UK - Martin Audio’s programme of biannual open days - designed to coincide with the busy spring and end of summer exhibition seasons - is set to continue over three days this September (6-8).
This year they have expanded the mix to incorporate three other brands from parent company Focusrite Group showcasing a portfolio of relevant products from Focusrite Pro, along with its start-up commercial audio brand, Optimal Audio and the recently acquired Linea Research.
Each brand will have its own dedicated presentation time, and in the case of Martin Audio visitors will again have the opportunity to hear the design theories behind ranges such as Adorn, CDD, Torus and Wavefront Precision, before getting to listen to them as they are put through their paces.
Another change this time around is that delegates only need to register for a day pass (rather than a session pass), giving them greater flexibility on what they want to take in.
MD Dom Harter states, “Our open day programme is a consistently evolving event and it makes sense to share the stage with our sister brands. We hope that anyone planning to visit London for the PLASA Show will also build this into their schedule as a follow-on showcase.”

UK - This year’s Gottelier Award nominations have been announced, with voting now in process. Named in memory of renowned industry innovator and commentator Tony Gottelier, this special award recognises the invaluable contributions of the people behind the products.
LSi readers, registered PLASA Show visitors and PLASA members are eligible to vote for the Gottelier Award. The recipient of which will be announced during the PLASA Awards for Innovation ceremony at PLASA Show on Monday 5 September. The nominees for the 2022 Gottelier Award are:
David Edelstein – Managing Director of Triple E
David Edelstein, founder of Triple E, invented the Loose Pin Hinge in 1984 after spotting a huge gap in the market. The product went on to receive an ABTT Product of the Year award and has since inspired many imitations. David went on to design and launch UniTrack in 1988 which is now found in theatres, opera houses, cruise ships, and film studios around the world. Since then, Triple E has won five Product of the Year awards in the UK, as well as the Rigging Award for ChainTrack at LDI 2021. And since 1998, David has designed variable acoustic systems which are now staples of Triple E's product range.
JB Toby – Technical Director of Avolites
JB Toby joined Avolites in the late nineties and focused on developing the dimming range which put Avolites in a powerful position in the live touring market. In 1999, JB spearheaded a team and launched the Art 2000 dimming range which is now a well-known product in the live entertainment, film a

UK - PLASA Show has just announced its seminar and workshop programme which will run at Olympia London from 4-6 September. Sponsored by Vectorworks, the programme is packed with technical talks, creative presentations, and industry panels – each with a firm eye on the future of live events and entertainment.
Pre-registered visitors can take advantage of the free-to-attend programme across all three days of the show. The first wave of programme sessions is now available to view on the PLASA Show website. Read on for initial highlights:
Plenty of PLASA-hosted business sessions will run, helping you understand the latest legislation changes. These include EcoDesign and RoHS with PLASA and ETC, Stop changing channels; radio spectrum with BEIRG, Brexit update with PLASA and Live, and SIC codes: Government recognition and the viability of our sector with White Light and the Department for International Trade.
Creating an inclusive workforce with Hannah Eakins from Production Futures, Jas Parekh from Production Futures, Koy Neminathan from Avolites, Amy Kerr from Robe UK, Ollie Jeffrey from Royal Albert Hall, and programmer, arranger, and production manager Terry King. The panel will share thoughts on how the industry can attract diverse, young talent. Elsewhere, another panel will discuss Safety and security at large-scale events, particularly during this time of crew shortages.
Celebrating 20 years of TAIT Navigator, led by TAIT’s Jim Love. This session will present case studies from live entertainment spectaculars s

