Crafthouse Stage and Grill is part of a 33,000-square-foot entertainment center in the south suburbs of Pittsburgh that includes the Legacy Lanes bowling alley, IQ Escape rooms, Cigar Bar and more.
Recently, ownership recognized the house PA had sufficed for local bands, but to get to the next level of talent, an upgrade of the facility system was necessary. With that, “we decided to move into the national arena,” says owner Charlie Stage. And they called on Rob Thomas of R/T Audio to design a system to accomplish that task.
Thomas is certainly no stranger to the needs of national touring acts. Currently, front of house engineer with Third Eye Blind, Thomas has worked with the likes of Train, Sister Hazel, Vertical Horizon, Insane Clown Posse, among others. “Everybody in Pittsburgh knows Rob,” says Stage. “He’s a friend and an advocate of what we’re doing.”
Thomas knew putting in a system from RCF would meet the rider specifications needed to reach that level and configured eight RCF HDL20-A active two-way line array cabinets, positioned in four box hangs on either side of the stage, complemented by four RCF SUB8006-AS dual 18-inch subwoofers.
“We needed the line array configuration as the room is very long and narrow,” comments entertainment manager Chris Murphy. “We needed something to reach the dance floor, and then past the bar to the back end of the room.”
“And we needed the output the nationals demand,” noted Stage. The result, “it’s great, it’s perfect,” he says.
Capacity is 500, with restaurant-style seating for 200. “Even with larger shows, we try to maintain the intimate setting of the club environment,” notes Stage.
Adding the RCF system certainly changed the dynamics of the venue. “It’s made a huge difference,” comments Murphy. “Among the local and regional community, there’s a buzz as we’ve upped our game. And it’s helped with the connection point for national acts and takes us to the next level.”
