UK - 2021 sees the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) celebrate the diamond jubilee of its foundation. The Association will be marking this milestone with a year of online activities, and a resumption of the popular face to face in-person events when restrictions allow. It will also take the opportunity to dip into the rich depths of the ABTT Archive in order to share videos and interviews. Plus there will be more seminars, new awards, and events throughout the year.
“It is a privilege to be part of the ABTT in its 60th year and to participate in its diamond jubilee,” says Robin Townley, CEO of the ABTT. “It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the role it has played throughout its existence in supporting those engaged in the design and construction of places of entertainment as well as those delivering technical and production support to live performance.
“It is a significant milestone and must be seen as a tribute to the Association’s membership, volunteers, trustees, supporters, and officers, all of whom have served the ABTT, and consequently their industry, so willingly and well over the last 60 years. It is an institution which with its experience and resilience is fundamental to sustaining the technical and production disciplines within live performance. By so doing it will enable them to continue with confidence despite the huge challenges presented by the current pandemic.”
The ABTT continues to provide technical advice, consultations, training, publications, and vital resources while providing members with net

UK - PLASA is hosting two free webinars this week on how to apply for the second round of grants from the Culture Recovery Fund (CRF).
Taking place on Wednesday 13 January from 10am-12pm and Friday 15 January from 2pm-4pm, these webinars will be hosted by Caroline Taylor, an independent expert with a proven track record in successfully applying for £15m in Arts Council England funding, including the first round of the CRF and the ACE Emergency Fund.
During each webinar you will explore the main application questions in detail which will help you submit a strong application. You will also learn about Grantium, the new Arts Council application portal which you are encouraged to register for prior to the webinar. Additionally, each webinar will have a dedicated Q&A section to answer any specific questions you may have regarding the application process. Following the webinars, Caroline is available to review your application for a fixed fee.
PLASA is encouraging all its England-based members to attend to learn more about eligibility. These include industry manufacturers, production companies and venues, as well as freelancers who operate as a limited company and single director companies.
Reserve your free place now >> https://plasa-culture-recovery-fund.eventbrite.co.uk

USA - Behind the Scenes has announced a generous year-end donation from MA Lighting International which has been a supporter of the charity for many years, through its partnership with the Lightpower Collection. MA Lighting International is responsible for worldwide sales and marketing of grandMA control systems.
MA Lighting international managing director, Stephan Saremba, commented, “In times like these, when donations from companies have declined sharply due to necessity, MA Lighting would like to set an example with direct financial support and once again emphasise the importance of these foundations.”
The Lightpower Collection is a long-time major supporter of Behind the Scenes. Lightpower, founded in 1978 in Germany as a lighting rental company, has grown to be an internationally established distributor for stage and studio lighting equipment. The Lightpower Collection was born out of a company culture that has grown over several years with a passion for collecting Rock’n’Roll art. The collection features photography and album cover artwork from many of the world’s greatest photographers and designers.
Neal Preston’s Rock’n’Roll photography represents the core of this collection and comprises over 70 large-format original fine art prints. Preston’s archive is one of the most extensive in the world. His photographs continue to be shown worldwide.
Neal’s newest, much anticipated book Queen: The Neal Preston Photographs is available for sale at the BTS Boutique (behindthescenescharity.org/queen) along with his pre

World - As the LSi and PLASA offices close for the festive break, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued readership throughout 2020. It’s certainly been a challenging one for our industry, but there have been some incredible moments of solidarity and triumph over adversity too, many of which we’ve had the privilege of detailing for you both here at LSi Online and in the magazine.
Our daily online news service will resume on Wednesday 6 January 2021. Until then, if you fancy a read, you can access LSi’s full 35-year back catalogue free online here.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays – we wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!
The LSi team

UK - West End theatres must once again close their doors as London moves into the highest tier of COVID-19 restrictions from midnight tonight (Tuesday 15/12). Many shows – including Pantoland at the Palladium, Six and Les Miserables: The Staged Concert – had only just opened and were following strict COVID-safe measures.
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) said the move would cause “catastrophic financial difficulties" for venues, producers and thousands of workers.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber issued a statement saying: “I feel devastated for all those in theatre who have tried so hard to provide entertainment for the Christmas season. Theatres have worked tirelessly to make themselves as COVID-safe as possible. It does seem arbitrary and unfair that people can jostle uncontrolled in crowded shops yet orderly socially-distanced theatre-going is banned. However, I reluctantly have to agree with the government’s decision to put London in Tier 3. Saving lives, protecting the NHS and getting this virus under control has now got to be the top priority.”
He added: “I do hope that even a crumb of the £1.57bn made available for the arts could be given to those who have spent an enormous amount of time and money to mount productions for this season and to support the actors, musicians and stage crews who will yet again be put out of a job.”
Producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, whose shows include Les Miserables, said the government's "sudden volt[e] face" was "devastating for both the theatre and the economy". He added: "

Europe - HOF has announced Scandec as its new distributor for Norway. Scandec is an established distributor for audiovisual products and permanent installations of pro audio and video.
Founded in 1984, Scandec has a large dealer network all over Norway and offers a strong portfolio of brands, products and system solutions. The company will distribute the HOF brands XOOP Lighting, Hof Truss, CJS and Excellent Line, and will partner with HOF for special aluminium constructions for permanent installations.

