British artist, Gary Numan, celebrated reaching an astounding 1000th gig milestone by performing three consecutive shows at London’s iconic Electric Ballroom. To mark this remarkable journey, Lighting Designer David Howard was enlisted to create an iconic, immersive backdrop that encapsulated every essence of Numan’s career.
Independent Lighting Designer, David Howard, boasts a diverse portfolio spanning music tours, special events, and more. He’s worked with artists such as Jo Quail and The Hoosiers and contributed his expertise to MCM Comic Con and Glastonbury. First introduced to wysiwyg whilst studying at university in 2013, David Howard instantly recognised its transformative potential. Through lighting design software, he was able to visualize abstract concepts in a tangible way. Howard quickly adopted Wysiwyg’s comprehensive features, including 3D previsualization, paperwork generation, and show programming.
Howard explains, “With the convenience of real-time visualisation, I’m able to design using the right fixtures, – Be that the design, the plots, or the plans for the production; it’s such a convenient all-in-one holistic platform that complements my workflow perfectly.”
When the opportunity arose to design the 998th, 999th, and 1000th gigs for Gary Numan, the creative direction was clear: create a moment that encapsulates every essence of the artist’s long career. Howard’s creative process began with receiving the initial brief, brainstorming ideas, and then visualising those ideas using wysiwyg to bring them to life. Howard used wysiwyg pre-visualisation to incorporate newer elements such as video technology and pixels and demonstrate how these would breathe new life into the production.
Taking Numans preferences into account, the entire show consisted of 12 universes of lighting and another 10 of pixel lighting. The stage itself was lined with pixel tape, adding a visually intense dimension to the experience. Drawing from Numan’s nostalgic triangular motif, Howard used wysiwyg to introduce innovative video tile concepts to the team; enhancing the visual impact and creating a fresh revamped version of the artist’s trademark.
To create a visually striking backdrop, Howard used 24 GLP JDC1’s and ran video pixel content which was projected onto the triangular screen. To acknowledge Numans admiration for aviation, Howard featured Ayrton Magic Blades as well as the SGM BeaSt moving light that resembled an aircraft landing light, with an overhead rig of Chauvet Spots and washes.
David Howard comments: “Wysiwyg isn’t just a tool; it’s the all in one system that propels my ideas into reality. The mirroring tool, the seamless workflow between wysiwyg and BlackTrax, the ability to export with precision – these are more than just features; they’re what makes my work come to life. wysiwyg, without a doubt, has opened up more creative freedom, giving me the time to explore, refine, and execute quickly. It’s not just about lighting design; it’s about crafting experiences and wysiwyg stands as the ultimate partner that enables me to do this.”
This partnership resulted in a mesmerising performance that captured Gary Numan’s legacy perfectly. We extend our gratitude to David for sharing his exceptional project with us, and for being a huge supporter of wysiwyg for the entirety of his career. We look forward to sharing more about the unforgettable experiences David continues to deliver for audiences worldwide
