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The Netherlands - Integrated Systems Events, the organiser of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), has issued a clarification as it seeks to differentiate its flagship trade show from industry events with similar monikers.
The organisation says in a statement: “There are some events in the pro AV and systems integration field with which [ISE] has no connection, including the AV Integrated Systems Expo Mumbai, or AV-ISE in a shortened format. ISE wishes to make this fact clear to its exhibitors and attendees to ensure that there is no confusion.
Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, comments: “We put a lot of time, resource and effort into creating a show experience at Integrated Systems Europe that is second to none. We trust that, when deciding whether to attend any given show, AV and systems integration professionals will look beyond the chos

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UK - Sennheiser Sound Academy training courses are now online for 2019. Designed for RF techs, AV integrators, sound engineers, designers or consultants, a wide variety of courses are now available including Audio for meeting rooms and Wireless Audio for AV Integrators held at Sennheiser UK in Marlow and Wireless Mics Monitoring Essentials, held at Stage Electrics in Bristol.
Run by Sennheiser’s Customer Development and Application Engineers (CDAE) team, the courses are aimed at both new and existing users and will provide the skills and confidence to operate multi-channel wireless systems, covering acoustics and electrotechnology, wireless mics and monitoring, antenna technology, microphone technology, frequency management and wireless monitoring.
Each course offers a combination of classroom training, which includes hands-on practical modules and eLearning. For ful

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UK - Pearce Hire has claimed the Best Power Supplier Award at the recent Event Production Awards (EPAs), held at Novotel London West on 19 March.
The company provides production services and dry hire to over 2,000 events each year and is set to work on projects including Lovebox, Forest Live series, Classic Ibiza, Detonate Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival and Equifest in 2019.
“It is a huge accolade to have even been shortlisted for an Event Production Award, as we have also been a finalist for a TPI Award and a Festival Supplier Award this season. But to actually win the EPA for Best Power Supplier was really the icing on the cake,” says Shaun Pearce, managing director, Pearce Hire.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and commitment our dedicated staff and crew put into our projects throughout the year, and a big thank you goes to every one of them.

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UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) hosted a Seeing is Believing event featuring leading video brands NovaStar, Prolights and Green Hippo, with nearly 80 delegates attending the training and demonstration day on 6 March.
Held at Production Park in Wakefield, the day provided specialist training for professional video users on NovaStar's award-winning LED display processing solutions, to get the optimum picture results out of video screens.
The products were demonstrated using Prolights' flagship OmegaPIX LED displays, which feature NovaStar's A8s card to deliver stunning image quality. Content was fed from a Green Hippo Hippotizer V4+ Boreal media server.
The event was geared for all levels of video user, from novices through to highly experienced professionals, and attended by rental companies, designers and AV installers from a wide range of se

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Killer Cure - The Killers and The Cure will top the bill at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival this June, it has been confirmed. They're among more than 60 acts joining this year's line-up, including Janet Jackson and Lauryn Hill. Stormzy had already been revealed as the Friday night headliner; while Kylie Minogue will play the legend slot on Sunday afternoon.
The Cure's headline performance is their first since 1995 and their fourth overall, meaning they tie with Coldplay as the festival's most-frequent headliners. The Killers previously topped the bill in 2007; while Kylie was booked for the top slot in 2005, before breast cancer forced her to pull out. The Prodigy had been booked to play prior to frontman Keith Flint's untimely death.
Survival Fund - An independent London music venue that has hosted acts including Arctic Monkeys, The Chemical Brothers, Adele and F

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China - LED video processors manufacturer Brompton Technology has opened a new China office.
Based in High Tech Industrial Park, Nanshan, in Shenzhen, the new office was opened in response to customer requests.
“At the first few meetings I had with potential customers in China, there were two immediate comments made,” explains Elijah Ebo, Brompton’s general manager (China). “I was told, ‘It’s nice to meet you, but we don’t speak English, so you’ll struggle to deal with us,’ and ‘London [where Brompton’s head office is located] is a long way away and the time difference is considerable. But if you had an office here . . .’”
In response, Brompton had employed two Chinese speaking field application engineers (FAEs) to help its customers with system design and technical support, whilst Elijah, who is also learning Mandarin, started to travel

