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Client LoginI am lucky to work with many talented professionals and organizations, in almost every area of theatrical design and production, media production, marketing communications, corporate management, etc. So, it’s usually pretty easy for me to put together the right project team, anywhere, anytime.
Please feel free to consult me even if you have a need that doesn’t seem to fall into my skillset. It’s always a pleasure to send work to one of the many wonderful people in the community.
After years of observation and study, it's finally become clear to me that my success only comes from helping create other people's success. The only way I can possibly have any success—or will ever have any success—is through helping other individuals and companies to be successful. The book The Diamond Cutter spells this out in graphic, logical detail.
In this spirit, I give you... my rolodex.
I hope that this list serves to connect you with the right professionals for your project, whether or not I am involved.
I have had a good deal of personal experience with almost all of the people on this list. Many of them have gone out of their way for me on projects, and so I hope that this directory might give them a little something back. Call them!
This is not a complete list of everyone I know, and doesn’t cover every production area…but it's a good core. I'll update it from time to time with new contact information and additional listings.
Posters, other stuff .. never got a chance to actually follow though on a project with him but Andy Warfel recommended him and that’s good enough for me, and anybody that has a Joseph Campbell quote on the home page of their website has got to have something good going on. 3D art, posters, etc.
website: www.mobielema.com — email: kurt@mobielema.com —phone: (217) 390-9060
Expert in 3D artwork, but more on the movie side. Southern Germany (not far from Ingolstadt) www.virtual-characters.de Recommended by Maikell Zerwell
Donnie has been on several shows that I’ve done and I’ve run into him doing high-end shows in progress when I’ve been out surveying locations for future events. He’s worked worldwide and is one of those all-stars that you pray to have around. Besides being razor-sharp in attention and knowledge of gear and engineering, his work ethic is an example for many. I once went into a show ballroom in Las Vegas in the middle of the night between show days to use it as a free indoor jogging track, only to find Donnie, alone, having torn the entire audio control rig apart (it was not a small system) to find the source of a hum. Another time I was doing a crazy outdoor festival event in Miami that involved a series of tent structures which were shipped in via truck…unfortunately several critical parts got lost in transit. I called all over Miami and couldn’t find replacements and I was about sunk about 18 hours from show. I found replacements in Orlando but there was no foreseeable way to get them to Miami in time. . Donnie was living in Orlando at the time and out of the clear blue offered to pick up the parts there and drive them down right away himself, in the middle of the night, just to help out. I met him on the 95 about half-way between Miami and Orlando, I think around Ft. Pierce, at about 330 in the morning, and did the hand-off. Luckily the state police did not mistake us for a drug deal in progress. I got back to Miami in time to get everything up and running for the show. These are the kinds of people that I hope to always have the privilege of working with. donnies@perfectwaveaudio.com
These guys were first recommended to me by Donnie Smith and have since done several shows with me….their gear is solid and prices fair. State-of-the-art and good support people. www.syntonic.us
Have only done a couple of shows with the OSA guys, but almost everybody knows them. They super-solid and a safe bet if you want good audio and have a complicated rig and/or show. www.osacorp.com
First met Ralph a long time ago in Nashville when he came out to do a Case International Harvester show for us, and he was great to work with. I think he or his gear spend a lot of time out on tours, but if you can get him to do a one-off, you’re in good hands. www.clairglobal.com (615) 227-6657
Came out to do an Audi Dealer Meeting for us at the Dolphin. I think that running live sound is an extremely challenging job…so many factors that affect the quality of the end product…setup time, rig complexity, acoustics…and budget. There are always Producer/TDs like me asking the A1 to make gorgeous, squeak-free sound with half the rig, half the time and half the crew they really want. Billy was one of the few I found a high level of comfort and “worry-transfer” with. A Local 631 guy. www.iatselocal631.com (407) 422-2747
I doubt that Richard is still pressing buttons on consoles at this point…he’s probably running part of the company or running his own company…but he is one of those all-star engineers that know they are there to cover you and make everything beautiful in the world of show sound, and so I thought he merits mention. (714) 508-1858 (800) 835-5432 www.videoapps.com
Just worked with Brian on an interview of Victoria Osteen in Houston for The Borders Group….Brian is a pro and brought great gear to the shoot. You can tell that he likes his job and is an audiophile….he meticulously takes care of his gear and was all over the audio side of this shoot. He does not do PA- he’s strictly a video/film shoot audio guy. (832) 721-0581 sound@earthlink.net
