LAS VEGAS — Nominations are being accepted online to honor those individuals and companies for exceptional work in the pro audio field, and this window of opportunity will be closing Aug. 31, so go to www.parnelliawards.com and click on the Parnelli Awards nomination link today. The categories include best monitor mixer, sound company, system tech, FOH mixer, coach company, trucking company, freight forwarding, tour manager, and production manager. The “IT” Awards are new this year. Standing for “Indispensable Technology,” these awards recognize innovative and road-worthy audio gear.
Since 2001, the industry’s highest achievers and most admired innovators have been awarded the Parnelli. The award recognizes pioneering, influential professionals and their contributions, honoring both individuals and companies. It is truly the Oscars® of the Live Event Industry.
The award itself is named for Rick “Parnelli” O’Brien, a talented production and tour manager who was struck down with cancer and far too early in life. His professionalism and talent, his sense of humor and sense of fair play set the bar for all.
“Launching the nomination process is always an exciting time, and we are just as excited to see who gets nominated as anyone else,” said FOH publisher Terry Lowe. “Since the nominating process, and then the voting for who shall take the Parnelli home that night, is done strictly by professional peers, it makes the award that much more of any honor.”
The nominations end August 31. Shortly thereafter the nominees will be announced and the voting will begin.
The ninth annual Parnelli Awards will be presented at the Peabody Resort in Orlando, Fla. on Nov. 20, 2009. Among the honorees will be Jake Berry, winner of the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award, and Stan Miller, winner of the Audio Innovator Award. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are still available in the Gold, Silver and Production Partner levels.
To date, the Gold Sponsors include: EFM Management, Strictly FX, Brown United, Precise Corporate Staging, Dedicated Staging, Sound Image, Rock-It Cargo and Sennheiser. All Access Staging & Production, Chauvet and Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems are Silver Sponsors. Production Partner Sponsors include Paradise Sound & Lighting (audio); Techni-Lux (lighting); Aerial Rigging (rigging); Stage Crew (labor); and PRG (projection).
“We are grateful to have such an array of industry pillars show their support for the Parnellis and give back to the live event community like this,” said Terry Lowe, FOH publisher and executive producer of the Parnellis. “These are all innovative, progressive companies who appreciate the value of taking an evening out once a year to honor those talented professionals who work behind the scenes to entertain and inform so many audiences.”
Lowe added that he looks forward to welcoming more sponsors aboard in the near future; the event brings many opportunities for participation and the organizations who support it make it a worthy one.
For more information, please visit www.parnelliawards.com.
