Robe - Leaderboard - 27 Aug25 - Jan26
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Russia - Manufacturer of trussing and staging systems Sixty82 has expanded its global distribution network with the appointment of Stagemarket as its exclusive distributor for the Russian Federation, with immediate effective.
Stagemarket has been a provider of professional staging solutions to the Russian market since 2010. Throughout this time, Stagemarket has proven itself as one of the main players for high quality equipment and bespoke structures.
With over 21 years of experience in the live events industry, Stagemarket has a wealth of experience and technical knowledge in recommending solutions to suit their customers’ needs.
“We look forward to working with Stagemarket,” says Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82. “The new arrangement will be a great help in satisfying customer demand in the Russian Federation. Stagemarket has an excellent reputation, and

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Europe - PRG Switzerland has relaunched as PRG Gear, to bring its dry rental sources under one brand.
PRG Gear’s office in is located in Zurich. Within 24 hours PRG Gear will be able to serve a radius of 600 km straight from its 7,500sq.m warehouse, which is amongst the largest equipment inventories for all types of production disciplines in the event industry, says PRG.
“Not only will former PRG Switzerland clients be able to rent equipment from PRG Gear in Zurich, they will also be able to count on a widened offer of support solutions for their productions. With the ever-shortening installation and dismantling schedules on-site, we want to include mobile and efficient solutions in our strategic offerings in the future.” says Martin Fischer, general manager PRG Gear Zurich.
“We will be offering an additional space in our warehouse facilities for our c
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Sondheim Remembered - The lights in London's West End were dimmed on Monday night as theatres payed tribute to US composer and songwriter Stephen Sondheim who has died aged 91. The composer and lyricist, famous for creating the musical Sweeney Todd, was described as one of theatre's "greatest geniuses" after his death on Friday.
Sir Cameron Mackintosh said the world had "lost one of its greatest and most original writers". The theatrical producer renamed his Queen's Theatre venue after the composer in 2019. During his illustrious career, he wrote the scores of some of Broadway's best-known shows including Company, Follies and A Little Night Music. He also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story.
In The Courts - Two ticket touts who made millions of pounds reselling tickets to theatre shows and gigs including Harry Potter and the Curs

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USA/Europe - Solotech, a long-time L-Acoustics partner, has extended its inventory. The company’s already substantial stock of L-Acoustics products now boasts a total of 56 of the newest L-Acoustics K3 compact line array cabinets, split equally across its North American and European operations. This investment will help the company to fulfil its ever-increasing 2022 commitments.
The new K3 is L-Acoustics smallest, full-range line source system to date and is designed for mid-size events. Its light weight and long-throw capability and extensive bandwidth make it an appropriate addition to Solotech’s inventory, allowing the company to propose new approaches, especially for theatre productions and for deployments using L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal technology, providing a cost-effective solution for projects requiring increased cabinet counts in smaller spaces.
“The glo

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Spain - Cyclists of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in BikeFest Spain 2022, a three-day fundraising ride from Valencia to the ISE tradeshow in Barcelona.
Taking place from 29-31 January, the route spans 360km along the Mediterranean coast and all proceeds will benefit live events, entertainment and AV professionals who have suffered financially due to the pandemic.
BikeFest has become a tradition in the UK in recent years, with cycling enthusiasts riding from various points in the UK to Olympia London in the build-up to the PLASA Show. Iin 2021, BikeFest, in partnership with #WeMakeEvents, raised funds for industry colleagues impacted by the pandemic and in support of the live events supply chain.
BikeFest 2022 will be in Spain in time for the ISE convention. Two industry charities - Backup in the UK and AAA in Spain - will benefit from the fundr

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Europe - Yamaha has partnered with Entourage Pro, the new free-to-join global networking platform for sourcing accredited production industry personnel.
Covering 140 professional freelance roles in a wide range of technical disciplines - including sound, lighting, video, staging, production management, logistics, catering, artist services and more - the platform has been designed to be a quick and easy way to connect personnel to productions (and vice-versa) for anything from a one-off show to a world tour.
Its directors, Joel Perry and James Stanbridge, approached Yamaha, “knowing that the company’s reputation for high standards, reliability, future-proofed technology and global reach mirrors the Entourage Pro ethos. Seeing the advantages that Entourage Pro offered, and keen to support the re-emergence of live entertainment, Yamaha was happy to become an official

