Entertainment Design magazine has announced that the 2001 Broadway Lighting and Sound Masterclasses, scheduled for 5-9 December in New York City, have been cancelled. In a statement issued on the magazine’s website, the organizers said: "Due to a variety of circumstances, not the least of which is the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, publisher Jacqueline Tien, editorial director David Barbour, and editor David Johnson have decided that the classes could not be presented with the kind of quality the industry has come to expect from this annual event."
Jacqueline Tien further commented: "This was a difficult decision for us to make, but we feel it is the right decision." She added: "We will now re-channel our energies toward celebrating and supporting our industry and friends at this year's EDDY Awards, in Entertainment Des
Audio-Technica is giving its support to a young up-and-coming band following their triumph in this years York’s Best of the Bands competition. Organized by the performing arts department of the City of York council, the competition attracts support from local, national and international companies, and this is the second year Audio-Technica has joined the list of sponsors. Meniscus, the winning band whose members all attend St. Peters school, managed to see off stiff competition from 11 other acts to claim this year's crown, and walked away with a raft of prizes. Among these was an Audio-Technica voucher to be redeemed at A-T dealer and co-sponsor of the competition, MOR Music of York. Other prizes included studio time, musical instruments and outboard equipment. The band, who also won the event last year under the name of 'The Switch', are; Alex Brandon-Davies on vocals and bass
Vari-Lite's electrical engineering manager Jim Bornhorst will receive the Wally Russell 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award at the LDI Show this year. Bornhorst, who has been with Vari-Lite since its inception, helped launch the automated lighting industry when he and a team of engineers developed the first Vari*Lite automated luminaires for a Genesis concert that took place 20 years ago last month. "To be acknowledged by your peers is something to be cherished. But to receive the 'Wally' Award is special because I'm proud just to be named in the same company with the likes of Wally Russell, all the past winners of the Award, and fellow 2001 nominees David Cunningham and Jimmy Fuller," said Bornhorst, Vari-Lite's two-time EMMY Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering. "This is truly an incredible honor."
The annual Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award
Prolyte Products Group, the aluminium truss manufacturer from Holland, took the opportunity offered by the recent PLASA Show at Earls Court to reveal that the Stage Electrics Group had joined their UK distribution network. "This is a significant appointment for us and the other distributors in our network," said Prolyte’s sales director Menze van der Sluis, "and marks the culmination of 12 months’ hard work in setting up our multi-point distribution policy in the UK. Stage Electrics Group is a major player in the UK and European markets and we are delighted that they have decided to join our sales and rental network - it means that our sales re-organization in the UK is now complete, and that users will receive full product support nationally. Stage Electrics, along with our other distributors worldwide, will receive full technical back-up from our sales and en
L&SI talked to sound designer Rick Clarke about his choice of automated audio control system for the new West End production of Peggy Sue Got Married.
The production, adapted from the Francis Ford Coppola’s 1986 film, is significantly enhanced by Rick Clarke’s sound design, which sees Level Control Systems’ Matrix 3 audio mixing/processing engine used for the first time in a West End musical. Supplied by Orbital (from UK distributor The Sound Dept), the system features LCS’ VRAS technology - the most recent development in electroacoustic enhancement of architectural spaces.
This consists of an electro-acoustic processing system built around a network of microphones feeding into multi-channel digital reverberators, and out again to loudspeakers. Clarke’s goal at the Shaftesbury Theatre was to take an acoustically ‘dead’ room and make it come a
Two new studios to be developed in the Channel 7 Melbourne Broadcast Centre are to be fitted out in a turnkey operation by Coemar De Sisti Australia. The installation will include full mechanicals (hoists, etc), dimming, control, DMX distribution system, power, leads and accessories and all luminaries. The Product Studio, to be used for drama and variety productions, will feature a full set-up of De Sisti hoists, with 36 self-climbing 140kg SWL units, 3 Modular Cyclorama 180kg SWL units, 4m Pantographs with a 14kg SWL. All hoist controls are also provided as part of the installation. Lighting for the Product Studio comprise a wide range of De Sisti luminaires including Magis 300/500/650 PO fresnels, DesiLux Fluorescent PO video luminaires with DMX on/off control, Giotto PO twin-compartment Cyclorama units and Duccio four-compartment groundrow units. Several zoom profiles are also part of
Leading pro audio distributor Shuttlesound has reported its best ever PLASA Show, with a healthy crop of orders across all product ranges. The single largest order came from Fenwick Mobile Exhibitions (now known as FMX). Specialists in the supply of mobile stages complete with fully engineered sound and lighting systems, FMX already owned the largest X-Array system in the UK. With the PLASA purchase owner Ron MacGillivray has increased his inventory by another two thirds to make a very substantial system comprising 40 cabinets of varying types, 16 P3000 amplifiers and 4 Klark Teknik DN9848 system processors. According to MacGillivray: "We now have a system large enough to cope with outdoor events for several thousand people, of which there are many in this part of the world. We are also looking to increase the capacity of our existing trucks now that we have more equipment available
Architectural lighting specialists i-Vision supplied equipment, crew and expertise to lighting designer Lee Forde to illuminate a spectacular urban backdrop to the Liverpool section of the BBC’s recent Proms In The Park broadcast. Liverpool’s event - part of a quartet of shows also staged in London, St Austell and Gateshead - was located in William Brown Street near St Georges Hall in the heart of Liverpool’s Cultural Quarter. The concert was promoted by Liverpool City council, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Capital Of Culture bid, and was attended by a crowd of over 4000, entertained by the LPO conducted by Gerard Schwartz.
