Events

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14 March 2016

Here are some of the highlights from today's show:

World Class Exhibitors

Every year, PLASA London brings together the most important audio, lighting, video and staging companies, filling the show floor with a feast of exhibitors. This year is certainly no different, with more than 250 companies exhibiting. Looking around ExCeL London's first class exhibition space, we see companies like Robe, Clay Paky, Shure, Polar Audio, Autograph, SSE Audio, FBT, Philips Entertainment, White Light, Highlite, Chauvet, MA Lighting, SGM, Prolyte, A.C Entertainment Technol

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14 March 2016

Designed for 230v operation, the RAMA LED Fresnel combines the superior control and light quality of a Philips Selecon Fresnel but with added LED advantages. It provides an adjustable cone of light, has a soft edge and is easily blended with adjacent beams to provide even illumination.

A key benefit of the exciting new luminaire is that it is no longer necessary to change lamps and as a 3000K LED source, designers can use colour filters, in a similar way to a tungsten unit. It is also the ideal tool for general stage lighting as it has a smooth dimming curve and offers significant reductions in power consumption over traditional 1/1.2kW Tungsten Ha

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14 March 2016

A strong, safe alternative to 'home made' drop arms, which until now have been the only option for riggers, the system uses tried and tested connectors to give a SWL of 100kg and enables the safe and speedy rigging of luminaires from truss or fixed tubes or barrels. It also provides for a range of configurations to open up the possibility for highly innovative lighting design.

The Modular Rigging System uses 48mm diameter aluminium barrels in conjunction with a truss style conical coupling and is designed as two parts - Modular Drop Arms, which are single arms designed to be suspended with a coupler, and H-Frames, which can be suspended or floor-standing with tank traps.

Mark Chorley, desi

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14 March 2016

Since ETC began developing LED luminaires, the company has spent a lot of time experimenting with colour, inventing LED products whose colour capabilities go well beyond what is available on the market today. ETC has applied this expertise to the ColorSource PAR, which uses a proportionate blend of red, green, blu

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14 March 2016

Speaking at the ELC-Lighting stand, Silvio Cibien said, "Buddy has all the functions required to enable a user to get DMX out of their laptop at an entry level price. We feel that those taking their first tentative steps in the industry need to be able to experiment without the fear of doing something wrong, or losing all their work.

"The B

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14 March 2016

PSM300 introduces the clarity and precision of stereo, 24-bit digital audio processing to the PSM line, while still offering users the customised mix control for which PSM systems are renowned. The PSM300's two-tier entry-level/pro-grade control interface allows any user to get a personal monitoring mix up and running with speed and confidence, whether they're experienced engineers or new to IEM systems.

PSM 300 will be offered in two system configurations. The baseline PSM 300 Stereo Wireless Personal Monitor System includes SE112 Sound Isolating™ Earphones and delivers detailed 24-bit digital audio processing and reliable wireless operation over a range in excess of 90 metres. Shure-pa

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14 March 2016

Manufactured by Spanish audio company Equipson, founded in 1995 and based in Valencia, WORK Pro Audio products are aimed at sound reinforcement and live sound applications. Effective immediately, SDUK will be responsible for all sales and technical support for WORK Pro Audio products in the UK and Ireland, replacing all previous UK distributors of the brand.

Highlights of the WORK Pro Audio range include loudspeakers, amplifiers and DSP Digital Matrix products which provide a quality alternative for installation projects of all budgets. The most recent addition to the brand is the BlueLine Digital range, a cost-effective, modular

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14 March 2016

The donations come from people who bought the European version of the ETC iRFR or aRFR remote control app for their phone or tablet over the past year, all of whom had the choice of whether their money went to the US charity, or its UK branch, which until recently was called Light Relief.

