Laser Spectacles was hired back at Mardi Gras Galveston in 2013 to add laser effects to the Jagermeister Stage at 21st Street and Strand Street.  The weather was better this year – no rain, and not so cold!  The setup was better, too – our stage was the only one in the parking lot so we had a little more room to work with.  Once again we projected sponsor’s logos and graphics shows onto the adjacent wall that could be seen well down the Strand.

A Laser Spiral

The smoke was hanging perfectly

The Buzz Logo

The Jagermeister crew was great to work with, and the DJs were fantastic, attracting a huge crowd to the stage. We thoroughly enjoyed participating in this show.

Jim Beam – popular at Mardi Gras!

The green liquid sky

We like red lasers!

Buc Days (short for Buccaneer Days) is one of the oldest festivals in Texas, operating continuously since 1938 to celebrate the coming of the summer season.  For the 2013 festival they decided to run laser advertising for the upcoming event projected on to the Bay Building (Compass Bank) situated near the nightlife district and close to Shoreline Drive next to Corpus Christi Bay.  The goals were to highlight the Carnival, the Children’s Parade, the Illuminated Night Parade, the Rodeo, tell where to buy tickets, and to present the main sponsor’s logos.

Rodeo from Shoreline Drive

Miller Logo from Shoreline Drive

We developed a 3 minute looping show that communicated all of the details – perhaps too many details!  Upon installing and viewing the show, we decided that it needed to communicate over a longer distance, so that people in the nightlife district and in cars driving by could get the messages.  We reprogrammed the show overnight to run the messages in a much shorter fashion and using larger text that moved less.  We were able to duplicate the show on both sides of the building.

Carnival highlight

View from the entertainment district

One unique challenge of this show was projecting the lasers on to a severely concave wall – something rarely seen.  Using the “geometric correction” capabilities of the Lasergraph DSP, this was solved and the graphics looked great from any angle, and were readable from far away.

An East Texas Outdoor Laser Spectacle!

Laser Spectacles was invited back to the Lutcher Theater in Orange, Texas for a great event on March 15, 2013.  The event was the Bassmasters Elite fishing tournament held that weekend in Orange.  The Lutcher Theater was asked to provide the entertainment event for the Friday night, so they chose our laser show.

We had not been back to the Lutcher in a few years, and even then, we were indoors in the fabulous theater.  Now, we were planning an outdoor event using the side of the building itself as the screen – this was good, because the theater has huge white walls all around!  We selected the side that faced their giant parking lot, with plenty of room for a crowd to watch the show from.

Laser Circles Floating

Graphics, Beams, and Lumia

Everyone was amazed at how many people showed up for the show – I think the final count was around 3500.  At any rate, the parking lot was filled, and it was difficult to walk through the area, so we went around.  We performed three new Queen songs created special for tonight at the Lutcher staff’s request – they are bringing a Queen act in on Monday night so this would help get the celebration going.

The beams were unimpeded!

Everyone’s favorite – blue lasers!

We also performed one of Tim Walsh’s “laser music” pieces at the request of local DJ’s Jason and Matthew of KLVU’s “Space Capsule” show – the award winning “Wyrms w/ Bowties”.  Then we performed the entire “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, followed by a couple of great Floyd encores to round out the evening.  The weather was perfect spring Texas weather.

Laser Spectacles spent an enchanting weekend performing at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford, Texas (just SW of Houston) for the Indian New Year celebration. The manir crew outdid itself, arranging for audio, video, liver performance on four stages, narration, history, and a grand fireworks/laser finale!

The manir itself is a holy place.  Shoes are removed before entering, and services are performed throughout the day.   The manir is fashioned from Turkish limestone and Italian marble , hand carved in India and then transported here to be assembled with no mortar upon a foundation sunk deep into the ground.  It is meant to last hundreds of years, and maintenance is performed constantly.

To make it more fantastic, lighting is provided by a network of Lumenyte fiber optic cable spread throughout the manir in tiny tunnels drilled into the stone.  There are over fifty fiber illuminators on the roof of the manir.

Laser photos credit: Stone Cannizzaro – thanks, Stone, for the great photos and video!