**Most companies that I deal with in this area would be listed under “Video Production/Display”.
Reliable AV on the east coast, and it can be pretty hard to find in Washington D.C. www.futureview.com
These guys have been around for a long time and I hesitate to put them under the heading of “AV”…they’re very reliable and know the Atlanta venues. www.alfordmedia.com info@alfordmedia.com (972) 538-9400
Pat has always been a class act to work with…call them if you need AV in San Francisco, Anaheim or Monterey. She may have moved on but there are www.mccune.com (415) 695-6718
The AVW name goes way back, and eventually merged with Telav...a pretty well-known shop but I have only worked with them when getting things done in Canada...mainly Montreal. Nice people up there....competent and reliable. www.avwtelav.com
These guys have worked miracles in locations in NYC where you practically have to turn sideways to change your mind. Usually a fair price, can-do attitude, nice people on the job and wonderful food and drink. www.greatperformances.com Ronnie Davis (917) 817-0958
They did a huge spread for us at Two Rodeo on Beverly Hills across from the Beverly Wilshire...pulled off a beautiful event despite fairly considerable logistical challenges and time crunch. Food and drink was spectacular and the WP name is hard to beat for simple wow-factor alone. www.wolfgangpuckcatering.com Barbara Brass (323) 707-5324
What can I say? I have had a few events that called for mass-quantity gifts, and these worked well Have used them several times…who doesn’t like chocolate? I like Chocolate. K offers some.great products. www.dianekronchocolates.com Diane Krön (310) 248-2626
Want something really heavy and valuable lifted way up in the air? Like a $100,000 sports car? Want to just hang it there or drop it into someplace totally unlikely? Want to lower it down on cue, on camera? The Champion Crane are generally regarded as the go-to guys in the LA area….they are old pros and can tell you in just about a minute if something is possible or not. They were the ones who dropped the Lamborghinis into the frame behind Tom Cruise on the pier in the beginning of “Rainman”. They do helicopter lifts too. championcr@aol.com www.championcrane.us (800) 241-2580
Well, Dan is one of those all-stars … I think he’s officially somewhat independent again these days so I think it’s ok to mention him … there’s not enough room here to go on about his talents. If you want someone who will sensitively take care of your client and deliver thoughtful, smart and effective show, this is your guy. His integrity is something I use as an example for how to do business day-to-day. I think he may even be going out on the lecture circuit at some point, and I would pay to listen to what he has to say. dan@cxomarketing.com (248) 854-1506
Met Maikell when in development for a large project in Munich, and at the time he was working on a project team for agency MaxSense. He was a pleasure to work with and we have kept in touch since. I recommend checking with him if you hav e needs in the creative realm, especially in Germany. maikell@headlion.de www.headlion.de
Mike has done gorgeous work on several shows I’ve been on and has been a pleasure to work with. Seeks to understand the client, writes in detail, has the passion to push back when needed and the smarts to walk away when it’s time. Wonderful material and a nice guy. mjmeth@aol.com (845) 623-3353
I have worked with Tom on many shows over the years, and his energy is extraordinary. We have not always agreed about everything but you can’t deny his unstoppable drive, and he can write prodigiously. info@thomaswerks.com www.thomaswerks.com
(773) 338-9889
First met Debbie Stafford several years ago when developing a project overseas, and she was handling the travel and logistics. Now Debbie Gladstone, she finally moved on to her own operation with Andy Gladstone in Phoenix, handling logistics for the many corporate entities that come looking for the sun. www.showmearizona.com
Worked with Susan on an Audi event in Orlando. They seem to be pretty dialed-into the hotels there, and can get a lot off things done for you. sharry@hello-florida.com (407) 934-4684
Oh, if the walls could talk…it’s been a long and winding road with Tom Valentine, Dave Burton and the rest of the guys. Things have constantly changed over the last 15-20 years, and at different times we have all been teaming up with and competing with each other. We’ve had some very good times. I wish them well. www.csgnow.com
Derek Gentile seems to have morphed the company into something new and different, and has come a long way from Ford Road in Detroit. I have heard good things even though I haven’t worked with them in a long time. We worked together on some of the early UAW-Chrysler events in Las Vegas and Orlando. www.eeiglobal.com
We’ve collaborated quite a bit on Volkswagen projects, mainly at Auto Shows. A great team to work with…have spent a lot of time on the show floor with supervisors Jim Taylor as well as Deanne Ferrera, led by Account Manager Greg Gilpin. www.ewiworldwide.com
So many good people here…Marshall Beck, Kelly Ostrander, Mike Lilley. GPJ is a heavy hitter and not cheap, but you know the old saying about getting what you pay for…. Have had the pleasure of working with them many times, mainly on the auto show circuit. They basically do everything, but I know them most and best as a mega-exhibit design and manufacturing org. www.gpjco.com
These guys have been around forever, especially in the realm of automotive exhibit production, and have done some huge things….they are right down the street from the General Motors technical center in Warren, MI. www.hbstubbs.com
Ann is the go-to person in LA….and if you want pristine, gorgeous high-end furniture and have some budget to work with, you will find some amazing things in their warehouse. It shows up on show-site perfectly and carefully racked and transported (which I suppose is how they keep it pristine) and without a single blemish. Gorgeous stuff. www.lounge22.com (617) 869-5060 Also in Las Vegas and New York. info@lounge22.com
There’s a Cort in most cities and they have a pretty decent stock of items that work well for shows. You just need to stipulate (I think) that the goods need to be pristine. Nice people usually. www.cort.com
I got two words for you: IKEA. …ok so you can’t rent but in a pinch on a low-budget show they’re just as cheap as renting…..some cool things in their warehouses if you have a way to pick it up and transport because I don’t believe they’ll ship quantity. You can go browse at the warehouse if there’s one near you, and have some candied ham or a nice cheese-covered pasta at their huge euro-oriented café restaurant. You need a GPS to get around in these stores. I once went there with only a half-hour available and the lady who I asked for help laughed at me. www.ikea.com
