How Roadies became Network Engineers

Nicholas Whitehead

Playlists: 'emf2024' videos starting here / audio

Over the past five decades, the concert & live event industry has undergone a dramatic transformation into a major sector of the economy, with the production playing a pivotal role. Artists and their shows constantly seek the latest lighting & video technology, intricate stage setups, and top-notch audio quality to dazzle fans. Ticket sales are a major revenue stream for Artists, and a high-quality production show, sells tickets.

This high level of production is only possible because of an industry full of talented roadies. Behind every arena or stadium show lies a hundreads of engineers tirelessly setting up, operating, and dismantling these elaborate stage setups, often in a new venue, on a daily basis. Long gone are the days of makeshift equipment cobbled together, roadies now navigate highly sophisticated AV control systems supported by intricate network infrastructures.

A vast array of specialised hardware caters specifically to live events, engineered to be both flexible for on-the-fly adjustments and durable for daily setup and teardown. Reliability is paramount, with equipment expected to perform flawlessly show after show, never missing a beat.

In this talk we are going to take an overview into the world of live event production, shedding light on how roadies consistently deliver stellar performances day in and day out. We'll explore the intricacies of AV networks, offering an insightful overview of the behind-the-scenes magic that brings unforgettable concerts to life.

Licensed to the public under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Download

Embed

Share:

Tags