Someone should make a reality TV show out about All Access. The key to a good reality show is characters that cause viewers to shake their heads and wonder, “Do these people really exist?” and, yes, our company is chock full of outlandish people who would put Honey Boo Boo Child and Snooki to shame. Take Bob Hughes, for example. He’s the sales guy who we like to call “Mr. Television” because he assists many television-oriented art directors with their creative vision, including the design of custom set pieces and gigantic audience risers. Bob is also notable because he sports a blonde mullet circa 1983, wears one musical note that dangles out of his left ear, and plays the drums in his own hard rock cover band, Without Warning. (Check out their website!) Imagine my surprise this afternoon when he sauntered into my office in his eighties duds and casually remarked, “that was a really funny Nikki Minaj moment in the production meeting today.” Yes, it was, Bob.
Anyway, instead of reciting equipment lists today, our news page is having a tabloid moment. It is just one of those days.
As most of you know, the iHeartRadio music festival was a raging success this past weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Nearly every genre of music was represented at the second annual event with a lineup that included some of our favorite clients. Our Operations Manager, Joe Patnode, was impressed at the way the show came together in the midst of “what looked like organized chaos” during rehearsals. Patnode estimated that there must have been 300 employees onsite from various vendors, including riggers, lighting designers, sound technicians, and, of course, staging crew. There were also 200 volunteers onsite who catered to various production and artist needs in order to ensure that the show went on without a hitch.
Even if you didn’t have a chance to listen or watch the show, you probably heard about Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and his now infamous onstage freak-out. We provided a large quantity of staging equipment, including the stairs that provided the background for his guitar smashing. You can watch the video here, but be warned that it is not safe content for work, children, or high-strung wives. We are very happy to report that Billie Joe is seeking treatment for substance abuse and wish him all the best. Additionally, according to Rolling Stone, rehab will not affect his upcoming appearance as a mentor on The Voice.
