Pyrotek and Laser Design Productions on the 2012 Academy Of Country Music Awards

Las Vegas turned country as the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards rolled into town April 1, 2012. The awards ceremony took place at the MGM Grand Arena, and with too many wild performances for one venue, Mandalay Bay was also used to showcase the years biggest acts in Country Music. Pyrotek Special Effects and its sister company, Laser Design Productions, had the honor of providing some of the nights breathtaking effects.

The show opened with a powerful performance from country music sweetheart Carrie Underwood who brought the house to its feet with "Good Girl." Laser Design Productions, headed up by president Lorenzo Cornacchia and director of operations Victor Tomei worked with Raj Kapoor to create the pink and white laser looks for the upbeat routine. Laser programmer Eric Taylor operated five laser systems including three 30W full color and two 25W full color lasers for the performance. One 30W was hung in the center truss to create the white cage cone effect, and the performance's downstage looks, while two more were hung 15' high on an upstage lighting truss shooting pink light straight out over the audience. Two more were also rolled out and placed stage left and right of the center ramp Underwood used throughout the performance.

Newcomer Brantley Gilbert performed "Country Must Be Country Wide" for the elated audience. Designer Cornacchia worked closely with Brian Stonestreet and Alana Billingsley to devise the look for the performance. Four 7' Dragon systems lit up the stage from behind the band, as Gilbert strutted around the stage which was decorated with two motorcycles. Along with the dragon tails, pyrotechnician Kevin Hughes also operated ten Cryo Jets used throughout the performance.

Luke Bryan had one of the nights most talked about performances with "I Don't Want This Night To End." The design of the performance, with the input of production manager Pete Healey, was given the Rock n' Roll kick with the addition of 11 green lasers. Energizing the crowd with his charisma, Bryan hopped up and down encouraging the audience to join the party on stage. Lasers for Bryan were placed upstage left and right in between band risers, as well as in the upstage truss, and on the LED video walls stage left and right. Six Cryo Jets, operated by pyro shooter Gregg Pearson, were placed upstage center and blasted while Bryan finished his show stopping performance.

The awards ceremony was seen by 12.8 million viewers and was acclaimed as one of the most successful in recent years. Pyrotek Special Effects and Laser Design Productions were on hand to create some of the evening's most memorable effects.