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USA - Indie/emo band Foxing entitled their fourth studio album Draw Down The Moon. For the album release show at the Pageant theatre in St Louis, designer Gerry Dintleman reflected the mood of the music with a redolent, theatrical lightshow that drew on a collection of over 45 Chauvet Professional fixtures from the venue’s house rig as well as ten Nexus panels rented from Arch City AV.
“I wanted things to have this emotional power, with very dramatic highs and lows, using as little front light as possible, with the exception of specials,” explained Dintleman. “Since the album is called Draw Down The Moon, I added a moon gobo with my Ovation ellipsoidal for the backdrop. Overall, I just wanted to match the wide dynamics of the record and bring Foxing’s live show to a whole new level.”
Back, key and side lighting were critical to Dintleman’s p

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Japan - A classic concert took place recently at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Concert Hall, featuring Nobuaki Fukukawa. One of the world's most active horn players, he is also principal player in the NHK Symphony Orchestra and a major name in the orchestral world.
At this recent recital, Mr. Fukukawa had the clear desire to emulate his recordings from King Records and play the songs on it in the form of an eight-horn ensemble, by overdubbing himself.
Mr. Fukukawa and King Records consulted with Koichi Ishimaru, sound master at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and he suggested “treating the loudspeakers as musical instruments”. His idea was that Mr. Fukukawa should perform live on stage to create the one part while the seven remaining parts should be played back one by one through the surround speakers, with the recorded source created in Pro Tools.
However, this

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France - PlugFest, the technical event for entertainment lighting interoperability, returns to Lille in France from 29-31 March 2022 following a two-year hiatus. Organised by PLASA, the popular event welcomes manufacturers, developers and technicians from across Europe to test their products and learn about the latest protocols.
PlugFest is an opportunity for participants to collectively test and demonstrate device and system interoperability with the aim of improving reliability, resolving compatibility issues and ultimately improving connectivity between all entertainment lighting and related technologies.
The event’s expert hosts, Hamish Dumbreck (JESE Ltd), Peter Willis (Howard Eaton Lighting) and Wayne Howell (Artistic Licence) will host a series of workshops and technical break-out sessions and will also provide individual support and guidance. Attendees will

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The Netherlands - This year’s in-person edition of the broadcast and electronic media industry tradeshow IBC has been cancelled. The event was set to go ahead on 3-6 December at RAI Amsterdam, but a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the Netherlands has forced the organisers to change their plans.
The decision was made following visitor and exhibitor feedback and with the view to prevent people from travelling to the country in these uncertain ttimes. Instead of the in-person event, the organisers are set to use IBC’s online platform IBC Digital to bring the community together.
Peter White, CEO of the international trade association for broadcast and media technology (IABM), comments: “IBC exists for the industry only. Unlike other events, it is entirely owned by the industry and, thanks to its success over the years, has contributed a great deal through this struct

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Hard Times - One third of musicians were still earning nothing after restrictions on live events were lifted this summer, according to UK charity Help Musicians. The music industry is one of the last sectors to recover from the pandemic, it said, with 83% of professional musicians unable to find regular work. The findings are based on a survey of 929 musicians in August. Almost nine in 10 were earning less than £1,000 per month, and 22% were considering giving up music altogether.
Restrictions on live music were removed in England and Wales in July, and Scotland in August, after Covid had kept the live music industry shut for most of the pandemic. Help Musicians said it had seen a 60% increase in people getting in contact for mental health support, with one in eight saying they were experiencing a mental health problem that was preventing them from returning to work.