The buildings to the right of the audience as they looked stage-ward are the majestic NMGM Museum and the Liverpool City Council Central Library. After the first Liverpool Proms event last year, the BBC realized that they were missin
Arbiter Pro Audio has supplied Essex-based Xtreme AV with a substantial order of Powersoft digital Digam Q and D Series amplifiers. Arbiter is exclusive UK distributor for the Italian manufacturer. The Powersoft range is lightweight - just 9.5kg per un it - as well as powerful and reliable, say Arbiter. It draws a lower voltage than other amplifiers, making it ideal for environments where power is not so abundant. The Powersoft range is suited to a range of pro audio applications, from installations to touring, clubs to theatres and multi-purpose venues, and Arbiter saw a massive interest in the range at the recent PLASA Show.
Extreme AV has just completed a Powersoft installation at the latest Elbow Rooms venue in Bristol. This successful brand - part of an ongoing roll-out - is themed as a late licence hybrid environment, stylishly designed, with a loungey atmosphere, pool tables, mu
Exhibition and conference lighting specialist Stage Light Design has had a hectic start to the autumn, with shows for Hewlett Packard, Cogent at the DSEI show, Logitec and the ECTS Show and the Awards Ceremony at Frankfurt Motor Show. SLD made LWT Studios on the South Bank into a trendy lighting environment for the latest Hewlett Packard product launch in a show produced by Studio 9. The product was a new wireless computer link. SLD’s Alastair Crooks designed the show, utilizing the studio’s in-house television lighting equipment, fixtures and facilities, and prepared the show in advance on screen with SLD’s WYSIWYG facilities. He also used WYSIWYG to visualize the show for the client.
The technical production and set design was by Studio 9 Conference Services. It featured a home scene, an office scene and three 3 x 5 metre pods, initially screened off, for a reveal.
Stagetec enjoyed a busy PLASA Show, displaying a whole raft of new lighting products from Compulite, LSC and others. Several deals discussed at the show are already turning into solid orders and deliveries. Stagetec has supplied and installed a new Compulite lighting control system to the Towngate Theatre in Basildon, Essex. The system consists of a Compulite Ovation 4D console, plus a Compulite 4D tracking back-up system, complete with a new Rigger’s Remote and the CompuCAD 3D lighting design software package. To minimize disruption to the theatre’s schedule, the DMX output from the consoles was converted to the old Compulite C105 protocol so the existing demultiplexers could be re-used. The Compulite was specified by the theatre’s Technical Manager Tim Lloyd and follows Stagetec’s recent supply of a new Soundcraft M Series mixer to the venue.
Color Kinetics Inc has announced the awarding of its fifth US patent (#6,292,901). This newest patent covers Color Kinetics' new Smartjuice intelligent power technology and encompasses methods and systems for multiplexing power and data over conventional wiring, allowing for control of intelligent digital light fixtures. Smartjuice technology can be found in the company’s Juice Box product, which is used to enable advanced control of the company’s award-winning iColor MR lamps.
