Replica Piano and Concert Set for Prince
After being hired as the lighting, video and staging designer for Prince’s recent One Nite Alone tour, Gary Wescott found himself in a bit of a pickle after arriving at Paisley Park for preproduction twelve days before the first date only to find no existing set.
Takumi, Prince’s guitar tech and liason, contacted Paul Busch at Vision Fab. “I got Gary here pulling his hair out. We need someone who can make things happen.” Busch and Wescott immediately began working together and designed a set using existing pieces in Vision Fab’s rental stock. Vision Fab’s staff went to work to build the rest.
To create a “human-pyramid” sort of look upstage right and left, half-round tiered risers were outfitted with velvet, pillows and a backing of clear plexy to serve as onstage seating areas. For keys, drums and horns, a standard riser system was supplied insuring Wescott could make changes on the fly throughout the tour.
In just a few days, Busch assembled a versatile fabric and drape system. Comprised of six travelers and numerous fabric panels, the system included six each pillar shaped down legs and proscenium, all scarab sewn of purple crushed velvet. These divided and bordered three tea stained muslin panels and served to mask the truss, travelers and gathered drape. Travelers were outfitted with three black sharkstooth scrim panels to black out the entire stage and six custom painted mural drops that were to be utilized in different show segments.
At the time, Vision Fab was in the middle of fabricating a replica Schimmel Pegasus grand piano for Prince to use on the same tour. Designed to house Prince’s keyboard, the piano shell was constructed from a combination of steel, wood and fiberglass. The piano’s lid extended via electronic motor and the entire piano cabinet was supported by a plexiglass pedestal.
Having only a downloaded photo from the internet for reference posed some difficulty and the actual size of the piano was in question. To ensure the physical dimensions were correct, Takumi personally visited Vision Fab and inspected the piano during mid-construction. After giving the ‘OK’ on the size and height, the piano was finished and delivered.
Vision Fab delivered the entire set just eight days after the order. Lights and video were designed, ordered and programmed by Wescott only days before the tour’s first show. “The number of looks Gary created throughout the show is mind blowing,” Busch said. You can see Prince and his new look currently on tour in Europe.
After being hired as the lighting, video and staging designer for Prince’s recent One Nite Alone tour, Gary Wescott found himself in a bit of a pickle after arriving at Paisley Park for preproduction twelve days before the first date only to find no existing set.
Takumi, Prince’s guitar tech and liason, contacted Paul Busch at Vision Fab. “I got Gary here pulling his hair out. We need someone who can make things happen.” Busch and Wescott immediately began working together and designed a set using existing pieces in Vision Fab’s rental stock. Vision Fab’s staff went to work to build the rest.
To create a “human-pyramid” sort of look upstage right and left, half-round tiered risers were outfitted with velvet, pillows and a backing of clear plexy to serve as onstage seating areas. For keys, drums and horns, a standard riser system was supplied insuring Wescott could make changes on the fly throughout the tour.
In just a few days, Busch assembled a versatile fabric and drape system. Comprised of six travelers and numerous fabric panels, the system included six each pillar shaped down legs and proscenium, all scarab sewn of purple crushed velvet. These divided and bordered three tea stained muslin panels and served to mask the truss, travelers and gathered drape. Travelers were outfitted with three black sharkstooth scrim panels to black out the entire stage and six custom painted mural drops that were to be utilized in different show segments.
At the time, Vision Fab was in the middle of fabricating a replica Schimmel Pegasus grand piano for Prince to use on the same tour. Designed to house Prince’s keyboard, the piano shell was constructed from a combination of steel, wood and fiberglass. The piano’s lid extended via electronic motor and the entire piano cabinet was supported by a plexiglass pedestal.
Having only a downloaded photo from the internet for reference posed some difficulty and the actual size of the piano was in question. To ensure the physical dimensions were correct, Takumi personally visited Vision Fab and inspected the piano during mid-construction. After giving the ‘OK’ on the size and height, the piano was finished and delivered.
Vision Fab delivered the entire set just eight days after the order. Lights and video were designed, ordered and programmed by Wescott only days before the tour’s first show. “The number of looks Gary created throughout the show is mind blowing,” Busch said. You can see Prince and his new look currently on tour in Europe.