Handing over a cheque to John Simpson, trustee of Behind the Scenes UK, ETC's CEO Fred Foster said, "Lighting can be easy to control using the ETC iRFR for iOS and aRFR for Android, but sometimes life can be more difficult. That's why we're pleased to continue to support the Behind the Scenes charity, which provides much needed support to our colleagues and their families when times are hard."

The apps - which turn any smartphone into a remote lighting controller -

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14 March 2016

"Riedel Switzerland provided us with seamlessly integrated solutions for video transport and communications, and the company's professional support not only enabled optimal use of the Riedel gear, but also ensured that the hundreds of volunteers and other professionals involved in the event were able to use their radio systems effectively," said Christoph Joho, marketing director of the Leichtathletik EM 2014 AG. &

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14 March 2016

The ever-popular awards, organised by The Society of Television & Lighting Design (STLD), The Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), Clay Paky and Ambersphere Solutions, was established to offer public recognition for outstanding achievements in touring, television and theatre lighting and video design.

Hosted by prolific and popular lighting designer for the theatre, opera and ballet, Mark Jonathan, the winners for each category were announced as follows:

Theatre

Dance: - Paul Keogan, No Man's

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14 March 2016

Green Hippo has chosen PLASA London 2014 for the launch of the Hippotizer v4. The company has taken the award-winning features of the Hippotizer v3, such as UberPan, Cross-Fade on Layer, Presets and Region Mapper success, and added new hardware and an array of key software features that will make the user experience better than ever before.

Raycom is exhibiting at PLASA London for the first time, using the show as a platform for moving into the live market. The company has built up an ex

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14 March 2016

Now in their second year, the Technical Theatre Awards (TTAs) were established to give due credit to the often unsung heroes and heroines that work backstage to make the theatre magic happen.

The winners are:

The Douglas Turnbull Award for Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management (Supported by Opera Holland Park)

Sharon Hobden

The Philips Entertainment Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting

Richard Rhys Thomas

The PRG Award for Outstanding Achievement in Production Management

Paul Hennessy

The Triple E Award for Outstanding Achievement in Flys & Rigging

Karl Meier

The Rigging Team Award for Outstanding Achievement

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14 March 2016

The Bursary is awarded annually to a student or recent graduate who has demonstrated strong, imaginative and creative lighting designs. It is organised by the Association of Lighting Designers, a professional body representing lighting designers in the live performance industry.

Northen was both a former Chairman and President of the ALD and the first credited lighting designer in the UK.

Each year an award of £500 is presented to a young lighting designer who has shown excellence in the field of lighting design. The project must be a performance-based lighting design in or out of the college environment. Two runner-up prizes of £250 each are also presented: an ETC sponsor

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14 March 2016

"PLASA 2014 was awesome in every way!" declared the Czech moving light manufacturer's CEO Josef Valchar.

"We welcomed an incredible number of visitors on the booth every day, we met a wide selection of innovative lighting and visual designers all showing a keen interest in our products, we saw representatives from most of the leading UK rental companies ... and winning the Innovation Award was the icing on the cake! We could not have asked for a better show - it absolutely rocked!"

As well as all of the above ... PLASA 2014 was special for Robe in many other ways.

The 1000sq.m Robe Arena was the biggest physic

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14 March 2016

Industry/exhibitor reaction to the show was positive. Richard 'Fez' Ferriday, brand development manager at Cadac observed: "We have a constant stream of serous visitors who have been really knocked out by the new features in the new version 2.3 operating software for the CDC eight. Surprisingly we have had a lot of theatre people on the booth."

Mercedes Stevao-Boase, marketing and PR at Green Hippo said: "AC Technologies has a great stand space. It's been really busy, lots of overseas visitors from Asia to Eastern Europe."

Karl Christmas, sales & marketing

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14 March 2016

Clay Paky's Chief Operational Officer, Pio Nahum, graciously accepted the Gottelier Award on behalf of his friend and colleague. The other nominees - Richard Belliveau, David Cunningham and Dr Christian Heil - withdrew from the running following the sad news. The lighting industry has lost a great character and a true pioneer.

