UK - The live production industry faces mounting pressure to operate more sustainably, despite a multitude of persistent challenges. A newly published whitepaper by Sony aims to present the key opportunities for businesses within the industry to implement change.
The report underlines that sustainable practices are not one-size-fits-all, as each production has unique requirements. By analysing the key areas of challenge for the industry, Sony has been able to look for spaces where creating change that benefits business and the environment is possible.
The report suggests that the key challenges at hand are:
Quantifying environmental footprint: Without clear knowledge of current emissions, it is difficult for companies to accurately perceive their carbon impact and justify the disruption and cost of moving to new systems and processes.
Considering individual production needs: Transport and logistics are core to live production, and perhaps its biggest challenge in terms of sustainability concerns. 
The limitations of OB trucks: Providing the lion’s share of a production’s emissions, these cannot be removed from the process, but opportunities to lighten their loads can and should be explored.
Battling uncertainty around power supply: A reliable power infrastructure and network is essential on a live production. This leads to overprovision to account for possible energy failure, and subsequently, copious unused resources. 
The whitepaper explores a modular approach to live production that enables companies to redu

Germany - DirectOut has named Aspen Media (UK) as ‘Distributor of the Year’ for the third time in the history of the company, while Tonspur AG (Switzerland) and tm stagetec systems (Australia) are recognised with the ‘Best Sales Performance’ and the ‘Prodigy of the Year’ awards.
Aspen Media previously received the accolade in 2013 and 2018. Chris Collings, director of Aspen Media accepted the 2021 award.
Jan Ehrlich, CEO of DirectOut, comments: “This award is our special thanks to Aspen Media for a great and long-lasting cooperation and for the very special commitment Aspen Media shows according to their clients and us as a manufacturer. The last few years have been quite challenging for everybody, but Aspen Media is one of the very few examples which is always demonstrating comprehensive performance at its best.”
The second award handed out by DirectOut recognises the sales performance of business partners operating in smaller markets that have proven to be reliable and successful distributors: this is the case for Tonspur AG. The company based in Lucerne has been the official DirectOut distributor for Switzerland since 2017. Over the years the knowledge of the products by Hansjürg Meier and his team has been steadily growing and the sales have followed the same trend.
For the third time in a row, tm stagetec systems has received a DirectOut award collecting the full set of different trophies handed out by the company. This time it receives the Prodigy of the Year award for being one of the distribution companies which not on

USA - A 3D stage production featured at the Red Rocks amphitheatre in late September for Rowdytown X, the 10th anniversary edition of Big Gigantic’s flagship party. Lighting and production designer, Justin Casey of Helms Projects and the production team created a deep and evocative stage presence that made it easy for fans to feel like they were entering a 3D space as they watch performances by the event’s hosts, as well as guests Joyryde, Mitis, Jantsen, and INZO.
A variety of design elements, from a curved set that wrapped around the artists on stage, to blow-through video walls with generative content, were seamlessly fused to create this immersive panorama. Contributing to the overall effect was a collection of 40 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Helms Projects and Brown Note Productions.
“This production took a village to complete, so big thanks to all the vendors, not just Helm Projects, and Brown Note Productions, but also Pyromix Pyro, Laser Wolf, Photon7, Gallagher staging, Antic Studio and PSI,” said Casey. “There were also so many people involved like Jonathan ‘Jdub’ Watson, Tommy Mercer, Sean Ginsburg, and Bryan Saltarelli from the lighting team, Max Kohler, Collin Thielen, Andrew Gross, Daniel Fennell, John Batts from the video team; Marshall Rawley, Conner Ash from laser, Alex Curry our rigger; and Sean Mullens, Whitney Wangsgaard, Mike Norfleet, and Bryan Fletcher from the Big Gigantic team.”
Creating a distinctive focal point in the middle of their dimensional stage, the design team positioned a giant mirror

