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Events

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UK - A new ranking developed by Leeds-based events specialist AYRE Event Solutions reveals the events capitals of the UK, with London taking the top spot.
The new ranking is based on the number of large event facilities in the city, successful Business Event Growth funding applications, the number of major events held in the location, percentage of corporates and associations which chose the location for events and finally the total number of events related jobs available in the area.
Unsurprisingly, with 60 large event facilities across the city, London takes the top spot across all metrics but is closely followed by Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. The top 10 locations in the UK for events as revealed by the new study are: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Leeds, Belfast and Brighton.
AYRE managing director, Chris Ayre

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UK - Lance Show & Publications Limited, organiser of The Showman’s Show has confirmed that the event will be held at Newbury Showground from 20-21 October 2021. The government setting out a roadmap to steadily ease the current lockdown and a tentative date of 21st June for all restrictions to be lifted has provided a much-needed boost to the outdoor event sector and prompted a string of exhibitor bookings, say the organisers.
Johnny Lance, event director of The Showman’s Show said: “The unveiling of the roadmap was the positive news that we’d all been waiting for. As publishers of the Showman’s Directory, we’ve seen a surge in event organisers getting in touch to confirm dates for their 2021 events and we’ve been busy updating the website. It’s also been wonderful to see so many high-profile events receiving national media coverage as they announce that t
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UK - A new charity fundraiser is aiming to galvanise the support for live event industry professionals in need by making donating as easy as sending a text message.
Launched by the #WeMakeEvents campaign, Texting ONETWO is a text donation initiative, the proceeds from which will directly benefit entertainment technology charity Backup. Anyone who wishes to make a one-off donation can text the words ONETWO followed by the amount they wish to donate, to 70085. To donate £5 for example, you need to input ONETWO5.
The campaign has been backed by several prominent musicians, including The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, who stated: “Everyone who works in production in theatre or live music needs to be recognised and given support in these trying times, so join us in helping them.” Frank Turner, Biffy Clyro, Enter Shikari, Katherine Jenkins and James Bay are also among the

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UK - Event Concept has appointed Adam Stanley to the role of managing director at the company. Stanley will succeed founder Mark Beaver and assume responsibilities immediately. Beaver, who established the firm in 1994, will remain within the business in an advisory capacity.
Stanley joined Event Concept in 2013 as a producer. Working on some of the companies most prolific events, he held roles as account director and most recently, commercial director where he presided over three years of growth.
Mark Beaver comments: “I was delighted to ask Adam to take over as managing director - Adam has an unwavering passion for client satisfaction and delivering truly memorable event experiences and I’m thrilled to see where he takes the business next. Under Adam’s leadership, I know our fantastic team will be supported, encouraged and excited for the next chapter of Event C

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Europe - Integrated Systems Europe 2021 will not take place in an in-person tradeshow format this year, with a series of regional events set to be staged instead, the organisers have announced. The decision was taken due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and the global travel restrictions.
The four-day show will be replaced by ISE Live & Online, a series of local events to take place in Barcelona, Munich, Amsterdam and London.
“We have reached this decision following extensive discussions with our exhibitors over the last few months, and more explicitly, these last 10 days,” comments Integrated Systems Events MD, Mike Blackman. “All along, there has been a clear demand for a four-day ISE show in Barcelona in June. However, uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and international travel remains, which means we are unable to run ISE 2021 in its traditiona

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UK - The team behind theatrical reveal system at Electro Kabuki HQ has witnessed glimmers of hope turn into resurgent interest from companies in the events and theatrical sector. New enquiries from organisations in Europe, the Middle East and the US are seen as ‘green shoots’ that are indicators of renewed optimism and increasing confidence in the industry’s ability to recover.
New enquiries include interest from a company in Norway looking to acquire its own Electro Kabuki system having rented the intelligent reveal technology in the past. The company is planning a tour later this year. Other quote requests have landed from the United Arab Emirates and from the United States.
In addition, the team at Electro Kabuki has recently packaged a full demonstration system and despatched it to the Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam. While a long-term Electro

