Students from Backstage Academy, the Yorkshire-based industry-integrated higher education institution for the live events and creative industries, recently completed a nationwide tour to highlight what prospective students can look forward to when they become undergraduates at the Academy.
The tour, which stretched across the UK from the North West to Truro in Cornwall, saw final year students from Backstage’s various degree courses showcase their skills, share their higher education experiences and raise awareness of the incredible careers in the industry.
The tour, which was supported by Backstage’s industry partners, centred on the technical production of a live band, Listomania and focused on the core disciplines required including:
Due to access and time constraints, the tour team designed a ground support structure utilising 30cm trusses provided by Blitz Rigging. This could be easily and manually loaded-in and quickly erected without the use of hoists or forklifts. The structure supported all lighting equipment.
Backstage Academy’s long standing industry partner KV2 kindly provided the main sound system. The active EX12 mid-highs and the EX1.8 bass enclosures meant that the onboard amplification saved vital van space and weight, yet delivered a no compromise crystal clear sound with pin-point accuracy.
In addition, a wide variety of mics were provided by industry partners Sennheiser and Shure, crucial for capturing every aspect of the four piece band’s performance. Sennheiser EW G4 In-Ear Monitors enabled the band to receive detailed monitor sound, without the need to transport large monitor loudspeakers, also saving time and van space.
All audio was controlled using a Midas M32 digital console, generously provided by industry partner music tribe.
A key part of the show were visual images, created and played back by the team on a Green Hippo Amba. Green Hippo have been a fundamental part of Backstage’s teaching for many years. The Academy recently took delivery of a large BlackPearl2 2.8mm pitch LED screen from industry partner ROE Visual. To be able to deploy such high value, state-of-the-art equipment on the tour was incredible and the results outstanding. The students also cleverly deployed ROE Strip linear LED, a really versatile solution that has quickly become a firm favourite.
Over 30 lighting fixtures including LED battens, moving head beams, moving head profiles, spots and blinders were used to create an impactful and creative lighting show. All equipment was generously provided by Industry Partners 4Wall. The whole show was controlled by a Tiger Touch 2, Avolites, providing our go-to consoles for many years.
The UK wide tour showcased what students have learnt during their studies and gave prospective students not only the chance to get their hands on leading-edge equipment and technologies, but help produce the shows as well.
Steve Brown, Production Arts & Live Events Lecturer at Truro and Penwith College said: “Backstage on Tour was a really great event, the team put on a brilliant show that was incredibly engaging for our students. With students in the audience from a range of our courses, it’s definitely turned some heads, as far as considering the live events and creative industries as a career pathway is concerned.
It was fantastic for our students to get hands-on experience in the events industry and equally great for our students who will be attending Backstage in September, who got to meet their soon to be lecturers and fellow students!”
Lighting Designer, James Eccles, who attended Salford City College said: “My time at Backstage Academy has been brilliant. It is totally different from other universities. Backstage is much more career focused and there are lots of opportunities to get hands on with the kit. It’s been fantastic to have the opportunity to showcase what I’ve learnt at my old college.”
Backstage Academy provides world-class training for the live events and creative industries. Located on campus at Production Park in Yorkshire, the world’s premier campus for live events, film and TV, it offers specialist undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, short courses, bespoke training programmes and e-learning for the live events and creative industries.