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USA - Ohio-based McFadden Sales is now the Midwest representative for Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers, subwoofers and amplifiers.
“Danley has a great reputation in providing high-quality audio in large venues,” says Andy Kerr, principal of operations for McFadden Sales. “Danley’s product line fits well with our sensibilities in the marketplace and among the other products we represent. Danley Sound Labs provides a technology niche we needed in our portfolio of products and is a great solution for big distributed audio and larger venues we serve.”
“We’re always excited to bring on new partners,” said Mike Hedden, chief steward in charge at Danley Sound Labs. “The McFadden Sales team is well known throughout our industry and we’re excited about the future of this relationship.”
As a Danley partner, McFadden Sales now represents Danley Sound La

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USA - The 2022 New World Rigging Symposium, produced by ESTA and USITT, will take place online 5-7 April 2022 whilst the USITT Conference and Stage Expo will take place in person early March. “We’ve heard from presenters and attendees alike that continuing the NWRS conversation virtually is the best choice,” say the organisers.
“The 2022 virtual symposium will allow the widest range of entertainment technicians to further their rigging knowledge, hear about challenging projects, get up to speed on new technologies, discuss current industry challenges, and get their questions answered by a host of subject matter experts.”
The three-day symposium will also include breakout rooms where attendees can get in-depth information from sponsors as well as virtual networking opportunities with attendees and presenters. The symposium will carry ETCP education renewal cr

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UK - The new fly tower at Theatre Royal Drury Lane has been dedicated to Unusual Rigging founder, Alan Jacobi, LVO (read Rob Halliday's report on the theatre's two-year refurbishment in LSi November 2021). Jacobi passed away in April 2020 and due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, a funeral was restricted to immediate family only.
But last Monday, in the company of 500 friends, family, colleagues and industry peers, Jacobi’s life was celebrated on the stage of the restored Theatre Royal with tributes from those who knew him during his early years, through to royalty and his closest friends and family members who were with him in his final days.
The plaque, unveiled by Jacobi’s wife, Peta, duri

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Europe - This month sees LED lighting solutions manufacturer Ayrton celebrate its 20th anniversary.
“When Ayrton was created, we didn't know at the time, but we were going to revolutionize the world of lighting with a totally disruptive concept, digital lighting,” says Ayrton founder, Yvan Péard. “Over the past 20 years we have created more than 70 extraordinary digital luminaires that are as innovative as they are effective. We are very proud of our achievements and the way we continue to lead the way, pushing technology and design to the limits. This year we are celebrating 20 years of passion, creation and design; 20 years of working with the world's greatest lighting designers, who have placed their trust in us to make the tools they want to use; 20 years of innovation to bring the wildest projects to life.”
Péard first brought Ayrton to life in 2001, nam

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USA - Spotrack has appointed Apex Technologies as its exclusive North American distributor.
Liam Feeney, CEO of Spotrack, explains: “When you take into account the far-reaching knowledge and experience of the Apex team, it’s easy to understand why we are so excited by the prospect of working with them in the United States. The North American market already has a highly distinguished Spotrack client base, and there is huge demand for our products into other market verticals. We are confident that we have found the perfect partner to help release the full potential of Spotrack for the benefit of the US entertainment production community.”
Bill Morris, general manager at Apex Technologies, adds: “Spotrack has developed some incredible technologies for follow-spot control that we haven’t seen here in the American market. The ability to interface with fixtures an

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Spain - Artists touring to Spain will no longer need visas for short-term engagements in a dramatic change to the current onerous rules. The change follows months of work from LIVE and the Association for British Orchestras (ABO), working alongside Spanish counterparts Asociación Promotores Musicales.
The development represents a significant boost for the sector which has, as a result of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, seen European touring become more expensive, more complicated, and more difficult to execute.
Visas have been a significant issue for Spain which, despite representing the fifth largest live music market in the world, posed the most costly and complicated visa application process across the bloc for artists looking to travel for short-term work.
Until now, artists and their promoters have had to make applications for short-term vi

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UK - AV and entertainment technology company Anna Valley has announced a restructure of the corporate group, changes to the leadership team, and the appointment of new staff in key positions.
The restructure will see subsidiary company Matrix UK Solutions become part of Anna Valley and the creation of new senior roles, including that of commercial director and director of events.
Anna Valley board member, Nick Hart, has taken on the position of commercial director and will assume responsibility for sales across both the event and venue markets, whilst Matrix UK Solutions MD Jamie Gaskins (pictured) has been made director of events at Anna Valley. Matrix was acquired by Anna Valley in 2018 but has continued to operate as a separate business within the group under Gaskin’s leadership until now. Anna Valley’s Robin Evans and Matrix’s Ben O'Shea will now both report

