GUEST BLOGGER: Jorge Lopez - Technical Production Tips for Planners

Simply Mumtaz is proud to welcome our newest Guest Blogger - Jorge Lopez, President of J&M Entertainment & Event Production. We've done several events together over the past few years and he is exceptional at being a team player as we design our programs / technical production with the client's goals in mind. Please see below a few of his Top Tips for Planners using a Production House. LOAD IN:
When scheduling the load in for your event, tier the “Call Times” for the different services. This will help you to avoid a bottleneck at the loading lock. This will also help to avoid having your production staff in “hurry up and wait” mode because some equipment cannot be set up until other equipment is installed.

Although it does vary by specific event here’s a successful example:
- Rigging team & Load in Supervisor (Technical Director)
- Drapery installation team
- Lighting & Trussing
- Audio team
- Visual team
- "Show” team

RIGGING:
Once you have confirmed your design for your event your technical director should meet with the Rigging team to create a “Rigging Plot”. This is to confirm the best way to achieve the client’s desired result while also taking their budget into consideration.

* This is an additional budget category and sometimes it is necessary to convert to a ground support floor plan to lower costs.

The “Rigging Plot” will confirm where equipment will be hung from the ceiling. This generally includes Trussing, Audio, Lighting, Screens and Projectors as well as décor elements.

TECHNICAL DIRECTING:
You create the relationship with your client and sell the event vision, you and your design team create the design and concept…then…it’s your technical director‘s responsibility to make sure all of the technical production elements work seamlessly together. This includes having the foresight and experience to see anything that may affect the event’s production. When such a situation arises the technical director is prepared with solutions and options to keep the event moving smoothly.

Your technical director will be in charge of running the rehearsals which break down as follows:

- Cue to Cue Rehearsal
- Technical/Dress Rehearsal

If you have a “Hands On” client who likes to be involved in the production and wants to see the rehearsal, recommend they sit in on the “Technical/Dress Rehearsal” as the “Cue to Cue” rehearsal can sometimes take much longer. The relationship with your Technical Director should be a trusting one based on their experience, creativity, problem solving ability, resourcefulness and flexibility.

A little about Jorge Lopez...
Jorge Lopez spent 15 years in the radio business as a morning “Drive time” Personality, Program Director, Sports Director and as a Sales Account Executive. In 1979 he started J & M Entertainment, a DJ Company based in Southern California that has since grown into a full service Event Production Company that produces corporate, association and social events.

Jorge Lopez and J&M Entertainment Event Production have built an excellent reputation, counting among its clients: Disney, LA Inc. NBC, Capitol Records, Doubletree Hotels, Hilton Hotels, FOX Sports, Hyatt Hotels, Avis car rental, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonalds, JBL, Nestle, Macy’s, Cheesecake Factory and many others! Jorge has become a respected speaker, presenting sales and business growth seminars at educational conferences in Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Atlantic City, Chicago and many others. He has also presented for many business organizations such as NACE (National Association of Catering Executives), VIA (Valley Industrial Association), ISES (International Special Event Society), LBA (Latin Business Association), ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants), M.P.I. (Meeting Professionals International) as well as many others. Among his unique credits, Jorge serves on the ISES board of directors, was once a ringmaster for Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey’s Circus and he flew with the Navy’s Blue Angels…