Super Bowl LII landed in Minneapolis on Sunday February 4, 2018 and with its downtown location, the Institute of Production and Recording was right in the middle of the action.
With all of the events and activities associated with the Super Bowl in the weeks leading up to the game, it is no surprise that IPR students and alumni became involved in the action. Here are two of their stories:
Nick Karnuth, PA
Nick is a first term Digital Video and Media Production Program. This was his first professional gig as a PA.
“I was a PA for a commercial that was supposed to air during the Super Bowl for NBC, which didn’t end up playing during the Super Bowl, but did later. The commercial was a golf tournament with Matt Kuchar and David Feherty.
“Four other PA’s and I built an eight foot snowman out of powdery snow and a lot of water bottles, pitched warming tents for the talent, managed the crafty table, and staged each set before the shot. I read almost an entire book from my Studio Craft class on how to PA. My instructor, Troy Lafaye also gave me advice and tips on what to do. It was actually easier than I expected, but that’s because we were making props. My biggest take away is to always be thinking ahead on set.”
Scott Stankiewicz, Studio Intern
Scott is an Audio Production and Engineering Program graduate, who earned his degree in the fall of 2017. He is an intern at River Rock Studios in Northeast Minneapolis. The studio was host to Gucci Mane and as he visited Minneapolis during the Super Bowl.
“They were pretty isolated,” Scott said, “[they] locked themselves in Studio A. I did help them set up a mic and work the Pro Tools rig.”
But Gucci Mane was not the only star to come in to the studios. “We got a call that both Sting and Shaggy were going to be coming in.”
Sting and Shaggy came the next day to do an interview with the associated Press. “It was much more mellow,” Scott reported, “way less security, way more open to letting us hang out with them and whatnot. I was pretty much the runner, so if anyone needed any food or anything I would go out and bring it back for them. I did get to help set up our grand piano for a session musician that Sting had with him. Overall it was super cool and hectic!”
IPR Students at Work During the Super Bowl:
In addition to Nick and Scott, several other students and alumni were busy working Super Bowl week. This is a list of the students who checked in with us about their experience, but it is certainly not complete:
- Parker Gorecki, a junior in the Digital Video and Media Production BFA program, worked two days at the NFL Wives Super Bowl Fashion Show.
- Jorge Fuentes, graduate of the Digital Video and Media Production AAS program, was a guest greeter for the Super Bowl at the airport.
- Erik Dwyer, graduate of the Music and Entertainment Business program, worked for AVEX, Showcore, and The Advertainment Group in various capacities.
- Mark Straley, graduate of the Audio Production and Engineering program, was production manager of a major musical event at Tao Minneapolis featuring acts such as Rick Ross and Afrojack.
- Tyler Cerny, a student in the Live Sound and Show Production program, DJed at Barfly after the Super Bowl.
- Rick Bernier, graduate of the Audio Production and Engineering program, did the remote setup for Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports, mixed NHL Live which came from MPLS as part of promotion for Super Bowl coverage and composite-mixed NBC’s Super Bowl broadcast mix for the NBC Sports app.
- Taylor Brennan, a student in the Music and Entertainment Business program, worked as a guest experience representative at US Bank Stadium.
- Dean Broadland, graduate of the Audio Production and Engineering program, worked as a guitar tech with Purple Xperience at Tom Brady’s private party at the Mall of America.
- Dan Peterson, graduate of the Audio Production and Engineering program, mixed a Naughty by Nature Show and worked several corporate gigs.
- Rima Murphy, a graduate of the Sound Design for Visual Media program, worked in-house AV for Encore Event Technologies at JW Marriott Mall of America, the home base for the New England Patriot during their stay in Minneapolis.
- Ethan Dalton, a student in the Digital Video and Media Production AAS program, worked as a production assistant on the set with Dan Patrick, Al Michaels, and Bob Costas
Good work everyone!
If you are a student or a graduate of IPR and want to tell us about your Super Bowl experience, drop us a line on social media. We’d love to hear from you.