The big green machines…. Seems like there’s a Sun Belt office in almost every city in the US….if not your local city then one close enough for transport. I’ve used them all over the place…Miami, LA, Phoenix, Detroit, I forget where else. Good equipment at a good price and quick service/replacement if you have any problems. www.sunbeltrentals.com
www.gepower.com
Dialed into many of the local venues, and they do labor payrolling too. shari@rigginginfo.com www.4riggers.com (888) 474-4437
Oh well, these guys aren’t really a single “production entity” and so don’t technically belong on this list, but how can you talk about any kind of show or event production in the US and not mention Local 720? How many legends have sprung up out of this group of people? Dewey, Reidinger, Pat Bash, Scotty Chase, Ollie, Zoucha, Simon, Sean Conner, Mark Nead, Kay Bovino just to name a few. Salty, RIP. www.iatselocal720.com
There is a huge family of great stagehands in Orlando and I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of them. It just so happens that Hoov and Martha are the ones I know the best. They’ve been genuinely great to work with and went out of their way to watch my back at times when I didn’t have enough hands to do it myself. Here’s to ya. They’re also listed under “Lighting” www.eventdirection.com hoover@eventdirection.com martha@eventdirection.com (321) 728-1777
Well, we spend an awful lot of time working on these things so you’d better like the people you work with. Howard is the one Lightswitch guy I have spent the most time with, but it’s a talented organization. Mr. Werner has spent zillions of hours on show site on and off the clock designing an environment that got us complements and repeat business. He often made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. We’ve done things together in the states and in Germany. A class act with a delicate touch, drawing from experience and passion in several genres… A gentleman. A sure bet if you’re looking for an LD. I hope I get to work with him many more times. hwerner@lightswitch.net www.lightswitch.net
Bob has gone out of his way to provide great, reliable gear on many shows at a good price. He’s also gone way above and beyond, like setting up interviews for new-to-vegas college kids looking for a job. Always a pleasure to call. bgaynor@4wallentertainment.com www.4wall.com
Red designed and spec’d a show I did at the Colorado Convention Center….he was a gentleman and knows the Denver production community. (303) 810-2282
Have done a lot with ELS in Los Angeles because of several factors that came together and made it quite convenient. They are dialed-in at quite a few locations and can get things done easily. They have a vast amount of gear and have the range to do large and small well. Joel Goldman has been my contact for some time…at joel@elslights.com
I got Airstar balloons from SEAL in New York (www.sealny.com), and Andy Warfel knows those guys better than I do but they were great to work with and their Airstars were beautiful as usual to use for an outdoor Arizona event. Jonathan Hale is at the Airstar LA office now…he used to be my go-to guy at ELS Lights LA, but then moved over to Airstar. He’s a great guy and you should give him a call… jonathanhale@airstar-light.com www.airstar-light.us
The Tobin’s guys are another staple in ‘the usual suspects’ list…they have been around and know the circuit….Dan Willoughby, Bill Ross, Brad Hayes, Justin Juriga…I’ve had the pleasure of working with them in many scenarios and they are straight shooters. dwillo@tobinslake.com bhayes@tobinslake.com www.tobinslake.com
Small shop, good guys. I’ve used them several times on the many bizarre things I’ve done on South Beach, in Coral Gables and Bayfront Park. www.roc-off.com (877) 9STAGES
Some fine people with a wealth of knowledge, contacts and experience in show production. I had the Hoovers aboard on a corporate event in Orlando not too long ago and they were all over it in several ways.. lighting systems engineering as well as event and labor management. Mark also happens to be one of the finer production electricians around. www.eventdirection.com hoover@eventdirection.com martha@eventdirection.com (321) 728-1777
Ok, everybody’s got their favorites for custom gobos and other special effects, but I’ve been buying gobos from these folks for years and they have always gone out of their way. Great work at a good price, and in the few times there have been problems they’ve scrambled to get us replacements or do whatever to make it right. sales@internetapollo.com www.internetapollo.com
I guess I’m getting old, because I started doing things with Fourth Phase before they were Fourth Phase….back in the Bash days of Buddy Stern. I first got to know John back in the days of The Obie Company, where he worked with other pros that have scattered, like Chris Wazilauskas, Chris Medvitz, and Ron Atwood. John has been around and knows just about everybody…and I believe is now holding down a corner of the rug for Fourth Phase/PRG. They are a big organization with a lot of fingers, and some have likened them to “the Borg”…but they do have that 20-pound flyswatter factor going on. jroth@prg.com
Haven’t worked that much directly with Martee…got gear from him for a large project at the Dolphin a couple of years ago….he’s just one of those colorful characters that knows everybody and so I have to mention him. He gave us a fair deal and made sure we got what we asked for. (407) 855-8060
If you’re looking for grip gear in Detroit area, this shop has a long history. (248) 528-3800
Lighting, Equipment Trucking, Event Coordination, Mobile Marketing. I think that I have always worked with the Upstaging guys as a collaborative effort when we’re serving the same client…as I recall mainly on Philips projects in California for Contempo Design (does anybody know if Contempo is still operating as Contempo?...I can’t find anything on them) but at any rate they have always been solid and command respect in the industry. They have a lot of gear on tour and also do a lot of corporate one-offs. John Huddleston has been quite kind on several occasions when I called simply looking to network for information. Turns out he also knows my old high-school buddy Tim Rosner who went on to manage Muddy Waters, Aerosmith, KISS and a long list of other Rock&Rollers. jhuddleston@upstaging.com www.upstaging.com (847) 949-4900
An independent LD working in the DC area. Worked with her on the Komen National Race for the Cure events at the foot of the Washington Monument. (301) 270-2828
I have had Dennis out on more than one show I’ve done, usually through Lightswitch…Two shows in Germany and another in Orlando. A good man and a talented programmer…a solid choice for your show.
