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Bandit Lites has got off to an early start on what could be a record-breaking year. The company has already signed up ten new acts this year with further signings in the pipeline. Recently added to the roster of clients is Luis Miguel (LD Fabian Boggino) who is touring the world with a huge system featuring the Bandit MotoData truss cueing system and a plethora of Martin MACs. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (LD Keith Wissmar) are set to take a bigger system than ever before into arenas for their ‘Tour of America’. Toby Keith (LD Eddie ‘Bones’ Connell), takes his unique form of country music around the states this spring, not to mention a High End Systems rig unlike any other Bandit has ever done before.

Lonestar (LD Alex Krompic) head to Canada with a versatile Hig

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Autograph Sound Recording began the year on a charitable note, designing and supplying the sound system, free of charge, for the UKC Hero Awards ceremony, held at the Dorchester Hotel, London, on 9 January.

Sir Elton John was the recipient of the UKC (UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS) Hero Award, held in celebration of World AIDS Day, in recognition of his outstanding contribution towards the continuing fight against the disease. Autograph's Lee Dennison installed Meyer Sound loudspeakers in the Dorchester's Ball Room, using MSL-2s together with USW-1P subs.

Meanwhile, the Olivier-award winning 'Five Guys Named Moe', which entertained West End audiences for many years, is about to hit the road with a complete Autograph sound and communications touring system. The show will be visiting over 20 venues around the UK and will have less than 48 hours to de-rig in one theatr

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Metier, the national training organisation for the arts and entertainment sector, is looking for 100 Yorkshire-based volunteers from the arts and entertainment sector to take part in its new ‘Learning Champion’ scheme. Individuals taking part in the scheme will be educated in learning and skills development in order to support and guide others through the training and development process. Learning Champions can be freelance or employed in the sector, working full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid.

Participants will have to undertake seven one-day training sessions on each of the following areas: Identify Development Needs; Plan Development; Coach; Mentor; Advise & Guide; Evaluate Development; Evaluate Your Own Work. In between training days, Metier will support participants in practicing the skills they are learning by working with learners. All training will be provided fr

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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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ARX Systems, the Australian manufacturer of professional audio products, has announced the appointment of two new European exclusive distributors. Bertin Krompass and his team at Showservice Gmbh are now representing ARX in Germany. Showservice can be contacted by telephone on +49(0)851 4903302, or via e-mail at showservicegmbh@t-online.de.

At the same time, Igor Pogorzelski and his team at ProfiAudio are now representing ARX in Poland. Profiaudio can be contacted by telephone at +48 22 773 0147 or via e-mail at igor@profiaudio.com.pl.

ARX’s managing director Colin Park commented on the new appointments: "The ARX product range is further expanding into the installation and broadcast markets, and both Showservice and ProfiAudio are well placed to service these se

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Thomas L. Schweers will be taking on the role of northeast regional sales manager for Fourth Phase New Jersey. Schweers will be based at the company offices in North Bergen, New Jersey. Schweers was formerly the executive vice-president of sales and marketing for Fiber Optic Systems, Inc in Whitehouse Station, NJ.

In this newly created position, Schweers will be responsible for the direct supervision of Fourth Phase sales staff, and will also oversee the development and implementation of sales strategies and the allocation of sales resources.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Avolites has enjoyed a busy few months on the ART dimmer sales front. This follows hot on the heels of the launch of the two latest versions of the ART dimmer at PLASA 2001 - the ART2000-TV and the ART2000-US models.

The development of digital ART2000 dimmer range has addressed the exacting needs of areas such as film, TV and theatre, and two of the UK’s largest film and TV lighting rental companies have recently invested in Avolites ART dimmers - AFM Lighting and ARRI. The AFM order involved a total of 10 dimmer racks - six ART2000 16 amp/48 channels of dimming with an RCD disable system and four ART2000 32 amp/16 channel dimmers, also with a disable system. These are going into AFM’s busy hire stock. The ARRI system involved the purchase of four ART2000 special edition dimmers - with BAC mains input and 48 channels of direct out on Socapex, and two ART2000 12 channel rack

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Trey Merrill has joined the sales team at AC Lighting Inc. Originally from Baton Rouge/New Orleans, Merrill has been involved in the music and film industries for a number of years, both on and off stage. Having attended Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans, where he studied Drama, Communications and English, he eventually graduated from the Seattle Art Institute, with a degree in Music Business & Video Production. He worked as a music critic, band manager, production and stage manager, high steel climber, guitar and drum technician and set carpenter before forming his own production company, Gator Bait Productions. He recently became an associate producer of the Motion Picture ‘The Midnight Hour’ and is currently producing the debut album for a young Louisiana artist 'Benjy Davis' featuring Grammy Award Winners Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Lucinda Wil

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Pro audio manufacturer OHM has announced preliminary details for a forthcoming range of PA products. The LM series of enclosures will be built in the OHM tradition, with painted birch ply cabinets, and high quality driver and crossover components. A special high efficiency HF compression driver has been used in the 12" and 15", two-way designs, protected by OHM’s proven HF protection system - a money saving device in itself. The portable LM-S sub adds full-on LF extension to the system as required.