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Indonesia - Acoustic Sound Image Integrated Solution (ASIIS Indonesia), distributor and system integrator of hi-end audio, LED, sound and lighting systems, has successfully staged promotional expos in three cities - Jakarta, Semarang and Surabaya.
ASIIS Indonesia under the leadership of Andy Mulya Sutikno is the organiser of the ASIIS NEX GEN Sound and Lighting Expo 2019, which aims to provide the latest technological updates on sound and lighting products. 
In this expo, ASIIS Indonesia exhibits many of the brands it represents, including Waves eMotionLV1, Audio Focus, ChamSys, Minuit Une and VMB Lifts.
During the Waves session, Ebenhaeser (sound engineer and Waves specialist) and sound engineer Tommy Utomo explain the benefits and technology of the eMotionLV1, a revolutionary live digital mixer.
During the ChamSys session, Tommy Hartono (lighting desig

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UK - dLive specialist reseller A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) is hosting free certified training on Allen & Heath's digital mixing consoles range in April.
Taking place on 24 April (Wednesday) at AC-ET's office in Leeds, attendees will learn how to harness the full power of the dLive range from qualified engineers assisted by AC-ET's dedicated audio sales division - and will end the day with certified dLive engineer status.
The training session will provide a hands-on introduction to the full range for audio professionals working in touring, broadcast, prestige installations, theatres and corporate events.
The event begins at 9:30am with tea/coffee, gets underway at 10:00am, and finishes at approximately 3:00pm. A buffet lunch will be provided, plus a tour of AC-ET's facilities. Registration details at www.ac-et.com/audio.
(Jim Evans)

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South Africa - Team Robe T1, consisting of Paul Newman of Lucidity Technical Production Services and Mike Hewan, a seasoned pro, will be competing in the 16th edition of the Absa Cape Epic challenge hosted from 17-24 March. Both local and international mountain bikers will confront the tough eight-day adventure through the Western Cape Region in South Africa.
For the third consecutive year, Robe Lighting and DWR Distribution have stepped in as sponsors, the team named after the T1 series of LED bases moving lights, a fixture that can be used for theatre, television and touring applications and also be connected to the Robe RoboSpot remote follow spotting system.
As the owner of Lucidity, a busy Johannesburg based technical supplier, a draw card for Paul Newman is to get out on his bicycle and leave life’s troubles behind, even for just a few hours. “We all need som

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USA - Orlando-headquartered Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) has opened an office in New York to support its expanding customer base in the region. The announcement was made by general manager Jim Van Winkle.
“PWS has been very active in New York City since we opened our doors,” explains Van Winkle. “We have a tremendous customer base that continues to grow exponentially. Being able to provide local support and service with a trained, experienced professional is going to be a win for everyone involved.”
The New York office is headed up by RF technician Don Kuser, who has been working as an RF coordinator since 2012. His experience includes TV studio projects throughout Manhattan, working on area awards shows and in the fashion production industry.
“This is a very exciting opportunity as I have been a huge fan of Professional Wireless Systems since I

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UK - Throughout 2019, UK lighting control manufacturer Zero 88 is running a photo competition, #WhatMatters, which is open to anyone working on a production, project, event or installation which involves Zero 88 products.
There are 10 categories in which participants can enter an image: Architectural & Commercial Installations, Corporate Events, Broadcasting, Performing Arts, Concert & Touring, Attractions, Educational, Worship, Rental and Multipurpose Venues.
“At Zero we love highlighting the work of our clients and end-users and so the #WhatMatters competition evolved with the idea of enabling people to share some of the best elements and magic associated in creating experiences and delighting audiences, says Zero 88 product manager Jon Hole.
“We’re excited about this chance for people to capture those moments and in some cases also demonstrate th

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China - Alongside Chinese New Year, the legal formalities associated with the establishment of the new d&b audiotechnik subsidiary in Greater China were completed.
On 31 January 2019, 44 co-workers in Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai officially joined the newly established d&b audiotechnik Greater China Group. The three-member advisory board has also been completed. Daniel Chan, managing director (CEO) of d&b audiotechnik Greater China Ltd. says: "As the setup has been completed officially, we are all pleased to be able to support the d&b Greater China partners and customers even better in their quest for best professional audio solutions."
d&b Greater China, the ninth subsidiary in the global d&b family, has been active in the market since 6 December 2018. The co-workers and management of the new venture are already well versed in the

