IBM’s PartnerWorld 2005 brought together 5,600 of the computer giant’s business partners and executives in Las Vegas, Nevada. UVLD’s John Ingram was asked by Executive Producer Tom Spaulding, of Drury Design Dynamics, to light the event which showcases IBM’s on demand business strategy and sales execution plans to the largest annual global gathering of IBM Business Partners. Along with UVLD co-designer Paul Sharwell, Ingram created a spectacular visual landscape with hundreds of moving lights on a tight schedule and with automated set pieces.

Held in the arena at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center, the Ingram and Sharwell split programming duties on two consoles. “It is one of the things that sets UVLD apart from other design companies,” said principal designer John Ingram. “The job needed two programmers, so we both programmed. It’s more cost effective for the client, and ultimately, it’s faster for us.”

The stage set for PartnerWorld, designed by Carl Baldasso of Hotopp Associates, consisted of three large, three-dimensional cycs that leaned towards the audience and had multiple angled surfaces that required lighting. The overhanging angle of the cycs meant that wash and spot coverage had to be handled from various peculiar angles. Lighting from below was, in particular, a challenge due to the limited space available for the placement of fixtures on stage and the lack of time for experimentation due to the schedule.

In addition to the cycs, four motorized banners that traveled the length of the arena and unfurled to stage level added an additional level of complexity to the set. The banners had 26 separate positions that could be used during the show. “We used the shuttering MAC 2000 Performances only for the banners,” commented Sharwell. “It was a lot of hard work, particularly when some of the positions are very similar to each other, as each banner could move as each banner could move almost 80’ horizontally and 40' vertically in either direction.”

Despite the challenges, the event was a success, and UVLD’s design garnered high praise. “The client was very happy with how it looked,” said Ingram. “I think they also appreciated our honesty about what was going to work and what was not. They trust us to do our job, and to do our job well.”