Getting ready for the show: SBI Productions pulled together an experienced team for the event, from left Fiber Dumortier, Andrew ‘Boris’ Hooper, Dennis Howard, DJ Liam Yelavich, Paul Krippner, Russell Frickar, Ben Lawrence, Jenny Lawrence, Sue Bland and James Maher. Photos: Mary Anne Gill.
The biggest worry Ben Lawrence had two hours out from the first Illuminate Light and Sound Show at Lake Karāpiro on Saturday night was technology might let him down.
And it did.
But the temporary glitch – which stopped the music and then the laser show for nearly five minutes and then briefly again – failed to upset a crowd which had already been well entertained with music, sack races and face painting.
Lawrence, of Soulstorm Lasers, is one of New Zealand’s leading providers of high power laser light displays but usually over land using cables.
The wi fi technology over the water was a first for him and while quietly confident, he warned The News it was very much in the lap of the gods.
The show was produced by SBI Productions. Technical manager Russell Fricker also admitted to some nerves in advance of the show but was excited about delivering an animal friendly, non-fireworks light show event.
“We’re expecting it to be a challenge,” he said.
Sack races under the control of MC Matt Hicks at right, kept the crowd entertained as the sun sets at Lake Karāpiro and behind them on Maunga Maungatautari.
Organisers Cambridge Chamber of Commerce had to put extra measures in place earlier in the week when it appeared as many as 12,000 people could attend.
Chief executive Kelly Bouzaid said they introduced tickets for the free event, set up to champion animal welfare during Guy Fawkes, capped it at 5000 and put on buses to and from Victoria Square in Cambridge.
The event was to start at 5.30pm but ticket holders were at Karāpiro Domain by 4pm with picnic baskets and blankets. Many families appear to have car-pooled which eased what could have been a difficult traffic situation, she said.
“Food trucks and vendors were delighted with how it went for them.”
Funds raised went to Cambridge Riding for the Disabled with its therapy pony, Monty, a star of the show.
The site was cleared by 11pm.
Of the laser show, Bouzaid said while there was a glitch, the goodwill of the crowd was obvious.
“SBI did an incredible job.”
But she was annoyed that during the glitch neighbours set off fireworks to fill the gap.
It was her idea to run the event which was to show there is an alternative to fireworks in a district where equestrian activities are so important to the economy.
Picnic baskets, blankets and children start to fill the hill at Karāpiro Domain as the sun sets in advance of the laser show.
She said the next night – on November 5 itself – fireworks went off with great regularity and a lot of noise around Cambridge.
“It’s those loud bangs that terrify animals and we ran Illuminate so we could raise awareness.”
The chamber would continue to advocate for a fireworks’ ban throughout the district and following a debrief would decide whether to run Illuminate next year.
Andrew ‘Boris’ Hooper – the smoke man.
“The long-term strategy of the Cambridge Business Chamber is to drive change at the central government level, allowing local government to implement by-law changes regarding the private use of fireworks. We believe there should be a ban on the private use of fireworks in all local public areas. Although we understand that enforcing such a ban may present challenges, it would establish a clear boundary and be a progressive step towards limiting the use of fireworks,” Bouzaid said in a statement before Illuminate.
The event cost $30,000 but a lot of businesses donated time and services which saved thousands of dollars.
“Let’s focus on the positive. People are welcome to their opinion, but I think it was a well-attended event which the crowd really enjoyed. There was lots of entertainment, the kids loved it and it was free. What’s not to like about that,” said Bouzaid.
The laser show gets underway on the water at Lake Karāpiro.
