August 2016 - Mountain NEWs

31 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Industry News, MTN BOX Permalink

A Pledge of Excellence: The Value of Environmentally-Friendly, Domestic Production

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 31, 2016

The facts are simple. More than 80 percent of consumers agree that they would choose an American-made product given the choice. Nearly 60 percent of American consumers consider environmental impact when choosing a product, and more than half of all American consumers agree that they would pay “a little” to “significantly more” for a product that met their standards for being environmentally friendly. These facts may seem trivial to you, but they underline the significance of manufacturing environmentally conscious products right here in the United States.

29 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in MTN BOX Permalink

The MTN BOX® POTW – A Closer Look at PRG’s Speedstar Chain Hoists

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 29, 2016

We recently featured PRG’s Speedstar Chain Hoists as our MTN BOX® Pack of the Week. These may look like your ordinary CM Lodestars, but they are loaded with variable speed capabilities that make them leaders in the industry in speed and positional accuracy.

YT Lechner, General Manager for PRG Scenic Technologies, had this to say about the PRG Speedstars:

“PRG’s Speedstar Variable Speed Chain Hoist is a collaborative effort between PRG and CM to provide 1/2T and 1T variable speed hoists with speeds of 110fpm and 55fpm respectively.

Read more

24 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Industry News, Insight from the Experts Q+A Permalink

[Q+A] Insight from the Experts: Jim Digby and the Event Safety Alliance (ESA)

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 24, 2016

Together as an industry, we are all taking the necessary steps to improve safety site-wide at every event across the globe. This mission is simple, yet easy to overlook, especially in the fast-paced, think-on-your-toes nature of entertainment production. The key is to work safety protocols and practices into every project from day one.

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One of the leading safety organizations in entertainment is the Event Safety Alliance (ESA). The ESA has quickly become one of the most important organizations amongst us, encouraging the adoption of critical safety procedures, and providing the education and training necessary to keep crews updated and informed. Jim Digby, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the ESA, is a 34-year veteran of the entertainment industry, and leads the ESA’s journey to global event safety.

23 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in MTN BOX, Tips, Tools, & Resources Permalink

What is Rotational Molding?

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 23, 2016

Our MTN BOX® road cases are manufactured using the rotational molding process, but what exactly is rotational molding? By definition, rotational molding is a manufacturing process using a hollow mold that is filled with material and then slowly rotated, resulting in the material dispersing and clinging to the walls of the mold. Continuous rotating during both the heating and cooling process allows the mold to maintain its shape, and after this process is complete, the material is extracted from the mold for assembly.

The history of this process used in the United States goes back to the early 1950s for the production of toy doll heads. The original machine used comprised of an E Blue box-oven machine based on a General Motors’ rear axle.

23 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in CM Hoist School, MTN News Permalink

The History of CM Hoist School

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 23, 2016

Mountain Productions’ CM Hoist School is entering its 32^nd year of annual training, and we couldn’t be more excited. Since its creation in 1985, the CM Hoist School has grown immensely from a small-town training session to a world-wide education experience, drawing the best trainers and talent in the entertainment industry from all across the globe.

But how did we get to where we are today?

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We took a nostalgic trip back in time to explore the history of our CM Hoist School. As the industry grew and evolved throughout time, so did our training. 32 years later, our school has expanded with more students, bigger workshop areas, and more seminars and vendors showcased than ever before.

Join us in reminiscing the “good ol’ days” and the early years of the CM Hoist School over at our website.

19 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Event Recaps, Tips, Tools, & Resources Permalink

Unique Solutions to Fashion Show Production

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 19, 2016

Fashion shows are the epitome of glitz and glamour, and the fashion entities hosting the event have an elevated focus on aesthetics in every aspect: the models, the production, and the structure(s) itself. Providing staging for these shows requires unique solutions that may not be common in outdoor festivals and concerts. Mountain Productions has staged many fashion shows throughout its history, and we’ve learned the dynamic nature of these high-profile events firsthand. Many of the fashion shows we have provided staging for required elements that are unique to this industry—take a look at some of the fashion events we’ve been a part of in the past, and our unique solutions to each event’s production.

18 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Meet the Mountain, MTN News Permalink

Meet the Mountain: Bryan Ellis Grows with the Mountain Family

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 18, 2016

At sixteen year’s old, Bryan Ellis walked onto the Mountain Productions campus and has been a part of the family ever since.

Ellis currently serves as the Director of Staging Sales, acting as a liaison for current and potential clients. In this role, the Wyoming Valley native is dedicated to understanding our clients’ staging needs, alleviating any of their concerns and exceeding their expectations. Bryan brings a level of passion, experience and professionalism to every client and event.

Bryan’s expertise and skillset are the result of more than two decades with Mountain Productions. He began his career while still in high school and has seen the company evolve throughout his own development.

15 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Event Recaps Permalink

[EVENT RECAP] 500+ Shows at Musikfest 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 15, 2016

Most festivals can’t boast a 900,000 attendance with over 500 shows taking place for 10 days. The Pennsylvania based Musikfest has these numbers under its belt, and the festival hosted by Artsquest continues to grow each year. Located in Bethlehem, roughly an hour and a half away from Mountain Productions’ premises, Musikfest takes place by the iconic Steel Stacks of Bethlehem, and has multiple stages hosting local and nationally recognized musical talent. In addition to great music, Musikfest hosts a variety of food vendors, art, and fun activities for the whole family. Musikfest offers both free and ticketed shows, which attracts huge crowds every day of the festival. This year, Mountain Productions’ main stage at Musikfest hosted Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Antebellum, and The Avett Brothers, while our side stages saw hundreds of acts take the spotlight each day and night.

09 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Event Recaps Permalink

[EVENT RECAP] WayHome Music & Arts

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 9, 2016

“Life was different before the internet. Probably better.”

This quote from WayHome’s website captures a feeling that many of us can relate to, and the WayHome Music & Arts festival is all about stepping away from the screen and finding inspiration in music, art, and film. The three-day festival takes place at Burls Creek in Oro-Medonte, Ontario and 2016 marked its second annual event. WayHome hosts a variety of musical genres, including indie, folk, electronic and more. Fans flocked to Burls Creek to see headliners LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, and The Killers along with over 60 additional acts on three different stages throughout the festival grounds.

08 Aug 2016

Sticky Post By mountainproductions Posted in Meet the Mountain, MTN News Permalink

Meet the Mountain: Bill Davis Joins the Team

Sticky Post By mountainproductions On August 8, 2016

The newest member of the Mountain Productions team is far from inexperienced. Bill Davis has taken on the position of hoist and rigging sales representative, bringing with him more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry.

Davis has served as a stagehand since the early ‘90s, but has taken on a number of other roles throughout the years. He got his start by helping out local bands and found himself working for a local amphitheater, soon after. While he started off as a truck loader, he quickly found himself serving as a promoter for the venue and different events throughout the region.