ltaylor@lightswitch.net 520-370-5107
mdnead@aol.com (702) 595-6121
Oh jeez, another example of there not being enough space to write about a person….Ava took me kindly under her wing when I came blazing into Miami some years ago looking to get ridiculous things done, and we went on to work quite a number of outdoor events together. I’m not sure if she considers herself to be more of an event producer or a video producer, but I’ve never shot video with here…strictly events. Ava’s heart is huge and she knows just about everybody down there, and I am lucky to have had her guidance and friendship for all this time. (305) 596-4626 avabizvids@aol.com
I debated about writing something about Bud, since I only got to work with him once or twice back in the earlier days of UAW work in Las Vegas, but he collaborated with me and my team on a fairly huge project at the Sands Expo some years ago…and despite my up-and-coming punk attitude, I learned something. Bud brought world class design and talent to the production of a large project, and in a pinch he even called a live event when we needed it. I’ve seen him execute large events since then and even though I haven’t worked on the same show floor as him for a long time I just wanted to give him a shout-out… because I admire what he does. I think he’s still with Presentation Works in Detroit. www.ewiworldwide.com/specialties/presentation-works
Worked with Len once on a large project in Arizona and he was laid back and kind even though our project positions overlapped in a way that had to be challenging for him. He had a calm, logical way of approaching all things. walkowi@yahoo.com (248) 390-8792
Robert is a character and has a unique ability to deal with the chaos of corporate production without getting flustered. I have worked with him in many places in the states and abroad. Does well with overall show production, client presentations and handling, and media production. He’s a good man, but I can’t find his e-mail address.. (248) 922-0808
Deano, chilli-beano….used to sit next to me at the agency and in between meetings and conference calls we’d talk about organic food and NPR. Dean is the only guy I know whose hair is more prematurely gray than mine. He’s a talented Video/Film/Documentary Producer/Director and now lives outside of Raleigh-Durham, NC. Has Macbook, will travel. You can call him at www.passleftproductions.com or dean@passleftproductions.com
Actually just met Tad while working on something in Hong Kong, and haven’t worked with him, but he’s done some really creative work on public television specials and I wanted to contribute to his success as well. tad@krfilms.com
Zorie is one of those all-around talented guys and just finished shooting his first feature with his new smoking-hot Red One camera. He’s also an extraordinary teacher of everything from philosophy to martial arts to yoga. zorie@cinemavajra.com
Worked with Ric on a project for GM in Shanghai and have consulted him since for several things…he’s pretty hooked-up in China and he and his wife Sarah are the bomb. Call them when in China. ric@housefilms.com or ricdilanni@yahoo.com www.housefilms.com
Mr. Warfel has been a valuable ally and team member on more occasions than I can count (and I can count all the way to 74 without taking a breath) and is generally a pretty cool person to have around. NYU and Hotop-trained and then morphed it all into a unique mix of his own…to sort of create a genre of his own, in my opinion. Then he even managed to take his New York City culture and transplant it in the Midwest, where he raises his family. He still appears everywhere on show site…just retires to a more peaceful place at night. Extremely talented in many art forms and a valuable asset to any brainstorming session. Understands all aspects of theatrical and event production. A pretty good DJ too. Has turned me on to a lot of good music. If you can get him on your gig, you won’t be sorry. andy@a-w-e-d.com www.a-w-e-d.com (217) 202-9597
Also emerging from the CPR days in New York with Andy Warfel and others….I have had the pleasure of working with Jeff on many occasions, and sometimes Leonel even makes it out of the office. Great guys, talented and always willing to accommodate….they’re in Philly but spend a lot of time in NYC… many east coast events but they work worldwide. jeff@lionfishdesign.com www.lionfishdesign.com
Cute as a button, sharp as a tack, knows everybody, tireless, seems to live ubiquitously in Las Vegas and New York... has designed quite a few shows that I have worked on on both coasts and in-between…you’ll definitely get your money’s worth and she won’t sleep (literally) until you’ve got what you need.. jaki@studiobludesign.com www.studiobludesign.com
Originally got hooked up with Kis through Andy Warfel and she has served as a designer/scenic consultant and coordinator on several things I have done. Nice lady who knows LA. Give her a call. (323) 867-8915
Another one of the talented folk that sprung from CPR in New York, andanother one of those rare all-stars that you hope to have on your project…. I think that DesignSmith provides a full service but my initial experience with Jrod was as the supreme lord of all things AutoCAD….his CAD skills are extraordinary and his work is wonderful….he has pushed through many complicated scenic design packages for us from concept to production. The DesignSmith company has grown and seems to be a very cool thing.. jsmith@designsmithco.com www.designsmithco.com
I have worked with Beau for several years running on AFI FEST in Los Angeles, and it has been a pleasure. Beau is a talented designer and a gentleman. beau@treehousela.com 323 650-8903 www.treehousela.com
They can make just about anything, any size, into a projection surface, and they have a huge amount of stock. www.thescreenworks.com
Yep, everybody knows them. You might find a smaller vendor in some areas, but the sheer size and network of the company and breadth of their inventory makes them come to mind first. www.bearcom.com
The “r” is silent. It’s more like “mah-wer”. Patrick is a fine man and solid rigger, and of course Kish is a well-known name in the industry. ptmaurer@aol.com (805) 583-2799
Jeff and I go way back and he has done a number of shows on my watch…and I always felt in good hands. One of the ringers you’ll find in Las Vegas. A good man. (702) 615-2535
Haven’t seen Pat for a long time but he’s been great to have on the job. I did a large industrial at the Cashman Center once with him, and in order to make a huge traveler reveal happen fast enough he actually rigged a human harness system in the catwalks so that stagehands could run at full speed and pull the lines. It worked well. biffbash@aol.com (702) 263-0180
Sean is also listed under “TDs” because I think that he makes that a considerable part of his business…he’s multi-talented like a few of the really good Las Vegas crew and a bulldog when it comes to just about everything. I have worked with Sean in the US and in Germany, and he has pulled a rabbit out of a hat more than once. There were a few very trying situations, but Sean kept smiling. naes30@aol.com (702) 897-9207
