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PLASA Show 2025 - Banner - June-Aug 2025

Business

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A leading global consumer brand recently asked international production company, Imagination, to create the ultimate wow factor for the 3,000 attending its annual meeting - held at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Imagination’s Chris Slingsby, who conceived the innovative set, turned to Creative Technology to draw on its inventory of audio-visual support equipment, anchored at equipment locations throughout the US and UK. In London, Dave Herd (who co-project managed the event with Joe Conway) worked closely with Imagination, ensuring that all software would be compatible with the various screen resolutions and aspect ratios. The result was one of the most elaborate stage sets ever designed, involving no fewer than 552 panels of Barco’s iLite 6mm LED panels and 318 panels of their iLite 10.

Presenters Charlie Rose and Donald Sutherland - along with fellow guests inc

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Edwin Shirley Staging (ESS), the international staging and structures specialist headquartered in London, has successfully achieved the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Assurance (QA) standard. This award caps over 12 months of work within the business to overhaul its procedures and systems and bring them into line with the internationally-recognised organisational standard.

The company embarked on the process after discussing with clients what key properties would provide assurances to them regarding working with businesses in the future. It became apparent from this research that a growing number of clients from the private and public sectors, based in the UK as well as the other international markets served by ESS, that the ISO QA standard provides an acceptable objective measure of how a business deploys its services. As with all ISO-accredited businesses, ESS will undergo regular audits by a

PLASA Show 2025 - Banner - June-Aug 2025

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Audio-Technica has revamped its European website, adding a number of new sections and features to make its online presence even more user friendly. The new site, which can be found at the address given below, includes a comprehensive library of product information, a guide to discontinued products and an easy to use ‘UK stockist locator’ facility, which lists over 1000 dealers and provides on-line maps and directions.

Visitors to the new site will also be treated to a dynamic magazine service, which delivers breaking news of product launches and high profile applications of A-T products direct to their desktops. Other features of the site include a monthly competition to win A-T products, a technical help desk, a comprehensive product review section and a new area entitled ‘Out There’ which lists the artists and bands who are using A-T products either in the stu

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The organisers of the Showman’s Show 2002 (Newbury Showground, 16-17 October) have announced that Europe’s largest exhibition for outdoor event professionals is getting bigger this year. Following the success of the 2001 show at Newbury and the inaugural Northern Showman’s Show at the North Yorkshire Showground earlier this year, the interest for the 2002 show is already very strong. In one of the busiest years seen in the outdoor event marketplace in recent years, the show organisers, Lance Publications Ltd, are looking towards incorporating new developments and responding to industry trends.

"We will be making a few changes to the layout of the showground," said organiser Stephen Lance. "These are in part being made to accommodate increased demand for space and partly to make the show more effective for visitors and exhibitors. Even after all these ye

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Prolyte distributor Aerial Rigging Inc recently delivered the first Prolyte ST-roofsystem in its maximum configuration of 77’ 55"x 51’ 2"x 48’ 2" to Pro Stage West for its Las Vegas office. Pro Stage immediately put the system into use - the first set-up was at Sam Boyd Stadium at UNLV in Las Vegas in conjunction with Xtreme 107.5. The concert featured a total of 15 acts, including Cypress Hill and Alice in Chains.

Aerial Rigging also supplied Pro Stage of America earlier this year an MPT-roofsystem of 47' 4" x 42' x 30' 5" (12 x 10). Blake Ferry, president of Pro Stage West and Pro Stage of America commented: "We have been working with Prolyte truss for some years now. We have become very spoiled because the truss using conical connectors goes together so quickly, which has saved me a lot of time and money on the set up of a production.

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CP Sound, the Middlesex-based creative sound and lighting designer and installer, has just completed its latest club installation - at Square 11 in Northampton. This intimate new nightspot is independently owned by Carl and Paul Bennymore. The interior design is clean looking and straightforward and the musical policy is aimed at a broad clientele. CP Sound’s Colin Pattenden again chose the familiar combination of JBL speakers and MAD lighting fixtures. "We have had many successes with this kit, especially in clubs - it’s a formula that works," he says.