The range is complemented by the powerful HQ 2002S 1000W stereo switch mode power amp, and heavy duty tripod speaker stands. Full product specification and details will be available shortly and the product proper should be available from March.

(James Eade)

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The ATI Group has announced the formation of a new division, ATI Group Distribution. The new arm of the company officially begins operations tomorrow handling North American distribution and marketing responsibilities for UK-based Audient PLC.

Audient is a respected UK designer and manufacturer of studio mixing consoles, signal processing equipment and surround sound processing components. Founding partners of DDA -David Dearden and Gareth Davies - formed the company in 1997 and UK-based Expotus PLC began the world marketing and distribution of the range of products. ATI Group Distribution will be working closely with Martin Capp, managing director of Expotus, to launch the North American distribution of the full line of Audient products, including mixing consoles, surround sound processors and graphic EQs for fixed installations.

ATI Group Distribution is based at the company's new,

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Following elections held at the tail-end of 2001, the Association has announced two new appointments to its executive committee. With effect from January 1st, Tim Brown of Apple Sound and Tracey Patterson of Artistic Licence have joined PLASA’s executive body.

The new places were made available by the departure of Paul Adams (PAI Group) and Paul Hinkly (LMC Audio) from the committee. Paul Adams stepped down at the end of 2001, having served on the committee for 11 years, including four years as chairman (1995-98) and three years as vice-chairman (1999-2001). Paul Hinkly, who took the decision not to re-stand for election at the end of 2001, had served on the committee for 18 months and had been a valued member of the team during that time. At the December 2001 meeting of the committee, PLASA Chairman Mick Hannaford acknowledged the valuable contributions that both men made to the

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UK pro audio manufacturer OHM has appointed Martin Potter as sales and marketing executive. OHM chairman Jo Olenski has worked with Martin on several projects prior to the appointment: "Martin brings to OHM a wealth of experience gained from over 20 years involvement in audio related sales and marketing. He has a strong management background in both the retail and distribution sectors of our industry."

The appointment ties in with the advent of a new wave of ambition from the Cheshire-based company, with R&D at its highest ever level. Forward sales orders for both home and export divisions are reportedly booming, despite the recent difficulties brought on by world events. As we reported yesterday, on the agenda for March 2002 is the release of new loudspeaker product aimed at the MI retail sector. This will be marketed via both existing and new dealerships across the UK.

(R

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Quadrant Visual Solutions (QVS), the event specialists, staged an exclusive venue event for SGS, the verification and certification multinational, that combined the important business of new product presentations, seminar facilities and team-building exercises with an evening of entertainment at the Alton Towers Hotel on the 11th and 12th January 2002. The event was built around the continuing transition to the new verification certificate ISO 9000:2000, with emphasis upon team working and co-operation to ensure SGS understands and meets its customer requirements at all levels of the business.

The 170 delegates were SGS Yarsley International Certification employees from all around Britain, mostly system auditors or trainers, and members of the support and administration team. The theme of the event was "Connections" and incorporated team building for remote team workers. &q

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Members of PLASA can now access useful information through an online Services News section on the main PLASA website. This recent initiative is a web-based resource which provides members with a head-start over non member companies since it offers updates on Association activities, as well as highlighting overseas trade opportunities, key resources, project leads and a Q&A section for common business issues. Members also receive regular monthly e-mails summarising recent developments and offering links to the relevant information.

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If you’re a UK company planning to exhibit at NSCA, then it’s worth talking to PLASA. Thanks to an arrangement with Trade Partners UK, the Association has secured funding for UK exhibitors at the show, which takes place from 25-27 April 2002 in Denver, Colorado.

This is the first time that the Association has received funding for this event: eligible participants will receive 60% of stand and constructions costs, up to a limit of £2,300. To benefit from the grant companies must be registered in the UK and exhibit predominately UK products and services. You don’t have to be a PLASA member to benefit. If you are interested in NSCA call Norah Phillips on 01323 410335 or e-mail norah@plasa.org. The deadline for return of application forms is 28th February 2002 so don’t delay.

