Over 250 CHAUVET Professional Fixtures Support Advanced Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Design

	For Moncada, one special moment was when Cher appeared with Dua Lipa, against a custom scenic environment inspired by 70's architecture. The space featured beautiful gradient digital lighting programmed to sync perfectly with the music.

Like the music it celebrates, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which just marked its 39th year, has drawn on its ability to embrace new ideas to remain vibrant and relevant. The 2024 ceremony provided a stunning example of this commitment, as a dynamic lighting design by Allen Branton that featured over 250 CHAUVET Professional fixtures (supplied by 4Wall Entertainment), worked seamlessly with a Bruce Rodgers production design, and an immersive video design by Bianca Moncada of Darmah, to engage the live and TV audience on a deep level, all while supporting the activities on stage.

"The lights-blowing-through-screen is an idea we have used on RRHF for several years," says Branton. "Initially it allowed us to do some rock-and-roll violence to the video imagery behind the performances. These images were just still photos in the early years. When Darmah came on the scene in 2021, they brought a new translucid video product, along with magnificent, animated imagery."

"The transition to animated visuals creates an engaging and interactive experience for the audience as well as a layer of depth and movement," says Moncada. "It allows us to convey emotion, tell a deeper story, and immerse the viewers in a visual experience that evolves alongside the ceremony.

"I believe that video content, much like lighting, should work to create layers that enhance the core focus of any performance, which, of course is the artist on stage," continues Moncada. "The design and movement within the visuals help direct the viewer's attention, highlighting only key moments while ensuring the performers themselves remain the central focus. At Darmah, we aim for visuals that are bold and visually memorable, but not overwhelming. Overall, our video content transforms what could have been flat and static into something lively, evocative, and capable of transmitting emotion to the audience."

"The Color STRIKE M is a very flexible fixture in a setting like this," says Branton. "One or two pixels gives us a delicate background. But all pixels, when they're running hot, give us psychological HEAT in the image. And of course, this fixture's strobe does what strobes have done since the beginning of rock-and-roll."

Also contributing to the engaging quality of the lighting design were 36 Maverick MK3 Washes, 35 Maverick MK3 Profile V2 Fixtures, 14 Rogue R1 BeamWashes, and six COLORado 2 solo Zooms.

"We relied on the MK3 profiles to handle all of the stage key lighting and back lighting," says lighting director Felix Peralta. "All of the Mavericks, Rogues and COLORados had the output to stand up to the video backdrop while matching it beautifully in color."

Another change of pace in this year's show was the way light was used to fill dead space to the extreme sides of the stage for the TV camera. In the past, Branton has often used COLORdash Accent 3 pars for this purpose. Although his rig still had 36 units of that fixture, he also used larger down lights for that purpose this year. "This was for more variety," he explains. "The show spans musical styles from Dionne Warwick to Ozzy Osborne. Some call for beauty and picturesque, painterly approach, others kinetic violence -- and everything in between."

Among the honorees were Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J. Blige, Dave Matthews Band, Kool & the Gang, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, and A Tribe Called Quest. This diversity provided a rich variety of moments to savor in the 5.5-hour program.

For Moncada, one special moment was when Cher appeared with Dua Lipa, against a custom scenic environment inspired by 70's architecture. The space featured beautiful gradient digital lighting programmed to sync perfectly with the music.

Another shining moment was during the Ozzy Osbourne tribute. By the end of the "No More Tears" performance, two giant skulls, inspired by artist's style, emerged within the video content as if rigged with automation. As they settled into position, real lighting fixtures positioned behind the LED screens pierced through their eyes, creating a stunning, three-dimensional effect.

"We didn't have much opportunity to rehearse and do basic creative prep beforehand," says Branton. "There was no time to have the artists hit the stage at rehearsal to look at each other and wonder what this should look like. Recently, this time crunch has become more like sky-diving as the show started streaming live last year!"

The team included Joel Gallen, Rick Austin, Emily Wolfe, Gary Lanvy, Garry Hood, and Brian Lolly, as well as Felix Peralta and fellow LDs Kevin Lawson and George Gountas; head gaffer Alex Flores and Liberty Rock.

"They brought the entire monstrosity to readiness and managed the schedule and rehearsal activities masterfully," says Branton, who described the project as "an impossible mission."