Prepared For Anything

If there is anything that live sound professionals have learned over the last 12 months, it is to be flexible about artists, stage locations, required equipment, coverage needed and more. In a world where the rules can change by the minute, flexibility is key.

The Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) team experienced this need for flexibility while were preparing RF coordination and support for the entertainment portions of Super Bowl LV held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. ATK Audiotek, brought in once again to provide audio for this year’s half-time entertainment, tapped long-time partners PWS for RF support.

“In a pre-pandemic world we would normally do a site visit in October and begin our planning then,” explains Jim Van Winkle, general manager of PWS. “In mid-2020 we weren’t even sure there was going to be a Super Bowl, so our planning started much later, and details trickled in slowly. Paul Liszewski, Brett Valasek and George Schwartz from ATK were in Tampa for a site survey in early December, which was when we sent Kasey Gchachu down to do an RF sweep and to see what other information he could gather while at the stadium. It was quickly apparent that we needed to be prepared for anything.”