UK - On stand B34 at this year’s PLASA Show, TechLED’s will showcase the latest must-have effects lighting ranges from Abstract Lighting alongside the innovative Desk Dough product that enables a projector to act as an intelligent lighting fixture. TechLED specialises in the supply of robust and reliable effects lighting products for the price-conscious installer or rental company.
The TechLED stand will platform the attention-grabbing Candi Blox unit from Abstract. Candi Blox delivers one of the most sought after looks of the moment via a five-by-five array of high performance, mix-at-source, multi-chip LEDs. Configured as a central array of 25 LEDs with an edge halo effect surround featuring a further 20 LEDs, Abstract’s Candi Blox is a 200mm x 192mm ‘square’, IP-20-rated, RBGW LED lighting system. Precision manufactured in the UK, the Blox is robust as well as efficient, drawing just 5V for a 15W output.
With a variety of lens options available, Candi Blox can be truss- or surface-mounted and is operated via Duplicator 4, Duplicator 6, or even a proprietary smartphone or desktop app.
Abstract’s Candi Bar will also feature. The product packages up to six Candi Blox together as a standalone fixture taking the six-way unit to a height of two metres. Candi Bar is a versatile fixture, suitable for a live stage, television, bars and clubs and mobile DJs.
Also on stand, Abstract’s XLite Pro, a freestanding, two-metre-high, LED lighting system which exudes a beautifully blended peripheral light. XLite Pro features high performance, m

UK - Exhibiting at this year’s PLASA Show (4-6 September, Olympia London) on stand D3, Data Strategy will demonstrate their cable and electrical safety workhorse, the QC-Check workstation, as well as some of the QC-Check’s most popular add-on modules, including VeriCal, PowerCheck LOLER inspection and SimplyPATS integration software.
Embedded as part of the warehouse process – with integration realised for most equipment hire software - Data Strategy’s QC-Check provides practical safety inspection solutions that allow hire companies and venues to simply fulfil statutory requirements (including PAT testing). Simply put, QC-Check ensures electrical appliances and equipment are always safe to use.
As a networked, multi-user application that controls Out Board’s PAT-4 (single or 3-phase in 16A, 32A & 125A ratings) to deliver PAT, CABLE and RCD testing required by UK & international electrical regulations, QC-Check systems are installed in major film studios; rental companies both large and small (PRG, Creative Technology, Adlib, White Light and Entec); various theatres including the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre, and recently, via Aggreko, into the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where four units were in place to test all cables and power distribution systems ahead of the Games.
QC-Check’s PowerCheck add-on module tests the individual outputs of a distribution box. The PowerCheck RCD-t distribution box allows a single connection to a distro’s Socapex outputs, so each output is tested individually and PowerCheck c

Europe - It’s less than 10 months until Showlight 2023 and preparations are gathering pace for this premier networking event. This will be the first in-person Showlight for six years and excitement is building rapidly as plans are made and diaries blocked out.
Exhibitor stand bookings are underway with many confirmations already in place. The first exhibitors will be announced in the coming weeks. Those who wish to exhibit should contact John Allen at the soonest opportunity as places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. Don’t miss your chance to be an integral part of Showlight 2023!
There are plenty of opportunities to become a Showlight sponsor – whether you choose to exhibit or not. Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorships exist alongside specific sponsorship for aspects such as hospitality, transport, welcome drinks, speakers or students, and many more to suit all budgets – you could even suggest your own idea. Again, these sponsorship roles will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and all enquiries should be made to John Allen who will furnish the full details.
With Fontainebleau the location for Showlight 2023, it is especially fitting that our headline sponsor for this year is French lighting manufacturer, Robert Juliat. We are also grateful to the following sponsors who are already in place: Platinum sponsor, Ayrton, Gold sponsors Eyetidy, Robe, SFL, Silver sponsors ABTT, ACT Entertainment, Altman, CAST, Christie Lites, White Light and Bronze sponsor, PRG. We are proud to have LSi as our Media Part

USA - Danley Sound Labs, in partnership with McFadden Sales, is hosting a large-scale demonstration on Thursday, 18 August 2022 at the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church’s Mill Run campus in Hilliard, Ohio. This event follows two prior successful large-scale demonstrations in Rockingham, North Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Danley Sound Labs is about creating an audio experience,” said Skip Welch, director of marketing and sales at Danley Sound Labs. “We want prospective customers and partners to hear our products. We believe Danley products provide the highest quality audio experiences on the market and simply saying that does not do justice to the experience.”
Andy Yost, principal and director of sales adds, “We at McFadden Sales are excited to partner with Danley Sound Labs to bring these experiences to customers in the Midwestern United States. These ‘road show’ demonstration events allow us to share the quality that Danley Sound Labs can provide to churches, clubs, venues, stadiums, and touring productions in and around this region.”
Demonstrations will take place on Thursday, August 18th from noon until 7:00 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience Danley’s latest loudspeaker, the J8-94, as well as a host of other loudspeaker and subwoofer products ranging from the popular BC215 subwoofer to the SM80 loudspeaker.
In addition, attendees will be able to experience the newest series of Danley products: the Tom Danley Signature Series. This series of products is built specifically for the home theatre and hom

