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When you need the best 1st AD in the world!
Iain Patrick to stage! - the living Legend!
Not many people believe that there is any better 1st Assistant Director than Iain Patrick.
He's the only guy I've ever met that wears four radios - a total pro!
Yes, I flew to Monte Carlo in this helicopter
Some people do this all the time!
This was for the second Fashion Rocks gig we did in 2005. For some reason Anya had to come by road but I got to "chopper in" to Monaco because I was directing the show.
My real claim to fame however was to turn down an invitation to Bon Jovi's yacht party after the gig so that I could get a nice early night!
So that was quite rock n' roll - After this somewhat glam extravegance, I got home to find that Karine had booked me into a real flea pit of a B&B in Kings Cross for my next show. When I showed her a picture of the horrible room, she merely said in her lovely French way "Yes, you deserved it".
I challenge anyone to have a job with more variety than an event manager!
VIP Children Liaison Team
Here's our team of lovely ladies that looked after the 70 children from around the world that were hand picked to attend the Harry Potter book launch.
Not only did the kids need to attend a multitude of events around Edinburgh over the three days, they also needed to make the time in one day to read as much of the actual book as they could so that they could interview JK at the end of an action packed weekend.
Paula, Gill, Anya, Jo, Sarah, Vicky, Sarah, Amy, Elaine & Siobhan
A Kids' Press Conference
Harry Potter Press Conference 2005
We had fun staging a press conference with JK Rowling after we'd done the book launch. She had expressly asked for members of the press to be in attendance, but for them to be children only!
No one thought to take a picture of her actually in the nice red velvet chair we bought! - No matter. We got to keep it afterwards though. it's a "conversation piece" whenever people come round.
I Love Risk Assessments!
Oh how we laughed when this turned up on site without us being consulted beforehand! I think we must've had an over-eager entertainment agency or something...
Of course, a fire breathing horse!
Yes, this is a life size, fire breathing remote control robot horse! Very useful for a lot of the events we have managed over the years. This arrived for the Harry Potter Book Launch we did at Edinburgh Castle in 2005. Lovely big show, live on air to countries around the world, with celebrities, animals, children, explosives, government officials, Hollywood directors - all that...... and then this horse, which, showed up without a risk assessment.
We thought it might be worth a shot at first so our safety manager, Julian Bentley at MRL got it to breathe a few flames for a quick on-site viability test. "Put it back in it's stable please..... right now!"
Extreme Window Blacking!
Here you see Pete, Anya and myself finding a way to keep the sun out of our cocktail party lighting a few floors below.
Pete, Spike & Anya on top of the world
The purpose of the event was, amongst other things, to promote the new building in Gresham Street in London on behalf of our client who built and owned the place.
I should say though, since the huge glass atrium was one of the main selling points of the office, blacking it out was a slightly odd thing to do
Let's be honest though.... lighting effects are far more important than just boring glass and sunlight!
Below are some more shots of the rig and the end result
Rehearsal for 19 at the Albert
Kim Gavin on Stage in London
I loved the horn section in this set.... our Director was Kim Gavin..... A very accomplished theatrical and special event director and choreographer.
Party Planning Site Visit
Gresham Street Atrium in 2002
Sometimes, when you site visit a space for a cocktail party, you find yourself saying " This is gonna take some work". Fortunately, this atrium in London for Standard Life scrubbed up pretty good in the end.
Does Night Train blog?
Well yes.... except my industry does tend to require a fairly professional level of discretion surrounding some of the things that happen... and not just backstage either.... for example, I worked for over a year on the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies... and couldn't really tell anyone what was happening throughout, and even after the events.
But hey, here's my "professional" Night Train blog nonetheless. You'll love it!
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