I think that Steve did something for me at the OCCC for the UAW some time ago. (813) 853-8290
Dialed into many of the local venues, and they do labor payrolling too. shari@rigginginfo.com www.4riggers.com (888) 474-4437
Have worked with project manager Ross Hamilton on a few things and they are always a pleasure to work with. CSS is well known in Chicago and they take pride in their craft. rhamilton@chicagoscenic.com (312) 274-9000
Everybody knows Mitch, and it’s hard to beat what he’s done. He’s brought on some great people including Brian Ashmead. ID3 did some stellar work for us in Florida not long ago and the Lead Supervisors John O’Connor and Jose Morillo were great. Don Wall has been a genuinely nice guy to deal with. Their bench strength goes deep and their work speaks for itself. www.id3group.com (770) 961-0360
Mr. Saltonstall has been a great ally in several show situations, and I hope to someday call him only wanting two of the “good, fast, cheap” choices and not all three. Copper Creek is a major player in the Southwest and they have come through for us many times. Easy to deal with and nice to work with. Beautiful work that has made us look good. If you can get LT out on your job, all of your problems are solved. jsaltonstall@coppercreekstudios.com-email (702) 547-1111
Byron has gone out of his way on more than one occasion to get things done for us…Scenic Tech is a well-known shop in both Vegas and up east in New Windsor, NY, and they are well-connected, especially through their PRG parent company. They are a part of PRG, so they’re huge, and do some huge things, but Byron has been super-helpful to me even with small things. Whether it’s custom fabrication, kabukis, mobilators or ‘drape-suckers’, Byron is always a good man to call… (702) 296-4275 www.scenic-tech.com
I had the Cigar Box guys out on a Boomer Esiason shoot at Lincoln Center not too long ago….they did a great job with short-turnaround for a dead-of-winter outdoor commercial shoot. www.cigarboxstudios.com 845 863-1014
Have only worked with ASI a couple of times- mainly in Florida…but they have a great stock of rental scenic pieces and staging, and can do good custom work. Check their website. www.asiprod.com (800) 808-3179
Haven’t worked with Bill that much but he has been a helpful, accommodating gentleman on the phone and they have many rental sets in stock. bill@unitedscenic.com (480) 205-9369
Worked with Stewart on a large party event at the Two Rodeo in Beverly Hills across from the Beverly Wilshire. They did a really nice job with a few challenging bits, including large vertical banners suspended over a street between buildings. Full Fabrication shop and they know the LA area well. www.lexingtonscenery.com
They build a lot of unusual things, and a main part of their business is putting lucite platforms across the tops of swimming pools for use as stages and dance floors....and this is actually a booming business in LA. 323 931 9004
This company has so much to offer….such a wide range of cool and wild stuff…from small scenic pieces to the “Opti-Dome” tents, which can link together to form a labyrinth of pristine white nylon. You could spend an hour or two just looking through their products. Always nice people to deal with and the engineering of their fabric-on-aluminum structures is hard to beat. Something arrives in a couple of nylon bags and in a half-hour you’ve got a beautiful, lightweight architecture in place. Main office in Belfast, Maine but several other offices across the country…check their website- www.mossinc.com navery@mossinc.com (800) 341-1557
They have their own goods and also I believe have some Moss products. Great people out of New York. I have used their goods on several occasions here in the states and also in Germany. Debra Roth. www.pinkincdesign.com debra@pinkinc.org (866) 746-5462
If you want to get something done in New York that involves security, permits, police, etc., this is a seriously good hookup. Joe is involved in New York law enforcement and knows pretty much everybody. Call Joe or Christine www.strategicsecuritycorp.com jsordi@strategicsecuritycorp.com (212) 509-0547
Large event Staffing www.staffpro.com
Jamie has been out on more shows with me than I can remember and he is considered one of the ‘ringer’ go-to guys in the Detroit production community for corporate shows and just about anything that requires speaker support graphics creation and delivery, as well as video roll-ins. Jamie and his staff can bring a nice system out to the job site to seamlessly integrate all of your show content media…and on cue. They are great to work with. jturpening@kinetic-creations.com www.kinetic-creations.com (734) 434-6460
Well-known provider of mobile hydraulic outdoor stages, specifically the ones that literally arrive on wheels and deploy quickly, which is very handy in tight setup windows. www.stageline.com
One of the better-known show callers on the US corporate circuit. Sandy is a pro and has a unique combination of ease and get-it-done-now focus. He has been around and will bring the crew together in a good way. If you can book him you can go to sleep the night before the show knowing that cues will be nailed. Used to be a Detroit guy but finally escaped the winters. qcaller@att.net (305) 935-9535
Recommended by Len Walkowicz on a Phoenix show, and Bill was a solid cue-caller and a Gentleman. (434) 981-3460
Brad came out to call a corporate show for us in Florida and did a great job. He is an experienced professional. (917) 406-3938
Helena was Brad Cassil’s assistant SM of choice, and she was great to have behind the scenes…also happens to do lighting design. Mail me for her contact information (can’t find it right now)
Andy Warfel introduced me to Jeff, and he has been extraordinarily helpful to me even when he wasn’t making a dime by doing so. He’s just up the road a piece from me, in Phoenix. Energetic, likes the production business and it shows. Knows just about everybody and will take care of you. jeffkalafus@cox.net (480) 299-8339
Met Alan about a hundred years ago when he was running the Phoenix office of LMG. He was a great go-to person and ran that office for a long time. I was sorry to see him go, but happy that he was able to gain some independence, and he makes a great TD. Funny and easygoing, and knows everybody in town from years of dealing with them as an LMG guy and now a TD. aedwards@aleps.com (602) 740-3105
Got Dave’s information from Scott Weyrauch at LMG in Las Vegas. Dave seems to have a lot going on in Mexico and I don’t know a lot more than that….but you can check with him at roaddog1@mac.com
Yes, well, there’s me…and I’m pretty cool, and I like me, and you should like me and call me. Check my website at www.scottvacek.com ….unless you happen to already be there….
