Author: Lori Rubinstein

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Queen: The Neal Preston Photographs

Give the Gift of
Queen: The Neal Preston Photographs

Give the gift of Queen: The Neal Preston Photographs this holiday season! The is the official book on Queen, one of the greatest ever rock bands, photographed by one of the greatest ever rock photographers, Neal Preston. The book includes text by Brian May and Roger Taylor and intimate accounts from Neal Preston revealing the stories behind the pictures.

Neal Preston is one of the most prolific and highly regarded rock photographers of all time. He began working with Queen in the mid 1970s as their tour photographer. He was present on the legendary South America tour in 1981, Live Aid in 1985, and the band’s last tour with Freddie Mercury in 1986, among others. Brian May has commented, “Neal just has the knack, the skill, to always be in the right place at the right time.”

This official book, produced in collaboration with the band, features over 200 images and is an exhilarating ride through their years on the road together. It is the first time Preston and Queen have collated this work in one volume. Glimpses of life backstage, live performances, post-performance highs and lows, and outtakes―many of which have never been seen before―are accompanied by memories and anecdotes from Preston with forewords by Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. The pages vibrate with a palpable energy.

The holidays are just around the corner so don’t delay and order this beautiful book for the Queen and Neal Preston fans in your life – or, even better, for yourself!

Behind the Scenes thanks Neal Preston and The Lightpower Collection for their wonderful ongoing support of the charity. 

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BTS Seeks 2021 Holiday Card Designers

Behind the Scenes is Seeking Designers for Holiday Cards

Behind the Scenes holiday cards make a difference – and you can too! The cards have become a tradition in the industry for those who want to spread holiday cheer while supporting their colleagues in need due to serious illness or injury. Each year designs have been created and donated to the charity by everyone from Tony Award winners to high school design students. Behind the Scenes is seeking designers for their 2021 cards. The design guidelines are very simple and you can also view previous examples of the holiday cards. If you are interested in designing a card, Behind the Scenes will need your commitment no later than April 15th and your artwork by May 15th. Please contact Lori Rubinstein at [email protected] or 212-244-1421.

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Claypaky’s “Shine a Light” Song Benefits BTS

Claypaky presents “Shine a Light”
A song celebrating the Entertainment Industry

The year 2020 will be remembered as one of the most difficult years for everyone working in the entertainment and events sector. In the effort to focus on keeping up the spirit of the people affected by the current crisis and to close this terrible year with a positive hope, Claypaky created “Shine a Light,” a song dedicated to everyone in the entertainment industry.  It is written by Claypaky Product specialist and musician, Manuel Hahn, together with US based Claypaky Product Specialist George Masek.

“Shine a Light” is a rock ballad celebrating everyone working in the entertainment industry. It is meant to raise awareness of the difficulties the people in our industry are living due to the COVID crisis.  Music has a way of lifting people at a time when everything else feels dark. It is not a promotional song or a “product centered” marketing activity.  It is a project created by people from Claypaky and made for all our colleagues in the entertainment industry, without borders and limits.

Manuel Hahn, who wrote and sang the song notes: “The idea of a song dedicated to this very particular moment for the entertainment industry came very naturally while talking together with some colleagues. From then, it has been very natural and smooth to start the process. The words and music came very easy, almost spontaneously. It has been a privilege to work on this project and I have to say that Claypaky management enthusiastically approved this idea and supported the production of the song and the video.”

Marcus Graser, CEO of Claypaky says: “The whole entertainment industry is now living a never before seen crisis and we are fully aware that everybody working in this industry is now affected by the COVID situation: from manufacturers, to designers, to rental companies to freelancers. When the team presented this project to the Management Board, we immediately decided to support the idea and to enhance it. We hope that with this initiative we will be able to support at least some of our industry colleagues in need.”

Together with the song, Claypaky decided to produce a limited “Shine a Light” merchandise collection which is available on www.claypakymerch.com.

All the revenues from the sales of this limited-edition merchandise, including the production costs covered by Claypaky, will be donated to support the entertainment and live events industry members impacted by the pandemic. Claypaky will donate 100% of the revenues equally shared to the following funds:  Behind the Scenes (USA), #handforahand (Germany) and Scena Unita (Italy).

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InCord Supports BTS Safety Net

InCord Supports the Behind the Scenes Safety Net

InCord recently made their annual donation to Behind the Scenes reflecting a percentage of profits from sales of their Theatrical Safety Netting Systems. The systems (https://incord.com/theatre-division/) are hand-crafted in the USA by skilled artisans, safety tested to exceed all applicable industry standards, and are custom designed by professional engineers to perfectly fit your orchestra pit and/or protect your stage and house operations according to your technical and aesthetic requirements.

Joe Menhart, InCord’s Theatre Division Sales Manager, commented, “We are delighted to provide this support to BTS especially when so many more are in need due to the ongoing global pandemic. Our hearts go out to all those who benefit from the grants and resources provided by BTS.”