The club is split into two floors. Downstairs, Colin placed JBL Control 28 speakers and SB2 subs in the walk-in area, with more of both speakers at the far end of the bar. This section of the club is a heavy-duty wine bar, open every night of the week. It has a small dancefloor, lit with MAD Scans and MAD QStars, a

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With over three months still to go until the show opening, the first Music China - the International Trade Fair for musical instruments and services - is completely sold out. Over 260 companies from all over the world have signed up to be a part of China’s first major international event for the musical instrument industry in Shanghai, the commercial heart of the world’s fastest developing nation. They will cover 15,000 square metres of exhibition space.

"We are in the enviable position of simply having no space left to sell, but the applications are still coming in," says Cordelia von Gymnich, vice-president of Communications & Leisure Fairs for Messe Frankfurt, co-organiser of the show with Intex Shanghai and the China Musical Instruments Association (CMIA). "It is unprecedented to have a waiting list for a debut international event in China. The overwhelmi

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Lamba plc, the UK distributor of Stanton products, provided 520SK cartridges for all the DJ decks at Glastonbury’s Glade Arena. The cartridges were specified by Glade’s production manager Biff, of dance event specialists Future Underground Nation, working with Glastonbury’s area co-ordinator, Luke Piper. Biff has been closely associated with this area, which is part of the Field of Avalon, over the past three years. This year, between 4,000 and 5,000 assembled at the Glade’s orbital outdoor stage, where Eat Static headlined on the Friday, Dreadzone on the Saturday, with Alex Patterson and Steve Hillage’s Loophead topping the bill on the Sunday.

"I wanted a diversity of electronics, and Stanton fitted three sets of decks in three locations - the main arena, the Dome café and the Backstage bar," he said. "These cartridges performed flawlessly

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Screenco provided a 28sq.m Barco Dlite 10 LED display to Bloomberg, the international information media company, for use at a combined World Cup and evening film event at their Finsbury Square facility in London. The display was rigged under a temporary curved dome, erected to provide protection for the viewers from the typical English summer weather. Using a mixture of Barco 3 x 2 and 2 x 2 fast set-up rental structures, a display of 14 tiles wide by 10 tiles high was constructed. Terrestrial feeds for both the BBC and ITV provided the daytime World Cup football coverage, and in the evening the screen was used in a traditional cinema environment running well-known feature films from a DVD source.

Graham Filmer, Screenco director and general manager said: "We chose the Barco Dlite 10 for this high profile and prestigious event with Bloomberg because we wanted to offer the client

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Edwin Shirley Staging (ESS), the international staging and structures specialist, is one of four organisations sponsoring the current 'Private' contemporary art installation, taking place at the Aldgate Pump House in the City of London. The other sponsors are City North PLC, Cobra Beer and westside design and print.

The exhibition is curated by Swapna Tamhane and introduces the work of the artists Zeyad Dajani, Anthony Gross, David Gyscek and Seema Rao. The artists have come together to produce a series of site-specific works that explore the dialogue between the individual and the public. The venue offers visitors an intrusive view into a piece of London’s Victorian history.

ESS’s Stephen Court told us: "We were approached to provide support for the exhibition by Seema, one of the artists, and Swapna, the curator. We were able to assist the event by providing practi

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The Audio Resources Group is to launch a fully-equipped demonstration and training suite at Unit 62, Mochdre Enterprise Park, Newtown to pass on their expertise. Audio Resources will also sell a specific range of loudspeaker systems to professional end-users, some of which are designed and manufactured by Shermann Pro Audio, together with sound equipment from other companies.

"We are encouraging agency agreements on various products so that we can put together complete sound systems, but with the type of support that retail outlets seem unable to offer," explained Mark Astley, MD of Audio Resources. "To us, support is just as important as making the sale, therefore the new facility will not be a basic music shop or audio supermarket. We want customers to come along and visit our demonstration and training suite. The emphasis will be supply of the correct gear for a custo

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Sabine manufacturer of the patented FBX Feedback Exterminator and the innovative new 2.4 GHz Spread Spectrum Wireless Systems, has appointed Audio-Technica Limited, of Leeds, England, as it’s exclusive distributor for the United Kingdom. Audio-Technica Limited will distribute all of Sabine’s professional audio and wireless products.