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UK - The Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers (ISCVE) has announced two online seminar presentations for its Annual Members’ Day. The online seminars are open to ISCVE members and non-members and will be presented by leading AV industry and Audio industry figures following the ISCVE’s annual general meeting.
The first presentation, taking place online on 10 March 2021 2:30-3:15pm, is titled AV Over IP using NDI and will be presented by Liam J Hayter, senior solutions architect EMEA, NewTek. The presentation will be taking a look at how NDI AV over IP technology can deliver next generation AV solutions, from meeting rooms to auditoriums, to TV studios and video conferencing.
The second presentation (4:00-4:45pm) is titled Brexit and the implications for our Industries and will feature presentations from Andy Simmons, UK & Eire sa

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Finland - Genelec is supporting the female creative collective She Knows Tech (SKT) in its first-ever online conference, the She Knows Tech Summit. Taking place from 5-8 March and coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Summit is open to everyone, regardless of their gender identity, and is packed with masterclasses, workshops, panels and networking events covering music production, audio engineering, music technology and more.
Budding musicians, producers, engineers, songwriters, artists, and multi-faceted creators are all welcome to the Summit, where they will learn how to take total control of their artistry, from songwriting and performing, to production and engineering.
SKT CEO and founder Jasmine Kok comments: “Our core mission is to close the music industry’s gender gap and to dispel the notion that women are not interested in music production and

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UK - SLX, technical supplier to theatre, broadcast and live events, will support and supply Surrey-based Guildford School of Acting (GSA) with its ambitious spring season, which is set to see a total of six live productions across two venues, all available digitally by booking at https://gsauk.org/events.
The Production Arts Centre (PATS) is set to host Hamlet, An Image of an Unknown Woman and Red Velvet in March and will be supported by professional lighting designers Jo Town and John Rainsforth. The events are available digitally by booking at https://gsauk.org/events.
The Bellairs Theatre, located in the Ivy Arts Centre at GSA on the University of Surrey campus, is also due to have a busy spring schedule with a production of Titanic the Musical with final year BA Musical Theatre students, Babe the Sheep Pig performed by students un

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USA - Registration is now open for the New World Rigging Symposium (NWRS), produced by ESTA and USITT, which will take place online 6-8 April, 2021. The NWRS provides a virtual opportunity for riggers and those interested in the entertainment rigging industry to network, discuss current issues and new technologies, and help shape the future of the industry. The cost has been reduced to $99 and the symposium carries up to nine ETCP education renewal credits for re-certification.
Participants will be given a range of opportunities to further their technical knowledge in sessions on video wall rigging, automation and motorization, performer flying and rescue, and types of ropes. They’ll have a chance to learn about how the installation of a tension grid is working in a major facility, to get their questions answered by a panel of the industry’s most knowledgeable structural

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UK - In 2020, the first #ILoveLive prize draw raised £546,000 for the charity Stagehand helping music and road crew in desperate need. Launched this month is #ILoveLive 2, featuring more prizes from artists, promoters, venues and festivals.
Artists involved include Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Iron Maiden, Muse, Spice Girls, Simple Minds, Passenger, Fleetwood Mac and many more.
David Stopps, Ian McAndrew and Tom Schroeder, alongside Andrew Lenthall and Mike Lowe from Stagehand, began the #ILoveLive Prize Draw campaign to help raise funds for all the music stage and road crew in the live music events industry that have been affected by the pandemic.
David Stopps said: “When I heard about the tenth suicide among stage crew in late August, I knew I had to do something. Stage crew are not only suffering great financial hardship but most are also experiencing

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UK - The UK government is being urged to recognise the “human and economic devastation” inflicted by the pandemic on the live events supply chain as part of a new awareness campaign launched by #WeMakeEvents this morning.
The Government Can’t See Us, Can You? unveils the devastation the pandemic has wrought on the live event supply chain as told through the stories of industry professionals. The movement has issued an open letter to Rishi Sunak asking the government to support out-of-work individuals and businesses and engage with the sector to develop a re-opening plan and a government-backed COVID-19 cancellation insurance.
The initiative is also calling on the public to join the conversation on social media by using #GovCantSeeUs and by writing to their MP.
Al