UK - The deadline for entries for this year’s PLASA Awards for Innovation is fast approaching. Those wishing to enter products for this year’s awards are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, with the deadline for entrants to enjoy maximum publicity being Friday 5 August. After that, entries will be accepted until Wednesday 17 August but will miss out on key marketing opportunities associated with the awards. PLASA Show 2022 exhibitors, PLASA members and non-exhibitors are invited to enter their products to be in with a chance of winning one of the coveted awards.
Organised in association with LSi, the awards celebrate innovative products from across the live entertainment technology industry that can demonstrate a new style of thinking, improve technical practice or safety, introduce new materials or techniques, or offer a new commercial advantage.
Each successfully entered product will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts who have the authority to present up to eight awards of equal standing, plus a potential Gold Award for an outstanding new product.
An Award for Sustainability is reserved for a product that can demonstrate a significant reduction of power, utilises renewable energy, or has a positive impact on the environment.
All nominated products will be showcased in the Innovation Gallery at PLASA Show 2022, and will also be featured year-round on the virtual Innovation Gallery. Products can also benefit from exposure in LSi, both in print, online and across social media if submitted by the deadline of Friday 5 Augu

UK - #WeMakeEvents invites keen cyclists from across the events and entertainment industry to sign up for BikeFest 2022, which will take place on Saturday 3 September.
Together, the BikeFest team will raise funds for Backup – the technical entertainment charity, which helps industry peers during times of ill health and financial hardship, and other #WeMakeEvents-supported charities. Starting at SFL’s headquarters in Reading to a destination in London, BikeFest will also kick off the PLASA Show as it returns to Olympia London from 4-6 September.
Now in its sixth year, BikeFest began as a 100-mile cycle to PLASA Show to raise awareness and funds for mental health in the industry. With the pandemic, this need became ever more relevant. Since 2020, #WeMakeEvents campaign has been instrumental in expanding the BikeFest event in the UK, and for the first time this year, in Spain.
PLASA’s managing director, and #WeMakeEvents steering group member Peter Heath, says, “We’re proud that #WeMakeEvents continues to champion what our incredible industry is all about, whilst raising important funds for our colleagues in need. BikeFest has grown year on year and is a great example of our industry’s community spirit. I look forward to seeing you on the road as we fly the flag for live events and entertainment!”
BikeFest 2022 offers two routes to choose from. A relaxed 40-mile route will traverse roads, gravel paths and the occasional field, through the Berkshire countryside, along the river Thames and into Surrey, heading east toward London. This

Finland - Leading creatives and lighting practitioners including Mikki Kunttu, LeRoy Bennett, Christopher Bauder, Ola Melzig and Ralph-Jörg Wezorke are set to speak at Music x Media: Light & Shadow Seminar, taking place on 28 September at Tampere Hall, in Tampere, Finland.
The event forms part of celebrations around the 30-year career and 50th birthday of lighting designer Mikki Kunttu whose resume includes work for Cirque du Soleil, Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Boston Ballet, Tero Saarinen and the Finnish National Opera.
Running from 9am-6pm, Light & Shadow welcomes professionals and students alike to gain insight into the artistic processes of top professionals. The day will be hosted by Ola Melzig, as Kunttu explains: “There are very few technical producers around the world with such a mind-blowing resume. Ola is well connected and a well-known figure throughout the industry after 15 years of working as a head of production for the Eurovision Song Contest in various European countries. Ola’s latest masterwork was taking the world by a storm with American Song Contest.
Kunttu and Melzig will be joined by keynote speakers including LeRoy Bennett (Paul McCartney, Prince, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Rammstein and The Weeknd); Christopher Bauder (WHITEvoid, Dark Matter Berlin) and Lightpower founder, Ralph-Jörg Wezorke.
Founder of Seven Design works, Bennett regularly delivers unforgettable moments for live concert tours, Super Bowl half-time performances, stadium shows and special events for film and TV. “It

