Here's a quick update on what's going on at CenterStaging .... iHeartRadio  CenterStaging Show Dept Manager, Johnny Lord updates us from iHeartRadio in Las Vegas this past weekend.
Lord says "the iHeartRadio two day event was one of the most prolific live events I have been apart of and I want to say I hope more events like this are possible in the future. Such an amazing diverse group of performers and a equally amazing production team putting this live event on." Lord with his endless energy is now on his way to Atlanta for the BET Hip Hop Awards Weekend. 
The BET Hip Hop Awards 2011 premeires Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 8PM/7C. More info here. Tech Spotlight CenterStaging is once again providing music production support for the new fall season of Dancing With The Stars. This is the 13th season and the 7th consecutive year we have had the honor to be a part of this tremendous television series. Brian Reiter is again the lead tech for his 4th season on the show. His experience and expertise allows him to work seamlessly with everyone from the musical guests and talent coordinators to the production staff and the CenterStaging departments. The end result being a flawless turn-key experience for all involved.  Watch Season 13 of Dancing with the Stars, Monday & Tuesday at 8:00 p.m on ABC. For more information about Dancing With The Stars visit www.abc.com The NEW Fender Visitor Center 
Experience it firsthand, an unforgettable look at the company that kick-started what is known to the world as Rock 'n' Roll. Established in 1946, no-one would argue that Fender has a substantial impact on the music industry. Making history again the company is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the new Fender Visitor Center located in Corona, California. 
CenterStaging was there managing all production aspects of the two day Grand Opening from staging, lighting, audio, video, and backline requirements for; Buddy Guy, Raphael Saadiq, Dave Mason, Steve Miller, Los Lobos, and Matt Vasquez, it was certainly a moment in Fender history. Bill Cummiskey (VP of Artist Relations) "Speaking for everyone at Fender, we could not have been happier with how the stage ran, sounded and looked both nights." At the new Fender Visitor Center you can shop for apparel, purchase instruments, embark on the Fender Factory tour; get a close-up look from start-to-finish at the remarkable transformation of raw materials into fine Fender guitars, basses, and amplifiers. Lastly, and possibly the best part of the Fender Visitor Center is the "Wood Vault," where patrons can design and purchase their very own Fender instruments. Fender Visitor Center Information Address: 301 Cessna Circle, Corona, CA 92880 Phone: 951.898.4040 Email: visitorcenter@fender.com Website: www.fender.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; the 45- to 60-minute factory tours will take place at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. every weekday except Wednesday. Show Update Our Emmy winning Show Department was looking good at the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Award Show. We are proud to be apart of this amazing community and honored to work with the best productions and the many talented people that it requires to put on these extraordinary shows. We do this because we love it - coming together with many different and creative minds is what entertainment is all about!
The Primetime Emmy® Awards celebrate excellence in national primetime programming, awarding top honors at the annual creative arts and primetime awards ceremonies. For more information about the EMMY'S visit http://www.emmys.com/ Q&A with Robert Lopez By: Johnny Lord 
Robert Lopez at the 20111 VMA's Robert Lopez has worked with CenterStaging as a piano tuner for over a decade, tuning pianos for shows like American Idol, the GRAMMY'S, the American Music Awards and many others. Johnny Lord took a quick minute at the 2011 VMA's to interview Robert while he was hard at work. Q: How many years have you been tuning professionally?
A: I started tuning full time in 1982. Prior to that I apprenticed, then worked full time at a small piano shop for three years while learning repair and rebuilding. I guess you can say I've been working with pianos just short of forever.
Q: What is the most piano's you have ever tuned on a show?
A: 2005, my first year tuning at the Grammy's, I did eleven tunings on show day.
Q: What was the craziest tuning you have ever done?
A: I got a call for a tuning at a video shoot at the Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia. It was late in the day when I arrived, a shuttle took me to the top of a hill. When we stopped, and the driver looked at me so I asked "where is the piano"? He pointed to a forest and said "over there". By now the light was quickly fading and there was no piano in sight. There wasn't even a path to follow, so I took a walk through the muddy woods and fortunately, I met up with one of the piano movers who took me the rest of the way. There it was, a Yamaha C7, leaning a bit because its 900+ lbs was sinking into the moist ground beneath it. The movers said goodbye and I finished about 45 minutes later. Lucky for me I heard the sound of trucks coming up the hill and suddenly crew members appeared from nowhere, a generator started and the whole forest lit up like Dodger Stadium. I later learned that they were filming Avril Lavigne's music video for the Tim Burton movie "Alice in Wonderland." I definitely felt like I was my own wonderland.
Q: What is your favorite television show to do tunings on?
A: American Idol. I only started watching because I was curious to hear how the tunings were holding up, then my wife and I got hooked.
Q: Who do you like working with in the CenterStaging Show Dept better Johnny Lord or Jan Parent?
A: I know this is a tongue in cheek question, but I have to say everyone at CS is great to work with. So it's a tie. ________________________________ Service The CenterStaging Instrument Repair Center can fix everything from guitar amps to keyboards. SAVE YOUR INSTRUMENTS by having them repaired not replaced! Service hours are Monday through Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm (available on weekends by appointment only). Contact Steve Selberg at 818.559.4333 x 232 or email steves@centerstaging.com. Keep in Touch Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube   
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See our Ads in: Creative Handbook, LA 411, and Pollstar Thank you for making CenterStaging LA's premier rehearsal and back-line company! About the company CenterStaging is LA's premier rehearsal and back-line facility, specializing in production and tech support for television and live performances. Services include fully equipped rehearsal studios, state of the art back-line available for rent, lockers, Artist Relations Offices, cartage services, and instrument repair center. Take a virtual tour or book a studio online at www.centerstaging.com. | 
