Pharos - Leaderboard - May 2024

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UK - On the eve of PLASA 2012, PLASA has announced a new home and dateline for the PLASA Show in 2013. The UK's only international event for entertainment and installation technology will take place at ExCeL London from 6-9 October 2013.

"After 21 years at Earls Court & Olympia, the time is now right for the PLASA Show to leave its current home," said PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths. "We have hugely ambitious plans for the future of the event, and the state-of-the-art facilities at ExCeL support this vision. ExCeL is a cutting-edge, purpose-built exhibition venue with the infrastructure to attract international markets; the world-class facilities are the perfect match for PLASA's planned investment in content and growth, and an exciting prospect for our technology markets worldwide."

The move represents a major opportunity for the PLASA Show to expand its inter

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On The Fringe - Ticket sales for the Edinburgh Fringe are down by about 1%. It is thought the London Olympics - which clashed with the first nine days of the Fringe - was a major factor in the fall in sales. The Fringe remains the world's largest arts festival, with 2,695 shows performed in 279 venues.

Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said it was "in fantastic health", with more than 1.8 million tickets sold. She said there were also more than 800 free shows at which attendance could not be measured. However, it is only the second time in more than a decade that ticket sales have fallen from the previous year. Sales fell in 2008 due to the disastrous implementation of a new ticketing system. Mainland said, "The Fringe has shown its resilience in responding so positively to the unique challenges of 2012."

Viva La Vi

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The 3rd annual PLASA Rigging Conference will welcome over 200 international attendees at the Earls Court Conference Centre in London on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 September 2012

With UK and worldwide bookings well up on last year and with a strong international flavour to its speakers and seminar sessions, the PLASA Rigging Conference confirms its status as the premier event worldwide dedicated to all things rigging.

Opening with an unmissable speech from original 'Disney Rigger' Roy Bickel, one of the founders of the modern rigging industry and closing with 'Question Time' hosted by Alan Jacobi LVO, MD of Unusual Rigging, the Conference is packed with sessions from industry experts.

On Monday 10 September, the thorny issue of developing standardised Common Practice will be debated by Rinus Bakker and Roy Schilderman from ARGH in Hol

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USA - Nortek Inc has announced the formation of Core Brands, a new group that combines the product and marketing strengths of 10 of the company's formerly independent audio, power management and control brands operating within its Technology Solutions segment.

Including Nortek's Aton, BlueBOLT, Elan, Furman, Niles, Panamax, Proficient, SpeakerCraft, Sunfire and Xantech brands, Core Brands has more than 190 years of combined experience in the residential, commercial and professional markets and over 4,300 direct customer accounts in multiple distribution channels in the US and worldwide.

Core Brands will be based in Petaluma, Calif., with offices in Carlsbad and Riverside, Calif., and Marblehead, Mass. Bill Pollock, who has served as president of Panamax, will lead Core Brands. Dave Keller, vice president of sales and marketing for Panamax/Furman, will handle worldwide sales. K

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UK - Avolites Ltd has appointed Koy Neminathan as Sales Director and JB Toby as Technical Director, effective immediately.

Since joining Avolites Ltd in February 2000 Neminathan has become an indispensable member of the core sales team and has been instrumental in energizing the company's longstanding sales success.

Neminathan, whose experience at Avolites encompasses the job of Business Development Manager from 2006 and then as Sales Manager from 2009, succeeds Steve Warren who will remain as an active Director of Avolites Ltd while also acting as Managing Director of fast-growing Avolites Media Ltd - a position he took on in September 2011.

As Sales Director of Avolites, Neminathan will continue to oversee and expand the vast International distribution network and also manage the UK sales team.

JB Toby has an equally strong and proven track record at Avolites Ltd having

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USA - PLASA is pleased to announce six finalists in the fifth annual Rock Our World Awards, to be presented at the PLASA Cocktail & Awards Reception at LDI 2012. The Rock Our World Awards were created to honour ground-breaking achievement by PLASA members and to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of the technology and the designer or integrator who applies it in a real world environment.

The finalists for the fifth annual Rock Our World Awards are:

• GLD Digital Mixer - Allen & Heath Ltd.

• Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary Celebration - IATSE Local 16

• Green-GO Communication System - ELC Lighting

• Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500 - Applied Electronics, Entertainment Structures Group

• MA onPC command wing - MA Lighting International GmbH

• 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara - PRG

Winners will be selected by a top-notch p

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UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd., a leading one-stop provider of cutting-edge new and used professional equipment to the entertainment industry, showcases a selection of lighting, audio, rigging and video solutions available from its vast range of premium brands on Stand E10, Hall 1 at PLASA 2012. Teams from all of AC-ET's specialist product divisions will be there to discuss the multi-million pound stockholding of over 200 leading brands available from AC-ET's High Wycombe and Leeds offices for worldwide dispatch to over 80 countries

AC-ET's Lighting Division

The Lighting division of A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) will showcase the new

SGM P-5 LED washlight, X-5 white & X-C5 RGB LED strobes, and Six-Pack RGBA LED blinder high brightness, energy efficient solutions; the award-winning Spotlight Green Line range of high-efficiency LED performan

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UK - displayLED will open their inaugural showroom this September, featuring the latest in innovative LED displays from leading manufacturers.

The Pixel Depot; a state of the art showroom and industry resource designed to be 'Europe's most comprehensive collection of LED video displays', will be launched pre-PLASA. Open days are being held on 4 and 5 September from 10am-4pm at the company's headquarters near Dorking, Surrey (UK), with anyone interested in finding out more about LED technology welcome.

"Our experts have scoured the world and tested products, including the latest technology from China, to find the most innovative, effective and user-friendly options currently on the market," explains Managing Director Graham Burgess. "Recognising the growth of LED technology and the wide choice available to customers, The Pixel Depot will provide a unique opportun

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USA - Arup's West Coast Theatre Consulting practice led by Robert Young,has moved operations to San Francisco.

To meet increasing demand for services in Northern California and to better serve West Coast clients, Robert Young will lead the theatre consulting group from Arup's San Francisco office.

He joins industry veterans Josh Cushner, Kurt Graffy and Larry Tedford to offer integrated acoustics, audiovisual and theatre consulting services. Recent projects include work for arts, education and corporate clients including the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, SF MOMA, and Idyllwild Arts.

A respected member of the theatre community with more than 20 years of experience, Young has led the theatre planning and technical systems design for some of the most acclaimed arts and academic buildings of the last decade.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - PR Lighting has announced the promotion of one of its long-term employees to international assistant sales director.

Sasha Xiong joined the company eight years ago as sales manager, with responsibility for the Asia Pacific countries.

Commented international sales director, Ernie Armas, "We strive to build long term relationships not only with our customers but also our employees. It is just as important for us to mentor and develop the talent and skills of our sales force, as it is a key asset to everyone's success. I very much look forward to working with Sasha in her new role."

(Jim Evans)

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South Africa - Proaudio, a leading supplier of professional audio and DJ products has been nominated as the new distributor for RCF in South Africa.

"We are immensely proud that RCF chose Proaudio todistribute its product in South Africa" says Proaudio CEO Joss Pack."RCF has pioneered many of the innovations now recognised and used in professional audio products, and the distribution network with Proaudio will continue to offer customers complete support and technical back up in South Africa.

We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship both with RCF and its loyal dealer base in South Africa."

Notable products for the South African market include the NXSeries, D-Line, TT Touring and Theatre as well as their Art Series - a multi-purpose active speaker range.

(Jim Evans)

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Precis of Subject:

This session will discuss which methodologies are best suited to ensure that the mixes we hear before giving the "thumbs up" are appropriate to the various media, including radio, CDs, compressed music file web-outlets (i.e. iTunes and BandCamp). We promise that you will leave this one hour presentation with some fine food for thought, and the urge to get back to your rigs and to experiment!