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UK - PLASA, the association for the live entertainment technology industry, and the ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) are pleased to announce a collaboration that will bring the 2021 editions of both the PLASA Show and the ABTT Theatre Show under one roof from 5-7 September at Olympia London.
For 2021 only, this partnership between the two established associations aims to reduce pressure on the exhibition calendar as the industry’s eco-system recovers from the impacts of the pandemic and will bring the broad sector together for one landmark event.
As previously planned for 2020, PLASA Show 2021 - for this year with the ABTT Theatre Show - will debut at Olympia’s largest hall, the Grand. The ABTT Theatre Show will run in its own defined space, retaining its unique identity, and celebrating the ABTT’s 60th anniversary. The spacious Grand hall will

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World - Following the recent announcement of Virtual Showlight 2021 which will take place online on 25 May, 2021, Showlight is renewing its Call for Papers from speakers keen to be a part of this inaugural event.
Showlight has always centred on its fascinating programme of papers, delivered by lighting practitioners from around the world. Determined to uphold the spirit of the popular quadrennial event despite the global restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Showlight will treat its delegates to a day of talks and networking opportunities online that give a flavour of the full event.
Submit your ideas
The organisers are therefore issuing a fresh call for papers to anyone involved in lighting - be they lighting designers, lighting directors, directors of photography, architectural lighting designers or associated crafts like programmers and manufac

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UK - The Media Production & Technology Show, scheduled for May 2021, has been postponed until next year.
The event will now take place from 11-12 May 2022 back at Olympia and for the first time will be held in the National Hall.
The decision to move the show a full 12-months and reschedule into May 2022 has not been taken lightly, say the organisers. It has been made because of continued questions about the rest of 2021 and the possibility of hosting large scale events, as well as the availability of venues and other industry events already booked into the latter part of this year.
Additionally, with some form of social distancing and limitations on public gatherings likely to be in place for some time to come, organisers decided that its customers and partners would need time to reasonably plan and invest in the event to maximise their attendance at the sho

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UK - Artists including Sir Elton John and Radiohead are putting pressure on the government to resolve the problems around post-Brexit EU touring. UK artists will face red tape and fees for visas to play in some EU countries.
Sir Elton John told The Guardian: "Either the Brexit negotiators didn't care about musicians, or didn't think about them, or weren't prepared."
But Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage said the government had "pushed" for a solution and the door was still "open". She told MPs on Monday that the government had put forward a "very straightforward" plan to allow musicians to travel without work permits, drafted "in consultation with experts from the UK to creative sectors". She added: "Quite simply the EU rejected this proposal."
Brussels has previously argued the opposite, saying it was in fact the UK that turned down its offer.
Mean

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World - Following the postponement of Showlight 2021 which had been set to take place this May in Fontainebleau, France, its organisers have announced that a one-day Virtual Showlight will be held in its place “as a temporary interlude”. The live online event will take place on Tuesday 25 May 2021 between the hours of 15.00 – 23.00 BST. The date coincides with the final day of the original event and the time has been chosen to best accommodate a global audience.
Virtual Showlight will host an online presentation of papers, each up to 30 minutes in length, from international keynote speakers, plus a live Panel Discussion. Q&A sessions will follow each paper with delegates able to message their questions via the chairperson.
The remainder of the time will stay true to the spirit of Showlight with scheduled breaks between sessions providing opportunities for d

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UK - On Tuesday 2 February, #WeMakeEvents gave evidence during the DCMS select committee inquiry into the future of UK festivals. The campaign’s political group leader Duncan Bell detailed the ongoing challenges faced by the live events and entertainment industry.
When asked if there is a problem with people leaving the industry due to COVID-19, he stated: "Freelancers have been forced to find work elsewhere. In a recent survey of 2,800 people over 30% of freelancers said they have had to leave the industry, and 20% say they hope to come back but are very unsure whether they are able to because of the lack of certainty." #WeMakeEvents is currently verifying the data from this survey and will be publishing the full report in the coming weeks.
One of the central aims of #WeMakeEvents is to get government-backed cancellation insurance for events, and follo

