Top designers, industry experts, new products, site-specific training, intensive courses, and behind-the-scenes activities are all set for this year at LDI. Located in Las Vegas, October 20 to 26, this year's LDI includes several options to customize a training program during your visit.
“Our training program is designed so that professionals can mix and match specific sessions and tailor the courses to their own needs,” says Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, LDI conference director. “We realize that people have very busy lives, so the concentration of training at LDI allows you to make the most of your time.”
This year's LDInstitute includes four days of intensive courses provided by industry experts in media servers, consoles, lighting, software, electrical, rigging, and audio. New for this year is site-specific training with Cirque du Soleil and The Wynn Resort, taking attendees backstage to see first-hand how the technical challenges are solved.
“We worked very closely with the folks at Cirque du Soleil, especially Calum Pearson, Kim Scott, and the operation production managers to make some really incredible training possible in their technically cutting-edge theatres,” adds Lampert-Gréaux. “The same is true for Rick Gray and his tech staff at The Wynn Resort.” These special site-specific sessions allow LDI attendees to go backstage at the theatres for KÀ, Mystère, and Le Rêve to see how things really happen from a production and technical standpoint. Also new this year is a special effects class taught by award-winning special effects designer Gregory Meeh of J&M Special Effects and Matt Dillingham of Advanced Entertainment Services.
Backstage Las Vegas 2008 includes three performances and two jam-packed days of behind-the-scenes tours of some of the top venues and attractions in Las Vegas, including: Jersey Boys, the 2007 Tony Award-winning musical; Phantom Of The Opera; Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino; and Cirque du Soleil's newest Las Vegas spectacle: Criss Angel Believe. Post-show Q&A sessions in the theatres allow attendees to meet and interface with the design and tech staff at each performance.
Back for the third year is projection designer Bob Bonniol of Mode Studios, who leads the faculty for the Live Design Projection Master Classes. As the creative consultant, Bonniol calls upon such top designers as Michael Cotten (Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Tour), Caryl Glaab (Blue Man Group), and Francis Laporte (Cirque du Soleil, Love and Believe) to take you on a magical mystery tour of projection, from products and projects to tools and techniques.
Attendees can choose the Full Conference Option for maximum flexibility or the new Six- and Twelve-Pack Conference Packages. Other session packages include:
ESTA Tech Track: Information-packed sessions by the experts working in ESTA's technical standards programs. Free to all ESTA members with an ESTA sticker on their badge.
Technologies For Worship: Learn how to effectively use the best of today's professional technology to enhance the message in houses of worship, a market segment that continues to expand. These classes are presented in conjunction with Technologies For Worship magazine by professionals in the church market whose expertise in many cases is applicable across many different applications.
Additional sessions include: High-Tech Production Techniques, Technology 101, How Tos, and the LDI Lighting Summit.
“These tracks present everything from basics to advanced concepts, sessions with leading designers, and information about issues important to the entire industry,” adds Lampert-Gréaux. “Check out the new Six- or Twelve-Pack option to attend a variety of sessions.”
All course descriptions, times and dates, and online registration details are available at ldishow.com.