Geezers Of Gear

07/25/2025

The Future of Lighting is Here

Elation Professional Paragon Series features powerful, lightweight IP54-rated fixtures with TruTone CRI technology for exceptional color accuracy. Designed for versatility and performance, Paragon sets a new standard in professional lighting—delivering reliable, high-quality illumination for stage, broadcast, and live event applications.

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Journey beyond understanding with Elation’s Paragon series. Combining lightweight IP-54 housing, exceptional power, and intelligent design featuring an inter...

07/25/2025

Online now and we can guarantee this will be your BEST Friday listen, so check it out!

Episode #318 - Jake Berry - Behind the Scenes of Ozzy Osbourne's Final Show is brought to you by Elation Professional and Main Light

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/GNV_naTHRQs

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qlXLu6eHlIw4eKE36ec5j?si=wf1HmIgtRuG2RjDYzsMJow

Geezers Of Gear:
https://www.geezersofgear.com/podcast-1/episode/2acc2bb8/318-jake-berry-behind-the-scenes-of-ozzy-osbournes-final-show

On this special episode of Geezers of Gear, we have invited the legendary Jake Berry to reflect on his incredible experience managing Ozzy Osbourne’s final show, Back to the Beginning. Held in Birmingham, England, the emotional farewell brought together a massive lineup of rock and metal heavyweights, including Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tool, and Slayer. Other notable acts included Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon.

The event also featured a supergroup with Billy Corgan, Ronnie Wood, Steven Tyler and the original Black Sabbath lineup in a tribute to a career that shaped the face of rock and metal.

As the world mourns the recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne, this conversation serves as both a behind-the-scenes look at his final bow and a tribute to a true icon. Jake shares what it was like being part of such a historic night, the challenges of putting it all together, and what Ozzy meant to the artists, crew, and fans alike.

Join us as we honor the Prince of Darkness, celebrate his legacy, and hear firsthand how one of the greatest shows in rock history came to life.

07/25/2025

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07/24/2025

From The Disney Parade to Jethro Tull, Aerosmith, ELP, Elvis, Kenny Rogers, and even the Allegan County Fair — Roy Bickel has done it all, here are his passes!

Known as the Godfather of Rigging, Roy’s legendary career has taken him across every corner of live entertainment, from circus tents to stadium stages. His impact spans decades and genres, shaping the safety, skill, and spirit of the production world we know today.

07/24/2025

Congratulations Lightswitch

More than 50,000 people viewed the phenomenal first presentation in 2022! With even more lights and dimensions, The Nature of Light has been recreated with new designs by Lightswitch® and, once again, features the mesmerizing sculptures of HYBYCOZO.

Opening August 1, see the historic Paine Art Center and Gardens transformed into a spectacular showcase of illuminated sculptures and environments with the second incarnation of The Nature of Light.

Learn more & make reservations: https://hubs.la/Q03tDY070

Reservations for The Nature of Light are now available!

Visit: https://hubs.la/Q03tDYK30

07/24/2025

ThrowBack Thursday: #260 - Lori Rubinstein

Lori Rubinstein is the Executive Director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, a 501C3 charity which provides Basic Needs grants to entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured and Counseling grants for therapy or addiction rehab. The BTS Mental Health Initiative provides tools and resources to support entertainment industry workers and promote mental health and wellness. Lori has been in the industry for over 45 years and was the Executive Director of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association for almost 30 years where she oversaw the creation and development of the ANSI-accredited TechnicalStandards Program and the Entertainment Technician Certification Program. Her experience in the industry also includes working as a lighting designer and stage manager for dance, symphony, theatre, and musicals, and for industry businesses including a lighting supply company, a theatre consultancy, and a manufacturer of entertainment products.

YouTube:
https://hubs.la/Q03tLv-x0

Spotify:
https://hubs.la/Q03tLywY0

Geezers Of Gear:
https://hubs.la/Q03tLyyP0

Lori Rubinstein is the Executive Director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, a 501C3 charity which provides Basic Needs grants to entertainment technology ...

07/23/2025

Check out these incredible behind-the-scenes photos of Roy Bickel in action - The Godfather of Rigging!

With over 50 years in the industry, Roy’s legacy spans circus tents, stadium tours, and some of the most iconic moments in live entertainment. These shots capture the grit, skill, and passion that shaped generations of riggers.

07/23/2025

Artistry In Motion Silent Storm® (T) and (SS)

Whisper Quiet

Silent Storm® Confetti Spreaders provide a continuous flow of confetti at the desired rate over the selected time frame without operator attention. The units are whisper quiet and have a variable speed blower enabling the user to “dial in” the desired flow for a steady fall of confetti to match any artistic intent. With a load capacity of 10-30 pounds depending on the model, materials and type of confetti cut, the Silent Storm® can deliver sustained confetti special effects, quietly and effortlessly, for up to 10 minutes, or more.