Morning sun on the manir

Testing the lasers

Lasers Dance

We were given a detailed soundtrack with timings for the entire hour and ten minute show.  We were able to carefully choreograph the lasers to some wonderful music.

A great combination

Fireworks smoke – the best

Crossed green and gold

While we had a last minute rain scare, the weather turned out to be perfect for a great laser show.  The wind drifted the smoke slowly through the laser beams, and the fireworks were non stop for the final ten minutes of the show, adding great smoke and mayhem for the lasers!

’twas a good night for color

Laser Blue Beams

Last cue!

Here is the first video from this show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gAS_WXT8QE

2012 TFEA Annual Conference Opening Party – at the Lambermont

Laser Spectacles participates in the annual conference of the Texas Festivals and Events Association each year as an exhibitor.  We meet many great people from around the state who produce the wonderful festivals that we have here.

This year we were asked to produce a special laser show for the opening party – this is the bash held the night before the conference kicks off, and the attendees can mingle and meet while enjoying a variety of food and drink and entertainment.

Front of the Lambermont

The Lambermont is a very classy older house restored and run by dona Liston and her husband. I had worked with Dona a few years ago at RioFest in Harlingen, so it was good to see her again. The house is four stories done in classic Texas limestone, and is available as a B&B and for events.  They had the place totally wired for power, and we could hang our screen between two large trees in the back yard with no problem.  Viewers could stand anywhere on the back side of the house, or on the patio or lawn, and watch the laser show.

Conference Title in lasers

The lasers got them dancing…

…while we got TFEA dancing!

First up in the entertainment was the large mariachi group, who strolled the lawn and even sent a trumpet up into the balcony. Next was Vince Vance and the Valiants, who must have changed his costume 10 times as part of the act! Finally it was dark and time for the laser show.

Beams in Red and Blue with lumia

A great place for a laser show

It was great to be back in this magical location for laser shows – the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth.   This venue has the symphony onstage at one end of a long lawn surrounded by huge trees. We worked with Atlas Enterprises fireworks with only five days advance notice to get this show done.

This was the Fort Worth Pops playing an evening of music from movies and other favorites.  Our section was the last section, featuring Mars and Jupiter from the Planets by Gustav Holst, and a selection of music from the Star Wars movies composed by John Williams.  We performed lasers for 42 minutes, all under live control!  It’s a good thing that we are always working on our live control programs and “chops”!

It was a great night for lasers!

We had all of the colors!

Beams out over the crowd

We surrounded the stage with seven beam lasers, to make the best effects over the crowd, and to get the beams all the way to the back of the audience. We put a lot of effort into the haze coverage to make the beam show as bright and colorful as possible, placing a total of six smoke machines around the venue.  Atlas came in with the fireworks for the end of the show and the place blew up with lasers and fireworks simultaneously!

Softer music gets softer lasers

Laser Fans with the Symphony

The smoke was hanging well!

All in all, it was a great night for lasers, and we hope to be out there again next year – my idea is to get one of the tables out in the crowd and control the laser show wirelessly from there, while having a little party! Hope to see you there -

Laser Flag over audience

Patriotic laser shows are a big part of Laser Spectacles production schedule.  National holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day bring together large groups of people to celebrate and remember our nation’s history.

Other events throughout the year often include a laser patriotic salute as part of their event; for example, we have often brought patriotic laser shows to the following organizations and events:

VFW organizations
Chamber of Commerce events
Corporate meetings
Political rallies and events

What these events have in common is a desire to share in the pride that we have in our outstanding nation, and to give thanks for all of our blessings.

The Laser Eagle Supreme

A family tradition

When we are able to create our full laser show, including a screen and overhead beam effects, the experience can be quite overwhelming!  The laser show runs through a variety of patriotic feelings.  Our shows always include flags waving, eagles flying, and key USA points such as the Statue of Liberty.  We recognize our veterans by drawing the logo of each branch of the Armed Forces, and even include the words from the Declaration of Independence.

Logo for Junction City, MO

Our US Marines Corp

The laser show can include the sponsors and event logos in laser light as part of the show, to add value to their sponsorships and to help the audience identify and remember the event.