UK - PLASA is offering a generous discount for micro-businesses to exhibit at PLASA Show 2022 when it returns to Olympia London from 4-6 September.
For one year only, PLASA Show Introduces will showcase small yet exciting businesses right on the show floor, in a dedicated zone alongside 150+ renowned brands in entertainment technology.
In addition to the reduced cost of exhibiting, micro-businesses will also gain six months of PLASA membership. As a PLASA member, you’ll join 400 companies and individuals who have access to a comprehensive suite of business services, discounts on LSi advertising and exhibiting, plus a global community of like-minded professionals.
To be eligible, your company must have five employees or less and must not have exhibited at PLASA Show since 2015 (i.e., since the show moved to Olympia London).
Micro-businesses that exhibit in the ‘PLASA Show Introduces’ zone will be provided with a shell scheme stand, complete with lights, power, and furniture. This ready-to-go package means minimal planning and minimal cost.
PLASA Show Introduces stands are extremely limited, so you are advised to get in touch immediately to avoid disappointment via +44 (0)1323 524 120 or eventsales@plasa.org.
Find out more

UK - Tramlines festival returns to Sheffield’s Hillsborough Park from 22-24 July 2022, delivered by independent production company Method Events
This year’s event builds on the success of the award-winning Tramlines 2021, which was one of very few festivals to go ahead as a pilot event under the government’s Event Research Programme last year.
For this year, the team at Method have planned a record-breaking event for 2022, which sold out its 50,000 capacity faster than ever before. The five-stage event will host a line up including headliners Sam Fender, Kasabian and Madness.
As a Sheffield festival that is deeply rooted in the city, there is a continued effort to make use of as many local suppliers and staff as possible, ensuring the event continues to bring significant economic benefits to the wider community. Tramlines has donated £103,000 to 20 charities since moving to Hillsborough Park in 2018. In addition to this, the festival has offered 300+ volunteering roles to students and local residents, including work placements through Sheffield Universities, and a collaboration with Hillsborough Primary School.
Hillsborough Park has also reaped the benefits of continued investment from the festival, with funds generated by Tramlines contributing towards new roadways which improve park access.
Among the local suppliers Tramlines has partnered with for 2022 are Arena Group, Banner Plant Hire, DJB Recycling, EST, Local Scaffold Services, Nine Hundred Comms, Sound of Music, Steelshield, Trans European Site Services, Usual Suspects an

UK - Truck Festival, the Oxfordshire-based music festival founded in 1998, returns to Hill Farm from 22-24 July 2022.
This year, the festival features a number of new elements. It is also supporting UN Women UK’s #SafeSpacesNow campaign to tackle harassment and ensure all who attend have a safe, inclusive experience.
Truck Festival’s alignment with the #SafeSpacesNow campaign will see increased welfare provisions on site, including ‘guardian angels’ offering support to attendees, and training for festival staff to respond appropriately to sexual harassment.
UN Women UK will have a safe space set up on site which will provide advice, support and information to anyone who needs it. The festival has also published the Truck Ethos, a code of conduct that encourages attendees to “look out for each other, respect each other, look after our home, and go at your own pace”.
For 2022, the festival has improved and expanded upon many aspects of its production. Additions include a new main stage structure delivered by Star, a Stage Two which is now 30% bigger, a full video and delay package on the main stage, and a new glamping field. The Saturday of the festival will see a greater amount of production delivered for its headliners than has previously been used across the whole weekend in previous years.
The festival will also see an increase in attendance, having won a new licence in November 2019. Previous editions have been capped at 20,000 attendees, but in 2022 the festival quickly sold out 25,000 tickets.
The new licence permi