UK - Production Park has secured a £12million Government loan which it plans to use to expand and develop its Wakefield campus over the next decade.
Production Park is one of the latest 11 major arts and heritage organisations across the UK to have received loan offers from the £1billion Cultural Recovery Fund, a combination of grant and loan cash from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), targeted to support a culture sector that has been devastated by the effects of COVID-19.
Other organisations to have benefitted from the £165m in repayable finance – and a further £58m in capital funding for ongoing construction and maintenance projects in the sector – announced by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden include the Royal Albert Hall, National Theatre, English National Opera, Alexandra Palace and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“The Cultural Recovery Fund is very much a lifeline for many in the culture sector and has enabled them simply to survive in the short-term, but we have taken a much longer-term view by securing a loan that we will use to grow our business, create jobs and opportunities, and generate revenue in the sector for years to come,” said Lee Brooks, CEO of Production Park.
The £12m loan will drive investment by facilitating ambitious growth plans at Production Park. As well as providing rehearsal space for some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Coldplay, Little Mix and Peter Kay, the South Kirby site is home to more than more than 20 live events and creative businesse

USA - Magmatic atmospheric effects has introduced Rocket, a line of powerful CO2 cryogenic simulation effects that produce ‘dense white clouds of fog for visually stunning atmospherics. Capable of generating a heavy blast of fog that engulfs an area in just a few seconds yet dissipates instantly, each effect is arrayed with high-output RGBA LEDs.
Rocket is making it easier for designers and production houses to implement high-impact cryogenic-type effects into projects of all types - tours, special events, clubs, theme parks and more, says the company. The advantages over traditional liquid CO2 or liquid nitrogen cryogenic effects are many. With the Rocket series there are no cumbersome, high-pressure liquid CO2 or liquid nitrogen cylinders to deal with, making for a safer, less expensive and faster setup that requires no local authority approvals.
Three Rocket series effects are available – Javelin, Sidewinder and Tomahawk – all wrapped in a durable, tour-ready aluminum housing designed to withstand travel and repeated use.
Javelin is a high-velocity CO2 simulator fog machine in a compact and lightweight mobile design. It features 34 x 2-watt RGBA LEDs for bursts of dynamic coloured effect and can rotate 90-degrees for horizontal or vertical bursts of fog. Max throw distance is 20-ft with a 50,000 cu.ft per minute output and max continuous output of 10 seconds at full. Fluid capacity is 2.5 litres. Its compact size and easy mobility means Javelin is easy to position virtually anywhere.
Sidewinder features 22 x 2-watt RGBA LEDs for b

USA - Chauvet Professional has announced it is extending its ReSet Fund programme through 31 December during 'the season of giving' to help individuals in the live event industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Chauvet kicked off the programme, which helps fund grants through Behind the Scenes (BTS), with a $25,000 donation to BTS in October, the brand has been offering a matching donation for all merchandise sold on its website. With hundreds of orders in, Chauvet is committed to extending support during the holiday season.
“We are in the season of giving and during a year when everyone has given so much,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “We see the ReSet Fund as a way to demonstrate the critical importance of supporting our community during good times and challenging times like now. As we emerge from the pandemic, we believe programmes like this will help make the industry even stronger.”
Fundraising merchandise is available through Chauvet Professional’s website (www.resetfund.store). More information on BTS resources can be found at btshelp.org. The final donation will be made in December.
For those who wish to support the ReSet Fund without monetary contribution, Chauvet Professional is sharing messages of solidarity and support via its social media platforms.
“This is not just about charitable contributions,” Chauvet said. “This is also about the message that together we will overcome these trying times to get to an even be

