4Wall & Midnite Events Invigorate Give Thanks Festival’s 20th Anniversary

Los Angeles, CA - Over Thanksgiving weekend, 4Wall Entertainment and Midnite Events collaborated to take Insomniac's Give Thanks Festival to new heights for its 20-year anniversary with a comprehensive lighting, video, decking, and technical services package.  
 
Ben Rozenberg, President and CEO of Midnite Events, envisioned a celebration rooted in 90s rave culture for the festival's milestone year at the San Jose Convention Center. To bring the concept to life, he turned to 4Wall Director of Live Events Andrew Isola to lead the show's bold and electrifying design.


 
While the design captured the spirit of old-school raving, Rozenberg and Isola's approach built upon previous events, elevating the visuals and strengthening the technical execution to deliver a dynamic experience for attendees. Rozenberg specifically drew inspiration from several music festivals, such as Portola, Coachella, EDC, and more for gear selection. 
 
"I try to pay attention to what's new, more cutting edge, and what works with different shows," he said. "I ask 4Wall if they have those fixtures, and how we can build a cool look, then run with it." 


 
To fully immerse attendees at the festival, the team utilized ROE Carbon CB5 5.77mm LED tiles to create an array of dynamic video screens that aligned the space's back wall, alongside a steel deck package to bring the stage to life. With the venue's spanning yet intimate layout, ACME Lighting TORNADO, Clay Paky Ultimo Sharpy, CHAUVET Professional Color Strike M, and AYRTON MagicBlade FX fixtures were suspended to the ceiling and stage with black Tomcat truss boxes. 

Regarding the event's creative process, Rozenberg explained, "You take what you've done in previous shows, and what you've seen from shows you've attended, and simply build on that," he said. "For the final execution, you must have the right teams in place for all aspects, from 4Wall providing the video and lighting, to every other vendor we partner with." 



With the show taking place at the San Jose Convention Center for the first time, the venue's architecture, which featured a large footprint with low ceilings, presented a mild logistical challenge for the crew. 4Wall's organization, and flexibility were key aspects in adjusting the production seamlessly into the new space. 
 
Efficiency was crucial in staying on track with a compressed schedule, consisting of two and a half days total, including a day and a half of setup followed by long programming sessions. Clear documentation, open communication, and accessible support streamlined the workflow and kept production on track. 

 

4Wall's long-standing relationship with Rozenberg, in addition to their dedication to supplying outstanding gear, maintaining collaborative communication, and consistent adaptability, played an essential role in the success of the Give Thanks Festival. 
 
"All the gear 4Wall could make work, they made work. Good service, great response time, and open communication are all you can ask for when it comes to having everything fall into place," Rozenberg concluded. "Working with familiar faces, having everybody take part in building the show, and giving fans the best experience are the most rewarding parts of this project." 

Photos by Queen's Candid Photography