"And even UNDER the stage..."

[Thomas]

I found this article and photos from the Nashville show that show what goes on to setup the stage. It's pretty incredible how much stuff there is:

 

Stage setup and soundcheck:

 

http://img201.imagevenue.com/loc548/th_06625_Celine_Rigging_122_548lo.jpg

 

http://img197.imagevenue.com/loc1030/th_06613_Celine_Load_In_122_1030lo.JPG

 

http://img264.imagevenue.com/loc351/th_06636_DSC_0015_122_351lo.jpg

 

Showtime:

 

http://img171.imagevenue.com/loc1170/th_06644_DSC_0118_122_1170lo.JPG

 

http://img134.imagevenue.com/loc755/th_06630_Celine_Set_122_755lo.jpg

 

http://img248.imagevenue.com/loc353/th_06610_Celine_Knees_122_353lo.jpg

 

http://img193.imagevenue.com/loc756/th_06604_Celine_Gold_Dress_122_756lo.jpg

 

http://img265.imagevenue.com/loc148/th_06596_Black_Dress_122_148lo.jpg

 

 

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Since there are no classes or books to learn the art of production management it is not easy to acquire all of the skills and knowledge needed to be the best at what we do. I am always looking for new ways to do things, methods to refine and hone my craft. One way to do that is to seek out those who are successful and have expertise we are looking to obtain. In order to master this career I must continually be a student. This past week I had an incredible opportunity to shadow the production manager for Celine Dion.

 

I arrived promptly at 7:30 am at the arena seeing the 18 semi trucks lined up waiting for load in to start. I checked in with security and met the production manager. Rick Mooney was his name. Rick gave me the overview of the day as we walked out to the arena floor. As I looked around the riggers were already calculating all the points and marking the floor. The 96 local crew were already starting to arrive.

 

From the moment the truck doors opened I could see a different level of focus. This was a well oiled finely tuned machine. The logistical organization of the load in was immaculate. It was only a short time before the entire arena floor was full of gear and everything was coming together.

 

Once a good portion of the load in was complete Rick had time to sit down and let me pick his brain. We swapped some road stories, he told me all kinds of great things about putting the Celine Las Vegas show together. Rick allowed me to talk about some of the finer points of production management. I learned a few pointers here and there, but the greatest thing I walked away with was confirmation. Many of the things we talked about confirmed that I was definitely on the right track and already doing the right things instinctively in my career. That is a great feeling.

 

Before I knew it 5 hours had passed and the local crew was being cut with 18 trucks full of production in place ready to go. That was amazing. It was not long before system tuning and lighting focus were happening. Then sound check.

 

Sound check lasted almost right until doors. After that people started filing in and the show was starting. From the start this show was amazing. For those of you geeks like me there were 8 lines of Meyer Mica with 20 boxes per line. 24 double 18 subs on the floor and 24 in the air. For you super geeks none of the boxes were looped, each one had it's own drive line. I couldn't even count all the lights. There was LED on the stage flooring, projection at the top and Mi-strips. Every aspect of the production was ridiculously amazing.

 

Celine is one of the most amazing artists I have ever had the opportunity to see live. She captivated the audience and her voice was unbelievable. Before I knew it the night was over and Celine was saying good night. This day has re-energized me and given me a vision for what hard work can do. One day I would love to be apart of a production at that level. It reminded me that this is an exciting journey that we never know where it will take us. I look forward to seeing the doors that God opens in the future.

 

-chrisfarnsworth.blogspot.com

 

Band members kit:

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/2hoyz3n.jpg

Nanette Fortier’s percussion setup is miked with Sennheiser e 609 (congas), Shure Beta 98 (bongos, timpani, timbales), Neumann KM184 (tambourines, tables), AKG 460+CK5 (overheads) and a Radical Passif (percussion machine).

 

http://i42.tinypic.com/2mi45qs.jpg

Front-of-house engineer Francois Desjardins

 

http://i40.tinypic.com/i3f6g9.jpg

Jean-Sebastien Carre (guitars on right) and Andre Coutu’s (left) setup includes a Shure SM57 on electric guitar, and Sennheiser SK-5212 transmitter with EM 3732 receiver for violin and acoustic guitar; Carre’s violin also takes the Sennheiser transmitter and receiver. Keyboardist Yves Frulla has four direct premix outputs from the keyboard rig.

