Business

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Maltbury Ltd has taken the decision to sell off the hire part of its business to a newly established company, LEL Hires Ltd. Run by Jason Tucker, proprietor and managing director of LEL Enterprises Ltd, the new venture will operate from Rochester, Kent, whilst managing director Philip Sparkes and Maltbury sales will remain based in London.

Since 1995, the sales and hire divisions of Maltbury have been managed under one roof by Philip and his team, offering both high-quality products and service to clients. "We are delighted to have Jason taking over responsibility for the hiring out of Maltbury's staging systems," said Philip Sparkes, who will now be able to give his undivided attention to the sales side of the business. He added: "This streamlining of the business allows us to continue to provide our clients with an efficient and professional service while at the same t

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One of Amsterdam’s latest landmarks is its futuristic stadium, the Amsterdam Arena. Home to Holland’s most famous football club, Ajax, the Arena has also created a number of opportunities for developers. Since its completion in 1996, the surrounding area has fast become a hotspot of urban renewal, with an ever-widening range of restaurants, cafes and hotels, malls, cinemas, and business centers.

One such development is Amsterdam’s new design emporium, Villa Arena. Conceived as a stylish home furnishings center, the building includes over 70 designer stores, and is intended to address the growing reluctance of shoppers to spend time browsing in stores, and to counter the allure of the cyber mall by offering a degree of entertainment, and a range of ancillary, non-retail facilities. With this multi-functionality in mind, Villa Arena required a lighting design that could

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The BEAB (British Electrotechnical Approvals Board) and The Lighting Association have joined forces to offer luminaire manufacturers quality ENEC testing and certification, enabling them to gain access to European markets and to international markets via the CB Scheme. The ENEC (European Norms Electrical Certification) Mark is a European Certification mark of Conformity, based on Harmonised European Safety Standards. Currently accepted by 20 European countries, the ENEC 19 Mark for luminaires demonstrates that a product has been independently tested by the Lighting Association and certified by BEAB. In addition to product testing, annual factory inspection and market surveillance are integral requirements of the ENEC Mark, providing maximum confidence to everyone in the supply chain.

International CB testing and certification is also available to manufacturers, helping them to access m

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Trantec has appointed Helsinki-based F-Musiikki Oy to handle their award-winning radio mic systems exclusively in Finland. F-Musiikki Oy is the biggest MI/sheet music wholesale/retail company in the Nordic countries. F-Audio is the pro audio division, responsible for the distribution of Trantec and other brands, such as Yamaha (MI and pro audio), Steinway & Sons, Fender, Casio, Manley, DW, Hughes& Kettner, Sabian, Martin and many more. "We first saw Trantec products at last year’s PLASA Show," commented Petri Mäntysalo. "Our product portfolio covered all other areas of pro audio with the exception of radio mics - so now our roster is complete."

Petri says that Trantec IEMs have already found homes amongst the leading performers in Finland, including Children Of Bodom (S4000IEMs) and Tommi Läntinen Band (S5000IEMs). "We are now looking forward to broade

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Top UK girl band, Atomic Kitten, performed their first concert to a sell-out crowd recently at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, and supporting them at their debut show was an array of Martin Professional fixtures. Lighting designer Barry Halpin used Bandit Lites UK to supply the Martin fixtures, along with generic fixtures and control equipment for the show. Halpin chose MAC 600 wash lights, MAC 250s and his favourite, the MAC 2000. Barry commented: "I know the MAC 2000 and its capabilities well after using them with Westlife earlier this year. I knew that in a venue such as Shepherds Bush Empire they would really cut through and be very dominating - and sure enough they were. One of the girls in the band has an allergy which prevents me from using smoke or haze during the show, so the beams don’t look as pronounced as normal, but they still show up, better than any other

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Sennheiser UK has sold the first DAS Audio Compact 1s in the UK to Audio and Corporate Event Management (ACM) Ltd. The corporate event and presentation company has expanded its extensive range of DAS sound systems with the addition of a pair of the very latest Class-D self-powered three-way full-range cabinets. ACM’s high profile corporate client list includes several motor industry dealerships for whom it regularly stages regional launch events for new models, including Vauxhall and Mercedes, as well as premier league football clubs. Director Tony Martin comments: "It’s actually quite a shock to hear such a big sound emanating from a genuinely portable system and we’re expecting to use Compact 1s at many of our forthcoming events - especially as we often need to keep sight-lines free from speaker cabs."