Austria - With the new Mythos Mozart exhibition, situated right in the heart of downtown Vienna, visitors are introduced to the life and work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the form of an immersive experience.
The timeless beauty of the musical genius’s legacy meets the latest audio-visual technology, with this process becoming a work of art in its own right that succeeds in entertaining both young and old.
“Mythos Mozart connects tradition with modernity, art and music, creativity with technology and creates a new space for innovation and culture to honour Mozart in a way that’s never been seen before,” explains Mythos Mozart managing director Hans Gasser.
Mythos Mozart enchants and informs across more than 1,500sq.m, at precisely the same location where the composer, who was born in 1756, spent the last year of his life and created unforgettable masterpieces like The Magic Flute. Nowadays the STEFFL department store can be found here.
The exhibition consists of five different rooms (‘Mozart’s world') that each offer a distinct access point to Mozart’s body of work and general legacy.
Equipped with a ticket and QR code, each visitor has their photo taken at the beginning of their audio-visual journey. Within two seconds, the photos are turned into digital 3D portraits with the ability to wink back at the visitor and to jump from one picture frame to the next.
The general soundscape, indispensable for the overall experience of the exhibition, was composed and re-arranged by musical director, Walter Werzowa. Mozart’s

UK - Andy Bell, former operations director at KB Event, has joined Truckingby as events operations director.
Andy has over 23 years' experience in live event trucking, working with bands and artists such as Ed Sheeran, Rod Stewart, the Stereophonics and many more.
“I’m looking forward to bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge into Truckingbyand being a valuable part of their team in expanding their live events division,” says Andy.
Kevin Hopper, Truckingby managing director said Andy’s appointment to the company adds additional strength and knowledge to our live events logistics operation, we are all looking forward to working with him, and wish him all the best for the future with Truckingby.”

USA - This month, the American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC) welcomed Michael Nishball as its newest full member. Membership into the ASTC, follows a highly selective process that considers a candidate’s range of capability and experience, their past industry achievements, and the quality of service they provide to clients.
“I can think of no person more deserving of full membership,” offered Scott Crossfield, Theatre Projects principal and fellow with the ASTC. “Michael’s experience in equipment and systems design is unparalleled, and he is the type of person we want in the ASTC: committed to the industry, dogged about the appropriate use of technology in the design of performance spaces, and invested in safety for audience and performer as his number one priority.”
Michael is Theatre Projects’ principal theatre equipment designer and one of the industry’s leading voices on structural systems, rigging equipment, and specialty stage machinery. He makes the eighth Theatre Projects employee currently on the ASTC membership roster and brings over 40 years of experience to the elite organisation.
Theatre Projects has been Michael’s professional home since 1995. Prior to Theatre Projects, he worked with Pook Diemont & Ohl, Inc. as a rigging contractor, and earlier on, he was a stagehand, production designer, and rigger with a variety of theatre companies. He supervised lighting and rigging for the Wooster Group all over the world and worked with the Boston Shakespeare Company, the American Repertory Theater, and several mode

UK - Production Futures exists to create opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop real careers in production across every area of the live event, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film industries. The organisation’s Breakthrough Awards, presented in association with TPi magazine, recognise the impact of up-and-coming talent in all areas of production, with nominations made by tutors, mentors, colleagues or peers.
This year, the six winners received their awards at the Production Futures ON TOUR event which took place in late September at Production Park in Wakefield. The event was the first of a series taking place across the UK in the coming months and saw more than six hundred young people through its doors. Thirty-five brand partners from the worlds of audio, lighting, TV, virtual events and global logistics, were on hand to offer information, insights and advice about careers in production. A number of industry associations were also represented, joining the commercial brands in presenting panels and workshops on a range of subjects designed to explain and inspire.
Hannah Eakins, CEO of Production Futures comments, “this year’s awards were presented at the conclusion of what was a fantastic day. We received a record number of nominations this year - an indication that our campaign to highlight and deliver opportunities for young people in the production sector is moving in the right direction. Our brand partners, many of them market-leading global companies, have really bought into our ideas, recognising the

