From June 7 to July 27, country star Tim McGraw will visit some of the North American markets he's missed over the past few tours. Nashville-based lighting contractor Premier Global Productions is providing a mostly High End Systems rig, including 46 Studio Beams™, 42 Studio Spot® 575s, six Studio Color® 250s, and six Studio Spot® CMY 575s, all controlled by a Flying Pig Systems Wholehog® II console.
LD LeRoy Bennett designed the last tour, and for this short run, "It's the same basic design," says lighting director Jerome Thompson. "This is somewhat of an extension of that but with a few modifications. I'm really sold on the Studio Beams. I'm going to use them for a long time now." Thompson shares programming duties with Eric "Guido" Perry. "We're tag-teaming on the Hog," Thompson says. "The Wholehog II is definitely my choice of console now that I've learned it. It always works and it seems to be everywhere."
Joining Thompson on the lighting crew are crew chief Eric "Guido" Perry, lighting techs Danny Hayes and Jeff Lavallee, master electrician Eric Marshall, production coordinator Ed Wannebo, production manager Arthur Kemish, and riggers Tom "Zeppy" Lyster and Bobby Savage.