"We will be making a few changes to the layout of the showground," said organiser Stephen Lance. "These are in part being made to accommodate increased demand for space and partly to make the show more effective for visitors and exhibitors. Even after all these ye
"We are in the enviable position of simply having no space left to sell, but the applications are still coming in," says Cordelia von Gymnich, vice-president of Communications & Leisure Fairs for Messe Frankfurt, co-organiser of the show with Intex Shanghai and the China Musical Instruments Association (CMIA). "It is unprecedented to have a waiting list for a debut international event in China. The overwhelmi
From its now established base at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London, the ABTT Show continues to underline its role as a key event for the theatre industry. Well over 100 exhibitors from across the wide spectrum of supplies and services were at the show, drawing in over 2,500 visitors.
Before we get down to brass tacks, a quick mention of the Dinner, staged on the first evening, at which Major Sir Michael Parker, famed for his work on such events as the Royal Tournament and more recently All the Queens Horses, was the guest speaker. During the dinner, Andrew Bruce of Autograph Sound collected a Lifetime Achievement Award; Nick Wade, chief electrician at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, was handed Technician of the Year;
Vari-Lite’s VL1000 won Lighting Product of the Year; AVW’s Impressario stage motion control
The format of the AGM has changed gradually over time, and has for some years included an industry dinner event at the close of the day. Last year, a series of ‘Break-out’ meetings were held for the first time, providing valuable discussion and feedback on a number of topics.
The aim of the Association Day is to gain further advantage from the opportunities offered by having a large contingent of PLASA members, plus the PLASA Executive Committee and head office staff, together in one place. Rather than concentrate on the AGM itself - a legal formality - the emphasis has now been shifted f
Don’t miss out! For tickets and further information, contact Mikaela Fenton-Jones on +44 (0)20 7370 8207.
The first - ‘Gobos for Light Relief’ - is encouraging as many PLASA exhibitors as possible to use Light Relief coloured glass gobos as part of their on-stand demonstrations. "Visitors will be confronted by a large projection of the logo at the front of the hall as they arrive", explained Tony Gottelier, co-founder of Light Relief. "The idea is that by encouraging exhibitors to participate, visitors will see the same image repeated all over the exhibition - we need to raise awareness of Light Relief and this is set to make a huge impact."
The idea is sponsored by Apollo Design Technology, the Indiana-based manu
Two highly-trained, athletic teams will be competing for the much-coveted championship cup, as PLASA & Clarion Events take on the might of the Sound & Lighting Industry. Come along and watch them battle it out as Clarion & PLASA fight to regain the cup after their defeat against the Hayden Labs Audio team last year.
The match will take place in the idyllic setting of Littlewick Green Cricket Club, Berkshire. The full 50-over match is scheduled to begin at 1.30pm, with tea at 4.15pm followed by the second innings before the BBQ and prize-giving kicks off at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the post-match barbecue are a bargain at £5.00 each. If you would like to attend the BBQ and for dir
Being the first opportunity for the A.C Audio division and its suppliers to meet the industry face to face, the tradeshow was also something of a milestone in the history of the company. As most UK entertainment technology shows are held in London or the south of England, the A.C Lighting tradeshow provided a rare opportunity for professionals in the North of England to see the latest technology from specialist lighting and audio manufacturers represented by A.C Lighting. Specialists from each participating manufacturer were on hand to give technical advice on products and applications, and a large number of the visitors took advantage of the hands-on demonstr
L&SI has arranged an exclusive backstage tour of the Palladium Theatre where you can meet with those who worked on the production and see first-hand how some of the more complex effects in the Show have been achieved. Following the tour, you'll have a chance to network with industry colleagues at an L&SI-hosted reception where you can talk further with members of the creative
ProLight+Sound Shanghai is supported by several national and local cultural and trade associations as well as government bodies, including th
The facility features a unique one-room office and shipping/receiving area that enables all departments to easily interact; the two-story atrium is over 8,000sq.ft and embodies the spirit of teamwork at TMB. The facility’s 32ft high warehouse contains over a half-mile of small parts racking, plus enough space to house over 1,000 pallets on a VNA (very-narrow-aisle) pallet racking system, which utilizes a digital, wire-
Pioneer can be found on stand D40
For more information regarding either workshop
The events, production managed by ClearChannel, featured Blue, Darius and the talented Sugar Babes amongst the artists, with Gareth Gates closing the show, much to the delight of the 25,000 strong crowd. The central stage was 15m wide, 12m deep and 10m high with a stage height of 1.8m. Each stage was constructed in its ‘Vista’ layout with screamers or 'ego-platforms' extending in front of the screens which were set back to improve audien