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Italy - Outline has announced a new strategic sales partnership with World Marketing Associates (WMA). With offices in the UK, France and Russia, WMA will be Outline's sales representatives for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
WMA’s Julian Young comments: “WMA are excited to be working with Outline. Over the years we have followed them and been extremely impressed with the groundbreaking technologies they have introduced.
“We will provide support and advice to the Outline distribution network as the world gradually reopens following the COVID pandemic, offering help to the distributors with their sales and marketing programmes. WMA will be an additional member of the Outline team, helping to grow and strengthen the business and relationships with the office in Flero.”
Outline CEO Giorgio Biffi remarks: “Our product range is the most comprehensive it

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Safety Concerns - COVID-19 safety concerns are preventing a significant proportion of previously frequent arts attenders from returning to cultural venues, newly released research has suggested.
Among audiences that have not yet returned to in-person performance, less than a third have booked tickets to a cultural event in future, underlining the crucial importance of COVID safety reassurance from venues, according to the joint research by the Insights Alliance, made up of consultancies Indigo, Baker Richards and One Further. The organisations have urged theatres to continue to employing safety measures such as mask wearing and COVID status certification, arguing that failing to do so is “counterproductive”.
Over a six-week period in September and October they surveyed nearly 11,000 people, who were frequent arts attenders before the pandemic. Of those surveyed, 45

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UK - HireHop, the company behind the cloud equipment rental software of the same name, has opened agent offices in Australia and South Africa.
Due to the ever-increasing number of HireHop users in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, it was felt as a necessity for HireHop to better serve their users by opening local offices to provide support, implementation and training, says the company.
Since its release, HireHop has grown in popularity, with not just large rental companies moving to HireHop, but also smaller ones, as HireHop also offers a free for life version, designed for small start-ups to help them grow their business.
HireHop was originally launched in 2016 in the UK to offer “future proof, powerful and affordable equipment rental software to hire companies all over the world”, and in that short space of time, it has attracted numerous large and

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Lithuania - Optocore has appointed Sonus Exsertus as its new Lithuanian distributor.
Founded in 2013, Sonus had approached the German fibre network specialists when they were looking for new solutions regarding signal distribution. “We immediately saw the potential in this partner, since fibre, in our opinion, is the future of signal distribution,” said head of business development, Ramūnas Alenskas.
With many premier global sound and lighting brands in its distribution portfolio, SONUS is a total stage technology supplier, with a customer base covering theatres, cultural houses, concert halls, conference centres, and many other applications throughout Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Georgia.
The addition of Optocore to its portfolio was an obvious next step. “We could see the unlimited possibilities in transferring any signal from point A to any other poi

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UAE - Lighting design consultants Foundry has confirmed confirm the expansion of its business to Dubai, building on the success of its London-based operations.
Due to a significant increase in demand for projects in the Middle East, Foundry now has a permanent Dubai presence to service the local community.
Jason Perks has been appointed by Foundry as the new director of the Dubai studio. He will be responsible for leading projects in the Middle East and other international regions, as well as being part of the strategic team to further develop and grow Foundry.
Perks comments: “Having previously lived in Dubai, leading major international brands throughout the gulf region and beyond. I am delighted to be returning to Dubai and growing Foundry’s presence in the Middle East.”
Foundry’s director Neale Smith adds: “We are delighted to have expande

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UK - Back in April this year, Martin Audio was honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its Wavefront Precision optimised line arrays.
Upon the announcement, Martin Audio MD, Dom Harter, had eagerly acknowledged the prestige of winning, fittingly during the company’s 50th year. He also revealed that Wavefront Precision arrays had become the company’s fastest ever selling line array format suitable for both installation and live sound applications.
Six months later Martin Audio was formally presented with the award, at a special reception held at their High Wycombe HQ, by Countess Howe, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. Also in attendance were Councillor Zahir Mohammed, chairman of Buckinghamshire Council, as well as Phil Dudderidge, executive chairman and founder of Martin Audio parent company, Focusrite - and all the staff
  1. L-Acoustics opens Singapore office, names APAC CEO
  2. Main Light adds Ayrton Perseo Profiles
  3. Production crew initiative gets industry support
  4. Audiologic appointed K-array specialist partner
  5. Halo extends Astera inventory
  6. SLX wins Commonwealth Games contract
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