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AEQ UK, the UK representative of the Madrid-based manufacturer of professional broadcast and audio systems, is now shipping the Caddy A/D and D/A convertor, launched last year as part of the company's E@sy range of products. Although designed as the ideal partner for AEQ's Impact summing/distributing digital audio matrix, the Caddy is well suited to stand alone use.

The Caddy offers 24 electronically balanced analogue inputs and outputs with conversion to and from 12 AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs, all in a compact 1U rack space. Sample rate conversion is available from 32kHz to 96kHz, with 24 bits per sample, and the sampling rate follows that of the AES.11 sync input; the default being 48kHz.

The first customer for the Caddy is the European Broadcasting Union, who have taken 20 units as part of a 400 x 400 digital matrix for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. The EBU system al

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The latest Directory of Members is about to be published. This annual publication, which will be mailed shortly, offers detailed information on all PLASA Members, promoting the range of products and services offered by the membership to the entertainment and venue technology industry at large.

Over 11,000 directories are printed: in addition to being distributed to the full mailing list of L&SI (which includes architects, consultants, designers, distributors, engineers, installers, hire companies, production crews and venue managers), the Directories are also despatched to all British embassies worldwide and circulated widely at industry trade shows and events.

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Carl Pierre Blasor has joined the sales management team as head of international key accounts at Lightpower, the Paderborn-based distributor of professional lighting equipment. Blasor has majored in Linguistics and Cultural Studies and has completed vocational training as an export merchant. Born and raised in Italy, he has also lived in Puerto Rico and the United States, and now resides with his family in Germany. He speaks four languages and has a good working knowledge of a fifth.

MA Lighting International, a subsidiary of Lightpower, was founded in order to coordinate and carry out its international sales and marketing activities and Blasor, as key account manager, will be a significant contribution to the international team. His main aims will be to consolidate existing international customer relations and maintain and coordinate the more than 30 worldwide exclusive representative

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The Met Arts Centre in Manchester, one of a rich selection of theatres and music halls in the city, has had a new staging system fitted in its main theatre. As a variety of musical events take place in the main theatre, ranging from large-scale orchestral concerts and the famous Blues Festival to children's days, the staging had to be as multi-purpose as the hall itself, not to mention suitable for outside use also.

Maltbury supplied 25 Ambideck staging units with legs to variable heights, measuring 32 x 24ft. With variable leg height, the staging can be easily raised and lowered to suit a variety of needs and with ramp access to the rear of the stage, people with disabilities will be able to enjoy the theatre's facilities.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Paul Twist, a figure well known to many in the industry, died recently in the United States. Paul had been working as a freelancer for Colin Hammond at Meteor Lighting in Huntsville, Alabama. His earlier career had seen him working in sales at Chappels (sheet music), Selmer (musical instruments) and Cadburys-Schweppes. He then spent four years in the late seventies with OPTI where he was the company’s first ever export sales director, before he moved on to Meteor Lighting.

His funeral is planned to take place in the UK on Friday 22 February. We’ll advise of further details as they become available.

(Ruth Rossington)

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NBC Olympics has selected Audio-Technica microphones to play a key role in its coverage of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. Working in conjunction with the host audio-video provider, International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), NBC Olympics has made a solid commitment to provide the most sophisticated and intensive coverage the Winter Games audience has ever known. "We’re going to be using a wide selection of Audio-Technica microphones to capture the sound and drama of the events," stated Bob Dixon, Project Manager/Sound Design for NBC Olympics. "The crisp and accurate imaging they offer will help us make the experience that much more exciting for viewers."

Stereo sound will play a key role in creating enhanced realism in NBC’s broadcasts. Dixon notes that all of NBC’s handheld field cameras will have AT815ST Stereo Shotgun Microphones mounted on

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IAG Professional (International Audio Group) has announced that the product lines formerly covered solely by Wharfedale Professional are now divided into two divisions - Wharfedale Pro and Wharfedale Systems. Due to the current diversity and plans for further expansion of the Wharfedale Professional ranges worldwide, it became apparent to the parent company, IAG, that the infrastructure needed changing to focus on different market areas. The increase in business for IAG, especially in the professional product areas, has necessitated the employment of new staff in both sales and product development. This has enabled IAG to develop new products in both loudspeakers and electronics, which, in turn, have increased sales and distribution worldwide.

The Systems Division will comprise already established installation speakers such as the Programme 30D, 2080 and 2090 series. The LoudPanel (NXT

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