In the summer of 2020, we debuted our concert series, 3rd & Lamar’s Rooftop Live, from the roof of Inn Cahoots, a hotel in East Austin with unobstructed skyline views. At the time, our show had no in-person audience, and we used a two-person production crew to stream a stripped-down acoustic set.
We’ve come a long way in the short time since then. Below is a behind-the-scenes look at the filming and live stream of our fourth installation of the series, our most ambitious production yet.
Headliners: Primo and Jake Lloyd
Local synthwave artist Primo and alternative R&B vocalist Jake Lloyd performed Dec. 2, where we sold a limited number of tickets and welcomed our clients and hotel residents.
Our primary goals were to:
- Give the crowd and online audience amazing sightlines and impeccable audio quality.
- Provide guests and artists visibility into the live stream in real-time.
- Create a unique ambience with a set design that complemented the bands.
- Build a larger-than-life atmosphere in a relatively small area.
This Is How We Produced Rooftop Live
To execute our vision for the show, we relied on a nine-person production crew.
- Tony Stolfa (Executive Producer)
- Ari Morales (Director of Photography)
- Brent Klein (Technical Director)
- Eddie Caswel (FOH Sound)
- Evan Wynn (Sound Engineer)
- Carson Hammock (Camera Operator)
- Frankie Pike (Photographer/Marketing)
- Nick Schenck (Producer)
- Heather Grass (Producer)
In the weeks leading up to the performance, we filmed promos with Primo and Jake to tease the upcoming concert and give fans an exclusive look into their musical careers.
We loaded into the venue around noon on the day of the show to begin set-up.
Doubling Down On Camera Angles
We knew movement and flexibility would be crucial to the production, so we utilized five cameras for the concert.
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K – BMPCC4K (x2)
- Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera (x1)
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro- BMPCC6KPRO (x1)
- Sony FX6 Camera (x1)
We placed one of the BMPCC4K cameras on a tripod, while the other was used on our Dana Dolly with a motorized Emotimo Spectrum ST4 robotic head to offer more expansive views and precision movement and repeatability.
We mounted the Micro Cinema camera onto a speaker stand and we used the 6KPRO handheld and wirelessly sent the video feed with the new Teradek Spark 4K. The Sony FX6 also was handheld.
For lighting, we wanted a retro ’80s vibe, so we added a purple hue that matched the signage and lighting of Inn Cahoots by using four NanLite PavoTubes, which are four-feet LEDs that we hung behind the stage. Also, our director of photography learned what Primo the Alien’s favorite color was, and she said it was purple.
We added three Aperture Nova P300Cs for stage lighting, and two NanLite Forza 60B LEDs.
Sound and Delivery with Zero Compromise
Dressing up a concert and capturing all the right moves means nothing without clean audio.
We relied on an EV PA system with a pair of loudspeakers, a sub-woofer, three stage monitors, and five in-ear monitors for the artists.
We mixed all of the sound with a Behringer X32, and we used a 16-channel stage snake. For programmed controls, we used a Behringer Xtouch mini.
We utilized a Focusrite 18i8 as our audio interface to move sound between the mixer and the VMix software for the live stream.
For the crew to communicate, we used a Hollyland Solidcom M1 wireless system.
Live Stream Distribution
To maximize the audience for the show, we pushed the live stream to our Facebook and YouTube pages simultaneously. In addition, we crossposted the live stream to the Facebook pages of Inn Cahoots, Primo, and the show sponsor, Fonduu, to reach their respective audiences.
At the rooftop bar, we set up a television monitor to broadcast the concert so that the audience caught the various camera angles and did not miss anything while waiting in line for drinks. The screen was also visible to the artists while they performed.
This may be the very best we’ve sounded and looked.
–Don Denham, guitarist with Jake Lloyd
We have plans to go bigger next time by displaying the live stream on the side of the building at Inn Cahoots across multiple floors.
If you’re an artist or brand that wants to get involved in future 3rd & Lamar Rooftop Live shows, get in touch! Also, if you’re a production freelancer and you want to join our crew for a future show, sign up for our email list.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities for future shows? Email [email protected].