Speaker(s):

Elliott Randall (Steely Dan; producer & musician), Wes Maebe (recording/mastering engineer), Andy Munro (acoustician, studio monitor design), and Dave Harries (studio designer - for Sir George Martin's Air Studios and Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studios)

presented by: APRS
Sunday 9 September, 12.30pm - 1.30pm

To book this session and check out other session in the programme,

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If you want to grab a piece of Olympic memorabilia, make your way to the PLASA Bar from 6pm on Monday 10 September. Robe, who are having their own tenth birthday party this year are continuing to celebrate the popular 'Working With Winners' theme by hosting the auction of an Olympic torch during the PLASA Awards for Innovation. All the proceeds will be donated to Light Relief, the charity established to support, either practically or financially, those in the entertainment lighting industry who experience extreme hardship through no fault of their own - don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!

The torch, 800mm high with a stylish conical design and featuring an attractive shiny gold finish, will be on display on the Robe Stand Hall 1 F47 on Sunday and Monday of the exhibition for all to admire.

A professional auctioneer will be on hand to conduct the proceedings and help find

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Web News - The long-running legal dispute between the producers of the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark and the show's director Julie Taymor has been tentatively settled, it has been announced.

After winding its way through the courts for almost a year, and with a trial date set for early 2013, the case, currently in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, was ordered terminated by Judge Katherine B. Forrest, with each side to pay its own legal costs.

However, any of the litigating parties has the option of reopening the matter with written notice to the court within the next 60 days. Specific terms of the settlement have not yet been disclosed.

Spider-Man had been plagued by numerous production problems since it opened, including cost overruns, injuries to performers, a continually extended preview period, and wide

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Poland - A recent company restructure by the Polish manufacturer of Preceptor and Compactor (analogue Zener compressor/limiters) has resulted in the emergence of Gem Audio Labs, a new company/brand name that replaces the former Generic Audio.

The Wroclaw-based company first released its pure analogue, two-channel stereo/dual mono Preceptor during 2010. Nominated for several awards by industry publications, Preceptor was joined by a smaller sibling, Compactor, in 2011. All the company's products are assembled and calibrated by hand using the highest quality components, a factor that has led to rapid recognition of their sonic performance and build quality. The units are also equipped with classic user interfaces designed for intuitive and convenient operation. The series currently comprises the 3U Preceptor A and Preceptor T and the 2U Compactor.

In addition to re-branding, the

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South Africa - A two day Protocol Training course was hosted at DWR Distribution in Strijdom Park, Randburg on 3 and 4 September.

This year, Nick Britz from DWR has taken Training under his wing and is running with sessions that will benefit technicians and interested parties in the industry.

The Protocol Training covers everything from the basic DMX 512, RMD, Artnet, Ethernet and Wireless Networking. It includes fault-finding techniques, addressing fixtures, monitoring units in the rig, configuring networks and the ins and outs of some of the most commonly used protocols.

September will be a busy time at DWR Distribution, and other courses include the Avolites Titan 6 Training on the 10 and 11 September and Robe Training on the 17 & 18 September.

(Jim Evans)

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UK - At the end of an unrivalled summer of success, PLASA 2012 opens its doors for the very last time at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre on Sunday 9 September and with pre-registration figures already way ahead of last years, it's time to celebrate!

As PLASA announce a new home for the PLASA Show, the final event at Earls Court promises to be a glorious celebration of the industry's involvement in the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics. The Olympics Uncovered sector of the Professional Development Programme is close to a sell-out and joining Backstage at the London 2012 Ceremonies will be Making it all Possible! presented by Riedel Communications; Landscape Video, a seminar from Tait dedicated to those transforming LED panels that turn stadiums into vast video screens and Scott Burges from Creative Technology delivering From a Wobbly House to the

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Richard Vivian of Big Sky Acoustics has been added to the Art of Noise panel session at PLASA 2012.

Richard brings a down-to-earth, sensible and real-world attitude to the issues of creeping noise control regulations at urban concerts and festivals, the latest tools on the market which aim to allow engineers and promoters to monitor noise levels, and the methods that sound engineers employ to stay within the sound boundaries.

Richard has experience at lots of major festivals, as well as outside night clubs in Kensington at 3am! A superb addition to the panel, which already includes John Taylor (d&b audiotechnik), Jim Griffiths (Vanguardia Consulting) and Jacob Navne (SGAudio Aps)

To book this session and check out other session in the programme, please click here

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UK - Entertainment industry training centre Backstage Academy has launched an exclusive PLASA competition for one lucky student to win a week's work experience at LS-Live, helping on the set build of a touring artist.