UK - A line-up of tech industry leaders and frontline operators in technology sectors will share their expertise at Edinburgh’s Turing Fest this month, set to take place at the EICC in Edinburgh 27-28 July.
Up to 1,000 attendees from around the globe are attending the conference, which brings together some of the leading practitioners in the tech industry with founders and leaders of start-ups and scaleups. As well as a line-up of talks and sessions, delegates will be able to join a Lunch & Learn session and happy hour hosted by leading customer engagement platform Twilio, speed networking, welcome and closing parties and more.
Maria Gutierrez, VP engineering strategy and operations at Twitter said: “You can pack so much into the two days at Turing Fest. The blend of disciplines; the quality of both speakers and delegates; the parties, dinners, and general networking: all add up to a fun and deeply informative and motivating few days. And then, of course, there is Edinburgh itself: the perfect backdrop for such an insightful and inclusive international event.”
Subjects to be discussed across the two-day event range from Building Security Into The Beginning Of The Development Cycle to Engineering A Growth System, How to Stay Motivated When You’re In It For The Long Haul and The Trade-offs of Bootstrapping v Raising Funding.
Turing Fest founder and CEO Brian Corcoran says: “Edinburgh is one of Europe’s best cities to build a start-up in, not least because people in tech here are open-minded and always

Germany - Industry forum AVnu Alliance hosted its first European plugfest in recent years at one of its Registered Test Facilities, GRL Laboratories in Karlsruhe, Germany on 16-20 May, 2022. Twelve AVnu member companies with more than 30 participating engineers came together to further develop and test TSN products and devices, along with new devices now able to be certified under the Advanced Milan Certification Programme.
During the plugfest AVnu members continued work on the integration and validation of IEEE 802.1AS time synchronization test development, with the certification programme targeted to open for members this year. This work will lay the framework for time distribution, including media specific support for Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
Plugfest testing also included the introduction of initial Wireless TSN test development over Wi-Fi, as well as the introduction of initial 802.1Qbv/.3br wired test for bounded latency through traffic shaping and scheduling with the certification program targeted to open for members by the end of this year. Data from this plugfest event will be used to refine these test plans.
This plugfest was the first since the Milan Advanced Certification Programme opened certification testing for bridged end stations, pro audio end devices with a small bridge that meet Milan specifications. AVnu members with those devices were welcomed to participate with their devices and will be invited to future plugfests.
“Our most recent plugfest demonstrates AVnu’s continued momentum and growth in making pre-certification an

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians’ Annual Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 22 June, after the first day of the 2022 ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace, London.
Engineering Product of the Year: XM Automation’s XMove
Sound Product of the Year: Clearcom’s Arcadia Central Station
Lighting Product of the Year: Robe’s T11
Widget of the Year: CallQ’s Showcaller Training Software
Stand of the Year: Prompt Side
Technician of the Year: Daniel Ewing
Award for Emerging Excellence: Kat Ellis
Virtual Ideas Platform, Idea of the Year 2021: Matthew Dean
Additionally, commendations were made for d&b’s 5d amplifier, ETC’s Eos Apex, Whirly Reeler and trackingThis’ plug-in.
The next ABTT Awards will take place on the evening of 7 June 2023 at the 43rd ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace.

USA - Mental Health First Aid Training Classes for July, August and September 2022 are now posted on the Behind the Scenes website at btshelp.org/mhfa.
The course is delivered in two parts. The first is a two-hour self-paced online course that must be completed prior to a six-hour virtual live instructor led session. Go to btshelp.org/mhfa to learn more and to select the date and time you wish to attend the virtual live session. Classes are being offered 18 and 19 July, 15, 16 and 21 August and 12, 18 September. On completing the course you will become a certified Mental Health First Aider which is valid for three years.
The registration fee is $125. IATSE Members and those working under IATSE agreements may be eligible for Training Trust Fund reimbursement on proof of successful completion of the course. A limited number of partial and full scholarships are available to individuals not eligible for reimbursement. Private group classes of 15 -20 are available - contact mhfa@btshelp.org for information. Training for Canadians is available through the AFC at this website.

