BANDIT LITES’ CEO AND WIFE CO-CHAIR 23RD ANNUAL HEART GALA

KNOXVILLE, TN- Bandit Lites recently donated $100,000 worth of lighting for the 23rd annual Knoxville Heart Gala. The black tie fundraiser took place on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event raised over $600,000, of which all proceeds benefited the American Heart Association.

This year’s theme was Wild at Heart. Bandit CEO, Michael T. Strickland and wife, Nicole Strickland co-chaired the event, which included fine dining, unique silent and live auctions, and dancing to live music. Former University of Tennessee Offensive Coordinator and current Duke University Head Football Coach, David Cutcliffe was the honorary chairperson.

Lighting Designer, Steve Hoover, chose to use Martin MAC 2000 Washes, Profiles and Performances, MAC 600s, MAC 300s, Vari*Lite 3500 Washes, Vari*Lite 3000 Spots, Coemar LED Pars, Color Kinetics 4 ft. iColor Accents and Bliss lights to light the event. Lighting was controlled by a Whole Hog II

To achieve the overall ambiance, VL 3500 Washes were used to provide saturated color, where as the VL 3000 Spots provided texture and highlights. Hoover used Bliss lights to portray a “starry night” feel on the ceiling. Martin MAC 2000 Profiles were added to create patterns on the walls.

At the core of the lighting design was a heart shaped video screen, surrounded by Coemar LED pars, which was featured at the front wall of the room. Color web panels lit the rest of the front wall curtain, ran with a Martin Maxedia.

A rounded stage filled the middle of the room, lit by a circle truss with Color Kinetics 4ft iColor Accents. Martin MAC 600s and VL 2000 Washes provided the entertainment lighting for Nashville band, Burning Las Vegas.

“It was really an honor to work with Michael on an event that means this much to him,” commented Hoover. “[He and Nicole] have really set the bar high for next year’s Heart Gala and I am proud to be a part of that.”

Giff Swart was project manager and lighting technicians, Jason Workman and Eric Shafferman rounded out the crew.

The American Heart Association is the nation’s premier volunteer health agency dedicated to reducing disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the nation‘s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Our impact goal is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk 25 percent by the year 2010. Achieving this goal requires our active support. As the premiere social event in Knoxville, the Knoxville Heart Gala represents an ideal venue for corporate, medical & philanthropic sponsors to obtain substantial visibility in our community while supporting the vital work of the American Heart Association.