Bandit Lites recently donated $100,000 worth of lighting for the 23rd annual Knoxville Heart Gala. The black tie fundraiser took place on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event raised over $600,000, of which all proceeds benefited the American Heart Association.
This year’s theme was “Wild at Heart.” Bandit CEO, Michael T. Strickland and wife, Nicole Strickland co-chaired the event, which included fine dining, unique silent and live auctions, and dancing to live music. Former University of Tennessee Offensive
Coordinator and current Duke University Head Football Coach, David Cutcliffe was the honorary chairperson.
Lighting designer Steve Hoover chose to use Martin MAC 2000 Washes, Profiles, and
Performances, MAC 600s, MAC 300s, Vari-Lite 3500 Washes, Vari-Lite 3000 Spots,
Coemar LED Pars, Color Kinetics 4 ft. iColor Accents, and Bliss lights to light the event.
Lighting was controlled by a Whole Hog II.
To achieve the overall ambiance, the VL 3500 Washes were used to provide saturated color, where as the VL 3000 Spots provided texture and highlights. Hoover used Bliss lights to portray a “starry night” feel on the ceiling. Martin MAC 2000 Profiles were added to create patterns on the walls.
At the core of the lighting design was a heart-shaped video screen, surrounded by
Coemar LED PARs, which was featured at the front wall of the room. Color web panels lit the rest of the front wall curtain, ran with a Martin Maxedia.
A rounded stage filled the middle of the room, lit by a circle truss with Color Kinetics 4ft
iColor Accents. Martin MAC 600s and VL 2000 Washes provided the entertainment lighting for Nashville band, Burning Las Vegas.
“It was really an honor to work with Michael on an event that means this much to him,” comments Hoover. “[He and Nicole] have really set the bar high for next year’s Heart
Gala and I am proud to be a part of that.”
Giff Swartwas project manager and lighting technicians Jason Workmanand Eric
Shaffermanrounded out the crew.