Such is their confidence in DAS Audio products that To

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Despite being one of Auckland’s oldest pubs, the Kings Arms Tavern - established in 1870 - is also one of the city’s most popular youth-oriented live venues. The room, which hosts up-and-coming bands during the week, headline acts at weekends and a varied line-up on Sunday afternoons, recently underwent a major upgrade of its house PA system. The new Proel system was sold by Junior Fitz of United Sound Agencies and installed by Proel distributor Jansen Professional Audio & Lighting in just two days, to accommodate the venue’s busy performance schedule.

The venue’s owners had been using a hired system for some years, and were anxious to replace it with a rig that would occupy less of the limited stage space and improve both audience sightlines and sound quality. The new system consists of two Proel TFL212P double 12" full-range speakers with 1.4" compre

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At the start of 1998, finance company Nykredit invited a number of architects to participate in a competition aimed at finding the best design for its new Head Office in Copenhagen. The winner, Schmidt, Hammer and Lassen, presented a building with its front and back façades made entirely of glass. Nykredit wanted to create a building of high architectural quality. Completed in October 2001, the architects have more than matched their demands. Only half the building is used as office space; the rest is given to a large, central atrium with a glazed façade, which makes the ten-story building very transparent.

The building’s northeast and southwest sides are defined by 24 horizontal ribs of granite, two per floor. By day these ribs serve to give definition to an otherwise virtually transparent building: with the onset of night, however, the architects’ clean lines were disru

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UK band Afro Celt Sound System, currently promoting the release of their album Further in Time and the single When You’re Falling (featuring guest vocalist Peter Gabriel), are mid-way through an extensive world tour using their Sony DMX-R100 digital console, supplied by Total Audio Solutions, for all in-ear and on-stage monitor mixes. The console has impressed the band’s long-standing monitor engineer Kris Layton: "To be able to take 48 channels and run nine monitor mixes with full scene-set automation is superb. I also love the way you can mix sends on the faders rather than knobs - with very powerful hands-on EQ and dynamics. Those kinds of things are very important to monitor engineers and set the DMX-R100 apart from other digital boards we considered."

Layton explained that the desk represents a big step forward for the band, especially in the fast turn-aroun

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Orchard Road in Singapore is the main thoroughfare of this City State. Rivalling Rodeo Drive as a retail nirvana, Ngee Ann City is its focal point, a modern shopping plaza filled by the world’s leading designer brands. It was also the site chosen by one of the most highly respected amongst them - Chanel - to launch its new collection to the Far-Eastern world.

One major problem though. Being the tropics, most afternoons the plaza is deluged by rain of unbelievable ferocity - not the ideal environment then for a fashion show. Which is why event producers Faber Image, and particularly director Robert Seah, began to give this conundrum some serious thought. "This was to be a big show, a reception followed by the fashion parade for a seated audience of almost 1,000. We needed a large, flexible structure, at least 40 by 20 metres, and it needed to be elegant as befits our client.&

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Having announced a move to new premises to celebrate its 30th birthday during the 2001 PLASA Show, the White Light Group has announced the date of the move: White Light and the other members of the White Light Group will be open for business at 20 Merton Industrial Park, Jubilee Way, London SW19 3WL from Monday October 22nd 2001.

The new main telephone number for all of the Group companies, including White Light Hire, White Light Sales, The Moving Light Company, The Service Company, Modelbox and Colourhouse, will be +44 020 8254 4800. The new main fax number will be +44 020 8254 4801. The White Light Group's new home includes 35,000sq.ft of equipment storage and preparation space and 10,000 square feet of office space, allowing all the Group members to be brought together under one roof for the first time. The new building also offers ample parking and easy truck access, and is easy to

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Trantec Systems continues to increase its penetration of global markets with the appointment of leading international pro audio distributors for their products. The latest to join the radio specialists’ partner channel is MusicData. Based in the Czech Republic, the company negotiated the deal to become Trantec’s exclusive territorial distributors after discovering the award-winning systems at PLASA 2000. "We were searching at that time for a new supplier of wireless systems, offering a good value-to-price ratio," explained import manager, Tomas Pukl. MusicData is a major distributor, offering in its brand portfolio Crest Audio, Nexo, Hughes & Kettner, Audix, LA Audio and Audient, as well as a number of key lighting and accessories manufacturers.

