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ESTA has announced that the draft standard BSR E1.6, Entertainment Technology - Powered Rigging Systems is available for public review until October 10, 2000. The draft standard establishes safety requirements for the design, manufacture, installation and use of motorised rigging systems in theatres, theme parks, studios and other places of public assembly and performance. The document does not address manually-powered systems or lifting equipment used in the construction of these spaces. Copies of the document are available from the ESTA website.

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Tune in to Carlton ITV tonight . . . Cameron Mackintosh's The Witches of Eastwick, which opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Tuesday is to be the subject of a television documentary intended to go out at 11.30 this evening. Entitled Dance with the Devil - The Making of The Witches of Eastwick the programme offers a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the world premiere of Cameron Mackintosh's new musical comedy, starring Ian McShane. Mary Nightingale interviews both the stars and creative team working on the production. If you can't stay in tonight or your video's broken, you can also read all about it in the August issue of L&SI.

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Fabric, the leading London club, has swapped its Spirit Digital 328 mixer for a 324 Live. The desk, which can be used as required in any of the club's three rooms, serves as a front-of-house or monitoring console for the many live acts that perform at the club, as well as being available for the more adventurous DJs. Production manager Dave Parry said: "We need a digital desk because we're going to start a lot of internet broadcasting in the near future. The sound will be going straight down the line so a digital signal will be very handy." He continued: "We've had the 328 for six months and everyone that used it was very complementary. If we hadn't been happy with it, we wouldn't have bought the 324." House engineer Roberto Pieroni added: "As we only used the 328 for live work it made sense to switch to the 324 Live."
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Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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Star Hire (Event Services) supplied two mobile stages to the Love Parade, the UK's biggest dance event this summer, attended by 250,000 people and held at Leeds' Roundhay Park. Production company Logistik turned to Star Hire for their staging requirements. Logistik's Dirk Mishendahl had worked with Star Hire previously, and knew what he wanted for the Love Parade. He said: "Star Hire's mobile stages were ideal for this event. Their speedy set-up saved us time and money, and caused minimum disruption to the local park. These stages also give us a great working environment for our artists and production crew."

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City Theatrical has appointed Tim Bourgeois as lead engineer. Bourgeois has extensive experience as a lighting designer, technical director and freelance electrician for theatre productions in Boston, and will be developing products for City Theatrical's expanding customer base in the performing arts, convention centres and other entertainment sectors.At the same time, City Theatrical has also appointed lighting designer Brian Patrick Byrne as a technical liaison to dealers and end-users. As well as lighting design, Byrne's experience includes work as a director, production manager and master electrician. His LD credits include productions of Godspell, A Lie of the Mind, Six Degrees of Separation and The Who's Tommy for Evader Productions.

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Audio-Technica has restructured its UK operation. On the processing side, Joanne Harding and Sophie Kramer have joined the UK sales pool, along with Donna Norman as office trainee. Chris Todd moves into the new position of product specialist, and is on call to answer any microphone selection or technical enquiries. Denise Turner also changes position, joining the marketing and facilities department as marketing administrator. She has held a number of roles during her four years with A-T, including the setting up of the German office. Alistair Powell joins the company in an internal sales position to support the efforts of the field-based sales team. He has a wealth of audio knowledge, and lists a spell at London's Nomis Studios amongst his previous experience.

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Legendary Parisian restaurant Chez Maxim's, in the heart of Paris, has always represented the epitome of refinement and elegance. Steeped in tradition, it maintains its position by mixing old world sophistication with the best from today's modern life. To this end it has recently installed a number of Martin's MiniMAC luminaires (supplied by Martin France) in the legendary dining room. These are discreetly positioned around the restaurant and now enhance the atmosphere with subtle colour washes and delicate colour hues.

