At UPstage, creativity is programmed with ChamSys: the console that allows Julio Centeno to turn ideas into experiences and maintain the visual coherence of every show, no matter the stage.
In Mexico City, behind a discreet façade, there is a space where scenic creativity, cutting-edge technology, and technical direction with vision converge.
It is UPstage Creative Studio, the studio founded and led by Julio Centeno, a professional with more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, who today leads a specialized team dedicated to designing and operating experiences that bring the stage to life.
A studio that thinks big… from the technical side
UPstage is not a traditional production space. “It is a space for design, technical production and creative direction, where innovation is translated into customized projects that range from live shows, brand launches and theatrical productions, to concerts, television and immersive experiences,” summarizes Julio Centeno, the driving force behind the project.
Its distinctive value lies in its approach: everything begins with a clear idea and evolves into a visual, sonic, and scenic system that must be executed with precision.
The working philosophy rests on three pillars: “technical creativity, visual innovation, and efficient execution.” In every project, UPstage articulates everything from 3D previsualization to console programming, including simulations, consulting, renderings, technical support, and on-site operation. Whether it is a fashion runway or an international pop show, the level of demand is always the same.
And that coherence is evident in its portfolio. With clients ranging from major television networks to global brands, the studio has designed shows for artists, directed high-impact corporate projects, and worked alongside other creatives in co-designs, adaptations, and technical support.
For Julio, this is not just a way of working—it is the motive: “We like to materialize ideas and work as a team. It’s the motto that guides every render, every console cue, and every lighting test before the show.”
Words that illuminate
Julio Centeno not only designs lights, he designs certainties. In every project, he seeks more than an attractive design: coherence. “What we want is for the show to always look the same and come out the same,” he says from the main UPstage studio, the creative space he shares with his team in Mexico City.
To achieve that, the chosen tool is clear: ChamSys. “As a team we’re united in one opinion: it’s the best console in the world, portability-wise. It gives us the peace of mind that wherever we go, if we use the console, things are going to happen.”
That confidence is not accidental. The technical stability ChamSys offers allows him to focus on what really matters: the show experience. “Here we capture the artist’s needs: from lighting design to the scenic structure. We try to make the artist create an atmosphere around their show, something unique.”
But UPstage doesn’t stop with its own project—it goes further. From its two programming rooms, fully equipped with advanced design and visualization software, the studio opens its doors to the technical community. “We also create for other lighting designers here. We don’t necessarily operate every show, but we do help shape the idea. This is their home. And for us, it’s more than shaping a project: it’s a way of building industry, building a network, sharing knowledge.”
ChamSys in action: control, improvisation and versatility on stage
Julio Centeno finds in the ChamSys MagicQ MQ250M console a flexible and powerful platform capable of responding both to the precision of detailed programming and to the need for live improvisation.
But like every brand enthusiast, he has his favorite functions.
• Tap Tempo for real-time rhythmic effects
This function allows him to speed up or slow down effects during the show with a single tap, adjusting the speed to the music or the moment’s pulse. It is especially useful for events where spontaneity and tempo constantly change.
• Encoders linked to effects for greater expressiveness
Thanks to the ability to control parameters directly from the encoders, Julio can modify intensities, colors, and speeds with great precision, achieving more sensitive and personalized programming.
• Color grids and group effects
The MagicQ MQ250M allows the creation of visual color grids that simplify the programming of group effects, even under limited time conditions. This tool is key in festivals or touring dates where extensive preprogramming time is not always available.
• Flexibility for custom or adaptive designs
ChamSys offers an ecosystem that adapts both to original designs and to configurations imposed by external productions or festivals. This adaptability is one of the aspects Julio values most in a touring context.
• Reliable technical support in the region
Julio also highlights the support from the ChamSys team in Latin America, especially the assistance provided by Alberto García. This technical support has been essential for resolving doubts, optimizing configurations, and ensuring console operability during shows.
Where there is light, there is vision
Julio Centeno understands that designing is not just programming fixtures, but imagining experiences and provoking emotions.
Every project is an opportunity to tell a story, and every ChamSys console is an ally in making it a reality. “When you know your tool is going to respond, you can focus on the creative side, on what really matters.”
From UPstage, his studio in Mexico City, Julio not only creates for artists—he inspires the technical community with a generous, professional, and deeply human perspective.
And with ChamSys as a technical and conceptual pillar, his work illuminates not only stages, but pathways. Because in every well-lit show, there is a certainty: someone like him first imagined the invisible to make it unforgettable.