Smartjuice is a new technology that adds a new level of lighting control and design options in many environments, such as retail, architectural, and residential. Producing advanced dynamic lighting effects before Color Kinetics Smartjuice technology meant adding a data cable to the existing wiring setup. But Color Kinetics’ patented Smartjuice technology multiplexes power and data on one wire s
Film, art, hosiery and fashion was the combined theme for Laser Grafix on 17 September 2001 with a spectacular film projection on to London’s Natural History Museum. The occasion was the first night of London Fashion Week and Julian Roberts, designer for the fashion label 'nothing nothing', was launching his label 'Julian And'. Laser Grafix of Royston used three DLP 10SX Digital Video Projectors and ran the show footage from a Beta Cassette - with the equipment installed within the (now famous) Laser Grafix projection vehicle sited directly in front of the Museum. A 2000W outdoor sound system was used to playback live mixing by a Japanese student who works for the Fashion agency nothing nothing. The film was art directed by Julian Roberts who described his featured collection as "based on all the ‘heroes and anti-heroes’ who influence my fashion world, whether I li
Maltbury Ltd has taken the decision to sell off the hire part of its business to a newly established company, LEL Hires Ltd. Run by Jason Tucker, proprietor and managing director of LEL Enterprises Ltd, the new venture will operate from Rochester, Kent, whilst managing director Philip Sparkes and Maltbury sales will remain based in London.
Since 1995, the sales and hire divisions of Maltbury have been managed under one roof by Philip and his team, offering both high-quality products and service to clients. "We are delighted to have Jason taking over responsibility for the hiring out of Maltbury's staging systems," said Philip Sparkes, who will now be able to give his undivided attention to the sales side of the business. He added: "This streamlining of the business allows us to continue to provide our clients with an efficient and professional service while at the same t
One of Amsterdam’s latest landmarks is its futuristic stadium, the Amsterdam Arena. Home to Holland’s most famous football club, Ajax, the Arena has also created a number of opportunities for developers. Since its completion in 1996, the surrounding area has fast become a hotspot of urban renewal, with an ever-widening range of restaurants, cafes and hotels, malls, cinemas, and business centers.
One such development is Amsterdam’s new design emporium, Villa Arena. Conceived as a stylish home furnishings center, the building includes over 70 designer stores, and is intended to address the growing reluctance of shoppers to spend time browsing in stores, and to counter the allure of the cyber mall by offering a degree of entertainment, and a range of ancillary, non-retail facilities. With this multi-functionality in mind, Villa Arena required a lighting design that could
The BEAB (British Electrotechnical Approvals Board) and The Lighting Association have joined forces to offer luminaire manufacturers quality ENEC testing and certification, enabling them to gain access to European markets and to international markets via the CB Scheme. The ENEC (European Norms Electrical Certification) Mark is a European Certification mark of Conformity, based on Harmonised European Safety Standards. Currently accepted by 20 European countries, the ENEC 19 Mark for luminaires demonstrates that a product has been independently tested by the Lighting Association and certified by BEAB. In addition to product testing, annual factory inspection and market surveillance are integral requirements of the ENEC Mark, providing maximum confidence to everyone in the supply chain.
International CB testing and certification is also available to manufacturers, helping them to access m
Trantec has appointed Helsinki-based F-Musiikki Oy to handle their award-winning radio mic systems exclusively in Finland. F-Musiikki Oy is the biggest MI/sheet music wholesale/retail company in the Nordic countries. F-Audio is the pro audio division, responsible for the distribution of Trantec and other brands, such as Yamaha (MI and pro audio), Steinway & Sons, Fender, Casio, Manley, DW, Hughes& Kettner, Sabian, Martin and many more. "We first saw Trantec products at last year’s PLASA Show," commented Petri Mäntysalo. "Our product portfolio covered all other areas of pro audio with the exception of radio mics - so now our roster is complete."
Petri says that Trantec IEMs have already found homes amongst the leading performers in Finland, including Children Of Bodom (S4000IEMs) and Tommi Läntinen Band (S5000IEMs). "We are now looking forward to broade
Top UK girl band, Atomic Kitten, performed their first concert to a sell-out crowd recently at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, and supporting them at their debut show was an array of Martin Professional fixtures. Lighting designer Barry Halpin used Bandit Lites UK to supply the Martin fixtures, along with generic fixtures and control equipment for the show. Halpin chose MAC 600 wash lights, MAC 250s and his favourite, the MAC 2000. Barry commented: "I know the MAC 2000 and its capabilities well after using them with Westlife earlier this year. I knew that in a venue such as Shepherds Bush Empire they would really cut through and be very dominating - and sure enough they were. One of the girls in the band has an allergy which prevents me from using smoke or haze during the show, so the beams don’t look as pronounced as normal, but they still show up, better than any other
Sennheiser UK has sold the first DAS Audio Compact 1s in the UK to Audio and Corporate Event Management (ACM) Ltd. The corporate event and presentation company has expanded its extensive range of DAS sound systems with the addition of a pair of the very latest Class-D self-powered three-way full-range cabinets. ACM’s high profile corporate client list includes several motor industry dealerships for whom it regularly stages regional launch events for new models, including Vauxhall and Mercedes, as well as premier league football clubs. Director Tony Martin comments: "It’s actually quite a shock to hear such a big sound emanating from a genuinely portable system and we’re expecting to use Compact 1s at many of our forthcoming events - especially as we often need to keep sight-lines free from speaker cabs."
