Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010

BACKGROUND

Guitar legend Eric Clapton created Crossroads Centre in Antigua as is a non-profit, international center of excellence for the treatment of alcohol and other drug addictions in 1998.  In 2007 and 2010, Eric Clapton created a day-long music festival featuring legendary guitarist to benefit the Crossroads Center at Toyota Park Stadium in Bridgeview, just outside of Chicago. The event is also filmed for DVD release.

Stage Drawing

WHAT WE DID

Upstaging was brought on board as technical producers for the event based on the positive relationship we have had providing the lighting and transportation for Eric Clapton’s previous tours.  We acted as the link between Clapton’s management, Clapton’s production designer Dave Maxwell, the promoter, the venue, and all the production vendors.  Upstaging created all the working drawings to keep everyone on the same page and worked with the venue’s engineer and riggerson the complexities of a hanging a uniquely designed rig. 

Crossroads Stage

Upstaging also produced the Artist tent behind the stage that was sponsored by Fender Guitars as well as show VIP tent and Guitar Village, a “midway” with vendors and smaller musical stages outside of the stadium.

Fender Artist Tent

WHY IT WORKED

A one-day, outdoor stadium concert with over thirtyhigh profile artist and all their backline is a lot to keep track of.  Upstaging managed the logistics to keep gear moving behind the scenes to make a drama-free day for artist and audience alike.

Crossroads Stage

Bombardier Recreational Products Club Sea-Doo/Ski-Doo

BACKGROUND

Twice a year, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), makers of Sea-Doo personal water crafts, Ski-Doo snowmobiles, and Can-Am ATVs and Spyder roadsters, conducts their biannual meeting inviting their dealers to see the new products, hear from the corporate leadership, attend seminars, place orders for the next model year, and have some relaxation time away from their dealerships.

Lighting Detail Drawing

WHAT WE DID

Upstaging produces the general session and exhibit hall showroom for BRP showcasing their products.   We meet with BRP staff throughout the year, bouncing ideas back and forth for new product reveals and showing them the latest developments in entertainment technology to help them get their message to their dealers.  We provide staff and logistics, as well as CAD services to coordinate with the venues.

Exhibit - Product Showroom

WHY IT WORKED

Upstaging’s experience in corporate shows, trade shows, and concerts brings knowledge to the table to make successful, live presentations.

Exhibit Display Rendering

General Session - Outdoors

General Session

Fender Musical Instruments - NAMM Show Exhibit

BACKGROUND

Fender Musical Instrument Corporation, one of the leaders in the musical instrument industry, is best known for the signature Stratocaster and Telecaster series electric guitars. The NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants) is the premiere music industry tradeshow in North America heald annually in January at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Fender Production Drawing

WHAT WE DID

Upstaging worked with Fender Musical Instruments in developing a unique exhibit that incorporated a wide variety of brands that are in the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation family by creating a exhibit concept that allowed all the Fender brands to be in the same space while creating a custom branded area for each brand in the Fender family.

Fender sought to create a eyecatching exhibit that incorporated images and branding specific to each brand. Additionally Fender hoped to incorporate live performance areas throughout the exhibit. Upstaging worked with Fender developing sketches, drawings and rendering to produce a custom exhibit that brought together all of Fender's needs while using their vast exhibit experience to make sure it would be as economical as possible.

The exhibit was also constructed in a manner that allowed it individual brands to be reallocated for other events on an as needed basis.

Additionally Upstaging Inc used its vast concert experience to create a theare a exhibit hall that welcomed the top Fender entertainment acts.

Fender Custom Shop NAMM Display

Fender Display

WHY IT WORKED

Upstaging’s collaboration with Fender allowed them to create a high quality display that saves Fender money compared to their previous exhibit costs. The streamlined approach to developing the exhibit that Upstaging put into practice has kept them working as a successfull partnership in the entertainment industry.

Fender Theatre

Bombardier Recreational Products Can-Am Spyder Roadster Launch

BACKGROUND

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), makers of the Ski-Doo snow mobile and Sea-Doo personal watercrafts, recently rebranded their ATV division and needed to conduct a high-profile launch of their new product – a three-wheeled motor cycle called the Spyder Roadster.  To emphasize this groundbreaking technology, the launch was held in San Diego at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in the same hangars that the movie Top Gun was filmed at.

Spyder Launch - System Build

WHAT WE DID

Upstaging has had a long-term relationship working with BRP producing their annual shows and exhibits.  Upstaging worked as the liaison between BRP and the Marines at Miramar to coordinate logistics and movement on and off an active military base.   Upstaging provided production design as well as generators, raised seating, and stage hand labor.  We also coordinated the master of ceremonies and vehicle enthusiast Jay Leno’s arrival on the base’s flight line and his presentation needs.  Following the launch, a reception was held in the hangar with military aircraft on the tarmac that required additional illumination.  Upstaging also produced the showroom exhibit hall that showcased the models and accessories available for the Spyder as well.

Spyder Launch General Session

WHY IT WORKED

Loading in a one dozen semi-trailer show into a hangar on a military base requires careful coordination and well planned logistics.  The Marine base commander even complemented us on the organization and speed of the building and dismantle of such a large scale project.  As show producers, we had to be sensitive to a long list of requirements from the military to be guests at the base, but also fulfill our client’s objectives with the launch of their new product, which had to be as ground breaking as the Spyder is as well.