Case Study
Live Event Production for Kool & the Gang × B. Michelle — May 24
Client: Kool & the Gang (headliner) & B. Michelle (special guest)
Producer: Productive Events — Live Event Production & AV Integration | Serving VA · MD · DC
Venue: Portsmouth Pavilion
Date: 24 May
Project Objectives
- Concert-grade FOH coverage for 8,000+ attendees without noise-spill violations.
- Artist-first MON environment for B. Michelle, combining wedges and wireless IEMs.
- Rapid changeover between support and headliner sets with zero downtime.
System Design & Gear Package
|
Position |
Console |
Outboard / Stage IO |
Loudspeaker System |
Microphones & RF |
|
FOH |
Avid S6L-32D Allen & Heath SQ-5 w/ GX 4816 (redundant utility desk) |
– |
d&b KSL line array — 20 × KSL8 (mains) & 4 × KSL12 (downfills) d&b SL-SUB — 12 × |
Shure Axient digital (lead & BGV) SE Electronics condensers (OH, horns, ambience) |
|
Monitor World |
DiGiCo SD10 |
— |
d&b M4 wedges (10 mixes) d&b Y7P front fills — 6 × d&b V8 tops + V-Sub (stereo ground stacks) |
Shure PSM-IEM packs (16-ch) |
|
|
|
All processing via d&b ArrayCalc & R1 control; networked clocking over AES67.
Execution Highlights
|
Phase |
Key Actions |
Outcome |
|
Pre-production |
Modeled SPL & coverage in ArrayCalc; pre-built console show files for each act. |
30-minute on-site tuning window achieved. |
|
Load-in (8 hrs) |
Flown KSL array at 12 m trim; time-aligned subs & front fills; dual redundant fiber for FOH-stage tie-lines. |
< 1 dB variance across audience zone; compliance with 98 dB A-slow local limit. |
|
Sound-check |
Scene-based snapshots for Kool & the Gang (full horn section) & B. Michelle (tracks + live band). |
Seamless recall; artists approved in first pass. |
|
Showtime |
FOH engineer rode dynamic VCAs; MON engineer handled on-the-fly IEM tweaks via SD10’s Waves rack. |
Zero RF drops, zero feedback events; crisp, impactful show. |
|
Changeover |
14-min set swap using pre-labeled loom & digital patch; SQ-5 used for walk-in music and emcee reads. |
No dead air; promoter praised efficiency. |
Measurable Results
- 98 % coverage uniformity (±1 dB) verified with SMAART.
- 0 technical interruptions across 2-hour program.
- Artists’ feedback:
“The in-ears were perfect out of the gate—rare on a festival stage.” — B. Michelle’s MD - Audience sentiment: Social posts highlighted “studio-quality sound” and “powerful, clean low end.”
Added Value
|
Advantage |
How Productive Events Delivered |
|
Scalable d&b inventory |
KSL family ensured long-throw clarity while keeping weight under trim limit. |
|
Dual-console workflow |
FOH & MON isolated; quick virtual-sound-check using Pro Tools. |
|
DMV-wide logistics |
Gear pre-staged at our Northern VA warehouse; single-truck deployment cut freight costs 18 %. |
Conclusion
Productive Events combined premium d&b line-array technology with A-list consoles (Avid S6L & DiGiCo SD10)to deliver a flawless concert experience for both Kool & the Gang and B. Michelle. Our meticulous pre-production, seasoned engineers, and region-wide logistics prove why promoters across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. trust us for mission-critical live events.
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