Brisbane QLD –QPAC

Queensland Performing Arts Center (QPAC) is a government funded facility that has all the toys. A fantastic complex that was really thought out. When they sat down and planned this place,they must have talked some people other than architects.  Just little things that you would appreciate when working in the industry. Things like how the doors swing open and go flush with the walls to make moving stuff on carts easier.  There are enough people working here that they have a full cafeteria as well,which is where I had a stir fried thing with noodles dinner. Actually pretty good.

The theatre space itself has LED lights under the balconies that can change colour. Would be cool if you could interface it with DMX and build it into a show’s cues. Over all the QPAC is a really slick place with a really pro staff that I shared some laughs with. So thanks to QPAC for a overall fun day in a beauty facility.

Mandurah –Boardwalk Theatre

The Boardwalk theatre in Mandurah is in a really cool spot. Its right on the water with restaurants and other artsy stuff in the area. You could probably drive your boat right up to the dock,go see a show,then go have dinner and boat home. The complex actually has several performance spaces in it and a movie theatre across the walkway. The Boardwalk theatre itself is 800 seats and so clean I thought it had just opened.




 

Perth –Burswood Entertainment Complex

Burswood is part of a casino complex so there is a little bit of money to play with when it comes to the technical end of the theatre.  Racks of Crown Macro Tech 3600s and EV XLC arrays. Beauty rig. Would love to have actually heard running at full steam. Burswood also has fun loading dock that loads everything onto the stage and then raises it up on an elevator to become the middle of the stage deck. Actually turns into a pain in the butt since you have to move everything out of the way before you can get the fly bars in. I love moving stuff twice. Its my favourite.

Perth - Western AustraliaPerth - Western Australia

Toowoomba,Queensland –Empire Theatre

I really enjoyed this theatre. It reminded me of the game Bioshock on the Xbox. It originally opened in 1911 as a silent movie theatre and operated that way until February 1933. A fire gutted most of the audience section and pretty much left an empty shell. It was quickly rebuilt in the same year and reopened in November. The style is of classic 1930′s art deco on the inside. The outside shell of the complex has been expanded and updated so the look of old art deco mixed with stainless steel and glass makes a really cool building. The theatre has a capacity of 2410 and that includes the 10 goldfish that swim in the lobby tanks.

Toowoomba Queensland Australia

Toowoomba Queensland Australia

Cross Australia Tour 2011

I am currently living in Australia for a year. Brisbane to be exact. Actually a suburb of Brisbane called Highgate Hill to be more exact. Google map it and you will see me waving. I have been here working with an events company called Haycom learning and gaining experience that I can take home back home with me. However back in May I went on tour with a group across the country. Drove right through the middle of the country. Turns out there isn’t much there. I watched a lot of movies on the bus. I’m talking 24 hours of movies,since it took 3 days to go from Brisbane to Perth. I was working as a lighting tech and stage manager on the tour,but also managed to take a ton of photos. I will be posting up photos of the theatres we visited as well as weird stuff I found interesting along the way.

Dan Mangan –Toronto Ontario

Here we are at Trinity St. Paul’s Church in Toronto. Please see the previous post about Mr. Mangan’s tour and why these photos took so long to get up here. These were shot October 28th 2010. Another sold out show for Dan. The last time he was in Toronto at the Horseshoe it was sold out as well. A good trend to be carrying. This church actually sounded really good. The band which included a string section for the evening,played a fantastic set. A few new songs to boot.

After the set the lobby was packed with people trying to get to the merch table. The limited edition silk screened Toronto show posters were sold out in less than 5 minutes. I forgot to put one aside for myself. One guy that bought one said he didn’t have an apartment to put it up in since he was going on tour or he got evicted or something. It ended up in the trunk of the car and now lives in Waterloo. The poster not the guy. In hindsight I should have taken a photo of the poster…Oh well if you were lucky enough to get one I hope you protect it and frame it nicely. For the love of god don’t use tape or stick tack!

Props to the merch team Edith,Mary,Aaron and the dashing leader Neil Mangan.

Dan Mangan –London Ontario

Dan Mangan was out on his Peculiar Travels Suggestions Tour from October 24 to December 4,2010. These photos are only being posted now since I finally found some time. If you didn’t know or even if you bloody well didn’t care I ended up in Brisbane Australia. Ill be here for a year or so if I don’t bleed my money dry before my visa expires. Anywho I finally got to edit and post these photos. Its only been a few months since these shows so here they are.

This first set is from Aeolian Hall in London. Sold out.

The Zolas –University of Waterloo Welcome Week

The Zolas were over on this side of the country last month for a couple of shows with Marianas Trench. Aaron from the Country French picks up the occasional tour with the Zolas guys so we always try to hang out with them when they are over here. The best part about the Zolas is that they appreciate a good sport jacket. Not enough people wear formal jackets these days. There is just something to be said about a good suit or a nice Oxford shirt. As gentlemanly as they are,I still think Zach can go to hell and take his opinions of Boston with him. “More Than a Feeling”is a classic and will always hold a place in rock and roll history! If anyone thinks other wise they can go to hell with Zach.

On a happier note,their album “Tic Toc Tic”is a permanent resident in my car CD deck. Check out their stuff on Their Myspace.

Here are some photos from the show at University of Waterloo.