The Silent Storm® can be mounted to a grid or rigged to a truss to deliver the confetti celebration effect in precisely the desired location. The Silent Storm® runs on a 110 VAC power (220 VAC available) and is fully operational through a lighting board dimmer circuit. The Silent Storm® propels only confetti, not streamers.

Available in two versions:

The “T” version is designed to ship on a tour and reduces crew setup time. This model also offers 220 VAC motors.
The “SS” version is smaller than the ”T” and is designed for use in situations where a smaller size machine is required.

Visit: https://hubs.la/Q03tDr5D0

07/23/2025

Online now, a must listen!

Episode #317 - Roy “Bickel” — Legendary Rigger, Performer, and Industry Pioneer is brought to you by ETC and GearShare

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/rP9BQZaXXM8

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5slGPtJNid49bvrOyVrLzy?si=vB4AzXktQ-qlQ1YvSI2FfQ

Geezers Of Gear:
https://www.geezersofgear.com/podcast-1/episode/257ff60a/317-roy-bickel-legendary-rigger-performer-and-industry-pioneer

In this special episode of Geezers of Gear, host Marcel sits down with Roy Bickel, a true legend in the rigging and live entertainment industry. Roy shares his extraordinary journey that began as a professional water skier and circus performer, eventually evolving into a six-decade career pioneering rigging practices for some of the world’s biggest tours.

From flying out of a cannon to rigging for Elvis Presley, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Kiss, Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé.Jethro Tull, Aerosmith, Frank Sinatra, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Kenny Rogers, Alabama, 10,000 Maniacs, Backstreet Boys, New Kids, Reba and countless others, Roy’s stories are filled with humor, hard-earned wisdom, and unforgettable behind-the-scenes moments.

He discusses the evolution of rigging technology, the critical importance of safety, and how mentorship and generational knowledge continue to shape the future of the industry.

This episode is packed with incredible tales, life lessons, and a heartfelt look at a career dedicated to innovation, education, and the art of live entertainment. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just entering the world of production, Roy Bickel’s journey is one you don’t want to miss.

07/22/2025

Check out these incredible vintage photos of Roy Bickel!

Before he was a legendary rigger, Roy was making waves - literally - as a professional water skier, flying through the air as a human cannonball, and performing daring stunts in the circus.

These rare snapshots from the early days capture the adrenaline, creativity, and wild spirit that defined Roy’s beginnings in live entertainment. From pyramids in hotel pools to flying out of a cannon, Roy’s story is like no other and we’re thrilled to share a piece of it with you.

Swipe through for a look at where it all began and legends he has worked with!

07/22/2025

Event Safety Alliance (ESA) proudly announces the publication of a new American National Standard: ANSI ES 1.42-2025, Parade Safety. This consensus industry standard was the product of ESA’s collaboration with the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) to create authoritative guidance regarding various aspects of event safety.

ESA Vice President Steven Adelman, who led the task group that drafted the document, explains, “Although one might wonder what safety issues could arise during a slow-moving parade, serious incidents occur at large and small parades in every geographic region, including a fatal incident involving a child at a Memorial Day parade last weekend. Because parades are civic celebrations, any incident harms not only an individual, but also their family and their community. This standard will help organizers and public safety officials to mitigate the most foreseeable safety hazards.”

The drafters of this standard included the operational leaders of parades in major metropolitan areas and at private entertainment venues, parade consultants, and other event professionals. Their work then went through multiple stages of internal and public review under the auspices of the Event Safety Working Group. It was published as an American National Standard by ESTA’s Technical Standards Program.

This is ESA’s eighth American National Standard published since 2020. Previously published standards include ANSI ES 1.9-2020, Crowd Management; ANSI ES 1.7-2021, Weather Preparedness; and ANSI ES 1.40-2023, Event Security.

ANSI ES 1.42-2025, Parade Safety, is available as a free download at the Technical Standards Program home page: https://hubs.la/Q03t_7n00 and then entering “parade safety” into the Live Search box.

07/21/2025

Must-Watch Alert! We're beyond excited to share two incredible videos honoring Roy Bickel, the 2025 Parnelli Awards Visionary Award recipient.

🔹 Video 1: A powerful short documentary capturing the essence of Roy’s legendary career.
🔹 Video 2: The full-length feature, packed with unforgettable moments and industry-shaping stories and Roy's acceptance speech.

https://hubs.la/Q03xNNCG0

The Parnelli team captured Roy perfectly—his innovation, grit, and decades of impact. Don’t miss this tribute to a true icon!