How A Live Event Production Company Works

By Sarah Reed


In the early days of film and music, most often a single individual was in charge of promoting and producing the event. Whereas, now there are a number of different ways to do so. While a single individual can often promote and produce smaller productions, large scale productions often use a live event production company.

Whether hosting a ballet, concert, modern dance, theatrical operatic or other production, there are a lot that goes into creating a successful event. For example, most require communications equipment, sound, transport, packaging, staging, special effects and other work. Most often, each of these areas are taken care of by different companies or individuals while others use a single production company which sets up all aspects of the event.

Live events have long held a history of sound amplification and when it comes to concerts, a shorter history of visual presentations. Visual presentations include the many light shows which accompany concerts and laser light shows. While this technology and technique began in the film industry, it is now part of most live performances whether on a large or smaller scale.

Sound reinforcement has been around for quite some time. A professional sound reinforcement system is a professional audio system. The first system to be developed in this regard was in 1927 for a movie theater when the first talking film, the Jazz Singer was originally released. After which, the first outdoor public address system became first large-scale sound system in history.

Bill Graham assisted the historic Fillmore in San Francisco, California when a sound system was needed which could be changed out quickly. During that time, Bill Graham also founded FM productions, one of the first producers of concerts of live performances in the area. The production company became very popular with musicians involved in the Bay Area music scene, including the Grateful Dead.

The production company and a number of San Francisco based musicians became embroiled in a heated debate over the best type of sound system available. For some, it was an array or split array of speakers while others believed horn loaded speakers provided more clarity and better highs and lows in the music. As a resolution, the Grateful Dead and others began providing the sound equipment for each performance.

The production companies in existence today have a lot more going for them than those in the beginning days of live productions. For, there are now basic standard policies and procedures which most of these companies agree are the best in the business. While this is the case, there are also a number independent production outfits whom follow the original stylings of Bill Graham productions.

The history behind how Bill Graham came to the United States is an interesting one. For, Bill first escaped the Nazi invasion at age 10. After which, the young Bill Graham relocated to New York and was placed in foster care.

After having graduated from high school, then college with a degree in business, a young Bill Graham relocated to San Francisco in the 1960s. Graham's first job as promoter was for a group of comics known as the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Later, Bill became involved in promoting live bands and large concerts.




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