UK - Apparel and tech brand STNDBY has launched its flagship range of sustainable clothes and accessories, designed for crew and creatives.
STNDBY (www.STNDBYworld.com) was conceived by lighting and production designer Tom Campbell and host, producer and entrepreneur James Murden to offer clothing and accessories that are ‘as functional as they are fashionable’. With partnerships in place with companies such as Avolites and Dirty Rigger and offering customisation, gifting options and tour swag, STNDBY’s products are designed ‘to work and built to last’.
“We’ve spent almost two years researching the problems crew face finding work gear and developing these products to solve those problems,” said Campbell. "We’re so proud of the incredible feedback we’ve had throughout our testing phase and can’t wait to start seeing STNDBY out in the world.”
STNDBY’s flagship range includes T-shirts, rigging gloves, power banks and digital storage solutions, as well as their signature launch product, the Leitch Security Backpack. Named after the late lighting designer Bryan Leitch, this travel-friendly bag embodies the STNDBY philosophy by packing in hidden compartments, charging ports, water resistance and even a stab-proof protective layer.
“With STNDBY we set out to create clothes and accessories that are fit-for-purpose but still look good in the bar after the show,” says Murden. "In our industry, 'stand-by' means “get ready for action”, so it was the perfect name for us - a bran

USA - Last year, US-based charity Behind the Scenes’ Mental Health Initiative conducted a survey that revealed that bullying, harassment and intimidation are “a common experience” in our industry. Respondents said: “Emotional abuse is part of the culture,” and “harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are rampant”.
As a result, the Mental Health Steering Committee has launched a campaign (btshelp.org/stopbullying) to help workers and employers alike understand the signs and consequences of this behaviour. The aim is to raise awareness and encourage all who experience or witness bullying, harassment or intimidation, to speak up.
The resources provided include a set of posters to raise awareness of words, actions and behaviours that constitute bullying, harassment or intimidation; information to empower individuals to Be Informed, Be Aware, Show Support, and Take Action; and a sample policy and procedures to identify, investigate and resolve instances of bullying, harassment or intimidation and to provide support to those who experience these behaviours.
One survey respondent wrote: “My workplaces are decades behind in helping people with emotional wellness. That starts with the aggressive behaviour, belittling behaviour, yelling, throwing objects, etc. that I see on the jobsite constantly. Most folks feel that they have to just have a tough skin and take the abusive behaviour in their

USA - Behind the Scenes has announced that Light Touch Designs has become its newest Pledge-a-Service member by pledging fees from speaking engagements and online training to the charity.
Light Touch Designs is a Chicago-based design firm supplying lighting design services to the corporate meeting and special event industry. Owner Michael Sharon, a 30 year veteran of the profession, is happy to share his knowledge of design, programming and Vectorworks drafting with the community.
On making his commitment to the charity, Michael commented, “As freelance workers in a high-risk industry, we are all just one accident away from financial ruin. BTS has provided a crucial safety net to help people back on their feet. In times of pandemic, when we are all working to share knowledge and keep the industry alive, it seems right that I should take my teaching income and put it back into the community.”
BTS Foundation chair, Rick Rudolph, commented, “We were so pleased when Michael contacted us about joining the programme. As he rightly guessed, funds are needed now more than ever to care for our colleagues’ physical and mental health. This industry has always been a family and Michael’s desire to help those in most need during this time is a shining example of that. There is so much wonderful online training and webinars happening right now and we hope others will follow Michael’s example of giving.”
The Behind the Scenes charity provides entertainment technology professionals, or their immediate dependent family, who are seriously ill or i

UK - Le Mark donated 38 home-practice dance mats to The Sarah England Dance School to enable participants to perform in aid of BBC Children in Need.
The Greater Manchester school is set to participate in “Tapathon”, the national dance marathon, which will take place on 15 November as an online event, with participants recording their performances at home.
Ahead of England's second national lockdown, school owner and tutor Sarah England had the foresight to prepare, and had everything in place to bring back online classes when the restriction measures were re-introduced. But how could she get 38 tap dancers to take part outside, on hard ground, without damaging their tap shoes and respecting social distancing rules?
Not wanting her students to miss out on this opportunity, Sarah called Le Mark’s flooring manager, Hannah Tuohy. "When I spoke to Sarah, she told me what the mats would be for," says Tuohy. "I was so excited to help. We always recommend our Nocturne flooring for hard shoe work such as tap, so what better floor to donate."
Le Mark offered all 38 dance mats free of charge, enabling the students at The Sarah England Dance school to perform and help raise money for an amazing charity whilst keeping their floors at home protected during home-practice.
“We can now take part individually, and will be tapping away in our kitchens, gardens and safe open spaces," explains England. "We will happily and probably most appropriately be 'Singing & Dancing' in the rain. Well, this is England!”

USA - Elections for the ESTA board of directors concluded at midnight on Saturday, 31 October. An outstanding number of ballots were submitted this year, the organisation reports.
There were four positions up for election to the board. Tracey Cosgrove will fill the office of vice president; Elmer Veith of Reliable Design Services will serve as secretary; Evan Williams of Riverview Systems Group is the new production services director, and Mark Wofford of PC&E was elected to serve as rental company director. All will begin their three-year term of office on 1 January 2021.
ESTA and its members wish to thank outgoing board members Orestes Mihaly (PRG) and John Cini (High Output) for their dedicated service.

