Bluedot

BLUEDOT

access to a radio link, which was the send and return. The echo was used as a signal, inputted into real time generative software Notch to influence the projections on the telescope. The audio input signal was a mixture of live and pre-recorded signals, all of which created a unique visual reaction which was visible on the telescope.

“Bluedot is always a highlight of the summer,” concluded Bluman. “This year has certainly been more complicated with the extra tower but we are very pleased with the result.”

Providing the four bespoke projector towers was staging provider, Serious Stages. The company designed and installed four towers stationed around the 76m Lovell radio telescope, to accommodate the projection technology used to deliver the projections. Below the telescope Serious supplied a 19m Supernova Stage, which saw headline acts such as Hot Chip, Kraftwerk and New order perform to 35,000 people across the course of the weekend. Serious also supplied an assisted viewing platform, four 9m satellite PA speaker towers and a FOH structure.

Among the familiar faces was a new presence at this year’s Bluedot Festival; PlayPass, the cashless RFID providers. Not only did the company offer its standard functionality with all payments being cashless on site using PlayPass’ system, but also collaborated with festival organisers to supply a more immersive experience for festival goers. Steve Jenner, PlayPass Managing Director explained: “We’ve been speaking to the organisers of Bluedot for a number of years. But when we discussed additional elements, above cashless, to create a more immersive experience for festival goers the conversations moved up a gear.”

This immersive experience took the shape of Bluedot Mission Log. With multiple activation points across the site, festival goers could use their RFID wristband (a sustainable recycled plastic / bamboo item) to ‘log in’. This allowed them to record their festival journey and once home look back at what they’d seen and get more information about them.

“Collectively, we’ve deployed an extra 100 scanners across the site,” commented Ben Wild-Hirons, PlayPass’ Production Manager for the festival. “This was our biggest UK festival deployment to date, with additional equipment and people on site and it’s been a great innovative project.”

To oversee the implementation of the Mission Log collection of information about all the speakers and artists and cashless operation the festival employed Cassandra Frey-Miles. “I’ve done cashless operations at other festivals but the approach at Bluedot was also to add to the customer experience,” she enthused. “Getting all the info for the talks, installations and performances has been a collaboration between all of our team and the programmers – who’ve been keeping tabs on all the stages to make sure the schedule is up-to-date for people tapping into a certain position.”

Wild-Hirons concluded: “We’re already excited for next year. We are hoping to do more real time activations in connection to the Bluedot app. We can expand the capability of the RFID integration to open up the audience experience across the festival so that everyone can get more involved.” TPi Photo: Bluman Associates, Arial Focus & TPi www.discoverthebluedot.com www.groundcontroluk.com www.dbnaudile.co.uk www.transitionvideo.com www.blumanassociates.com www.playpass.be

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