NEXUS "Diamonds" Add Glitz to BET Experience Concert

	Photo Credit: Gilbert Baghramian

The 2014 BET Experience Concert at the Staples Center was a star-studded affair, with the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, and Grammy winners Maxwell and Jill for three nights. Visions Lighting of Brea, CA created a lighting design that looked right at home with this on-stage glitz by using a visually powerful combination of video panels, strobes, and moving fixtures, along with some unique "light diamonds" created with 64 Nexus 4x4 LED panels from Chauvet Professional.

"We rigged the Nexus panels in diamond shapes to create a different look and project an image of glamour in keeping with the character of this event," says Todd Roberts of Visions Lighting, which built the lighting and trussing system for the BET concert. "This was a big stage with big stars, so the lighting had to make a powerful statement. Brandon Dunning, our LD, did just that; he got the most impact out of each fixture."

Dunning positioned 32 Nexus panels on each side of the turntable stage in "columns of diamonds." The columns featured descending numbers of Nexus panels as they moved closer to center stage. Used as audience blinders and as set pieces, the Nexus panels were controlled by DMX.

"The Nexus panels provided a great visual element throughout the three nights of performances," says Roberts. "We used a variety of different colors from the panels to accent different songs, and they worked out very nicely. This was true not only for the live audience, but on video as well. The panels are very camera-friendly."

Roberts also praised the Nexus panels for their intense output. Concentric rings of overhead truss, LED ribbon wrapped around curved truss, and multiple layers of video panels were used along with the Nexus panels to create a powerful visual impression, while also providing the flexibility needed to accommodate the wide variety of artists who performed on stage.

"There were severe time restraints on this project," said Roberts. "The Staples Center had another event booked the day before we set up, so we had only six hours to pull this all together."

Accomplishing this impressive feat required long hours in preproduction, a lot of careful planning, reliable gear, and a dedicated talented team, says Roberts. Opining on the latter, he observed, "You can't pull this kind of thing off without a lot of good talented people. The entire Visions crew stepped up to make it happen. We owe a special debt of gratitude to Kevan Wilkins from AEG Live (Los Angeles), who did a superb job as our production manager."

Roberts also thanked his warehouse crew headed up by Nick Balderama, who turned around the rig from a previous Las Vegas show in one day to load everything for BET.

See Chauvet at PLASA Focus: Orlando, February 17 - 18, 2014.