We always bring to life the American flag – lasers can create the “stars and stripes” effect waving above the entire audience, creating a real “wow!” moment for every one to share together.

The Flag was still there....

Here is a partial listing of songs used in our patriotic laser shows:

God Bless the USA
Olympic Spirit
Star Spangled Banner
R.O.C.K. in the USA
Where the Stars, Stripes, and Eagle Fly
America the Beautiful
We Can Still Rock in America
Medal of Honor

Transfixus sed non mortuus!

Simple Gifts
That’s Freedom
Only in America
Days of America

Contact us now at laserinfo@laserspectacles.com, or use our “Book-A-Show” form to find out how a patriotic laser show from Laser Spectacles can fit into your event.

Laser Beams Dance

We headed back to McAllen this time with a brand new thirty minute laser show ready to go!  The weather was perfect, and the people friendly.  The City of McAllen decided to move the laser show in the overall program, to 11:28 PM, 32 minutes before midnight, and we would do a countdown into the New Year of 2012!

They got the ball in place before the show using the huge crane.  The stage went up the night before, and we were able to get all of the lasers up and focused for the show.  We had people there at 5 PM staking out their spots in Beaumont Street, which went back for about 1/2 mile at least!

Well, it was so crowded, we were only able to run out and see a smidge of the laser show and grab some pictures and video.  Here you are!

Laser Dancers

Like the blue beams

Like Green Beams, too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCu2wuDvuw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osdN7Sthg9c

Welcome to Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Galveston!  We did not know what to expect, having never been to this event.  We drove in early on Friday Feb. 10, and went straight to our stage at 21st and Strand, the Jagermeister Dubstep Stage.  Jagermeister sponsors a traveling stage complete with sound and lights;  it is a great package and a nice promotion for them!

One of the sponsors...

It had clearly been raining;  there were big puddles everywhere.  We did our best to get things set up working around the stage crew unpacking and setting up the stage.  We came back that night and did a quick alignment so that we could check how it was going to look for the big show expected tomorrow.  It looked good!  The parking lot was very dark, and a good fit for the lasers, with a big wall where we could project the sponsor logos.

The bright lights of Jagermeister

Magenta beams

Gold and Blue for Mardi Gras

We identified some large blinding security lights that made the laser show invisible from some angles, and the Mardi Gras organizers obligingly turned them off when they could, putting our show in a more dark place where it looked better.

Good Green Beams

There were dancers....

We had such a successful show that we were invited back the next weekend, and did the same setup (pretty much!) only better, and there were even bigger crowds for the final weekend.

When we headed out the next day, we were able to stop by and see the beginning of the Barkus parade, featuring dogs and their owners in full Mardi Gras regalia and costumes.

We headed to New Orleans from Galveston on Sunday right after the big Saturday night show.  The ferry ride was great!  we arrived in New Orleans on Monday at the venue – the Sugar Mill, right across from the convention center.  We got right to work setting up the lasers with the great New Orleans crew, and a few hours later, we were ready to head for the hotel and a well deserved break!

Come on in!

It has been a few years since we were at the Zoolu party, which was a fixture in Laser Spectacles schedule for quite a few years.  No State Palace Theater!  It still exists on Canal Street, but after Hurricane Katrina it has not been used as a venue.  The Sugar Mill was a nice venue for lasers, big and broad with plenty of rooms for laser beams.  the laser show fit great, and Rob had saved us our prime space right behind the DJ, so we started out with a great look and stepped down the stage with lasers, spreading them across the stage and beyond.

Joel in control!

12th Planet Laser Beams

Laser Blue Diamonds

The show was great;  the highlight for me was performing with 12th Planet.  Joel, the lighting designer and controller, had definite ideas about colors and points in the show to use the lasers, and with our custom MIDI laser control program and the Lasergraph DSP we were able to rock the room along with his lights.

James at the controls

'twas a night to remember...

Was it the same not being in the State Palace Theater?  There may never be another State Palace Theater!  With two balconies, the laser show could completely surround the audience!  Certainly it was not the same, but everything evolves into a new form, and this party was a great prelude to Fat Tuesday in the French Quarter!