Touring productions face a unique challenge: they must replicate perfection night after night, often in venues with vastly different infrastructure. Yet most tours still rely heavily on manual processes that introduce variability and risk.
The Problem with Manual
When setup depends on tribal knowledge and individual expertise, you're one sick crew member away from a compromised show. Documentation exists in people's heads. Calibration happens by feel. Integration is achieved through heroic effort rather than systematic design.
Automation Opportunities
Fixture Positioning: Modern automation can position lights, video elements, and scenic pieces to millimeter accuracy. What once took hours of manual focusing now happens in minutes.
Network Configuration: Automated network provisioning ensures every device gets the right address, the right permissions, and the right routing—every single time.
Show File Distribution: Centralized show file management means one source of truth. Changes propagate automatically. Version conflicts become impossible.
Implementation Strategy
Start small. Automate the most error-prone process first. Measure the impact. Expand systematically. Don't try to automate everything at once—that's a recipe for creating new problems while solving old ones.
Real Results
On a recent stadium tour, we implemented automated fixture calibration, network provisioning, and show file distribution. The results: - 40% reduction in setup time - 95% reduction in network-related issues - Zero show file version conflicts - Crew freed up for creative tasks instead of troubleshooting