8 Date UK Inspiral Carpets Tour !!!

[Luminarti]

Well we set off for Manchester (To meet up with tour bus) in 3 hours!!
Then onto Birmingham to set up for first gig. Then seven gigs in a row all round the UK - mainly Carling Academy's.

I've packed up two full Vj rigs - one for the tour and one for a double booking next friday in London which Matt (CataraX) is helping out with alongside my assistant Rob. And helping me with the band in Manchester is Leon (Chromatouch).

And have just set up a PC/Mixer/midi thing for my residency for Saturday in Newcastle (Shindig @ Digital) which Louise is doing. So fingers crossed.

Will try and add to this thread each day with any exciting happenings, like me falling off a ladder and through the projection screen. Or me suffering a stroke from the stress.

Mark

[baron]

coming along to see the show in leeds, as leon is kipping at mine that night

look forward to it, always interesting to see visuals in a different context to the normal dance muzak

[deepvisual]

I worked on the original tour way back when.
I guess its moved along a bit since then, or are you still using kodak carousels and the same slides?

[Luminarti]

Well, Birmingham was a wicked 600 capacity kick off, thanks to leon for his live camera skills. Glasgow was mental with 1200 peeps. And then Lincoln Uni just gone with 1000 ish. Have had some nightmares, playing the wrong visuals, showing DVD menus - the lot. But you've got learn some how!!!
Got a lot of video, so will see if I can get some up tomorrow.

Mark (sterrrressssed)

[hookturn]

Have had some nightmares, playing the wrong visuals, showing DVD menus - the lot.

Mark (sterrrressssed)

Lol it sounds like my night on Saturday.

[Luminarti]

Well on the Sunday before the Norwich gig, we all caught a sunday lunch.
Was the waterfront - a nice little low ceiling thing with 650 people.
Had to put drummer to the left and put screen on the right.
Can you believe we moved the drummer to fit the screen.
Oh and the Sun newspaper are also covering the tour at www.thesun.co.uk/bizarre.

Oh - and just to make things hard for me - The band gave me a 480 by 480 flash file with audio - and get me to kick the gig off with it. And DI boxes and stuff are not me speciality - So I'm always preying aroound intro time.

Anyway - got some amazing video - And having just had 2 days in Brighton, I can honestly say it is out of this world touring at this level. Even had people doing bits of rigging for me!!

And last night in Brighton went a bit mental - found Kila Kella, Zinc, Pendulum - did a bit video for it and ended up interviewing Pendulum at 4am this morning. will post that vid too.

Mark

[Luminarti]

Here is a picture, will follow up with more and bits of vid as they come.

Mark

[Luminarti]

First two photos from Lincoln

Mark

[Luminarti]

This one is from Shepards Bush London - I was soooo nervous

[Luminarti]

This from Leeds

[deepvisual]

I have to ask you...

were the band happy with the results?
from the photos it looks like I-MAG without the MAG.
the singer being almost the same size in real life as he is on the screen.
did you have playback as well or was it all cameras??

[Luminarti]

Hi DeepVisual

The band were happy with the results, with any feedback affecting the following nights show. I did even do some production on the road.

I'm not sure what I-Mag is, so can't comment on your second piont.

Thirdly, I'm sure the particular pic does not do justice to the live camera work which maybe made up 40% of our total video output.

Sources were the videos to most of the tracks, which you'll be familiar with.
Then we had some live video from last years tour.
Then press cutings/bits of stuff the band had collected/ some original cartoons of the band/NME cover (USA Tour) which I blended together.
Then we had three cameras - two static, one operated.
And then I also used a lot of feedback/slow shutter to get a different look to the live stuff.

The best gig was Leeds - Rob Cairns on camera was amazing, he had learnt what shots fitted with certain song parts etc...., I was well up to speed with what shots he was getting, cutting the three cameras, when to use feedback and source swapping (six sources / only four inputs).

I might mention Rick Witter from Shed Seven was well impressed and we are working on some stuff with him as a result of our Leeds gig.

Did you get to London? - I met your friend there I'm pretty sure.

Mark

[deepvisual]

i did try and call you...
but didn't go to the show.

glad to hear there was more going on than the video camera.

I-mag is the term for onstage cameras showing close ups of the band, the idea being that people at the back of stadiums can see whats going on.

of course if the performers aren't any bigger its a bit pointless, but with the effects you mention it all makes sense...

touring is never easy,
congrats on a job well done.

G

[many2]

I believe IMAG stands for Image MAGnification

just found a link to an online dictionary confirming that :
http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Image+Magnification+(video+production)