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Production Resource Group (PRG) has announced that John M. Hovis has joined the company as president and chief operating officer. In his new position, he assumes responsibility for all aspects of the company's day-to-day operations, specifically overseeing all field operations as well as the corporate Information Technology, Human Resources and Finance departments. Hovis comes to PRG from RailAmerica, where he was senior vice-president and chief operating officer for North American operations. John E. Cunningham Jr. has also joined the company as chief financial officer of the Lighting and Audio Group. He is located in the offices of Production Arts and comes to PRG with almost 20 years' experience in finance, including four years as a chief financial officer and three as a consultant.

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Tannoy and Axcess Technology (UK distributor for Biamp) will take to the road in August to host a series of audio conferencing roadshows aimed at demonstrating how their products combine to provide comprehensive AV solutions. Aimed at providing installers and designers with an informative overview, the roadshows begin at Tannoy's factory near Glasgow on 1-2 August, move to Manchester on 9-10 August and finally Richmond-Upon-Thames on 15-16 August.Tannoy will present a range of new and industry proven speakers, including the recently-launched iP5 Mirage Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) panel. Axcess Technology will demonstrate a range of Biamp equipment, including the Biamp Voicecrafter Plus acoustic echo cancellers, Biamp VRAM variable resource automixer with Windows programming software for easy integration and Biamp CMA60 6-channel commercial mixer/amplifiers with extensive input pag

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Denon has launched two new UK-designed amplifiers which improve on the well-known technology of the PMA-250SE and PMA-350SE range, and have broad-band designs, ready to take advantage of DVD-A and SACD (Super Audio CD) technology. The PMA-255UK uses the chassis and fascia of the 250SE, but with a totally new interior. Rated at 30W, typical power can exceed 45W pc into 8 ohms. The new design also delivers superior bass power and drive with enhanced load handling. PMA-355UK. The new PMA-355UK design adds extensive features and dramatically improves the sound quality of the 350SE. Despite a 50W rating, typical power output can reach nearly 70W pc into 8 ohms.

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High End Systems lighting plays a part in South Africa's version of the popular TV game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. LD Hugh Turner (previous projects include The Three Tenors) specified 20 Studio Color 575 and 9 Studio Spot 575 automated luminaires to highlight the set and add excitement to the contest. Installation and weekly operation is by Southern Lighting. The show is shot every week in Johannesburg at the AGN studios downtown for clients M-net and Videovision entertainment.

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York Barbican Centre is probably the first venue in the country to install a lifting beam in its auditorium to enable mechanical lifting of mixer control desks for shows. Prior to its installation, moving the desks into position often took 20 minutes and could use up to 12 crew. The venue now has a 20m runway beam with a 1 ton electric trolley and 1 ton electric chain hoist attached. A spreader beam can also be attached to spread the weight and these are all controlled by an infra red pendant. With the new equipment, the desks can now be moved in five minutes with just two staff. The equipment cost £12,000 and took just two days to install. Bootham Engineers of York manufactured the equipment specifically for the Barbican's needs.

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AC Lighting has supplied an extensive amount of new lighting equipment to the University of Derby for their Live Performance Technology course that was recently launched. Students progress to degree level over the programme's three years, which aims to produce technically competent researchers, designers and operators for the growing entertainment industry. Equipment from manufacturers such as James Thomas, ETC, Anytronics, Vision, Zero 88 and Manfrotto were supplied along with a multitude of cables, internally wired bars and power distribution equipment. All of this equipment is now located in Richardson Hall, the main training and performance area for the programme.

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PLASA Exclusive: Vari-Lite has entered into a letter of intent to sell its operations in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Sweden to an investment company which owns Focus Showequipment BV in Amsterdam. The intention, according to Vari-Lite CEO Rusty Brutsché, is to allow the company to concentrate on the development and sale of its automated lighting systems in the US, Asia and London. The sale is subject to various conditions, but is scheduled to be completed in September.