South Africa - Viral video footage of an African National Congress (ANC) rally held at the Luthuli 9L Sports Grounds in Polokwane on Sunday, 8 November, attended by thousands not adhering to the social distancing regulations, has infuriated the region’s live events industry who have not been able to work for over eight months.
“We as the TPSA, SACIA and SA Events Council have lodged a complaint with the South African Police, in particular with the Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba,” said Sharif Baker, chairman of the TPSA. “We are absolutely disgusted at what has happened. It’s a smack in the face for the lives at stake, and literally a smack in the face of us in events who are abiding by the law.”
The Siyanqoba Rally in Ward 14 in Pokowane and issued by the ANC Peter Mokaba Region, included live entertainment and was attended by a massive crowd, with most attendees not wearing masks. The event disregarded the 500 outdoor capacity restrictions as dictated by the ANC government. The current Level 1 risk reduction strategy implemented to slow the spread of Covid-19, allows up to 500 people for outdoor gatherings and a maximum of 250 people for indoor gatherings.
“This event has taken place where thousands of people did not follow a protocol whatsoever while the live events industry starve,” said Baker. “We have not left this alone and have been in communication with Nkosinathi Emmanuel 'Nathi' Mthethwa, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture while copying in Khumbudzo Phophi Silence Ntshavheni, th

USA - Chauvet Professional has presented a cheque to Behind the Scenes for $25,000 from its recently launched ReSet Fund to be used to support entertainment technology members and their immediate dependent family who are seriously ill or injured, and to fund emotional wellness resources and training.
Chauvet announced last week that it will be donating up to $50,000 in funds to help live event industry members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this initial $25,000 donation, Chauvet will match donations up to an additional $25,000 from participants who buy special fundraising ‘ReSet’ jackets, caps, truss gloves, and other merchandise at www.chauvetprofessional.com/resetfund through 30 November.
Behind the Scenes executive director, Lori Rubinstein, commented, “Chauvet Professional’s generous donation comes at a particularly important time for the charity and those we help. ReSet is aiding us in continuing to develop programmes under our Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative that will assist industry members in maintaining their emotional and mental wellness through the pandemic and as they return to work.
“The Steering Committee for the mental health initiative has some wonderful ideas on how the funds can be used to have a direct and lasting impact on our industry.”
Chauvet CEO, Albert Chauvet, said, “Our goal is to get these funds into programmes that provide hope and support as our industry prepares for the good to come. We’ve watched with admiration, respect and empathy as members from every segment of o

South Africa - The South African live events industry once again joined hands with #WeMakeEvents to participate in charity bike ride #TheSurvivalTour and raise awareness of the plight of event industry affected by the COVID-19 disruption.
Similar to the action that took place in the UK, the South African cyclists embarked on a lengthy route, passing by some of the country’s iconic venues, now closed due to the pandemic. As many as 24 cyclists participated in a 60km route, visiting Constitution Hill, Teatro at Montecasino, Sandton Convention Centre, Nelson Mandela Square, Joburg Theatre, Market Theatre, Mary Fitzgerald Square, and the TicketPro Dome on 24 October in Johannesburg.
Many industry players cut their teeth at some of the venues on the journey, and there was a tangible feeling of loss amongst the riders, seeing the once busy spaces now standing empty. “A venue like the Sandton Convention Centre is where I learnt the trade and started my career in my younger days,” said Chris Pugh, who led the pack. “We all felt a sense of nostalgia and sadness, seeing the devastation COVID-19 has left behind.”
“Everyone loved #TheSurvivalTour South Africa,” adds Pugh. “There were a few complaints about the hills and heat, but there was great spirit amongst all the riders. It was so popular that I’ve had requests to do it again, and we hope to add a new route with more venues in the near future.”

UK - Arts Council England has opened its £18m Developing your Creative Practice (DYCP) fund to a wider pool of creative practitioners in light of the COVID-19 effects on the workforce.
Able to apply for a grant this year will be DJs, performer/creators, arts and cultural educators, community practitioners/engagement specialists, movement directors, cultural conservators, creative enablers and creative technicians.
“We know that COVID-19 has had a significant impact for individuals, and many will need to develop themselves and their work to respond to the new environment,” says the Arts Council. “We want to support as many people as possible to reshape and redefine their work and continue to make a positive impact on creativity and culture.”
The grants, ranging from for £2,000 to £10,000, will be awarded for development activities from practitioners working across music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, libraries, combined arts, and museums practice. This includes professional development or researching or creating new work.
The money will be allocated in four rounds running until October 2021, with the first round now open to applicants. To be eligible, practitioners need to have one year’s experience, be based in England, have a UK bank account, and be aged 18 or over.
The first round closes at noon on 5 November, with decisions announced in the week commencing 21 December.
To apply, visit artscouncil.org.uk/DYCP.