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On Friday, January 11, 2002, Brian Croft, Chairman of Vari-Lite Europe, will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Created by Pro Production 2002, the award is dubbed the ‘Parnelli’, in memory of respected tour manager Rick ‘Parnelli’ O’Brien, who passed away in October 2000. The Parnelli recognizes outstanding individuals in the live event production industry and their contributions to the field.

Terry Lowe, executive director of Pro Production 2002. "We’re very pleased to establish the Parnelli here at Pro Production 2002. And there is no more fitting recipient for a lifetime achievement award than Brian Croft." Croft, whose production career spans 40 years, was a founding member of Britain’s National Youth Theatre, and studied at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. He broke into the business as a theatrical stage manage

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25 of Pulsar’s new LED ChromaBank fixtures were featured on a recent ‘Cliff Richard Special’ recorded at Fountain Studios. Lighting designer for the show was Brian Pearce, assisted by lighting operators Darren Lovell and Ian Reith. Pearce chose the ChromaBanks because they were the only product that could provide an even colour wash to light two upright opaque raised step areas that divided the stage into two levels.

Supplied by leading TV rental company Richard Martin Lighting, the ChromaBanks were hidden in the stage. Each of the fixtures feature 12 ChromaHearts packaged together in one linear lighting source - providing a high level of illumination from the 960 LEDs, numerous built-in internal effects and infinite RGB colour mixing possibilities.

Pearce was very impressed by the results, and commented: "Not only do they provide an even colour wash, but the b

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The Production Factory, the Netherlands-based lighting and production specialist, has announced that the company headquarters is moving from Utrecht to a new home in Arnhem. From the end of October, you can contact the company at the following address:

The Production Factory BV, Delta 46, 6825 MS Arnhem, The Netherlands.

Telephone: +31 (0)26 38 40 110, Fax: +31 (0)26 38 40 111.

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Luminaires purchased from Vari-Lite Inc by John Conti Lighting Inc will be used by NBC on a new, syndicated version of the quiz show, ‘Weakest Link’. Lighting designer John Conti purchased the Vari*Lite automated lighting equipment, consisting of 22 VL2202 spot luminaires, 14 VL2416 wash luminaires and a Virtuoso DX console for the syndicated version of the show.

"Basically, I loved the gear so much after seeing it, that I went out and bought it," Conti said. "We’re using the same, purchased set of luminaires and console on the syndicated version of the show as we're using for the primetime version. The 3D programming you can do with the Virtuoso DX console is great, and it's a real time-saver."

It's clear that lighting and other effects greatly enhance the intense moments on the most popular game shows," said Rusty Brutsché, chairman and

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Following the events of 11 September, PRG companies have contributed their support to US relief efforts by filling several requests to provide equipment and crew to charitable and commemorative productions. On Friday, 21 September, the nationally televised 'America: A Tribute to Heroes' became the most widely distributed television production and the most successful charity fund-raiser in history. Fourth Phase's New York and Los Angeles facilities provided scenic projection equipment, film and crew for the projection imagery designed by Jean Doherty under production designer Roy Bennett's direction, while Fourth Phase New Jersey supplied both intelligent and conventional lighting systems to the East Coast portion of the production. Yankee Stadium hosted several thousand people on Sunday, 23 September for a commemorative service. PRG supported this event by providing a variety of services

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Creative Solutions and freelance production manager Eddie Campbell teamed up with Blackout Triple E at the Birmingham ICC in September to create a staff convention, complete with fashion shows and party, for the TopShop and TopMan stores for client The Arcadia Group. The brief to designer Stuart Stanley was to develop a scheme offering two different looks for two retail brands, achieved primarily through the choice of drape fabric, lighting treatment and subtle scenic changes with the turnaround time between the two looks being very tight.

Delegates were seated on a block centred around a catwalk, thrust from a wide stage area that served as both a business meeting forum and a scenic entry-exit point for the models. Blackout Triple E was responsible for providing trussing, 28 electric chain hoists, the tracking system for a huge rear-projection screen and the suspension for the lightin

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Major manufacturers across the entertainment technology industry are gearing up for this year’s LDI trade show in Orlando in a strong display of industry solidarity. Responding to a call by ETC CEO Fred Foster, manufacturers across the spectrum of entertainment technology have confirmed that they are following through fully with plans to exhibit at LDI 2001. So many exhibitors have voiced their resolve that a separate website link has been established to showcase their responses (see below).

