How A Live Event Production Company Operates

By Sarah Reed


When it comes to producing concerts and other events, there are different ways in which to do so. In most cases, a live event production company takes care of most of the work. As such, this article provides information on the tools and techniques used to produce such an event.

In most cases, these companies work with large scale productions such as large concerts, theatrical shows, live bands, opera and modern dance. For, there are a lot of different areas which must be set up and taken down at each event. These include, staging, special effects, transport, lighting, packaging, sound, communications and at times, make-up and costuming.

Live events have long held a history of sound amplification and when it comes to concerts, a shorter history of visual presentations. Visual presentations include the many light shows which accompany concerts and laser light shows. While this technology and technique began in the film industry, it is now part of most live performances whether on a large or smaller scale.

Sound reinforcement has been around for quite some time. A professional sound reinforcement system is a professional audio system. The first system to be developed in this regard was in 1927 for a movie theater when the first talking film, the Jazz Singer was originally released. After which, the first outdoor public address system became first large-scale sound system in history.

Bill Graham assisted the historic Fillmore in San Francisco, California when a sound system was needed which could be changed out quickly. During that time, Bill Graham also founded FM productions, one of the first producers of concerts of live performances in the area. The production company became very popular with musicians involved in the Bay Area music scene, including the Grateful Dead.

Bands in the area became embroiled in a major debate over sound systems in 1976 with regards to whether horns or speaker arrays were a better option. Eventually, most bands began bringing sound systems along with musical equipment to avoid such debates in the future. One of the most impressive of these band created systems was that of the Wall created by Mickey Hart and Bill Graham.

The production companies in existence today have a lot more going for them than those in the beginning days of live productions. For, there are now basic standard policies and procedures which most of these companies agree are the best in the business. While this is the case, there are also a number independent production outfits whom follow the original stylings of Bill Graham productions.

The history behind how Bill Graham came to the United States is an interesting one. For, Bill first escaped the Nazi invasion at age 10. After which, the young Bill Graham relocated to New York and was placed in foster care.

Bill attended high school and college in New York and obtained a degree in business. Then, in the early 1960s, Graham relocated to the Bay Area of California and started a career promoting and producing live events. The first group to hire Bill Graham was a group of politically inspired comics, The San Francisco Mime Troupe in the early 1960s, a group that is still active and performing on a regular basis.




About the Author: