Our telephone numbers at PLASA Publishing have changed. The old number - 01323 642639- has now been replaced by a new number - 01323 418400. Callers to the old number will, for the time being, be redirected to the new one automatically. The PLASA office number remains 01323 410335, although each member of staff at head office will now also have a direct line. The fax number for the entire office - 01323 646905 - remains unchanged.
On Wednesday August 2nd, at the idyllic setting of Littlewick Green Cricket Club, Berkshire, Clarion Events (organiser of the PLASA Show) managed to retain the Hayden Laboratories Annual Pro Sound and Lighting Cricket Trophy. This shock result was thanks largely to poor weather and the unbounded generosity of opposition team captains and gentlemen, Simon Curtis (Hayden Laboratories) and Paul DeVille (Lighting Technology), not to mention Clarion's inclusion of some extremely talented individuals who, James Brooks-Ward assured us, do work for Clarion, honestly.This was the second annual competition for the Hayden Laboratories trophy, which Clarion (then P&O Events) won last year. Interest in the event had grown significantly since 1999, so that three teams took part this year - Clarion, Lighting and Sound. Taking the rather damp field were representatives of Hayden Labs, Lighting Technolog
Registration and sponsorships are now being accepted for High End Systems' Third Annual Gary Whittington Memorial Golf Tournament, in conjunction with LDI 2000 in Las Vegas. The shotgun/scramble event tees off at 8am on Thursday 19 October at the Las Vegas Paiute Resort at Snow Mountain, 10325 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd. Team prizes will be given, with individual prizes for longest drive men's and longest drive women's, closest to the pin and hole-in-one. If you would like to participate, the cost is $179 per player and deadline for registration is 1 October.
Generale Location has augmented its worldwide presence by establishing a London office. With its head office in Lyon and further offices in Paris, throughout France, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia and the Middle East, the company has expanded its impressive product range of temporary structures, exhibition stands, lighting, sound and audio-visual services to include daylight LED display systems with the purchase of 72sq.m of Megascreen, engineered and built by Unitek Displays Ltd. With the system's debut at the 'Bollywood' Film Awards held recently at the Millennium Dome, GL then flew the system to Singapore for the country's National Day Parade Celebrations. The company's UK's sales manager is Anita Tate (née Page), formerly of Screenco and Unitek. This expansion of Generale Location's network of offices takes place simultaneously with one of the company's biggest contracts to date, na
Mackie Designs Inc has completed the purchase of Canadian company Acuma Labs Ltd - a developer of real-time embedded systems for professional audio applications. Acuma specializes in digital signal processors, microprocessors, digital audio effects, analogue and digital software, real-time operating systems, interfaces, and hardware design. "Acuma provides focused digital technology resources to Mackie's engineering group," said Peter Watts, Mackie's executive vice-president of engineering, "enhancing our development of increasingly sophisticated professional audio products".Jamie Engen, Mackie's COO, added: "While not material from a financial standpoint, Acuma's world-class digital software and hardware engineering team does materially strengthen our engineering group. Acuma will help Mackie provide unique and powerful solutions to the professional audio commun
Ehitiki of Cyprus recently provided a Nexo sound system for the BBC Radio One Roadshow live broadcast from The Square in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The system consisted of six Alpha EMs and B1-18s per side together with two S2s, all controlled by a single NX241 Digital TDController. The broadcast, presented by DJ Dave Pearce featured performances by Dreem Teem, Mikee B, Timmi Magic & Spoony. The collaboration between Ehitiki and the BBC was described as a complete success and future work together for this type of event is looking very likely.
California-based Lumenyte International Corporation, a specialist in the development and manufacture of plastic fibre optic lighting systems, has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings with the confirmation on 3 August of its Plan of Reorganization. The case was filed after LIC's secured lender, Imperial Bank, declared a default claiming that LIC tangible net worth did not increase at the rate called for under Imperial's loan documents. Imperial subsequently moved for the appointment of a state court receiver which compelled LIC to institute the bankruptcy proceeding. The Board of Directors of LIC decided to institute the proceeding to allow LIC to restructure financial affairs through a plan of reorganization. LIC had approximately $1 million of general unsecured debt, as of the bankruptcy petition date, which was all current within agreed upon terms with LIC's vendors. LIC has
Gearhouse has underlined its expansion by setting up a new base in Bournemouth. The move will enable the company to service both the hotel trade in the seaside town, following the contract it signed recently with De Vere Hotels, in addition to events in mainland Europe. Heading up the new operation is the experienced Chris Eveleigh, whose background includes hotel management, a stint with British Airways and work for the AV and conferencing industries for AVA Europe. Gearhouse project manager Alex Quarterman, who will relocate from the company's Birmingham office, joins him in the new venture.
Vari-Lite International has sold its operations in Madrid to an investment group led by Pablo Galindo Aragon and Sonia Martin, the managers of VLPS Madrid. Terms of the transaction are being kept under wraps, but we understand it includes the sale of Vari-Lite Production Services SL, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary in Madrid, and all the Vari-Lite automated equipment located in Spain and Portugal. Additionally, VLPS Madrid has been appointed a dealer for Vari-Lite International in Spain, Portugal and Northern Africa.
A one-day conference will take place on Saturday 2nd September to celebrate the life and work of theatre architect Frank Matcham and the centenary of his beautifully-restored Gaiety Theatre and Opera House on the Isle of Man. The conference, to be held at the Manx Museum in Douglas, will focus upon the restoration of the Gaiety Theatre and the wider work of Matcham, who, during his amazing career, designed and rebuilt over 160 theatres in the British Isles -London's Palladium, Coliseum and Victoria Palace theatres, the Theatre Royal, Newcastle and the Olympia Liverpool amongst them. Speakers from the world of theatre history and architectural conservation will come together to discuss Matcham's influence. Delegates will also have an opportunity to see a performance of The Corsican Brothers on the Saturday evening, followed by a tour of the Gaiety Theatre on Sunday 3 September.
US-based Total Structures recently delivered and commissioned a 135ft (40m) x 60ft (18m) stage roof and sound wing structure to Kanai Scene Shop, its Japanese distributor. The roof, which has a trim height of 60ft (18m) and a load capacity of 70000lbs (32000kg), was immediately used for a seven-date sell-out tour for the renowned Japanese artist Yamazaki Masayoshi, with each show attracting audiences of around 30000. The purchase of the roof represents the latest step in Kanai's huge commitment to the modern show and theatre market. Kanai has over 100 years of experience in set design and manufacture for the national Kabuki.
Seelite has organised a series of workshops. The first covers the fundamentals of the software programme WYSIWYG. Lars Nissen and Leif Hellberg will introduce participants to WYSIWYG demonstrating how it was used on earlier projects such as the Danish Eurovision Song Contest 2000 and the Danish Grammys 2000. The briefings will take place in Aarhus on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 October and in Copenhagen on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 October. The company is also organising a rigging course, led by Martin Svane and Martin Corneliussen. Participants will become acquainted with subjects such as suspension of equipment, personal safety, choice and use of gear, and, finally, use of truss systems. The course is mainly theoretical, but includes a few practical features. This takes place on Copenhagen on Wenesday 1 November and Aarhus on Monday 2 November.
On July 1st, Summit Steel left town and relocated from London to new premises near Maidstone, Kent. Company director Jon Bray explained that as a result of the expanding business and the need for a larger distribution centre it was the only sensible option. "The increase in our company activity over the past couple of years led to the need for more storage space for the range of truss and rigging equipment we supply to the industry." However, although the company has chosen to move 'out of town', it will continue to provide a 'London-based' service for its dry hire customers. The new Kent warehouse will be used to supply all Summit's equipment, and is the dispatch point for major productions. The new warehouse capacity is four times greater than the London base, which facilitates faster servicing and turn around of gear.
Electrosonic has opened a new office serving the New York, Philadelphia and Washington area of the USA. Over the past few years, Electrosonic Systems Inc has achieved significant growth in the US audio-visual market, and the new office provides engineering design and support services to the company's corporate, design and consultant customers in the area. Although the unit is self-sufficient, it is able to draw on the resources of Electrosonic's existing USA offices (Minneapolis MN, Burbank CA, and Orlando FL). Conveniently located near Princeton, NJ, the office is managed by Andrew Kidd. Apart from a two year sabbatical, during which he acquired an MBA degree, Andrew has worked for Electrosonic for 22 years in engineering and project management positions around the world. The team at the New York Area office includes expert staff recruited locally, and experienced Electrosonic hands re-
ESTA, the US-based Entertainment Services and Technology Association, has announced the formation of a new Floors Working Group, which has been set up in order to address about the slipperiness and rigidity of stage floors and platforms - attributes which affect the safety of performing on these surfaces. The first meeting will take place prior to LDI 2000 on Wednesday 18 October at Harrah's, Las Vegas. Tim Hansen of Oasis Stage Werks is the working group chairman, and all interested parties are urged to attend.ESTA has also announced the start of work by its Electrical Power Working Group on a new American National Standard - BSR E1.16, Configuration Standard for Metal-Halide Ballast Power Cables, to help ensure compatibility between the detachable power cords used on various brands of discharge ballasts for studio luminaires. Interested parties are invited to join the Electrical Power
South Africa's Carnival City Casino, Johannesburg, is a multi-entertainment venue on a grand scale. The complex includes a casino with 1,750 slot machines, six cinemas, three bars, five restaurants, two coffee shops, six boutiques, a children's entertainments area, several business suites, two hotels and an arena with a capacity of 5,000 people for major events. As well as all this, the casino boasts one of the most impressive AV display solutions ever installed in this type of venue. Throughout the casino, large rear-projection screens show sports events, betting information plus output from a video jukebox. In the Salon Prive, guests can relax while watching video or a major sports event on the large rear projection screens. In the SuperSport Action Bar, four of dnp's new 120" wide angle screens above the bar are capable of showing multiple sporting events simultaneously. A fifth
When Kvaerner Masa-Yards, builders of the Costa Atlantica for Costa Cruises, were specifying equipment for both the ship's 1,170-seat main theatre and the 320-seat show lounge, they sourced the entire requirement of colour-changers from Wybron, supplied by Foki Oy of Helsinki. The main Caruso Theatre has Wybron Coloram IIs fitted on to 74 ETC Source Fours and 43 Source Four Par and Wildfire UV fixtures, while the Salone delle Feste Corallo, the smaller show lounge, has another 16 Coloram IIs. The Coloram II offers lighting designers up to 32 colours, which on the 7.5" model will scroll end to end in 2.5 seconds. The Costa Atlantica, which is now the flagship of the Costa line, will initially cruise the Mediterranean, operating weekly cruises from Venice to Greece and Turkey. In November she will transfer to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin seven-day cruises in the Caribbean.
As one of the more bizarre applications for a conference system, it could be argued that the Kuwait SAS hotel has got to feature centre stage! The SAS hotel wanted to provide conference facilities with a difference and decided that a traditional Dow boat would be in keeping with both the Kuwait shoreline and the sailing traditions of the local Marafie family to whom the boat is dedicated. It is the largest Dow boat that has ever been built and has been entered into the Guinness book of records to mark the achievement. Distributor AVC won the competitive tender which was valued in excess of £100,000 to supply the AV and conference facilities with the major part of the contract being the new MCW Wireless Conference System from beyerdynamic.
The New Technology Group of the Music Industry Forum has released a new report (backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport), which examines the impact of new technologies on the music industry. Entitled 'Consumers Call the Tune', the report makes a number of key recommendations namely that the Government creates an open competitive environment for on-line delivery by creating a common regulatory framework as well as a secure legislative framework for trading copyright on-line in the UK, Europe and beyond. It also highlights the need for ongoing research into consumer behaviour on-line and market statistics about e-commerce.
Leading UK stadia architects Arup Associates have been appointed to create a world-class design for Hull's £36m Community Super Stadium complex. The London-based architectural practice has already started work on the project and will unveil its vision for the stadium early in September. The company has an impressive track record in stadia design and is the winner of numerous architecture awards, including one for the 38,000 seat Johannesburg athletics stadium, completed in 1995.
High End Systems fixtures have been chosen to illuminate the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games on September 15 and October 1, respectively. Designed by LD John Rayment, the ceremonies at Olympic Stadium in Sydney's Olympic Park will be seen live by about 120,000 spectators and on television by an estimated three billion people worldwide. Rayment and lighting director Rohan Thornton are using 300 Cyberlight Turbo and 40 Cyberlight fixtures, as well as 136 Studio Beam luminaires, and 132 Studio Color 575 luminaires. To control the multi-layered system, the designers are using 14 Flying Pig Systems Wholehog II consoles. Bytecraft, the exclusive Australian distributor for High End Systems, is the event's general lighting contractor, and is working with two German companies, Procon and Sound and Light, to pull the massive lighting system together.
A new nightclub - Möndo - has opened in the town of Oban. This is the first purpose-built club in the Strathclyde town and the technical specification and installation contract for lighting and sound was won by Jools Hodgkinson and his new company Fairway Entertainments Ltd. Hodgkinson is a technical director and resident VJ at The Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh and also one of a new generation of club installers. He compiled the specification in conjunction with Lightfactor's team of Bill Jones, Dave Hartley and Peter Loosemore. This featured High End lighting fixtures for the core of the rig - six Studio Spot 250s and six Technobeams. Control for all dancefloor lighting fixtures is via a LightProcessor QCommander. Lightfactor also supplied the audio rig, consisting of Electro-Voice speakers - MTH mid tops, MTL1 subs, plus SX 300s for infills and the DJ booth; QSC PLX 1602 and 3402 amplifie
A new on-line company has been launched which offers for sale the latest range of DMX and audio control equipment. Chamtech, the company behind the site, will offer complete e-commerce facilities on line and will feature over 20 new products, with more being added in the near future. One of the most popular products featured on the site is the X-Buster, a fully specified hand-held DMX tester.
In a major expansion of its global projection rental fleet, the Avesco Group has placed a substantial order with Christie Digital Systems which will further extend Avesco's foothold as a leader in the rental staging marketplace. In a deal that will be worth more than US $5 million in total, Avesco will invest in a quantity of Christie Digital's projectors - specifically, the award-winning Roadie X10, Roadster X6 and Roadster X4. With initial delivery of 40 projectors, the new stock will be distributed between Creative Technology's expanding North American interests, while in the UK, holding company Avesco plc will place the equipment with its subsidiaries, including Creative Technology and Media Control Ltd.