Tim Roffey of Unusual was given the task of finding a way of getting the bridge up to the 4th floor gallery. Although it couldn’t fit into the goods lift on the level, there was a possibility that it might fit in if loaded into diametrically opposed corners. A ground support was built inside the lift using mini-beam truss. Using manual lever hoists attached to the temporary grid, the exhibit was gently coaxed into po
July 31 saw the official opening by Her Majesty the Queen at a Gala organised and choreographed by Torvill and Dean. The crowds gathered to enjoy an evening packed with music, ice-skating and celebrations, featuring Nottingham Symphony Orchestra, the local ice hockey team and the world's finest figure skaters, including two Olympic Gold medallists, plus local skaters. The evening began with a demonstration of the skating skills of local children, followed by speeches from the Lord Mayor of Notting
The rental division of Allen & Heath's distributor for Vietnam, Nguyen Hoang Co Ltd, supplied the sound reinforcement system for several major events during the 12-day festival. Both 32-channel GL3300s were first used for the opening ceremony, which centred on a 600 square metre stage in Ngo Mon Square. One o
Over 4km of sunset orange carpet, a staggering quantity of drapes and starcloth, custom-built scenery, 140kW of Turbosound PA and tens of thousands of fairy lights converted the Three Mills car park and three main film studios into a stunning spatial wonderland. Blackout’s project manager, Kevin Monks, collaborated with Faceparty’s Dave Bamforth to realise Bamforth’s creative ideas, before the Blackout team dressed all four themed dance areas of the vast site.
For the Veranda a
The first session Freelance Rates - Due for Review? will focus on the current rates of pay for freelancers, which over the years have shown a downward trend in real terms, and will be led by a panel of industry professionals on both sides of the fence. The second session, Discounting Rental Rates: Is it Economic Madness? will look at discounting in rental markets, and how companies may be devaluing the services they provide in their attempts to undercut competitors. Once again, the panel will be drawn from those who deal with these issues on a daily basis.
The Freelance Rates session will take place on Monday 9 September at 3pm in the Westminster Room on the Mezzanine L
This year the PLASA Show is celebrating its 25th year, and it’s something we’d like to share with as many exhibitors and visitors as possible. So, we’re hosting a PLASA Party on the evening of Sunday 8th September at 'The Bridge' (underneath London Bridge) - one of London’s newest venues, to which everyone is welcome. The all-inclusive tickets are just £50.00 (plus VAT) and include a champagne reception, buffet supper and all you can drink. Not to mention the chance to dance until late.
For further information call Mikaela Fenton-Jones on +44 (0)207 370 8207.
The Association will have a major presence in the New Technology Gallery on the Top Deck, as part of the central feature area of the Show, which focuses on the products nominated for the PLASA Awards for Product Excellence.
PLASA ensures that the money raised from the awards is fed directly back to the industry by donating the proceeds to a number of charities allied to the markets it serves.
As part of this initiative, PLASA is once again sponsoring the first 15 applicants to complete the PLASA BTEC Award.
The General Theatre Technician course was first run as a pilot at Loughborough College in June 2000. Course development had been paid for via a European Social Fund grant, with the AETTI playing a major role in the course’s development and delivery. Following the delive
Then we had more input on the audio elements. Among those whose stress levels were noticeably higher round Jubilee time was Hand Held Audio’s Nick Bruce-Smith, who had the onerous task of organizing the incredibly intricate licensing arrangemen
IBC - 13-17 September, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Leading broadcast technology event. The show covers all the key areas of the electronic media business including audio, cable, film, grip, internet, lighting, multimedia, production, post production, radio, satellite and transmission. An accompanying conference tackles all the technical, management and creative issues.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 6909 www.ibc.org
World Lighting Fair - 3-5 October, tokyo, Japan
World Lighting Fair is the showcase for the latest products serving the entertainment industry. It covers technology serving the stage, TV, film, attractions, retail and events sectors.
Tel: +81 3 3706 5687 www.wlf.co.jp
AES, New York - 5-8 october, los angeles, USA
AES conventions always feature a full programme of technical papers, seminars and workshops
The first session Freelance Rates - Due for Review? This discussion should prove to be a lively debate on the current levels of freelance rates, which over the years have shown a downward trend in real terms. With many rental companies naming their daily rates, how can those who actually do the work and keep said companies successful lobby for more money? Should there be a flat rate according to role? Who should take responsibility for change? Will rental houses come unstuck by causing their crews to form a union-style body, or should they take the lead and move things on themselves?
Chaired by L&SI technical editor James Eade, the panel will include Mark David-Gray of BECTU and freelancers