Haven’t talked to Scott in a while but he has been a gentleman to work with….he came from the Obie days and knows pretty much everybody. Give him a call, especially if you need to get something done in Nashville. s-devos@deluxpro.com (615) 264-1682
Sean has been out on several shows with me as Rigger but he also TDs too, and I think is quite good at it. His knowledge of rigging along with his contacts in Las Vegas make him a valuable asset in that town and many others. Another one of those people that seems to be able to live without sleep. (I’ve been responsible for it on occasion, but I don’t recommend it.) naes30@aol.com (702) 897-9207
Production Manager in the LA area. Worked with him briefly on an event at the Viceroy in Santa Monica. I think he was hired by one of our collaborators on the job - Haxan films or BNC Public Relations. (310) 387-6127
PEG does a lot of high-end work with temporary structures, but they can also provide smaller tents if you like. They can provide full infrastructure, including HVAC, lighting and power. Carrie has been great to work with and can get the job done for you. (810) 714-5741
If you haven’t seen the “Saddle Span” structures then you will want to at least have a look…it’s an extraordinary design and a major departure from a typical wall-and-roof system. There are several vendors in North America and Hawaii that offer this product, but the Tentnology people developed them. Several can be configured into an array or an irregular layout. I can dramatically change the feeling of an outdoor event. Not inexpensive but you should know about them. There is some super-cool stuff on their website…check it out…. www.tentnology.com jennifer@tentnology.com (800) 663-8858
The “Opti-Dome” is hard to beat for it’s portability and elegance….only 30’ diameter at it’s largest but they can be linked together to form an interesting circuit of structures that can be used inside and out. This company has so much to offer….such a wide range of cool and wild stuff…from small scenic pieces to the tents. You could spend an hour or two just looking through their products. Always nice people to deal with and the engineering of their fabric-on-aluminum structures is hard to beat. Something arrives in a couple of nylon bags and in a half-hour you’ve got a beautiful, lightweight architecture in place. Main office in Belfast, Maine but several other offices across the country…check their website- www.mossinc.com navery@mossinc.com (800) 341-1557
They’re big, they’re everywhere and they have a huge stock…they can provide full infrastructure including power, lighting and HVAC. I just recommend that, if it’s important to you that the goods are pristine- as in new-looking…shiny…clean…no mildew…that you be very explicit when asking for pricing. These tent systems undergo tremendous abuse and so if you don’t make it a condition of the project, your tents will likely show up mildewed and panel colors not exactly matching. www.aztectents.com
These guys make some of the wildest things you have ever seen, including the 60’ bridge that flew out from backstage and over the audience on one of the Rolling Stones’ tours. There are a million examples….they are the ones that the tour producers call when everybody else says it’s impossible. Michael Tait, Winkie Fairorth. (717) 626-9571 www.taittowers.com
Went to high school with Tim outside of Chicago, and it was evident even then that he had a flair for theatrical and concert production management. He has gone on to become one of the better known Road Managers in the US, beginning with a long run with Muddy Waters and then becoming a first-call guy for bands like Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, U2 and others. rocktour2007@aol.com (708) 839-0787
Recommended to me by John Huddleston of Upstaging in Chicago. Talked to Chris during a search for a manager of a corporate concert tour, and he was heavily booked…never worked with him but he has a great reputation. (310) 592-8166 ckansy1@mac.com
Recommended to me by John Huddleston / Upstaging. Mail me for contact info.
Recommended to me by John Huddleston / Upstaging. Mail me for contact info.
Charlie provided about a hundred different quotations and specifications to me and a project team for preparation of a proposal….he was recommended by mvp collaborative COO Lou Bitonti. Charlie was always available and quick with numbers. cnicosia@absolutepros.com (877) 228-4782
12 office locations around the country staffed by good, hard-working people and run by Marty Mehl in Redmond, Washington. Almost all of my show experience with Specialty has been with Mark Duffus in LA, except for a show here and there in New York or Orlando. Mark and his crew are a flexible, upbeat, can-do bunch and they know their vehicles….and they treat them like they are their own. There are other good companies out there….AMCI, ESI, etc., but I have have worked almost exclusively with Specialty and have a great respect for them. mark@specialtytransport.com (LA office) (310) 537-0889 www.specialtytransport.com
What can I say, this is a teeny little independent operator in Miami, but this directory is about promoting the success of everyone I have worked with, large and small. Alvin is all heart and has performed consistently for me on event after event. He is happily low-tech but has contacts and is a reliable and friendly logistics and detailing ally to have on the job. alvinfoskin@aol.com (305) 979-3224
I’ve done a number of shows with Jim and I can’t even remember what the first one was at this point. He’s a cool dude and at home in the control room. Many US TDs know him. I think that he spends a lot of time doing live cuts of performances. He did a live cut of kd lang for us in a lovely little exclusive performance in Southern California….he also did the Ojays for us on stage in Las Vegas, and has done more straight corporate stage shows with me than I can remember. He is a consummate multi-tasker…will bring your video staff together and make a slick, clean show out of your graphics, roll-ins and Imag. jamesboress@earthlink.net (909) 698-0851
Ron has been great to work with and has come out onto shows on several occasions….super-friendly and upbeat, professional and efficient. A good fit in any corporate situation. fenvid@aol.com (714) 377-9860
Tony is kind of an institution in the Detroit area….he has been shooting for a long, long time and can do just about anything, and has brought his son into the business. Everybody knows him. Tony, you’re a good man, babe.
