Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Super Bowl XLII
PRG’s expert solutions make each show look like a winner.
The Challenge: Light up the most intense twenty minutes in show business.
The Solution: There’s no margin for technical problems in the intense but carefully orchestrated activity that precedes the star-studded Super Bowl halftime shows. For the 2008 performance by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Super Bowl XLII®, crews had less than seven minutes to set up the stage, which consisted of 60 carts — including 35 containing lighting equipment. As in years past, PRG’s experience and innovative solutions provided the edge that helped lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Bob Barnhart and production designer Bruce Rodgers realize their spectacular vision without a hitch.
To control more than 800 LED fixtures in and around the stage, the designers used PRG’s Virtuoso® console plus Mbox Extreme®
Media Server. “Utilizing the Mbox pixel map rather than running the units directly from the console saved a lot of time, both in troubleshooting and in programming,” recalls programmer Mark Butts.
Two of PRG’s proprietary Series 400® Power and Data Distribution Systems similarly provided the link that kept those vital connections secure, nimble and stable. “Most carts required only one cable [for power and data] connecting to the Series 400 rack,” says Tony Ward, PRG’s vice president, television and special events. “Using Series 400 was the right choice because of the limited time we had and because it’s so reliable.”
Following the show, crews quickly cleared the field and packed the gear on trucks. “The PRG technical crews have become really expert at this,” observes Butts. “The show simply would not happen without their expertise and dedication to this project.”