Lively Productions
Lively Productions was an American paintball tournament promotion business associated with Jim Lively. The organisation produced major competitive paintball events, including the International Masters and Music City Open, and was involved in the development of national tournament competition in the United States.[1][2]
Lively Productions was active during the late 1980s and 1990s, with contemporary records documenting its tournament activities and involvement in the World Paintball Federation (WPF).[1][3]
History
[edit]Early tournament promotion
[edit]Jim Lively became involved in organising paintball competitions during the 1980s, initially through the National Survival Game tournament structure.
He subsequently established Lively Productions to promote tournaments open to teams from different organisations and equipment manufacturers.
The company's activities included tournament administration, event promotion and the organisation of competitions involving leading American paintball teams.[1]
International Masters
[edit]Lively Productions was associated with the International Masters, a major American tournament competition first held in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1989.
The tournament combined competitive paintball with an industry exhibition.
The 1989 Line SI International Masters included five-player and 15-player competition, with Lords of Discipline winning both divisions.[1][4]
The event continued to be associated with major American tournament competition during the early 1990s.
1998 tournament revival
[edit]In 1998, Lively Productions returned to tournament promotion with the Music City Open and ZAP International Masters.
The Music City Open took place at Nashville Paintball Sports from 17 to 19 April.
The event featured seven-player competition, a Top Gun contest and a quick-draw competition.
Twenty-nine teams entered the seven-player tournament, while approximately 60 competitors participated in the Top Gun event.[2]
The ZAP International Masters followed from 8 to 11 October 1998.
The programme incorporated three-player and five-player competition, recreational games, shooting contests and industry discussions.[3]
Industry conferences
[edit]The 1998 International Masters included discussions involving paintball players, manufacturers and industry representatives.
Hayes Noel, one of the organisers of the first recorded paintball game in 1981, delivered a presentation concerning the sport's development and potential for television.
Mike Henry of Paintball 2Xtremes led a player conference, while John Henry chaired an industry discussion addressing paintball equipment and firing-rate regulations.[3]
Continued activity (1999)
[edit]Lively Productions continued promoting tournament events in 1999.
Contemporary WARPIG records identify the organisation as the registration contact for the 1999 Music City tournament, held from 30 April to 2 May.[5]
The organisation was also associated with tournaments conducted under the World Paintball Federation structure.
World Paintball Federation
[edit]Lively Productions was involved in the organisation of events associated with the World Paintball Federation.
The WPF operated a tournament structure incorporating regional competitions and championship events.
Contemporary reporting identifies Lively Productions as an organiser of WPF tournament activity.[6]
The relationship between the promotional business and the federation should be distinguished from the federation's wider competitive and administrative structure.
Tournament activities
[edit]Lively Productions organised events using several competition formats.
Documented activities included:
- Five-player and seven-player tournaments.
- Fifteen-player competition.
- Individual shooting contests.
- Recreational big games.
- Equipment exhibitions.
- Player and industry conferences.
The organisation worked with paintball equipment manufacturers and distributors to support tournament operations and provide prizes.[2][3]
Relationship with Skyball
[edit]Lively Productions was present as an exhibitor at the 1999 Skyball tournament in Toronto, Canada.[7]
The tournament itself was organised by Focus International.
The company's exhibition presence should not be confused with responsibility for promoting or organising Skyball.
See also
[edit]- Jim Lively
- International Masters
- Music City Open
- World Paintball Federation
- National Survival Game
- History of tournament paintball
References
[edit]- Paint Magazine, "Jim Lively Interview (1994)". Historical interview documenting Lively's involvement in early paintball tournament organisation.
- WARPIG, "1998 Music City Open", April 1998. Contemporary tournament report documenting the event's organisation, competition formats and sponsors.
- WARPIG, "1998 ZAP International Masters", October 1998. Contemporary report documenting Lively Productions' tournament revival and associated activities.
- WikiPaintball, "Lords of Discipline". Historical account of the 1989 International Masters championships.
- WARPIG, "Music City 1999", April–May 1999. Contemporary tournament listing identifying Lively Productions as the registration contact.
- WARPIG, industry announcement concerning Lively Productions and the World Paintball Federation.
- WARPIG, "Skyball 1999". Contemporary event coverage identifying Lively Productions among exhibition participants.