Have worked with Mike several times on AFI FEST and other things….he’s a good solid Scooter and does a lot of news I think. (310) 670-6769
Worked with Ric on a project for GM in Shanghai and have consulted him since for several things…he’s pretty hooked-up in China and he and his wife Sarah are the bomb. Call them when in China. ric@housefilms.com or ricdilanni@yahoo.com www.housefilms.com
Did EFP production work for me in Tokyo and Tachikawa on a Worldwide tour a few years ago itmtokyo@gol.com (81)3 3549 0600 Milly Togasa Mobile (81) 0 3 090 1600
Assignment desk makes it their business to know everybody around the world and to be able to get you an ENG/EFP crew or Satellite Truck anywhere....they have helped me many times when I was in a pinch and didn’t have a contact where I needed it. www.assignmentdesk.com 800 959 3375
Tom is my Czech soul brother and a great guy. A talented US-born news and documentary videographer who transplanted to Germany and settled there, now raising his family in beautiful Wiesbaden (near Frankfurt). Still goes out to shoot single-camera ENG/EFP all the time but has also grown his company to become the largest supplier of NTSC cameras in Germany I believe. A wonderful guy to work with and knows how to get things done. He can be a little slow to answer e-mail sometimes. eurotvs@aol.com +49 611 184 0079
Have worked with CTLA many times including the Chicago guys who were once Media Control. This is a large organization with several shops and offices in Europe as well. They have good bench strength and inventory in many cities, which is a nice insurance policy. I’m being bad by listing Kraig Aaronson’s contact info, because he’s more of a road manager than a sales person, but the sales people have changed a lot while I’ve been dealing with them and so I usually just call Kraig. kaaronson@ctlosangeles.com (818) 206-5535 Direct
Oh jeez, well what can you say…Les…the batcave…these guys have been around for a long time and started with Les’ vision and passion for the craft…. For a long time they were strictly Video and Audio but a few years ago incorporated lighting systems into their inventory. Their “Cahuna” HD multi-camera/multi-source&output systems were of the first in the US to be available and reliable, and LMG has done well for itself with large clients. They can regularly be found at large shows like CES. I have had really good experiences with LMG on many occasions, mainly because of the people. The quality, reliability and newness is the price of entry…that’s a given and you expect it, but the people can be a big variable on any show…and I have found that the LMG guys have always made me feel comfortable and like they like what they are doing. The LMG shops are generally clean and orderly places to be, which I think reflects that Les genuinely likes this business. I started working with them back in the days when you could get Donnie Smith and Wayne Stockton on the same crew…which was a really good day. www.lmg.net Phoenix (800) 414-0505 Scott Weyrauch in Vegas scott.weyrauch@lmg.net (888) 882-8480 Corey Olson in Orlando corey.olson@lmg.net
It has been a while since I have worked with these guys, but they have a good reputation, and as I’ve said elsewhere in this directory, Richard Bevan is one of those engineers that you hope to have out on the job site….he knows how to create total worry transfer. I suspect that Richard is managing some part of the company by this point. (714) 508-1858 (800) 835-5432 www.videoapps.com
A good bunch of guys that started small and have come a long way. I started working with Kevin Glenn a long time ago and not sure if he’s still there. They like what they do and it shows. www.videocam.net. info@videocam.net. (714) 772-2002 (888) 772-8226
I have known John for a long time… he has a huge amount of energy and clearly likes what he does. LSV has been around and they know how to get things done. Cameron Brown was one of the nicest and funniest guys you could ever have on show-site. They work nationwide and have gear in several locations. They are a good first call for San Francisco…John can advise you on how to get things done. jrigney@largescreenvideo.com www.largescreenvideo.com (415) 553-7777
I have worked with Guy on several occasions in New York and Scharff can be relied on to delver good gear and people. Guy’s great to work with. Audio, Video Production, Video Display, Lighting. (718) 610-1680 guyb@swinyc.com
Well…Warren has been around the block and I have known him for a long time. He managed a huge installation we did at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas…a 200,000 square foot corporate/industrial for the UAW/Chrysler National Training Center that involved three separate theatrical areas…a historical museum, a Main Stage area for corporate presentations on raked SGA risers for an audience of 2,000 and finally a flat-floor dinner theater…all with complete multi-camera coverage and video display/Imag. We did a time-elapse video segment of the entire setup from bare floor to the first show, which compresses about four days of activity into 2 minutes. You can watch that video on this website. Warren is a good man and AV Concepts has come a long way. www.avconcepts.com warren@avconcepts.com (310) 822-2055
I have watched XL Video grow and now they are a premiere supplier to many, many large shows….they have miles of LED wall gear and Leslie Dillingham has been really nice to work with. I believe that they now have reach to several other countries abroad…France, Germany and UK as well as Atlanta and LA. I have had good experience with their gear and their tech people. www.xlvideo.com ldillingham@xlvideo.com (888) 794-0606
Ersellia is a friend and Prompter operator extraordinaire in LA and so I just wanted to give her a shout out! We’ve never actually worked together but she has gone way out of her way and bent over backwards to help me out with a few things…. ersellia@gmail.com
Andy is very silly, and knows a very great large big amount about writing code and creating web presence. He created a fairly complex custom architecture to administer the online project management pages that I have here in this website….it’s a lovely custom FTP system that allows me to create secure project management websites for each client and each project. www.onesandzeros.com andy.frey@gmail.com
Well, the two people that founded this organization are super-special and I am in their debt.They helped me out greatly with this website and their integrity is second to none. You will find yourself in very trusty hands with Jamie and Ora. Mail me for contact info.