Rick Rudolph, the Chair of Behind the Scenes, commented, “InCord’s obvious commitment to safety through their netting systems, is further demonstrated by their desire to provide a financial safety net for their colleagues who are ill or injured. We thank them for their ongoing commitment and, in particular, for honoring that commitment during this difficult time for so many in our industry.” 

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Light Touch Designs Supports BTS

Light Touch Designs Supports BTS with
Speaking Fees and Online Training

Behind the Scenes is very pleased to announce that Light Touch Designs Inc has become its newest Pledge-a-Service member by pledging fees from speaking engagements and online training to the charity.

Light Touch Designs Inc is a Chicago-based design firm supplying lighting design services to the corporate meeting and special event industry. Owner Michael Sharon, a 30 year veteran of the profession, is happy to share his knowledge of design, programming and Vectorworks drafting with the community.

Upon making his commitment to the charity, Michael commented, “As freelance workers in a high-risk industry, we are all just one accident away from financial ruin. BTS has provided a crucial safety net to help people back on their feet. In times of pandemic, when we are all working to share knowledge and keep the industry alive, it seems right that I should take my teaching income and put it back into the community.”

BTS Foundation Chair, Rick Rudolph, commented, “We were so pleased when Michael contacted us about joining the program. As he rightly guessed, funds are needed now more than ever to care for our colleagues’ physical and mental health. This industry has always been a family and Michael’s desire to help those in most need during this time is a shining example of that. There is so much wonderful online training and webinars happening right now and we hope others will follow Michael’s example of giving.”

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Chauvet ReSet Fund Extended to December 31st

CHAUVET Professional Teams Up to Launch ReSet Fund
to Help COVID-19 Impacted Lighting Designers, Technicians

CHAUVET Professional announced that it will be donating up to $50,000 in funds to help live event industry members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CHAUVET Professional “ReSet Fund” will help fund grants to industry members through Behind the Scenes, a charity focused on supporting entertainment technology professionals.

CHAUVET Professional is donating $25,000 to start the fund; and will match donations up to an additional $25,000 from participants who buy special fundraising “ReSet” jackets, truss gloves, and other merchandise. All money raised will be used to support entertainment technology members and their immediate dependent family who are seriously ill or injured, and to fund emotional wellness resources and training.

“Like everyone, we have felt the sting of this pandemic,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “We’ve watched with admiration, respect and empathy as members from every segment of our industry have struggled bravely during this difficult period. Many of them, are not only customers, but friends, and this is our way of showing them our support now and as we bring back live events together.”

Fundraising merchandise will be on sale at the CHAUVET Professional road shows, beginning in Dallas today. Merchandise will also be available through the company’s website (https://www.chauvetprofessional.com/resetfund). The matching challenge will close December 31 with additional activities planned in 2021.  The final donation will be made in December.

“It’s always been the mission of Behind the Scenes to bring hope and help in times of need,” said Rick Rudolph, Chair of the Behind the Scenes Foundation. “Partners like Chauvet Professional understand this and we are so pleased to have their support. Providing industry members with a lifeline and with tools and resources to help them maintain physical and psychological wellness is critical.”

“Our goal is to get these funds into programs that provide hope and support as our industry prepares for the good to come,” said Chauvet.  “The sun will shine again on our industry — and we want to do all we can to ensure that all the great professionals we have worked with are part of that future. We ask everyone to join in lighting hope.”

Click here to purchase your ReSet Fund items now!

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Decorate Your Home with Unique Holiday Decorations

Decorate Your Home with Unique Holiday Decorations

Holiday

Add some unique holiday decorations to your home this year and support your colleagues who are seriously ill or injured as well as Behind the Scenes’ new Mental Health and Suicide Prevention initiative. These ornaments have been generously made and donated to Behind the Scenes by Mike and Sue Wood, so every penny goes directly to helping your colleagues in need.

Have cutouts of your favorite tools hanging on your tree this Christmas by choosing from a crescent wrench, shackle, paintbrush or scissors as well as holiday designs. Available in 3” round acrylic disks in red (in keeping with the WeMakeEvents theme) or clear. There’s a BTS ghostlight etched on clear acrylic. And we’re introducing the Ghostlight Tree, a garlanded Christmas tree with a ghostlight star that’s available in three styles: etched on clear acrylic, as an LED night light in multi color or solid blue, and as a portable mini LED with remote control that will brighten any room or window with the holiday spirit.

For those celebrating Hanukkah we’re offering the portable mini LED with an etched menorah topped with a ghostlight shamas candle and a Star of David night light in multi color or solid blue.

The holidays are just around the corner so don’t delay and add some holiday cheer to your home today! And while you’re there, check out the BTS Holiday Cards, created by industry designers specially for the charity, available in card packs of 10 and as e-cards.