Not only will companies be at LDI, many have reported that they will indeed be expanding their presence this year. AC Lighting, Arriflex Corporation, Bandit Lites, Color Kinetics, Le Maitre Special Effects, Martin, Tracoman and Vari-Lite are among those who have announced that they have planned for their largest showing at LDI to date, and many more are preparing to unveil brand new product

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Having been using Stanton i-Track, Trackmaster and 500AL cartridges for some time, London superclub Fabric recently signed an endorsement agreement with Stanton’s UK distributors, Lamba plc, which will see them continue to use these products - as well as the new 890SA - exclusively in the Clerkenwell venue.

The i-Track features a spherical super high polished diamond and is thus ideal for club/dance DJs who need better tracking ability during heavy backcueing. Fabric technical manager Dave Parry explained: "We are quite specific about who uses what cartridge; for example Room 1 generally has i-Tracks, Room 2 uses Trackmasters for the drum ’n’ bass DJs, with i-Tracks on a Saturday. Room 3 usually uses i-Tracks - although we use the 500 for the scratch DJs we have on a Friday, and some DJs request 500s during the weekend sessions."

The deal was confirmed at

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Orange has announced the second year of its student union tour that marries innovative and interactive technologies with quality music. Following the overwhelming response by students to last year's tour, enjoymusic v.2 is set to transform unions by taking cutting edge DJs, one of the largest audio and lighting rigs ever seen on campus, and its own distinctive brand of marketing to over 40 universities across the UK.

The tour will showcase the interactive technologies that Orange has used to transform Manumission in Ibiza, the UK summer music festivals and the Q Awards. These include giant text messaging boards, a glow wall, entertainment pods, video postcard facilities and wirefree games, and are designed to align Orange to music in a technological way. The DJ line up for the tour includes The Stanton Warriors, Deadly Avenger, DJ Touche, Cut La Roc, and Grand Central Records.

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A unique production of ‘Rigoletto’ has been staged by Dutch opera specialists, the Companions production company, on a specially-built stage on the waters of Rotterdam harbour. The elaborate production involved a 56-strong chorus and 11 internationally renowned principals performing on two large pontoons and a boat moored in the water beside Wilhelmina Pier in Rotterdam. A 70-piece orchestra was housed on a third pontoon, playing to an audience of 7,000.

But, for sound engineers struggling to contend with open-air environmental extremes that included winds of Gale Force 4, the key to success was a tiny miniature microphone from DPA Microphones. Sound designer and front-of-house engineer Cees Wagenaar from BV Oorzaak, supervised the critical matter of miking the artists. Wagenaar specified 114 of them in all, making it one of the biggest shows to standardise on a DPA type.

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Kingston, London-based hire, sales and installation specialist Podd Sound, supplied the sound systems for the recent Blue Do party in Hampton Court, organized by Exclusive World. The sound for over 2,000 blue-clad clubbers was provided exclusively by Podd’s DAS Audio systems, featuring four of the very latest Compact 1, Class D self-powered three-way cabs - part of the first shipment to arrive in the UK.

The prestigious all-ticket event was the third to use Podd Sound. The extensive DAS rig was part of a high-budget and imaginative design that featured all-blue décor, pyrotechnics and a solid ice bar. Big name DJs Brandon Block and Alex P delivered powerful sets through the DAS array, comprising four 133 dB SPL Compact 1s and eight Sub-118A bass reflex subwoofers; all self-powered with Class D switching amplification. The company’s new DAS rig presented Podd with several a

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The Production Services Association has opened a collection for the widow of Danny Lee, who had been working as a set carpenter on the Back Street Boys’ tour. Danny was killed aboard American Airlines flight 11 which hit the World Trade Centre’s South Tower on 11th September. Danny, 34, was returning home from Boston to Los Angeles to be with his 30 year old wife, Kellie, for the birth of their second daughter. Two days later she gave birth to a healthy, 8lb 2oz baby named Allison Danielle.

Danny had been on Patrick Stansfield’s staff for some years. More recently he had toured with N’Sync, Yanni, Bette Midler, Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand. A fund has been set up in Los Angeles for the benefit of Danny’s widow and, at the request of the trustees of the PSA Welfare & Benevolent Fund, the PSA has set up a bank account to collect and consolidate UK and E

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  2. ETC: Restructuring of Worldwide Marketing
  3. CT and Playhouse Disney Live
  4. VL Offers Virtuoso Training at LDI
  5. Marquee Weaves Magic of Merlin
  6. PSL Opens New Site at NEC
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