Such is their confidence in DAS Audio products that To
Despite being one of Auckland’s oldest pubs, the Kings Arms Tavern - established in 1870 - is also one of the city’s most popular youth-oriented live venues. The room, which hosts up-and-coming bands during the week, headline acts at weekends and a varied line-up on Sunday afternoons, recently underwent a major upgrade of its house PA system. The new Proel system was sold by Junior Fitz of United Sound Agencies and installed by Proel distributor Jansen Professional Audio & Lighting in just two days, to accommodate the venue’s busy performance schedule.
The venue’s owners had been using a hired system for some years, and were anxious to replace it with a rig that would occupy less of the limited stage space and improve both audience sightlines and sound quality. The new system consists of two Proel TFL212P double 12" full-range speakers with 1.4" compre
At the start of 1998, finance company Nykredit invited a number of architects to participate in a competition aimed at finding the best design for its new Head Office in Copenhagen. The winner, Schmidt, Hammer and Lassen, presented a building with its front and back façades made entirely of glass. Nykredit wanted to create a building of high architectural quality. Completed in October 2001, the architects have more than matched their demands. Only half the building is used as office space; the rest is given to a large, central atrium with a glazed façade, which makes the ten-story building very transparent.
The building’s northeast and southwest sides are defined by 24 horizontal ribs of granite, two per floor. By day these ribs serve to give definition to an otherwise virtually transparent building: with the onset of night, however, the architects’ clean lines were disru
UK band Afro Celt Sound System, currently promoting the release of their album Further in Time and the single When You’re Falling (featuring guest vocalist Peter Gabriel), are mid-way through an extensive world tour using their Sony DMX-R100 digital console, supplied by Total Audio Solutions, for all in-ear and on-stage monitor mixes. The console has impressed the band’s long-standing monitor engineer Kris Layton: "To be able to take 48 channels and run nine monitor mixes with full scene-set automation is superb. I also love the way you can mix sends on the faders rather than knobs - with very powerful hands-on EQ and dynamics. Those kinds of things are very important to monitor engineers and set the DMX-R100 apart from other digital boards we considered."
Layton explained that the desk represents a big step forward for the band, especially in the fast turn-aroun
Orchard Road in Singapore is the main thoroughfare of this City State. Rivalling Rodeo Drive as a retail nirvana, Ngee Ann City is its focal point, a modern shopping plaza filled by the world’s leading designer brands. It was also the site chosen by one of the most highly respected amongst them - Chanel - to launch its new collection to the Far-Eastern world.
One major problem though. Being the tropics, most afternoons the plaza is deluged by rain of unbelievable ferocity - not the ideal environment then for a fashion show. Which is why event producers Faber Image, and particularly director Robert Seah, began to give this conundrum some serious thought. "This was to be a big show, a reception followed by the fashion parade for a seated audience of almost 1,000. We needed a large, flexible structure, at least 40 by 20 metres, and it needed to be elegant as befits our client.&
Having announced a move to new premises to celebrate its 30th birthday during the 2001 PLASA Show, the White Light Group has announced the date of the move: White Light and the other members of the White Light Group will be open for business at 20 Merton Industrial Park, Jubilee Way, London SW19 3WL from Monday October 22nd 2001.
The new main telephone number for all of the Group companies, including White Light Hire, White Light Sales, The Moving Light Company, The Service Company, Modelbox and Colourhouse, will be +44 020 8254 4800. The new main fax number will be +44 020 8254 4801. The White Light Group's new home includes 35,000sq.ft of equipment storage and preparation space and 10,000 square feet of office space, allowing all the Group members to be brought together under one roof for the first time. The new building also offers ample parking and easy truck access, and is easy to