UK - Rise, the advocacy group for women in the broadcast media technology sector, has announced that entries are open for its annual Rise Awards with the introduction of two new categories, Ally of the Year that honours men who have been supportive of striving to achieve gender diversity, and Business Operations of the Year, celebrating an individual who excels at making sure the workforce and clients are happy and the business is reaching its targets.
Submissions and nominations are encouraged from across the global broadcast media technology audience to showcase talent across the industry whether in a manufacturer, service provider, engineer or broadcaster role.
The awards are free to enter and nominations will close on 18 August, with a drinks events at IBC to announce the shortlist. The awards will be held in partnership with BT Sport and Timeline on 10 November at BT Sport Studio, with graphics being provided by Moov and drinks by EMG.
Entrants can be nominated, or they can nominate themselves. All applications will require statements on the nominee and why they are relevant for the award. The judges, across the categories, are looking for the best demonstration of exceptional achievement, innovation, positive impact, and the ability to fulfil the criteria.
For more information about the Awards and to submit nominee applications, please visit: www.risewib.com/awards
The categories include R&D Engineer (sponsored by Ateliere Creative Technologies

UK - Robe enjoyed a successful ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) show at Alexandra Palace in London, a highlight of which was the company’s win in the Lighting Product of the Year category of the ABTT Awards for its T11 fixtures.
Robe’s new stand design in the main exhibition hall featured a selection of the latest Robe and Anolis brand technologies and ran in tandem with a black box demonstration area downstairs where fixtures were shown ‘in situ’. RoboSpot workshops were also running downstairs throughout the expo for those keen to expand their knowledge of this powerful and versatile system.
The show proved to be a hub and meeting point for theatre creatives and practitioners working in all sectors, and “a fantastic opportunity to get kit in front of people in-person again,” explains Robe product and theatre specialist, Dave Whitehouse. “We saw many good-quality people all with a huge enthusiasm and appetite for new tech - and using it - as they get back to work.”
The ABTT Awards are one of the organisation’s flagship events, acknowledging those people and products making a difference to the industry.
The secret panel of ABTT judges - an array of experienced and influential theatre practitioners, consultants, and engineers - assessed all the Awards entries on the first show day and made their choices.
They stated that the T11 “fills a void in the industry offering not only a new LED fixture, but also addressing the industry-wide challenge of developing sustainable technology. The units are compac

UK - PLASA Awards for Innovation 2022 are now open for entries. Organised in association with LSi, the awards celebrate innovative products from across the live entertainment technology industry that can demonstrate a new style of thinking, improve technical practice or safety, introduce new materials or techniques, or offer a new commercial advantage.
PLASA Show 2022 exhibitors, PLASA members and non-exhibitors are invited to enter their products by 5 August (Friday) to be in with a chance of winning one of the coveted awards. 
Each successfully entered product will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts who have the authority to present up to eight awards of equal standing, plus a potential Gold Award for an outstanding new product. 
An Award for Sustainability is reserved for a product that can demonstrate a significant reduction of power, utilises renewable energy, or has a positive impact on the environment. 
All nominated products will be showcased in the Innovation Gallery at PLASA Show 2022, and will also be featured year-round on the virtual Innovation Gallery. Products can also benefit from exposure in LSi, both in print, online and across social media.
The winners will be revealed during a ceremony during the PLASA Show on the Monday, 5 September.
The 2021 winners included: Astera for PixelBrick; Chauvet Professional for Maverick Silens 2; Copper Candle for Bonestream, Copper Stream and Cue29; EM Acoustics for R10; Glensound for Divine and LANG for its CarbonBlack Technology.
F

UK - The Power of Events has launched a website to promote its activities: www.thepowerofevents.org
The not-for-profit organisation aims to unite interested parties from across the core sectors of the UK events industry and includes a taskforce (in which PLASA takes part) and action groups dedicated to research, skills, digital, content, comms, infrastructure and governance, and the next generation. It has evolved from the One Industry One Voice coalition, which was set up in July 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis, with The Power of Events set up in April this year.
Rick Stainton, founder of The Power of Events, comments: “We have always felt that we had to be impactful, clear and content led, mapping out and signposting the UK events industry in an inclusive way across the seven core sectors. Showing everyone what how this is developing is really important to us, so we can now get feedback and suggestions ensuring the main hub is designed by the industry, for the industry.
“The support we've had from all levels of organisations and industry communities to date has been humbling - including reaching over 70% of the £100,000 start-up target fund to date, so this is just a taste of what’s to come.”
The splash page, which can be found at www.thepowerofevents.org includes some revised video material to give a taste of the core ambition for the main comms hub. “Obviously by its nature the splash page is quite static but we wanted to give everyone a sense of how dynamic the main hub could be. We all work in a truly creative indus

