CMU School of Drama


Monday, September 11, 2017

Every Night Perfect

www.popularmechanics.com: On U2's current tour, each show is a feat of engineering, construction, and precision–and there can be no mistakes. The cornerstone of the production is the world's largest mobile video screen. Popular Mechanics had exclusive access to the band's stadium shows in New Jersey.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

WOW. This is such an amazing piece. I love the detail that went through explaining the entirety of one event in one location. In loving and doing technical theatre; I always had an idea of what its like to go through and set up a music event. Enjoying music festivals and such it always intrigued me to know what hours the people are producing, who those people are, the lead time on set up, and much more. Reading this piece, I am enamored. The detail behind the hours and the process plus insight into what happens. The problem solving that had to occur, although not unfamiliar but still fascinating. The screens I have always wondered about the most and to get detail about those as well was quite fascinating. The structure that has to go up in which supports it is phenomenal and unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is quite opening as well since I am used to theatrical related events and this covers one of music where the location is different, everything from the stage up has to be set up versus walking into a theatre and setting up based from the stage. The difference is there yet the same ideas apply. This piece, simply put, blows my mind.

Cooper said...

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to see this show performed at Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN, and I have to say, it was perfect. There was not a single time I noticed a technical problem, or any problem for that matter. And yes, the screen was incredible. I was probably 30,000 people back from the stage, but the screen made it feel like I was really connected to what was happening onstage. I love huge, powerful performances like these. There is something about the fearlessness and the confidence that is truly inspiring. There is no telling how many people it took backstage to make this show happen with only a handful of people actually on stage. This article does the crew the justice they deserve, and so rarely get. But that's the business we have chosen isn't it?

Rachel Kolb said...

That is amazing. It is fascinating to see how choreographed every movement is. The thing that fascinates me the most about concert work is just how different teach venue can be and how different the circumstances of the concert may be, but yet the technicians, managers, an performers still produce the same perfect show every night. The mobility of a show this large is also mind blowing. There is so much that goes into putting on a show of this magnitude. Let alone having it move internationally. One thig that I want to learn more about regarding the concert and music industry is how the set and all of the technical aspects get shipped across the world and in such short time period. It can’t be like Broadway shows where sometimes they have more than one deck. These guys probably have one set and it just has to get moved from one location to another in a ridiculously short period of time.

Emma Patterson said...

The insight that this piece gives to the world of festivals and concerts is incredible. The way it walks you through each of the expected steps, as well as the improvised fixes is so exciting. Reading all of the different considerations each individual must make as they work shows how the statement ‘it takes a village’ rings true. From the minute sound adjustments to combat glass scoreboards to the careful steps of Deschacht as he fixes the faulty cable, the responsibility that each of these people have to make sure this show is as phenomenal as promised is massive.

Chris Calder said...

Yo MIT, you are few years late. CMU brought both the arts and engineering long before November 6th. At the end of the day, this is actually a very cool addition the MIT campus. The fact the leading technology institution is endorsing the arts does more than we think for this industry. One question I would have it how much pushback this project saw when it was presented. Being that this institution is mostly comprised of engineers and scientist makes me wonder how much support was received from the MIT community. At the very least I hope this initiative continues to attract attention and other universities around the country take after this trend and implement the culture it into their campus. If there is ONE thing that I have learned at this school is that people that take advantage of interdisciplinary studies are PROVEN to be more successful whatever it maybe.