Today we’re introducing a new series to the CSL Blog: User Stories. Today’s story is about Gary Guberman, an Avolites fan who works in Reno at the Peppermill Casino
Avolites User Gary Guberman
Accommodating traveling lighting designers in a new venue is not an easy task, but when when Gary Guberman, Assistant Director of Technical Services and resident Lighting Designer at the Peppermill Casino was given this challenge for Peppermill’s Tuscany Events Center and Wendover Concert Hall he chose Avolites’s Pearl 2010 console.
“I’ve been using the Pearl 2010 for over two years now,” said Guberman. “We had many touring lighting designers requesting this console. It made sense to purchase the console and share it between both locations. Once we received it I started to use it myself for most shows.”
From Conception To Reality
“We base each design on the show coming in,” said Guberman. “If there isn’t a touring lighting designer with the show then I will come up with a design to fit the act as well as utilize the full range of our in-house equipment.”
The standard rig, which includes 60 ETC Source 4 PARs each upstage and downstage, 8 Vari-Lite VL3000 Spots, 6 VL3500 washes, 12 High End Systems Studio Command 1200s, and Color Kinetics Colorblast 12s, are fully controlled by the Pearl 2010.
With the help of the Pearl 2010, Guberman recreates each touring production for the Peppermill’s venues. “In Reno our challenge is that we build each event from scratch,” said Guberman. “We try to match the touring band’s vision on what the show should look like.
The AVOLife
The Peppermill purchased the Avolites Pearl 2010 to fulfill the requests of traveling lighting designers. After using one, Guberman understands why the Pearl 2010 received so many requests.
“The (Pearl 2010) is very intuitive,” said Guberman. “It gives me a lot of flexibility in automated control as well as still having manual control as needed. The roll-a-cue makes changing pages extremely easy, giving me more access to more cues quickly.”
“I love the built-in touch screens and the ability to see images of the video clips or gobos, or to create your own to make playback run smoother.”
However, Guberman’s love of the Avolife doesn’t stop at the Pearl 2010. “I am quite interested in the new Sapphire Touch coming out soon. I plan on getting more into Media servers and LEDs and think it could be a great console to make programming easier. I had a brief tutorial on it at LDI and was blown away. I also love the new Avolites Pearl Expert with the Expert Touch Wing. Everything about it takes the Pearl to the next level.”
About Gary
Guberman started his lighting design career at a young age at the Bronx High School of Science designing lights for local bands in the school’s auditorium and working in television production. He went on to Major in Theatre and Minor in TV production at SUNY New Paltz.
Pink Floyd has been a huge influence on him. “They are the reason I got into this business in the first place.”
“I love the variety of different shows that I do — corporate, ballet, theater, concerts,” said Guberman. Guberman toured for over six years with World Championship Wrestling working on the WCW Monday Nitro show. One notable experience on tour was for an insurance convention in Cancun. “I had a rig of Intellibeams. We had KC and the Sunshine Band as the surprise talent and the people were expecting Frank Sinatra.”
One Piece Of Advice
Guberman believes it’s important to keep up with the technological changes in the entertainment production industry. “As soon as you think you got it the next thing comes out and it’s time to start learning again. But it is a challenge I look forward to.”
“I also love to teach the next generation of technicians — pass onto them the knowledge they will need if they choose this for a career.” When asked what advice he’d offer to up and comers, Guberman states “Keep learning. Lighting is continuously moving forward, but the basics are still important. You still need to know the how and the why.”
“To me, lighting is an art, and sometimes people forget that. You are painting your picture with light and no matter the size of your show you still are a part of the production. When the audience enjoys the show you can take pride in the fact that you had a hand in it.”