Every year, PLASA recognises products that demonstrate progress, through attributes like a new style of thinking, an improvement in technical practice, new technology, materials or technique

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14 March 2016

Suzanne told LSiOnline: "Prior to the event I was quite overwhelmed to receive so many messages of support . . . doing this had clearly made people think, and some had even decided to do their own fund-raising, which is great. I also met one of the Macmillan ladies, Stephanie, who had been through cancer twice, and the way she faced it and embraced it was quite inspirational - I was in awe. I had bought a wig before-hand, but once I'd spoken to her and listened to what she'd

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14 March 2016

Following his death and as a testament to the huge respect 'Paky' had garnered over the years, the remaining Gottelier Award nominees, Richard Belliveau, David Cunningham and Dr Christian Heil, unanimously agreed to withdraw from the running.

Coming from humble origins the young entrepreneur Pasquale Quadri grew up in an extremely creative environment. The son of a magician he was raised in a small provincial Italian town. 'Paky' established Clay Paky in 1976 and in j

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14 March 2016

"It was another key opportunity to communicate and explain the strong solutions that AED can offer to AV Professionals, going from Rent and Distribution, through Lease, Second Hand, Store and even the AED Studios. As Master Distributor for respected brands, we were able to discuss how we provide training and product support to truly underpin our customers so they can concentrate on their key strengths."

HOG Factor, which was organised and hosted for the first time by AED Distribution

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14 March 2016

SEDA's Honorary President, Theo Loyla, told LSiOnline: "SEDA was involved with the formation of the British Association of Discotheque Equipment Manufacturers [BADEM - the forerunner to PLASA] following the demise of Ben Cree's DJ Magazine and National Association and associated Discotheque equipment exhibition. I remember SEDA organising the meeting at the Ski Club of Great Britain in Eaton Square, with the help of folks from Opti

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14 March 2016

With increasing requirements from event organisers to power events with a more sustainable, environmentally friendly approach, Firefly creates the appropriate renewable energy solution for any event, whilst significantly reducing fuel costs.

As an experienced and trusted supplier of affordable sustainable power, Firefly has been powering festivals and live events since 2007. Firefly provide turnkey low emission temporary power, technical and creative services. Working with festival organisers, from conception to implementation; Firefly provides power that doesn't cost the earth.

Andy Mead, director comments: "The 2014 summer season has been the company's best yet, as more and more events are

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14 March 2016

Says a statement from EnTEEtainment: "In the past two years since Festival Republic ended its involvement with the festival there have been a series of management restructures and operational changes at Glastonbury, which Dick feels leave his team unable to fulfil their role professionally."

Dick states: "I am extremely sad and disappointed that my concerns regarding the way certain elements of the festival are now being structured and managed are not being adequately considered and dealt with, and as

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14 March 2016

Fundraising kicked off on Sunday evening at the Knights of Illumination Awards Ceremony when Clay Paky's commercial director Pio Nahum presented a cheque to lighting designer Rick Fisher for Behind the Scenes UK. Pio explained to the large gathering that one of the last things approved by the late Pasquale Quadri was this generous contribution to the new charity.

On Monday afternoon, ETC's Fred Foster presented the cheque from the proceeds of the iRFR app which continues to provide an incredible income for the charity on both sides of the Atlantic. Tuesday saw Rosco's Mark Engel present a cheque for the proceeds from the sale of Roscolux Light

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14 March 2016

Speaking at the PLASA Awards for Innovation and Sustainability 2014, held on the penultimate day of the show, PLASA's CEO Matthew Griffiths revealed some of the changes for 2015, which will redevelop the scope and delivery of the event. Under the leadership of Christopher Toulmin, PLASA's Director of the Events Division, the show is being remodelled to become a PLASA Member-focused event: developments will include moving from four days to three days, introducing a new floor plan concept, expanding the education offering and i