Hi Suzanne! Haven’t had a chance to work with Suzanne in a while but she is very active in the Detroit area, and delivers the goods. SMRondeau@aol.com
A well-known supplier of large staging elements, stages, scenic…I have only worked with them in France. www.stageco.com info.us@stageco.com USA Office: Colorado Springs (866) STAGECO
I first met Rudi some years ago when working on a large project in southern Germany for Audi…he runs “Axis Media” and has some wonderful support people. Rudi is a super guy and has a great deal of energy….he can get just about anything done in production in Germany…from large full-service production to video shoots. Personally, as an American I still recommend having a certain amount of native English speakers in key positions in the technical departments just for the production culture factor alone….but whether you want to do that or hire everyone strictly in Germany, Rudi can get you anything you need…including permits and special permissions. I hope you like dogs. Rudi’s Jack Russell Terrier, Jakob, is always at his side. rudi.geiger@axismedia.de +49 89 989 487
I first wrote these guys off as a typical AV company some years ago but then got to know them better and found out that they’re a solid show production supplier. They have a nice inventory of gear in Munich and good technical people who are show-savvy. I did not experience any serious challenges in regards to misunderstandings or miscommunications in production culture when working with G+B….good guys and reliable equipment. +49 (0) 2204 204 01 Wolfgang König
Chris and Roland Fuchsgruber worked with us in Berlin at the Messe in a tricky situation where the only rigging points were these scary little 100-kilo eyelets screwed into a flat ceiling. He had to spread the load out a lot and get a lot up in the air where you wouldn’t think it was going to be easy or even possible. He climbed truss like a cat and was easy to work with . I think he and the other CKV guys mainly do rock and roll. chris@ckv-ag.de +49 (0) 821 450 95 60
Quirin is a total character…a really lovable guy and a great production designer to have around, especially in Germany. He’s fun to have around and can get a lot done even in challenging circumstances. I think that Rudi Geiger first introduced me to him. He’s one of those great production people that make up a solid worry-transfer team. I strongly recommend him. siefert@gecco-scene.de www.gecco-scene.de +49 (0) 221 768 04 30
Tom is my Czech soul brother and a great guy. A talented US-born news and documentary videographer who transplanted to Germany and settled there, now raising his family in beautiful Wiesbaden (near Frankfurt). Still goes out to shoot single-camera ENG/EFP all the time but has also grown his company to become the largest supplier of NTSC cameras in Germany I believe. A wonderful guy to work with and knows how to get things done. He can be a little slow to answer e-mail sometimes. eurotvs@aol.com +49 611 184 0079
Met Maikell when in development for a large project in Munich, and at the time he was working on a project team for agency MaxSense. He was a pleasure to work with and we have kept in touch since. I recommend checking with him if you have needs in the creative realm, especially in Germany. maikell@headlion.de www.headlion.de
Met Uli years ago dealing with video and film segments for Audi and Volkswagen in Germany. Uli has always been polite and helpful even though we were sort of competing with him at times I think. It appears that he is a talented filmmaker too. info@filmtec.de +49 (69) 96 74 42 0
Well-known for high-end work on exhibits in Europe..one office in Frankfurt. Worked with them on a press event in Germany as they were collaborating with The George P. Johnson Company on Chrysler exhibit at the Frankfurt Motor Show. www.ambrosius.de
First got hooked up with Blitz around 2000 when Stevie Warne was still a production guy...now he’s in management. A great production supplier in London that is well-connected and capable all over Europe. It’s really helpful to have native English-speakers in key technical departmental roles when working in Europe if your budget can handle the additional costs of travel, lodging, perdiem, shipping, etc. It can make a big difference in your ability to execute complicated shows, so depending on the importance of the show it may be very well worth it. www.blitzcomm.com +44 (870) 162 1000 Mark Walker mwalker@blitzvision.com Dave Watchorn dwatchorn@blitzvision.com
Paul Vernon has been an A1 on a couple of shows I’ve done in Germany, and is a consummate Gentleman and meticulous engineer. Also Paul Gosling. These are great people to work with. If you can find Paul Vernon even as a freelancer, hire him. A gentleman, a deft hand, and turned me on to some good music. paul.vernon@eidosnet.co.uk +44 (0) 181 813 1112
Hauled a truckload of equipment from London to Leipzig in the former Eastern bloc area, for a large Case Europe tractor (Landmaschinen) show in the huge glass Messe hall. +44 (0) 181 522 1000
Worked with them on Case Landmaschinen events in Leipzig, East Germany. Plenty of capability and nice people to work with. Located near Blackfriars Bridge in London. info@bsstaging.com www.bsstaging.com +44 (0)20 7928 6413
Nice people to work with. Well known among touring show managers. Katharine Walker +44 (0) 171 538-9840
Our rigger for the Case Leipzig show. +44 (0) 1604 830 083
Used Aurant on several events for GM in Johannesburg at the World Summit. A reliable full-service staging/production company.. riaan@aurant.co.za +27 (0) 11 805-9350
Did EFP production work for me in Tokyo and Tachikawa on a Worldwide tour a few years ago itmtokyo@gol.com (81)3 3549 0600 Milly Togasa Mobile (81) 0 3 090 1600