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USA - Yvonne Ho and James Lamb, longtime partners in Point Source Audio, have announced the formation of Wider Pro, a new company to support their distributed lines that serve the broadcast industry. Based in Petaluma, California, Wider Pro will be the company to represent North American distribution of Digigram, AuviTran and other brands to be announced.
Point Source Audio will continue to handle all facets - manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing as well as service - of its microphone and headset products for all markets including the broadcast sector.
Point Source president James Lamb comments, “I have worked with the teams at both Digigram and AuviTran for almost two decades, and with the pending announcements of new products from both companies, we will be equipped to move into the next phase of growth under the Wider Pro company.”
Yvonne Ho adds,

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UK - Backup’s first event of 2019, the inaugural Bike-Fest takes place 18 May, a day of two-wheeled action and fun for all levels of rider to raise funds for the industry charity.
For the more hardened cyclists, including the lycra-loving ‘Mamil’ (Middle aged man in lycra), there is a glorious 100km ride through the Sussex and Surrey countryside, which will take in much of the famed Olympic and Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 route, including Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey, and the famous Box Hill Zig Zag.
Whether you’re riding as an individual, with friends or as a company Peloton, this will be a great day out to sport your finest padded shorts, have an excuse to shave those legs and pack as many bananas in your cycling top as possible.
For the less lycra inclined, there is also a 50km route, again taking in much of the lovely Surrey countrysi

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Rising Prices - Members of the House of Lords have expressed concern over the rising cost of West End theatre tickets and called on the government to investigate. Peers debated the issue in the House of Lords after the latest ticketing survey found the cost of top-price seats increased by nearly a fifth between 2017 and 2018.
Liberal democrat peer Patrick Boyle, who tabled the debate, asked the government to address the cost of theatre tickets in London and the effect this has on theatregoers. “The main beneficiaries of these higher prices are not so much the producers of the plays and musicals, but rather those who control access to theatres: the theatre owners, the ticket sellers and the discredited secondary ticket market.
“London theatres are already becoming too expensive for many regular theatregoers and I hope the government will take this issue very serious

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Europe - AVIXA reports that there are now 1,000 AV professionals with a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certification in Europe.
“This marks a significant milestone in AVIXA’s development in the European market,” said Chris Lavelle, senior director of development Europe, AVIXA. “The AV market is flourishing in the region, and we are thrilled that many industry members are committing to professional development. CTS holders across Europe are reaping the benefits of their hard work, with the programme allowing dedicated AV professionals to stand out from the crowd and prove their expertise.
“We would like to congratulate all our CTS holders for achieving this hard-earned credential, and we look forward to seeing them utilize their knowledge to deliver outstanding integrated experiences.”
(Jim Evans)

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UK - Green Hippo has been visiting Backstage Academy and providing Hippotizer training for a number of years now, during which time it’s seen the education facility grow from strength to strength.
Therefore, when the Academy decided to hold a dedicated Green Hippo Week recently, in which 10 first year students and six second year students participated, the manufacturer provided maximum support by sending senior product specialist, Lanz Short, along for the duration.
Under the tutelage of him, and Backstage Academy’s course leader in Live Visual Design & Production, Graham Thorne, the students were tasked with producing a project - a show, performance or event - resourced with all the ingredients that they might have expected in a Masterchef kitchen.
These ranged from Notch, Maya and Isadora software platforms, while in the hardware domain Hippotiz

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UK - Harman’s UK distributor Sound Technology is bringing the company’s latest performance audio and lighting products at a showcase on 27 March (Wednesday) at the Islington Assembly Hall in London.
The event is aimed at venue operators, rental and production companies, engineers and designers.
Delegates can hear the new JBL VTX A8 Series line array system, which has been installed by the host venue. The demos are taking place at 12.30pm and 4.30pm.
Meanwhile, those interested in lighting can attend the Martin by Harman showcases at 11am and 3pm, which will feature the new ERA 300 Profile (modern day LED successor to the much-loved MAC 250), the now-shipping ELP Series LED Ellipsoidal fixtures, the MAC Allure Profile creative fixture with P3 technology, plus the award-winning MAC Encore Wash, MAC Encore Performance and JEM Glaciator Dynamic.
In additi