USA - From 2014 to 2017, the University of Houston Cougars football team won 16 straight games on its home gridiron - the John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium - marking the longest active home winning streak in the nation at the time. However, the PA system for the facility, which opened in August of 2014, didn’t share quite the same success, quickly falling victim to the area’s increasingly volatile weather and early component failures.
In response, LD Systems was recently able to step in and remedy the situation with a loudspeaker design from L-Acoustics that offered vastly better audio quality via a streamlined combination of K, A, and X Series products.
TDECU Stadium - its official name derived from the Texas Dow Employees Credit Union, the largest credit union in Houston - is built on the site of the former Robertson Stadium and also hosts the XFL's Houston Roughnecks.
Matt Rhodes, sales engineer at LD Systems, University of Houston’s long-time AV partner, commented on the stadium’s sound over the past few years: “We had been helping the school nurse its existing sound system through football seasons for the past two years, but it became clear that they needed a new, more modern audio system. We looked at a few options with them and found that L-Acoustics offered the right mix of components to create a powerful yet cost-effective system for the client.”
The stadium’s new system now comprises two hangs of 12 K2 enclosures over six Kara II per side of the scoreboard, flanked by a combination of A15i Wide and A15i Focus enclos

The Netherlands - Indie rock stalwarts Kensington have been widely praised by critics for bringing layers of added dimensions to their music without sacrificing any of its immediate power to engage emotionally. For six days this September, the quartet from Utrecht were supported by a light and video show that reflected the multi-faceted appeal of their songs.
The intricate and tightly coordinated show turned the 17,000-capacity Ziggo Dome into an immersive 3D galaxy of images that flowed in perfect harmony to the music being produced on stage. At the centre of it all was a massive 800m² ‘tree’ made of blow-through and solid LED panels that worked cohesively with intense, fast-moving displays of light.
Like the entire production, the mesmerizing video-and-light combination was the product of intense collaboration, as well as some seamless integration between two ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M Stadium consoles. (A third MQ500M was on site as a backup.)
“The thing that made this show much easier was that we did everything from the same show file,” said lighting director and programmer Leon Driessen. “I first made the cue stacks/cues on my MQ500M, and later we imported them into the video console using the Load Show Structure feature on the MQ500M used by our video director, Fabian Fisniku, who programmed on disguise servers. This worked out very well, as we only needed to make the show file once for all the cues and stacks, including timeline events.”
The 50-universe show (40 for light, 10 for video) was a tribute, not only to the skill of th

UK - The Roadie Cookbook has raised thousands for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for professional touring crew.
The Roadie Cookbook was curated during the first lockdown by production manager Nick Gosling and industry friends production coordinator Julie Cotton, band assistant Athena Caramitsos, backline tech Rich House and industry publicist Kel Murray.
The book showcases a collection of 50 recipes, anecdotes and advice from seasoned touring professionals working at all levels. It features contributors who have toured with Dolly Parton, Bryan Ferry, Chemical Brothers, Kylie Minogue and many more.
Following World Mental Health Day, the friends can now reveal the book has raised well in excess of £13,000, with 100% of profits being donated to charities Music Support and Stagehand.
World Health Organisation (WHO) describes the objective of World Mental Health Day as a time to “raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health. The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide”.
The professional roadie community is one of the most affected by mental health, with up to three in four experiencing an episode over the course of their career. The pandemic magnified this. Two years on, the touring industry is navigating how to practice better self-care and help peers.
Tour manager Suzi Green who works wit

USA - Behind the Scenes has two upcoming webinars: Bystander Intervention in the Entertainment Workplace on 16 October at 4pm Eastern and Understanding Substance Use and Abuse in the Entertainment Industry on 17 October at 7pm Eastern. Both webinars are free, but require advance registration to be sent the login link.
A BTS survey strongly indicated that bullying, harassment and intimidation is a common workplace stressor throughout all sectors of the entertainment industry. Do you know how to safely intervene if you see a co-worker being bullied or intimidated? Did you know there are different ways to intervene to match your comfort level? In just 90 minutes you will learn five easily accessible tools and get real life examples to use in any workplace to safely intervene without worrying about retaliation.
The Bystander Intervention webinar, presented by Dax Valdes of Right To Be, will be offered once a quarter over the next year with the first one on Sunday, 16 October. Visit btshelp.org/bystander to register for the webinar of your choice.
Most of us know someone who is affected by substance use and abuse. This can include concerns about our own use – or that of a co-worker, family member or friend. This webinar introduces new resources for recognizing and discussing substance use and abuse in the workplace and beyond. Taking just one hour to learn more can save lives by allowing you to say the right thing – or point someone to the right resources. Advance registration is required to receive the link to the webinar.
Membe