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Celestion has underlined its commitment to OEM sales of guitar and PA chassis loudspeakers with the appointment of two new sales people. Paul Richardson (pictured) is handling OEM export sales to continental Europe and the USA. Richardson brings a substantial commercial expertise to the company. Although his appointment places renewed emphasis on Celestion's North American market, he will also be concentrating on developing new business, especially for recently-introduced products like the Red Label and Truvox ranges.Andy Farrow has been recruited to handle OEM Sales in the UK. A former Celestion employee, he spent five years in the production engineering department at Ipswich. After 18 months outside the company, he missed the music business so much that he has returned in a sales role. With a degree in engineering, an MBA, and production experience at Celestion, his technical skills wi

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Australian manufacturer ARX Systems has reported a number of diverse product sales recently. Australia-based audio designer Brian Laurence has advised the sale of a complete ARX Ambience System for the Cadbury Pavilion at the Sydney 2000 Olympics site at Homebush Bay. Brian specified 24 Ambience 1 loudspeakers, one Ambisub and one Ambidrive three-channel power amplifier to provide high-quality audio reproduction for the Cadbury's Corporate AV display which is built into open-sided 40ft shipping containers.Meanwhile, Sydney-based mobile broadcast Company Zero 1 Zero have added to their extensive inventory of ARX products with another complete system of MSX4 mic splitters for their new O/B Truck due for completion in time for use at the Sydney Olympics. And finally, away from the Olympics, the New South Wales Police Integrity Commission (anti-corruption investigators) have recently taken d

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Stu Chalmers has joined High End Systems as the company's new vice-president of operations. Starting in mid August, he will be based at the automated lighting manufacturer's headquarters in Austin, Texas, to oversee product manufacturing. Areas of responsibility include all production and assembly areas, materials and purchasing. Chalmers was the first employee of the Kaizen Institute of America and as a consultant, has worked with a number of manufacturers including Ford Motor Company. Prior to that, he worked for 3M Company for 15 years. High End is currently working towards ISO Certification which it hopes to complete before the end of this year.

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Rage, a West Midlands-based professional theatre company, has just been awarded a three-year grant from the Neighbourhood Support Fund to set up and run a new touring company - the Rage Ensemble. Over a period of 30 weeks, professional artistes will assist 12 young people in the creation, rehearsal and performance of three theatre productions which will be toured around the West Midlands. The Ensemble is made up of young people aged 16-19 who are unlikely to enter into further education or employment and aims to provide them with the skills to assist them into further education or employment. Rage is looking for companies to support them in this aim by making a donation of ex-demonstration lighting and sound equipment or by providing equipment at cost price. ETC Europe and Strand Lighting have already committed their support to the venture.

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Sony Broadcast & Professional UK and Leisuretec Distribution Ltd have announced a strategic distribution agreement that sees the two companies identifying major growth in the sound reinforcement, audio visual and public address markets. The agreement covers the Sony pro audio range, including sound reinforcement products, effects units, wired microphones, Freedom wireless mics, DAT CD and Minidisc, which Leisuretec will now offer from its 14,000sq.ft stock sourcing facility in Leighton Buzzard.

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Digital Audio of Denmark has announced an upgrade to the ADDA 2402 high-end AD/DA converter. The ADDA 2402 has been updated and is now available with an interface for synchronisation to a studio reference Word Clock signal complying with SDIF2 up to 100 kHz. sample-rate. This means that the ADDA2402 is now available in two models - with synchronisation according to AES11, or with Word Clock synchronisation. For a special introduction period, the new model with Word Clock interface will be available at the same price as the previous model.

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Le Mark Group of St Ives, Cambridgeshire has announced a closer business association with GAM Products Inc of Hollywood, California. GAM has been Le Mark's exclusive West Coast Dealer for StudioTak stick and peel temporary studio and stage flooring, and has appointed LeMark as its lead distributor within the UK, tasked to re-introduce selected items from GAM's unique Lighting and Effects range. This includes items such as GAM Patterns (gobos), Twin Spin Rotators, and GAM ColourTube. Jeremy Bramley will head up the GAM distribution in the UK.Le Mark will introduce the products at the PLASA Show in September, and a free seminar will be held on Sunday 10 September in the Kensington Room above the Earls Court showfloor. The seminars will be introduced by Steve Hoffman, US sales manager for GAM Products Inc.
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