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USA - The work of rock‘n’roll photographer and author Neal Preston is coming to the USITT show, taking place on 21-23 March at the Kentucky International Convention Centre in Louisville, KY courtesy of The Lightpower Collection.
Preston’s pictures will be displayed in the Behind the Scenes stand #1253 and his books Exhilarated & Exhausted and In the Eye of the Hurricane will be available for sale. Posters, including his famous images of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant, will also be available for just $10 each. Sales of books, posters and prints will benefit the Behind the Scenes charity.
The photographer will be present in the Behind the Scenes booth to sign books and posters on Thursday and Friday from 12-1pm and 4-5pm.
Preseton’s client list is a virtual who’s-who of rock royalty and his archive is regarded as one of the music indus

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UK - Eaton has announced it will pursue a spin-off of its lighting business in order to create an independent, publicly traded company.
The transaction is set to complete by the end of 2019 and would create one of the largest global lighting companies.
Included in the spin-off are UK brands Zero 88, iLight and Greengate as well as Eaton’s global airport lighting business and mains lighting and intrusion systems operations. The Crouse-Hinds Industrial Lighting business and Life Safety Division’s emergency lighting product lines in Europe, the Middle East and Africa will remain with Eaton.
According to Eaton Lighting Systems MD Simon Sparrow, the move “better positions the lighting business to respond to evolving industry and customer needs; enables Lighting to compete more effectively across its diverse end-markets; and enhances Eaton’s ability to focus

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UK - Flare is a busy and successful UK-based event lighting, visuals and technical specialist which was established by designers Ben Cash and David Amos in 2008. The company has invested heavily in Astera’s battery powered wireless LED products in the last 18 months and has over 100 x AX3 LiteDrops in stock which are used in a multiplicity of ways on most of their projects.
Ben Cash explained that they originally started looking at the very compact AX3s to use as table centres - covered by an opaque dome - for the assorted corporate and gala dinner events that they supply. This is an application for which they needed a great looking, reliable and long-lasting LED product that was battery powered and could be easily wirelessly operated. The AX3s proved a perfect solution.
Ben and the team also soon discovered that the AX3s could be used elsewhere at events and gigs, f

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Sweden - Professional intercom solutions supplier Pliant Technologies has appointed Visono Media AB as its new distributor in Sweden.
Visono Media, a dealer and distributor of popular professional audio products, serves customers within a range of industries, including broadcasters, rental companies, theatres and sound production facilities for TV and film.
“We have more than 20 years of experience working with traditional intercoms and Pliant Technologies’ CrewCom is a groundbreaking intercom system with its advanced RF and networking capabilities,” says Jan Westling, co-founder of Visono Media AB. “CrewCom’s increased coverage and flexibility are main selling points for our customers. CrewCom is extremely intuitive and easy to use, which helps productions of any size adapt to changing user counts and personnel.”
Visono Media represents various pro

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UK - BECTU, the media and entertainment union, has launched a comprehensive set of standards for the live events industry to fight for better working conditions for its members in the sector.
The campaign comes as more than three quarters (76%) of BECTU members in the live events sector felt pay in the sector needed to be improved by setting minimum rates. A further two thirds (69%) of respondents named long hours as their biggest concern in their roles, followed by almost half (46%) reporting lack of crew welfare facilities and one in three (30%) expressing concern over health and safety.
Workers - often freelancers - who undertake contracts at entertainment events, festivals and conferences as lighting technicians, sound engineers and live events crew have reported widespread mistreatment including long hours, no breaks, bullying and harassment, says the union.

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Japan - French LED lighting manufacturer Ayrton has appointed PRG K.K. as its exclusive distributor for Japan.
A subsidiary of Production Resource Group (PRG), PRG K.K. is a leading production service provider for the entertainment industry. Its core markets include concert tours, theatre, TV, theme parks, commercial and education facilities, whilst among its clients are event organisers, promoters, and TV and theatre producers.
Jerad Garza, international sales for Ayrton, comments: “We are delighted to welcome PRG K.K. as our new partner in Japan. Their energy and approach to the market combined with their customer focus and Ayrton’s philosophy of ‘Smaller, Lighter and Brighter’ is a great fit, and we cannot wait to see positive things happening.”
PRG K.K.’s Yuji Tanaka adds: “We chose to become an Ayrton distributor because their renewed focus on
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