Bred in the heart of the West Coast honky tonks, ACM and CMA award-winner Jon Pardi has already recorded eight chart-topping singles in his young career. Having toured with such artists as Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson and Luke Bryan, Pardi is quickly becoming one of the hottest stars in country music today. Needing a production design that would be able to handle a variety of stages for his 2018 tour in support of his latest album California Sunrise, Pardi worked with the creative team at KYVA Design with lighting and LED video tour support provided by Elite Multimedia Productions.
“This is the second design we have done for Jon with the first being solely a set design back in 2014,” began Chris Reade, lead designer KYVA Design. “This year, we had the opportunity to expand on the design adding in lighting and LED video elements as well. Knowing that we would be playing on a lot different stages from festivals to arenas, we wanted to create a powerful package that was somewhat nimble, along with the ability to scale the design, based on venue size.”
As the design process moved forward, the production and management teams began to look for a tour provider to supply the gear behind the design. Wanting to make sure they chose the ideal provider for the design package needed, the team looked at a few potential partners, and Elite Multimedia Productions was soon brought on board.
He continued, “We did talk to a few different vendors with the purpose of finding the best match of gear and budget. In the end, Elite Multimedia Productions was chosen by the management team, and we were excited about the opportunity to work with them again. We have only had good experiences with them in the past, and this tour was no different.”
Now ready to finalize the tour design, Reade and design partner Jay Ballinger got to work. Knowing the type of energy and atmosphere that Pardi likes to see in his design, they created an expansive fan experience for any type of performance venue.
“The final production design consists of six set carts that roll onto the stage with lifts to get the Aryton Magic Panels elevated at different heights,” explained Ballinger. “They basically make a wall behind the band and vary from 9-feet to 12-feet tall. We then have a series of low-res video walls upstage with GLP Impression X4 Bar fixtures and Martin Atomic 3000 strobes which are both quite punchy. Our touring LD Jacob Mueller did a great job programming the show, and when fans see him this year they are in for a lively and energetic show.”
With tour stops currently scheduled through the end of the year, the Jon Pardi tour is both headlining its own dates, while also providing opening support for the Luke Bryan tour with Sam Hunt. In a design that will be put to the test for both performance and durability, Reade is confident they made the right choices for both the gear and the tour provider.
“We are a big fan of the Aryton products and Jacob was truly phenomenal at getting some wonderfully vibrant and unique looks,” concluded Reade. “This tour is a true opportunity for Jon to make statement as an artist out on the road, and it was great to have a tour provider we could count on. Our experience with Elite Multimedia Productions has been wonderful, and we look forward to working together again soon.”
Elite Multimedia Productions is a privately-owned, leading supplier of the most up-to-date audio, video and lighting technologies. With a combined 85 years of industry experience, our team of dedicated professionals knows how to pair the right technology with your vision whether partnering with you in a rental, systems installation, or sales relationship. With an unconditional desire to make your production or project a complete success, our passion and knowledge to innovate knows no bounds. For more information on how Elite Multimedia Productions is the right partner for you, visit www.elitemultimedia.com, follow us on Twitter at @EliteMultimedia or find us on Facebook or Instagram.