UK - The Immersive Experience Network has held its inaugural Live Experience Summit, bringing together over 150 creators of immersive and interactive experiences to debate the future of the sector.
The Immersive Experience Network has been established to support creators making new work, developing audiences and growing financially sustainable companies. The Network’s strategy is centred around encouraging collaboration by building a community of creators, facilitating knowledge-sharing and undertaking research to grow the sector.
The community includes genres from across the immersive sector, including immersive theatre, scare attractions, escape rooms, Location based VR/AR, experiential art, immersive audio, Live Action Role Play (Larp), themed attractions, Alternate Reality Games (ARG) and transmedia experiences
The inaugural summit, held on 31 May, included a session on the topic of commercial strategy for immersive, where Farouk Deen and Mark Sarfo from Nexus made the case for private investment and Meri Mance and James Sinclair-Smith from Mance Communications discussed testing the market with PR, whilst James Seagar from Les Enfant Terribles spoke about the benefit of being agile and being able to move between performance mediums in order to make a profit.
There was a session on finding venues for site-specific shows with contributions from Bertie Watkins and Charlotte Potter from Colab who spoke about their experiences finding and running venues for immersive theatre. Meanwhile, David Ralf from Theatre Deli spoke about their work an

UK - Theatres Trust has unveiled details of its 2022 conference. The event will take place under the banner of Theatres Fit for the Future and be held on 11 October (Tuesday) at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London.
Theatres Fit for the Future will explore what the new post-COVID ‘normal’ looks like and what this means for the way theatres are designed, adapted and operated. The conference will bring together a mix of speakers and case studies, alongside opportunities for discussion and sharing of best practice.
Sessions will feature theatres that are exploring new business models to ensure they not only survive but thrive in this new environment, looking at how they are generating new income streams and finding different ways to engage with their audiences and communities, and developing partnership approaches to increase resilience and impact.
Architects and practitioners will imagine what a truly inclusive theatre might look like, that takes account of everyone’s access and cultural needs. Theatre operators will share their innovative practices to ensure their buildings are welcoming to all.
The conference will also return to sustainability, the topic of last year’s event, which generated a lot of positive feedback. This will include the latest developments on the Theatre Green Book, including the recently released Home Survey Tool which helps theatre operators create a prioritised plan to reduce their building’s carbon emissions.
Theatres will also share their experience of investing in carbon reduction m

USA - The Meyer Sound stand at InfoComm in Las Vegas pulled steady crowds throughout the show.
“This was our first major trade show presence since early 2020 and it was a great feeling to welcome back all the dealers, customers, and associates we’ve known over the years,” says director of global marketing, Tim Boot. “When the live event industry suffered setbacks during COVID, the installation market remained surprisingly strong for us, and we were happy to show our appreciation with hospitality through the show.”
Making its major trade show debut at InfoComm was Meyer Sound’s new Panther large-format linear line array loudspeaker.
A major focus at InfoComm was Meyer Sound’s exclusive IntelligentDC technology, which uniquely combines the installation advantages of low voltage distributed systems with a level of performance possible only with self-powered loudspeakers.
“IntelligentDC remains the only viable solution for higher-power loudspeaker systems that require neither long loudspeaker cable runs nor access to AC power,” says Boot. “IntelligentDC systems can sustain peaks up to 860 watts, which is far more than you can get with Power over Ethernet solutions. More than two-thirds of the loudspeakers in the line are true bi-amplified loudspeakers with active crossovers.”
IntelligentDC systems utilise a multi-channel rack-mount power supply and signal distribution unit to deliver 48V DC power and balanced audio over a single five-core cable through eight outputs to as many as 24 loudspeakers, depending on system co