UK - CP Electronics – part of Legrand UK & Ireland – has appointed Gilles Silva as its new director of product development.
Having gained almost 20 years’ experience – 14 of which spent in Legrand Brazil’s R&D team – Gilles’ new role will see him take a lead on product innovation at CP Electronics. Focusing on energy efficiency, in line with Legrand’s latest CSR roadmap, Gilles will lead a team of 14 people in the UK, as well as closely working with R&D centres in France, the USA and China.
As part of his new role, Gilles will develop and deliver new products as well as analyse technology trends.
Gilles said: “This is an exciting time to join the CP Electronics team. We have a clear plan to deliver products that help drive energy efficiency, all while developing them sustainably. Our goal is to develop solutions that make installers and other professionals’ lives easier without compromising on quality. By nurturing innovation and constant learning, we can make great strides towards accomplishing our mission.”

USA - Four draft standards are available for public review and comment on the ESTA website at http://estalink.us/pr. The downloads are free. The documents in public review are:
BSR E1.20, Entertainment Technology -- Remote Device Management Over USITT DMX512 Networks. The existing E1.20 - 2010, Entertainment Technology - Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512 Networks, is being revised to clarify ambiguities, fix bugs, and incorporate some additional features. E1.20 is an extension to USITT DMX512 and ANSI E1.11 that allows for bi-directional communication on the primary data link. This allows a controller to discover RDM-enabled devices on the link, to set starting addresses and other configuration settings, and to request status messages. The project also is to reinstate E1.20 as an American National Standard. It has lost that status due to being over-age. Comments are due no later than 28 November.
BSR E1.37-5, General Purpose Messages for E1.20, RDM, is to provide additional Get/Set parameter messages (PIDs) for use with the E1.20 Remote Device Management protocol. The public review package is a ZIP file with folders of 128 JSON examples. The standard is E1-37-5 General Purpose PIDs r30 2022-09-01.pdf. Comments on any of the files are welcome, but only comments on E1-37-5 General Purpose PIDs r30 2022-09-01.pdf will be formally considered and resolved. Comments are due no later than 28 November.
BSR E1.59, Entertainment Technology--Object Transform Protocol (OTP), describes a mechanism to transfer object transform inform

UK - Get your carving kits out and let your Halloween creativity run wild in the Backup Pumpkin Challenge, which is back for some spooky fun and fundraising this October.
Supported by Collaborative Creations, and now in its fourth year, the competition is open to anyone from the technical entertainment and creative industries. Entrants can use their in-house skills and equipment to enhance their carved pumpkin.
"We’re delighted the industry has got behind it every year.” says Tom Wilkes of Collaborative Creations “We’ve been amazed at what people have come up with over the years and it’s a great way for the industry to raise money for a fantastic charity."
The pumpkins will be judged in the following four categories: Best Overall Design (judged by panel), Best Use of Tech (judged by panel) Most Overall Likes (on Instagram).
Entries have to be posted on Instagram with the hashtag #BackupPumpkinChallenge by 31st October to be eligible. The winners will be announced on 5 November. For those looking to help fundraise with their entries you can send your #BackupPumpkinChallenge donations to Backup via our website page here.
Long-time Backup supporter Lightpower Collection have generously donated a prize of one of their photographic books to the winner of the Best Overall Design.
All money raised from fundraising will go to Backup, which provides financial support to industry technical professionals working in live events, theatre, TV and film who are seriously ill or who were involved in an accident.
The Backup Pumpkin C