 

http://i42.tinypic.com/wuozdu.jpg

Monitor engineer Jean Charles Ethier

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/imosq9.jpg

P.A. setup

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/29mvk2h.jpg

Drummer Dominique Messier’s kit is miked with Sennheiser e 902 (kick, toms), Yamaha Sub-Kick, Shure SM57 (snare), Neumann KM150 (hi-hat) and KM184 (overheads), and a Radial passive DI (drum machine).

 

http://i40.tinypic.com/15zkyn9.jpg

Keyboardist Claude “Mego” Lemay has premix outputs coming from his rig. His electric and acoustic guitars take a Sennheiser SK-5212 transmitter and EM 3732 receiver; electric guitar is miked with a Shure SM57.

 

[Teodora]

Too cool! Thanks for sharing! Love the photos, especially the one during RDMH Also nice to see the stage from above, I didn't see it during the tour, always had floor tickets. It's really interesting, not that I understand all the tech-talk... Edited April 11, 2009 at 12:19 AM by Teodora

[Chula]

Thanks for sharing

 

What's the difference between keyboard's and piano's sound?

 

 

 

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1124/clipboard1xnj.jpg

 

Are USA arenas smaller than EU's? The stage is located towards one end so there are no seats at that side

Edited April 11, 2009 at 05:20 AM by Chula

[celinefanonline]

that's something different and we dont' see much ! it's so cool

they should have showed more of this for AND

[CSCfan]

Thanks for the pics & info Thomas!

 

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1124/clipboard1xnj.jpg

 

Are USA arenas smaller than EU's? The stage is located towards one end so there are no seats at that side

 

If you look more closely, that's because the light & sound 'rig' is still on the ground. After it has been lifted up, they move the stage to the middle... and put chairs on either side in the final stage.

[Chula]

Oh yes, I forgot

[Thomas]

Yeah you can see how the lighting rig will look once they lift it on the "P.A setup" photo. As for your other question I think a piano usually produces one type of sound doesn't it? The classic sound we all know like Elton John plays, whereas a keyboard can be made to sound differently depending on the situation - you can make it sound like panpipes or strings etc. But as in "A New Day" you can see that Mego's piano is fake and it's actually a keyboard in a piano casing. So it looks impressive and gives Celine something to stand on but it has the flexibility of a keyboard!

[Claudette]

Thanks! Wow, it looks and sounds very complicated...

[QueenCeline]

Yeah you can see how the lighting rig will look once they lift it on the "P.A setup" photo. As for your other question I think a piano usually produces one type of sound doesn't it? The classic sound we all know like Elton John plays, whereas a keyboard can be made to sound differently depending on the situation - you can make it sound like panpipes or strings etc. But as in "A New Day" you can see that Mego's piano is fake and it's actually a keyboard in a piano casing. So it looks impressive and gives Celine something to stand on but it has the flexibility of a keyboard!

 

Holy cow you're totally right!!!! I did not notice that!!! I have a question and it is really general and changes probably from song to song, how MUCH of the sound you are hearing during a song, does the band play? Like, is EVERYTHING live out of their instruments. Sometimes, it seems to me that there is soooo much that how can it possibly be them all playing but idk??? But then again there were many band members. Sorry, that is a really confusing question

[Krys]

What's the difference between keyboard's and piano's sound?

 

a keyboard can be programmed to play different sounds when you press the keys (strings, trumpets, synths, etc) . the piano however, is just a piano. and the keyboard is electronic

 

But as in "A New Day" you can see that Mego's piano is fake and it's actually a keyboard in a piano casing.

 

i thought the piano in AND was real just that he had an additional keyboard sitting above the piano keys? ah well

Edited April 11, 2009 at 01:45 PM by lamourpourCeline

[nrcda88]

Thanks for the info Thomas! although i don't understand some of the detail. It's cool to see how everything comes together.

[Thomas]

i thought the piano in AND was real just that he had an additional keyboard sitting above the piano keys? ah well

Could have been! I don't know enough about the technical details of AND to say for sure, I just read somewhere that it was a keyboard in a casing.

