LDI blog

As we settle into 2020 and the new decade we have been reflecting a lot on the fabulous 2019 we had. One of our highlights was this past November when we had the pleasure of sponsoring and presenting at our first Live Design International Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Myself(Samo) and Ryan had a blast exploring the ecosystem of LDI, running into new and old colleagues, presenting two of our touring installations, and being at the vanguard of live lighting. It was my first time to Las Vegas, I have always wanted to go to understand, get a taste, blink with the lights, and experience something absurd.

We were able to connect with the lovely Jessi Cybulski of Questex who we worked closely with to get our foot into the door at LDI. Our angle to the convention was marketing, networking, showing our faces, and checking out some of the newest lighting tools other exhibitors had on display. We were a frontrow sponsor of LDI, with our name and logo sitting next to some of the biggest lighting and tech brands in the world including Chauvet, PRG, Intel, and Barco.

I worked with the fun Erica Horn from Questex to manage marketing assets at the convention that insured our name was EVERYWHERE really. From 8,000 handouts to all the guests, to backlight signage on the exhibitor floor, we were able to design and represent our studio greatly among the top professionals of the industry. I have never really designed ads(my older brother is in the industry) so it was a fresh angle to represent our studio and create visual language that was honest and effective in the environment.

Alongside the massive marketing package that came with our front row sponsor, we also worked with WorldStage to present Sound Sculpture and Figuration at the convention. Both pieces were installed in the lounge of the exhibit, which showcased other interactive pieces as well. The area served as a location for the attendees to relax away from all of the exhibitor booths and engage with some light-based art. Ryan camped here most of the time, holding down Sound Sculpture while I was able to network around the floor meeting with several new and current colleagues. One highlight of that adventure was running into Josh and George Jacobstein of RoseBrand. They are long time colleagues, have pioneered the fabrics of production for years and have been tremendous supporters in the past, specifically with Glitche. It was so nice to see familiar faces in a place so far away from home.

Ryan and I were also invited to the Knight of Illumination Awards which was a fun getaway from the convention hall where we dressed up (always remember your cowboy hat), had a 3 course dinner, and watched the awards ceremony for best work in in live-shows for performance, theater, and tv broadcast where if you win, you get a sword..yeah a massive sword (ahem Jon Snow)! We sat at a round table in the back of the room called Table 45 with 3 other people, Michael of POSSIBLE, and Jean & Hila of of PixMob. Good people, good banter, good laughs. Little did we know was that Michael was up for an award for top visuals for Lady Gaga’s residency in LV. His nomination came up and he won! We were so amped for him and when he got onto the microphone the first thing he thanked was Table 45!! What a riot!

Beyond LDI, Ryan and I were able to explore Las Vegas a bit more. Of course there is “the strip” of all the casinos, flashy lights, consumerism, but we got the opportunity to get out of the strip to discover the Arts District and a local artist’s brand new installation. I have been following #madewithnotch on Instagram as I will begin to learn the software NotchFX soon to up our real-time visual abilities and with that came the discovery of Bret Bolton’s new piece called Potential Energy. It was installed in a pop up warehouse with no flashy lights surrounding it or any indication that much was happening on the street block at all. We entered curious and came out inspired. The piece was fresh, playful, dynamic, and beautifully presented. We got to meet Bret, he gave us a tour of the space that had other installations and revealed some of his techniques.

We had a few other wild nights in Las Vegas, partying with the Informa team at an ex-MTV’s real world apartment that had a bowling alley in it?! and we went to MGM’s Hakkasan club. I definitely found my absurd moment in the casino (I never gambled once!) and club, by just observing the ecosystems of both. The full spectrum of humans consuming, partying, and dwelling to the maximum. I think I could be a fly on the wall for hours getting a smirk from just watching all of the people react, behave, dance, or fall asleep at the slot machines. It was absurd.

We did not get the chance to go to the desert, but that would be one of the main reasons to go back for me. I flew in at night so didn’t get the bird’s eye view in, but was able to fly out at sunset. WOW, the landscape goes from city to dry mountainous desert like a half moon cookie. I had a window seat and couldn’t help but be blown away by such a foreign landscape to me. I think my neck is still sore from looking for too long! I would love to go back to explore, record, and experience what it is like to be there with my feet on the ground.

There were many other fun things that happened on our trip, but as the saying goes: what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!