UK/USA - This month, Theatre Projects celebrates 65 years in business. All month long, Theatre Projects will be sharing memories on social channels and inviting followers to contribute their own stories and photos via an online memory book.
Now an international mainstay in performance design, Theatre Projects came from much humbler origins. The firm began as a lighting rental company in late-‘50s London. Richard Pilbrow and Bryan Kendall started the company by buying up a small bundle of lighting stock for £150, a loan from Richard’s father. Over time, seating and space design, stage and rigging design, AV system design, strategic planning, and other services became part of the Theatre Projects scope, and today the six global offices are all composed of multiple, dynamic teams that love to engage with almost any venue-related issue.
“In the last 65 years, we have made quite an impact on the ‘built environment,’ from the simplest of rooms to the most complex facilities in the performing arts,” notes Michael Nishball, Theatre Projects principal and one of the industry’s top equipment designers. “Our impact on the contemporary history of the live entertainment audience-to-performer relationship has been our hallmark and one of our guiding principles.”
Theatre Projects has been attached to over 1,500 projects in 80+ countries since 1957, each different and challenging in its own right. Each consultant at Theatre Projects has their own favourites, but landmark venues include the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (setting a new pr

UK - On Saturday 3 September, a team of entertainment technology industry professionals cycled from SFL in Reading to the Royal Albert Hall in time for PLASA Show in London. The annual BikeFest event raises money for industry charities, while nurturing cross-industry camaraderie in a fun and challenging way.
PLASA’s managing director Peter Heath, comments, “BikeFest is all about the people in our industry, many of which have suffered terribly over the last couple of years – but who are still absolutely committed to the entertainment technology industry. Through BikeFest, we not only raise funds for an increasingly important cause, we build bridges across the industry, which in turn strengthen the entire live sector.”
A team of approximately 20 cyclists braved the journey this time, representing some of the biggest names in the entertainment technology industry. The team of ‘racing snakes’ covered 80+ miles over the strenuous Surrey Hills. While the affectionately named ‘slugs’ team cycled 40 miles to London, traversing roads, gravel paths and the occasional field. Unexpected torrential rain added an extra challenge for both teams. Several others joined in for the last leg from Richmond Park. Together they raised nearly £2,000 for the #WeMakeEvents-supported charities, including Backup Tech, with donations still rolling in.
BikeFest London 2022 follows several industry bike rides in recent years coinciding with PLASA Show, which have all raised funds while promoting mental health awareness. Furthermore, the first Bikefest undertaken

UK - Barney Jameson has joined the leadership team of online platform Second Warehouse. Jameson takes on the role of chief marketing officer as the redesigned Second Warehouse rolls out across Europe and the United States.
Jameson is the founder and managing director of marketing agency The Inside Story. He will continue in that role alongside his duties as Second Warehouse CMO.
Second Warehouse has secured fresh funding, a new headquarters in the United States and strengthened leadership team including CEO Phil Van Peborgh, head of sales Will Lewis and founder Stuart Kerrison.
“Second Warehouse is very dear to my heart and I’ve been delighted to watch it make such a strong return from the challenges of the pandemic,” says Jameson. “There are big plans underpinning the platform and a strong team of industry leaders steering the way forward. I consider it a compliment to be on the squad.”

USA - There is less than two weeks left to order 2022 Behind the Scenes Holiday Cards at btshelp.org/holidaycards. Orders for card packs and personalised cards are due by 27 September. This year’s collection features a mix of seven different designs created especially for the charity by Phil Foster, Jennifer Gillette, Robert Mendoza, Nancy Orr, Todd Potter and Lauren
Cards are available in a variety of options: card packs of 10 with a standard greeting, personalised cards with a company logo and custom message, and electronic cards in multiple file formats and an array of price points starting at $20.
Sending a BTS holiday card helps spread the word about the charity and lets your recipients know you are supporting industry colleagues who are ill or injured and the BTS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative.
It’s important to let family, friends and colleagues know you are thinking of them and these unique holiday cards say it perfectly. They are also a personal and inexpensive way for a company to keep in touch with its customers and let them know “We are here and you are important to us.”
Orders for printed cards will be taken until 27 September, 2022 to arrive by late November. Electronic card orders will be taken until 16 December 1. View and order cards at www.behindthescenescharity.org/holidaycards.
For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, apply for a grant, or see the mental health tools