 

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Spread Cheer with BTS Holiday Cards

Spread Cheer with BTS Holiday Cards

main_holidaycards_2020

The 2020 Holiday Cards are available at the BTS Boutique. More than ever, it’s important to let family, friends and colleagues know you are thinking of them and these unique holiday cards say it perfectly. They are also a personal and inexpensive way for a company to keep in touch with its customers and let them know “You are important to us.”

This year we are offering new file formats and customization options for the electronic cards and an expanded array of price points starting at just $20. These join our printed card packs of 10 with a standard greeting.

Six wonderful new designs are featured this year. Robert Mark Morgan and Lynn Muniz join returnees David Gallo and Robert Mendoza, and Scenic Art Studios has contributed designs by Michalyn Monson and Angelina Vyushkova.

Sending a BTS holiday card helps spread the word about the charity and lets your recipients know it’s important to you to assist industry colleagues who are seriously ill or injured as well as support the Behind the Scenes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative.

Card pack quantities are very limited, so order yours today! Printed cards will be shipped in late November. Electronic card orders will be taken until December 18th. 

Click here to order your cards

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LRLR Attempt Record Setting Ride to Benefit BTS

LRLR Attempt Record Setting Ride

Two of the Long Reach Long Rider founding members, Greg Williams and Wayne Rasmussen, recently attempted a wildly ambitious charity motorcycle ride dubbed “Autumn Extravaganza.”  The plan was to ride in all 48 contiguous states within 10 consecutive days.  

They almost did it.

Greg Williams, lead rider for this adventure explained what happened, “We were so very close, but Mother Nature thought otherwise. There was snow in Maine and New Hampshire at the beginning of the ride. In the Midwest we encountered cold temperatures and high winds, which wasn’t fun. But it was the ice on I-90 in Montana that convinced me it was time to call it quits.”  Greg’s motorcycle, Ice Dancer,put it this way: “I was on my side bouncing off the median and Greg was sliding down the highway on his back. It wasn’t like we had a choice or anything.”

The ride began in Kittery Maine on October 17th and ended 10 days later in Montana on October 26th, just 1 state shy of #48. In between the two intrepid, and very cold, riders experienced:

  • 7,000+ miles riding on the route
  • 4,000+ miles riding to/from the route
  • 15.5 days – riding
  • 1 snow day – not riding
  • 2 ice days  – also not riding

Autumn Extravaganza was conceived to help raise awareness and funds for Behind the Scenes, an industry based charity that not only provides financial assistance to entertainment technology professionals in need due to serious illness or injury, but also makes available mental health tools and resources through its Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative. 

Lori Rubinstein, Executive Director of Behind the Scenes noted, “We are so grateful to Greg and Wayne for their valiant attempt to complete the 48-state/10-day challenge. The Long Riders are an amazing group of people with a longstanding commitment to caring for those less fortunate than themselves. Please show your support by making a donation at behindthescenescharity.org/lrlr.”

Greg and Wayne are safely home (all protective gear and bike guards worked as designed!) and thinking about when to try this ride again. Ice Dancermay have the last word on that, “I’d be happy to try that route again, but let’s wait till summer.”

Greg has posted a full account of the journey here  http://lrlr.org/

It’s not too late to support the LRLR 2020 Autumn Extravaganza!

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John Huntington Supports BTS With His New Book “Introduction to Show Networking”

John Huntington Supports BTS With His New Book
Introduction to Show Networking

To kick off the release of his new book Introduction to Show Networking, John Huntington is giving away 100 copies. Fifty copies will be given to out-of-work backstage workers who fill out a form saying why they would like a copy and how the shutdown has affected them. The first still-employed workers who donate $25 or more to Behind the Scenes and submit documentation on his website will also receive a copy.

Here’s a description of the book: 

“Introduction to Show Networking covers the basics of how Ethernet networks provide a platform for entertainment control and audio/video media distribution for concerts, theatre productions, corporate and special events, cruise ship revues, wrestling shows, houses of worship, museum presentations, fountain spectaculars — any kind of show presented live for an audience.

The book’s bottom-up approach was designed with show technicians in mind, starting with the basics and then moving up through cables, network switches, and layering, and on through Ethernet, and network components like TCP, UDP, IP and subnet masks, all with a practical focus. More advanced concepts are introduced, including broadcast storms and VLANs, along with show networking best practices.

Closing out the book is a network design process demonstrated through practical, real-world examples for lighting, sound, video, scenic automation, and show control networks. An appendix covering binary and hexadecimal numbers is also included. This easy-reading book draws from Huntington’s Show Networks and Control Systems, the industry standard since 1994, but is completely re-focused, reorganized, and updated.” 

The offers end at 9:00am on October 26. The book is expected to ship in November. 

https://controlgeek.net/blog/2020/10/01/giving-away-100-copies-of-my-new-book-introduction-to-show-networking10