Lighting designer Jorge Valdez used Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 1200 moving lights and the new LEDBlinder 148LT units on the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards, held at the Hard Rock Casino, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Awards celebrated the very best music, talent and achievements in the Latin market, and was broadcast live on US-based Spanish speaking TV network, Telemundo.

Lighting for the four stages inside the venue and a barge on the lake outside - used as a fifth performance - area was supplied by South Florida-based Paradigm Production Services. Valdez worked alongside programmer Mike Smreka and programmer/technician Juan Valenzuela on the four indoors stages.

Inside, the moving lights for all four stages, together with a large generic rig were rigged onto 6 semi circles of trussing at the back and 4 straight truss ‘fingers’ which took up the majority of the venue’s ceiling. This complemented the set, was based on a miscellany of curves with accompanying arches and tubes everywhere. There was also an audience pit on stage left.

The 32 Robe ColorSpot 1200E ATs were positioned on the semi circles, with the Washes on the fingers. Robe moving lights were chosen for their high light output, vivid colour palette and reliability … and also their cost-effective pricing. Paradigm now has a large stock of Robe moving lights that go out on all their major projects. With a host of different stars making guest appearances in this action-packed show, the lighting rig needed to be as dynamic as possible, offering an infinite variety of diverse and provocative looks.

The Robes were used extensively to illuminate the set with assorted gobos, and the shutters helped enormously for shaping and cutting light precisely onto the set.

The LEDBlinder 148LTs were used to paint set pieces at the sides with colour. Valdez thinks these are ideal for quick hits and to blast small areas with intense colour and patches of light He’s also used them on several other events with great success.

Valdez lit all the bands appearing that night apart from Shakira, who’s LD Abbey Rosen Homes attended and advised him on the right colours to use for her performance. The lighting consoles used were two GrandMAs and a WholeHog II with a wing.

The Awards saw electric performances by Shakira - who also won six Awards - and reggaeton trailblazer Danny Yankee, who collected three Awards, plus many more artists. The event was presented by TV personality Candela Ferro and Mexican ranchero artist Lupillo Rivera.

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