NRG AT THE TPI AWARDS A growing tradition in the Robe camp, a handpicked group of Next Robe Generation (NRG) students joined this year’s TPi Awards lighting crew.
Making its annual home at Battersea Evolution at the end of February, the TPi Awards welcomed over 1,600 personnel from all corners of the live events industry for an annual ceremony to celebrate another year of jaw dropping live touring feats. Robe were on site providing its part to the stunning production, supplying over 300 of its fixtures across the venue. Lighting Designer Nathan Wan returned to head up the visual spectacular alongside Associate LD Andy Webb. Prior to the evening’s festivities, TPi spoke to Wan about the six, fresh-faced NRG (Next Robe Generation) students brought on to fill the crew roster. “It gets harder each year to whittle it down to six students to join the TPi Awards crew,” began Wan, reflecting on this year’s selection process. “We had so many strong applications come through and it just seems the calibre keeps going up.” Launched in 2016, NRG manufactures in-house incentives to offer future lighting professionals the chance to meet other like-minded individuals. Not only that, NRG offers networking opportunities for students to rub shoulders with leading lighting specialists. The process, as it was for the year before, involved students submitting an application, followed by an interview with Wan. “The second stage, which we introduced last year, involved the interviewees creating a lighting design for a fixed digital model. The reason for this was for the students to really showcase their creative talents.” Eventually after the process came to an end, six students were picked. Alex Merrett took on the role of Assistant Lighting Designer with Owen Yelland being offered Systems Tech and lead RoboSpot operator. The main bar was over seen by Espen Karlsen and supported by Ben Linwood. Finally, overseeing the Robe VIP bar were Jasmine Williams and Georgia Wren. “I’ve been particularly impressed with Alex this year,” stated Wan. The LD had brought Merrett on-board to aid in the lighting programing for the show, which included a three-day stint at Robe’s Northampton facility. “Alex had worked on the Awards last year, over seeing the main bar. The difference a year makes is quite incredible. He’s a different guy to the one I first met last year. One of the main reasons I picked him was that he is calm and doesn’t seem to rattle so easily – a necessity when you are working on a show like the TPi Awards where there are a room full of knowledgeable critics. He’s done so well this year and has got a bright future ahead of him.” Merrett, who is in his last year at the University of South Wales, spoke to TPi about some of his responsibilities with this year’s event. “In the initial stages I created the lighting paper work on WYSIWYG along with programming the show with Nathan,” he reflected. “During the event I operated the lighting.” Although having worked on this project in 2018, the young LD detailed some of the things he had picked up from this year’s awards. “This event is one where all attendees are looking at everything. You have to make sure everything is perfect down to the minor details!” Having ticked off Assistant LD for the TPi Awards from his list, Merrett already has a few other jobs in the pipeline. “But I currently have 5 weeks of my University course left – so that’s my main focus right now.” 114