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Europe - The organisers of Integrated Systems Europe 2021, scheduled for June in Barcelona, have set a 1 March deadline for making a decision as to whether the physical event will go head.
ISE managing director Mike Blackman remains hopeful that the show will go on. However, in his most recent statement, in view of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic and continuing travel restrictions, he remains guarded.
“Following the announcement that the InfoComm 2021 show will now take place in Orlando in October 2021, we want to confirm that Integrated Systems Europe, remains scheduled to open live and online on 1-4 June in its new home at the Fira, Barcelona,” says Blackman.
“Whilst we recognise there continue to be challenges ahead, we are in touch with government and the relevant health authorities to constantly monitor the situation. None of us can predict

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UK - Leading trade associations have backed a campaign to keep UK’s VAT rate on ticket sales at 5% to aid the live events sector’s recovery.
Last July, the government temporarily slashed the VAT rate to 5% from the standard rate of 20% to support businesses severely affected by the pandemic. The cut currently applies until 31 March 2021.
#KeepVATat5, initiated by LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), aims to convince the Treasury to extend the VAT rate cut for the next three years and comes ahead of chancellor Rishi Sunak’s hotly-anticipated budget announcement on 3 March.
“With the budget approaching, we must act now to convince the chancellor to #KeepVATat5,” says LIVE in a statement. “Of all the industry’s asks from government currently, keeping the VAT rate on tickets at 5% for the next three years will make the single biggest i

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UK - Independent Venue Week 2021 (25 - 31 January) has announced the full schedule for its eighth edition, which will take place digitally this year due to the on-going pandemic. Over 141 virtual events are set to take place across more than 110 venues around the UK that have all signed up to take part by playing host to performances, ‘In Conversation’ interviews, panel discussions with industry professionals, and the official IVW Quiz hosted by Duglas Stewart of BMX Bandits.
The week will also see the online premiere screening of On The Road with Independent Venue Week, with a live Q&A hosted by BBC 6 Music. The feature-length documentary, which counts Funktion One and Universal Pixels amongst its supporters, was filmed over two years with Philip Selway (Radiohead) and goes to the heart of independent music venues across the country, meeting

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USA - Harman Professional Solutions has confirmed its line-up of special sessions and product spotlights for the 2021 NAMM Believe in Music Week, taking place now.
“Harman Professional Solutions is pleased to be taking place in this historic event while helping to elevate our industry by supporting musicians and industry professionals who have been deeply affected by the pandemic,” said Frank Joseph, senior director, North America Marketing, Harman Professional Solutions. “We are thrilled to bring together a premier line-up of industry leaders and Harman experts to discuss the future of music creation, event production and live performance. Although this is an unprecedented format, we’re confident we can deliver a rich and engaging experience for our customers and partners at NAMM 2021.”
The sessions, featuring in-depth interviews and Q&A with leading ex

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USA - Meyer Sound will participate in the 2021 NAMM Believe in Music Week virtual show this week, where the company will debut two original content sessions, share product resources, and schedule one-on-one meetings with NAMM attendees.
“Meyer Sound has seen great success from the NAMM Show over the past few years as it is a great place for us to showcase our products suited for this audience,” notes Meyer Sound director of global marketing Tim Boot. “Although we are unable to connect with our customers in person during this time, we are grateful that we have this opportunity at the virtual NAMM show to share what we have been working on over the past year, including a new variant of our best-selling loudspeaker and a new solution for the post-production and residential markets.”
The virtual booth will feature product information about the award-winning ULTRA-X

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Germany - Prolight+Sound, along with a number of other trade fairs planned for April and May in Frankfurt this spring, has been postponed until April 2022.
A statement from the organisers says: “Back in September 2020, a decision was reached by Messe Frankfurt and the industries involved to forgo any physical events at our home base in the first quarter of 2021. Now, following close consultation with customers, it has become necessary to postpone the international physical trade fairs planned for April and May – Prolight+Sound, the International Consumer Goods Show, Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess – as a result of the regulations and travel restrictions that have been imposed.
“There is currently no end to the pandemic in sight. Events are effectively banned in Germany, and ongoing international travel restrictions mean that it is impossible to make any t
  1. L-Acoustics backs Believe in Music Week
  2. Powersoft schedules webinar for D-Tools
  3. Calls for insurance scheme intensify in industry letter
  4. Crosstown & Stabal live the stream
  5. Absolute Events supports Starry Night fundraiser
  6. Report outlines strategy to restart live music industry
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