SJP Productions and ChamSys Host Drone Race

SJP Productions teamed up with ChamSys Software and a local brewery to create one of the first spectator-oriented drone racing events on March 25.

Aptly names Brewmasters Drone Night, the evening had a festival-like feeling with live videos feeds from ChamSys Software and lighting from CHAUVET Professional.

S.  Jeremy Peters and wife Alison Peters, owners of SJP Productions, hosted the event in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.

“Typically drone races are geared toward the racers themselves without a lot of spectators,” said Peters. “Generally, they don’t have much production. Alison and I wanted to draw on our production experience at festivals like Lockn, Peach, Bisco, Mountain Jam, Taste of Country and Gathering of the Vibes to create an event that engaged spectators, so we could draw newcomers to drone racing. When we approached Brewmasters Brewing Services, they were all over the idea. So four weeks later, we held our drone race/festival at a working brewery. It was a blast!”’

Spectators were treated to live video feeds from the racers’ goggles and footage from eight camera live switchers trackside. Software from ChamSys controlled lighting and video using a PC Wing and multiple Playback Wings, while video was triggered via ArtNet using MagicQ software from ChamSys.

“ChamSys pairs very easily with video, which was obviously very important in this project,” Peters added. “ChamSys works with our video software by treating MagicQ as an intelligent DMX MIDI-style controller, patching faders to opacity control on video layers for camera feeds, so they could easily be controlled from a single interface.”

Different moving fixtures, including CHAUVET Professional Rogue R2 Beams and R2 Spots, added to the event’s fun festival atmosphere.

IP65 rated par-style fixtures were scattered throughout the course to add color, and Peters added that the IP65 rating was critical because of the amount of liquid floating around the brewery.

“There is a great deal of liquid at the venue due to the brewing and cleaning process,” he said. “Its floor slopes to a long drain, and the tanks are constantly letting off small amounts of liquid and gas. Ingredients are also being mixed which end up on the floor, and the floor has to be very regularly hosed off — especially before having visitors for the event. During the setup, the brewery also pressure washed all their tanks so they were looking spiffy for our guests, which dumped a lot of water on the ground, and on the par fixtures.”