The Staging Division of Scharff Weisberg has announced that is preparing the launch of a stand-alone, full-service lighting company. The New York-based AV company has not proposed a date for the full launch, but has begun offering lighting services, is expanding its lighting equipment inventory, and has hired lighting veterans Ben Saltzman and Ron Brodeur.
Scharff Weisberg's lighting initiative comes on the heels of the successful launch of the Scharff Weisberg Media Resource Center. "Last summer, when we opened the Scharff Weisberg Media Resource Center, which provides media-related post production services, we saw a need among our clients preparing for a staging job or multimedia installation. We realized that we had an expertise in this area and could generate a certain amount of work from our own clients as well as servicing the industry at large," commented Scharff Weisberg president, Josh Weisberg. "The same is true of lighting. Many of our clients, when they book us on a staging job or hire us to do an installation, will have a lighting component to deal with as well. Combining our current expertise with our newest staff additions uniquely qualifies us to become one of the more competitive lighting companies in the New York area."
The move into the lighting arena has been demonstrated in a number of recent SW jobs. In addition to supplying an extensive audio and video package for two recent projects-a benefit at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan featuring a performance by the B-52's and a special event at the Rose Center-the company provided the lighting component to both jobs.
The Marriott Marquis event was staged for Cable Positive, an AIDS Awareness Organization that each year chooses a cable production company (This Year it was Comedy Central) to do a fundraiser dinner. Scharff Weisberg was involved in the entire production including lighting, audio and video. The event featured a concert by the B-52's. Joe Volpe, Scharff Weisberg's project manager for the show, commented " It was our first big lighting venture and everything went off without a hitch." Equipment highlights for the job included a large EAW/Meyer PA system; Crest/Midas consoles for audio; Folsom/Vista switching (2-Screen); Digital Projection 8 GV projectors; a 100-unit lighting package plus moving lights that included High End Systems Studio Color and Cyberlights run through a Whole Hog II lighting control system.
Another recent project was a special event at the Powerhouse stage in the Rose Center at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Scharff Weisberg's staging division managed the installation, provided sound reinforcement for the entertainment and brought in a lighting package. "I do a lot of lighting and multi media design and love working with Scharff Weisberg in all aspects of what they do," commented Howard Werner, lighting designer for the Powerhouse job. "I was thrilled to learn that they now do lighting as well, as I could go to one company for all my needs and trust that my job would be in good hands. One of the rooms for the event didn't have any real facilities for lighting. The team at Scharff Weisberg, however, was able to convert the empty room into a beautiful space."
