate the interior of the stage canopy in changing coloured light. Three Atomic 3000 Strobes were also used at floor level and two Molefays were used for a ‘blinder’ effect. The stage was controlled with a Pearl 2008, with Avolites Art 2000 Dimming.

The night on both stages went extremely well and the performers enjoyed a great turn out. The large crowds loved the show and everyone had a great time bringing in 2009.

The equipment we used for this event included:

• 48 Par 64s
• 4no 8 Cell Molefays
• Prolyte H30V Truss
• 10 Giotto Spots 400’s
• 10 Giotto Wash 400’s
• 2 Avolites Art 2000 24 way Dimmers
• 1 Avolites Art 2000 48 way Dimmer
• 4 Atomic 3000 Strobes
• 8 SGM Palco 3’s
• LED Pinspots and Pars
• Pearl 2008
• Frog 2 control desk

Posted under Case Studies

In October 2009, the great and good of Scotland’s business and arts communities gathered at the newly refurbished Usher Hall in Edinburgh the annual Arts & Business Scotland Awards. Black Light was there to make sure that the lighting for the event echoed the importance of the gongs that were being handed out. The success of the evening showcased our expertise at providing that little bit of visual magic that turns an event into a memorable occasion.

As one of the sponsors for the awards, we had a particular interest in making sure that it was a really special evening for all concerned. In consultation with the organizers we designed the lighting for the evening, supplied the necessary equipment (including a full control system) and then set it all up quickly and efficiently. Our expertise at this kind of event was underlined by the fact that this was a repeat performance for us – we had lit the same event the year before.

The right technology produces the best show

To get the desired effects, we first installed Par 64 lamps to give an even fan of light across the entire stage. For stings and walk-ups, we used eight Giotto spot 400’s. For additional stage lighting six Giotto wash 400’s were used across the audience. The back of the stage was left open to expose the Usher Hall’s organ pipes and show them off in all their glory. To heighten the effect, we illuminated these pipes and the side walls with four City Colour 2500’s and four Palco 3’s. This allowed us to give the event an ever-changing coloured back drop and add great additional depth to the presentation of the ceremony.

In designing the lighting for this awards ceremony a few factor had to be taken into consideration. The first challenge was time – the whole rig had to go up very quickly to allow rehearsals to take place on stage. As entertainment was provided by the Scottish Opera Orchestra, we also had to make sure that there was enough light to allow the orchestra to read their music.

We are pleased to report that the event went without a hitch and was a spectacular evening, with awards being given out to people who deserved recognition in everything that they had achieved. Black Light was proud to be involved and be part of it!

The equipment we used for this event included:

• 24 Selecon 1k Fresnels
• 24 Par 64’s
• 10 Giotto 400 Spots
• A selection of Source 4 750w Zooms and Fixed Beams
• 4 Studio Due City Colour 2500’s
• 12 SGM Palco 3’s
• 48 Way Art 2000 Dimming
• A Frog 2 control desk
• An Allen and Heath Mixer
• A QSC Full Range Cabinets with Subs

Posted under Case Studies

The Edinburgh Festival is the most famous arts festival in the world and Black Light has been working behind the scenes for years to help some of the city’s most famous venues put on their shows. The sheer amount of equipment that must be provided proves that Black Light have what it takes to meet any logistical challenge. The fact that we are asked back year after year, proves that we have the creative expertise to meet any challenge that the Festival can throw at us.

For 2009’s Festival we supplied all the Pleasance venues with all their lighting and staging. That’s no small boast as there were 24 different performance spaces hosting shows under the Pleasance name. These spaces ranged in size from the 730-seat Pleasance Grand to the Cellar and Joker Dome. We also provided all of C Venues with their staging. With over 170 shows from 150 companies, these venues hosted the largest programme of theatre on the Fringe.

We also supplied equipment for two Dancebase venues at Dancebase and the Drill Hall. The Drill Hall was a double challenge as we had to turn a space that wasn’t normally a performance venue into a theatre, the shows also had aerial elements which brought a whole new dimension to our work.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

To complete the 2009 Festival challenge, we provided lights for Beijing Film Academy’s multimedia performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This was hosted by the University of Edinburgh’s Confucius Institute for Scotland at the McEwan Hall. lt was a mix of music, dance and martial arts and had been put together by some of the team who worked on the Beijing Olympics – so we had a tough act to follow!

The overall challenge of working on the Festival is the sheer quantity of the equipment and services we have to supply in such a short space of time. For example, in 2009 we needed 202 Acclaim Fresnels, in excess of 1000 Ways of Dimming, 515 Source 4 Profiles, over 7km of Socapex Multicore Cable and 40+ Lighting Desks. We met much of this demand from our own resources and, thanks to our excellent connections in the industry, were able to sub-contract additional equipment from England.

All the venues approached us as they know they can rely on us. For example, we have a 2-year partnership with the Pleasance. Not only can we get the necessary gear, but we also rig venues for some of our clients. We also offer the expertise and peace of mind that is vital for such high-profile shows: For the Pleasance we supplied a technician 24/7 for Onsite Support, and we also provide all our Festival clients with a 24-hr emergency call out service.