Centerstaging Turns Pianos Into Stars
To the average television viewer, Johnny Caswell is not exactly a household name. Yet to countless directors and producers, including the legendary Dick Clark, he and business partner Jan Parent fill a unique but necessary niche as the two powerhouses behind CenterStaging, a company that specializes in providing musical instruments, rehearsal space, and technical support to the film and TV industries. CenterStaging has become a "one stop shop" for more than 100 award shows and specials annually, garnering an impressive client roster that includes The American Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the GRAMMYS®, the Academy Awards, and the MTV Video Music Awards.
"Although we're contracted as 'musical support,' Jan and I really play the part of drum majors from the planning stages of each show," Caswell explains. "We work closely with the producers and directors to approve the rundown schedule and make sure there is ample time between acts for turnarounds and set changes. We also interface with the artists and production people and advance the shows, so that they can just walk in and everything is ready to go. On stage, we direct traffic and the various crews. If anyone needs a place to rehearse, we can supply that."
"Although we're contracted as 'musical support,' Jan and I really play the part of drum majors from the planning stages of each show," Caswell explains. "We work closely with the producers and directors to approve the rundown schedule and make sure there is ample time between acts for turnarounds and set changes. We also interface with the artists and production people and advance the shows, so that they can just walk in and everything is ready to go. On stage, we direct traffic and the various crews. If anyone needs a place to rehearse, we can supply that."
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Johnny Caswell and Jan Parent |
With solid backgrounds in music and television, Parent and Caswell worked independently before incorporating CenterStaging in 1992, and currently maintain facilities in Burbank, CA and the Philadelphia, PA suburb of Bensalem Township. "Our Burbank location has eleven rehearsal spaces, plus a 10,000 square foot multipurpose sound stage," he adds. "Those rooms are used for band and production rehearsals, television show tapings, major Hollywood events, and the West Coast division of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network. We're in the process of building two more sound stages."
CenterStaging's musical instrument collection also expanded with the recent acquisition of five Yamaha C7 conservatory grand pianos. "We've carried many Yamaha products for years, but the piano relationship is brand new," Caswell explains. "Two of the pianos remain in Burbank, and the rest are in a pool for television shows, so they're basically all working all the time."
CenterStaging put one of those to work for the May 3 ABC broadcast of American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration! The all-star lineup featured performances by Brandy, Alanis Morisette, KC & the Sunshine Band, A Taste of Honey, Dennis Quaid, Kenny Edmonds, Little Richard, and Stevie Wonder.
"Everyone enjoys using the pianos," Caswell adds. "Music directors and sound engineers like the fact that they're excellent MIDI controllers, so the sound can stay very clean, and you can eliminate open microphones. MIDI grands are also ideal for onstage monitors you can't get an acoustic piano that loud before feedback. Directors like the cabinetry. It's beautiful, and the high gloss finish reads well on camera. Finally, the artists love them because they have great action, and the sound is bright and crisp. We're proud to have them in our arsenal. They're like us; they do it all."
CenterStaging's musical instrument collection also expanded with the recent acquisition of five Yamaha C7 conservatory grand pianos. "We've carried many Yamaha products for years, but the piano relationship is brand new," Caswell explains. "Two of the pianos remain in Burbank, and the rest are in a pool for television shows, so they're basically all working all the time."
CenterStaging put one of those to work for the May 3 ABC broadcast of American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration! The all-star lineup featured performances by Brandy, Alanis Morisette, KC & the Sunshine Band, A Taste of Honey, Dennis Quaid, Kenny Edmonds, Little Richard, and Stevie Wonder.
"Everyone enjoys using the pianos," Caswell adds. "Music directors and sound engineers like the fact that they're excellent MIDI controllers, so the sound can stay very clean, and you can eliminate open microphones. MIDI grands are also ideal for onstage monitors you can't get an acoustic piano that loud before feedback. Directors like the cabinetry. It's beautiful, and the high gloss finish reads well on camera. Finally, the artists love them because they have great action, and the sound is bright and crisp. We're proud to have them in our arsenal. They're like us; they do it all."
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