[Chula]

What's the difference between keyboard's and piano's sound?

 

a keyboard can be programmed to play different sounds when you press the keys (strings, trumpets, synths, etc) . the piano however, is just a piano. and the keyboard is electronic

 

 

Wow, I just knew the amazing feature of keyboard. Thank you for explaining

[Koolan]

Interesting stuff.

[stevethefan]

Yeah thanks for the info and pix. It's something that a lot of people don't think about because we all see the finally product but it's fascinating how everything has to be assembled/disassemble all throughout the tour. It's alot of work that does not get enough credit behind the scenes.

[celinefan5]

Thanks for that...all very interesting

[celinevegas]

Thank you for these photos and the presentation of the persons who make that the show is fabulous!!!!!

I would say one do not still report ALL that, it is so work, to be able to offer a beautiful show for people who come to see Céline!

Bravo them and please have made live this show during 1 the YEARS!!!!

[Timster]

I wonder what it's like for Celine under the stage during a concert? There can't be much room...

[Thomas]

In the LTAL tour she had a chair with wheels on and she would push herself backwards and forwards on that to save her having to crouch and stoop. She has problems with her back as we know so bending over night after night would be no good, she probably had the same thing for this tour.

[Claudette]

In the LTAL tour she had a chair with wheels on and she would push herself backwards and forwards on that to save her having to crouch and stoop. She has problems with her back as we know so bending over night after night would be no good, she probably had the same thing for this tour.

 

I didn't know she has problems with her back. Did she hurt her back when she was younger?

[Thomas]

I can't remember exactly, it's something like a nerve is trapped in her back and it causes her pain and it makes her hands shake and twitch on their own. There's a topic here somewhere, I'm sure I joked how it could be dangerous during playback songs incase she dropped the mic, but I can't find it. She also said in 2007 that her Vegas show left her with problems with her neck and spinal allignment and how she was having to train 3 times per week to try and fix it. I suppose it was that evil stage!

[Claudette]

I can't remember exactly, it's something like a nerve is trapped in her back and it causes her pain and it makes her hands shake and twitch on their own. There's a topic here somewhere, I'm sure I joked how it could be dangerous during playback songs incase she dropped the mic, but I can't find it. She also said in 2007 that her Vegas show left her with problems with her neck and spinal allignment and how she was having to train 3 times per week to try and fix it. I suppose it was that evil stage!

 

Thanks! I didn't know that. I think the AND show was not good for her health at all. She had lots of health problems while she was doing that show...

[Thomas]

Yes, she really did suffer over the years. I'm glad Rene said "NO" to a stage like the one she used for A New Day and I'm glad they realised they don't have to do so many shows each year. I'm sure when they design the next show they'll remember all of the problems it caused last time and work to prevent them as much as possible.

 

Does anyone remember the article about her back? I'm really curious as I can only vaguely recall it.

[Timster]

I'm hoping the new LV stage will be flat, with a catwalk reaching out into the audience like the TC Tour.

[celinevegas]

I'm hoping the new LV stage will be flat, with a catwalk reaching out into the audience like the TC Tour.

I would like so also!

But it will depend where from she will become established to give these shows?!

[CellyDee87]

Wow that's so cool, I've always wondered about the behind the scenes stuff

[CelineRox]

Interesting to see - thanks Thomas

[ce-line]

Thanks for sharing!

Very interesting!

[Teodora]

I didn't know all the details about her back... I remember she said she had back problems, because she enherited her mom's bad back... I don't think she has too much trouble with it though, because she works out quite a lot, so her back muscles are in good shape. I know a little bit about these things, I have back problems too, only I don't have time to work out too much.... nor am I allowed for that matter, some sports could make it worse. I am learning to swim though, that's the best thing for a bad back. Could use that olympic-size pool at Celine's Florida house

[ladylindsey]

Thank you so much for the pictures of the stage and set up. Especially the one of Céline in soundcheck! My Céline friends and I were there at the soundcheck and got to meet her, and of course we couldn't take any pictures or record anything, so now we have a picture to remember her just as she was when we met her!!! It's absolutely priceless. Thank you so much!!