Sponsored by leading trade publication L&Si, the first prize will enable a young student to gain valuable experience at an internationally renowned set design and construction business, based at the LS-Live Studios in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. LS-Live has worked on stage shows of famous artists such as Kasabian, Jay-Z, Tinie Tempah and Robbie Williams, with many of them rehearsing in its arena-sized production rehearsal studio.

The second prize, sponsored by the UK's biggest distributor of Apple and Adobe products, Jigsaw Systems, is an iPod and a 50% voucher off any Short Course or Career Course at Backstage Academy. There are also 25 third prizes; 10% off vouc

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UK - On Monday 10 September, in front of a packed audience at the PLASA Awards Ceremony at Earls Court John Meyer was announced as the winner of the 2012 Gottelier Award.

John Meyer is one of the original pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry. He began his career in 1967 by building a customised system for the Steve Miller Band, and from there he went on to develop loudspeaker systems for the likes of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Grateful Dead. Since founding Meyer Sound Laboratories in 1979 with his wife Helen, Meyer has continued to research, experiment and develop sound technology ever since - building Meyer Sound into an iconic brand and a consistent world leader in the pro audio market. Meyer is a more than worthy winner of this highly prized accolade.

This prestigious award is named in honour of the late Tony Gottelier who was one of the industry's

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UK - The PLASA Awards for Innovation, sponsored by AED Rent and Lighting&Sound, were presented at the PLASA Show in London yesterday evening, along with the announcement of the prestigious Gottelier Award.

During the show's opening two days, 47 products were judged 'live' in front of a crowd of show visitors and camera crew by an independent panel of expert judges who toured the show floor to view each product presentation.

John Meyer of iconic pro audio brand Meyer Sound was honoured with this year's Gottelier Award in recognition of his life as one of the pioneers of the modern sound reinforcement industry.

Eight Awards for Innovation were presented - including a final Gold Award for Innovation - along with a special Award for Sustainability.

Nominees are asked to demonstrate a new style of thinking, an improvement in technical practice, an aid to safety, energy-s

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South Africa - DWR Distribution has added Angela Botha to its team. With her knowledge of the accounting software, Pastel, she will be assisting the accounts department and help with invoices and quotations.

Botha is a former Krugersdorp High School student and for the past three years worked at Filter Pure Mesh carrying out administrative duties and internal sales.

(Jim Evans)

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USA - Author, educator, and industry veteran John Huntington has released Show Networks and Control Systems, the completely updated and revised edition of his industry standard reference text, which was previously titled Control Systems for Live Entertainment.

The book includes an in-depth examination of the control and networking technology used in lighting, lasers, sound, stage machinery, animatronics, special effects, and pyrotechnics used in concerts, theme parks, theatre, themed retail, cruise ships, museums, interactive performing arts, and special events.

"With the increasing impact and ubiquity of networking in our market, I felt a new edition with an expanded networking focus was important," comments Huntington. "So, I completely reorganised the content; checked, updated, and expanded the information; and added a lot more information. And,

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The Netherlands - Kerkrade in the Netherlands is the home of ADJ Group's European headquarters and has now become a 'Center of Communication and Technology Exchange' for the company. Elation and AD Systems, as part of the ADJ Group portfolio, now benefits from the opening of a completely new-built facility. The Customer Care Center offers hands-on fixture tests, comprehensive fixture comparison possibilities and personal and competent Support Personnel accompanied with individual design and programming options. The Customer Care Center is open daily on weekdays and ADJ personnel will to do their outmost to turn your individual requests into reality, says the Group.

In addition to the new Customer Care Centre, the company has launched a set of themed seminar days. The PRO(theme)days are intended for those customers looking for the direct contact with the manufacturer, searching f

  1. The Week in Lighting & Sound
  2. PLASA 2012: Midas honours Britannia Row
  3. PLASA 2012 enjoys a fitting end to an era
  4. Industry welcomes positive dialogue
  5. Penn-Elcom enjoys busy PLASA 2012
  6. ULA Group to distribute MDG in Australia
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