"We have admired Sabine equipment for some time," said Paul Maher, managing director of Audio-Technica Ltd, "and we are very excited to include Sabine DSP products within the product range that we offer."

Sabine’s president, Doran Oster, added: "Partnership is the key element in this agreement. Audio-Technica is an undisputed leader in the microphone world . . . Our customers in the UK will benefit from the synergy of this new situation."

(Lee Baldock)

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Kylie Minogue’s current ‘Fever’ tour is being heard through a Meyer Sound line array PA system from Capital Sound, featuring XTA digital signal processing throughout. Capital Sound is providing a combination of Meyer Sound M3D and the new, compact M2D line array systems, along with Meyer M3D line array subwoofers, UPAs for front-fills and barrier fills and a combination of Meyer UPM1Ps and UPA1Ps for fills on the large central stage thrust.

All the Meyer cabinets are self-powered, and are configured into various zones. The system consists of two main left and right hangs, followed by two further 90° dispersion side hangs (all a combination of M3D and M2D) designed to extend clear reproduction all the way round, since all of the shows are completely sold out. For the Manchester and Wembley shows a third hang supplemented the central rear area coverage. Capital’s

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Three North Wales companies are the latest to join the Welsh Development Agency’s prestigious Commitment to Innovation (CTI) programme. Apple Dynamics Ltd of Mold (the training division of PLASA member company Apple Sound, specialising in audio and acoustics), Clogau Gold of Bodelwyddan, and NWP Electrical Ltd of Kinmel Bay, have each joined the programme, which is designed to build a core group of the most go-ahead organizations in Wales as exemplars of what can be achieved by innovative business practices.

Members of CTI commit themselves to innovation in their corporate strategies and business plans and to implement innovation in their daily businesses practices. As a result they have been able to prove that innovation has helped strengthen their business, secure new orders, create new employment and provide new investment opportunities. To date, 113 companies from throughout

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Following a year of testing at the National Theatre in London, IES sine wave dimmers were recently used for the first time at a public performance in the UK. Paul Pyant’s lighting design for the play Frozen, which opened at the Cottesloe Theatre on 3 July, includes two rows of five 12V Par 56 battens - famed for their powerful light-curtain effect, but notorious for the buzzing of the lamp filaments. Two of the battens, which comprise nine 12V 500W lamps in series, are typically connected in pairs to create a 216V load and powered from a 5kW dimmer which has been trimmed-down to give a suitable voltage. However, the pulsing waveform of a triac dimmer causes the filaments to resonate audibly, and this can be distracting in a silent drama theatre setting.

Mike Atkinson, senior project manager at The National Theatre, said: "We had tried triac dimmers before, but the noi

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Lamba plc has appointed Marquee Audio as a Stanton distributor to the specialist nightclub trade. Speaking of the new development, Marquee’s managing director Spencer Brooks said: "We have been observing Stanton’s steady evolution while at the same time seeking to consolidate a front end for our club installations. What really triggered this alliance was when Stanton launched their digital output turntable (STR8-100) and the digital VRM-10 mixer - and now Final Scratch is the icing on the cake." He added: "With the aid of our digital pro demonstration facilities, we believed we could create added exposure for Stanton at the top end of the club market."

Gerry Frost, Lamba’s sales director, also felt the timing of the move could hardly have been better for his company. "This is an opportunity for Lamba to build on its long relationship with Mar

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Marquee Audio recently installed the entire sound system in the new Oyster Quay bar and grill at Poole Quay, Dorset, which opened at the end of May. With sister venue Toko already successfully established in Bournemouth, this is the latest brand from holding company, Richard Carr’s Future 3000, which also owns the dance venue The Opera House, the dance brand Slinky, and restaurant, Bliss, in Bournemouth.

Overlooking Poole Quay, the new bar was developed at a cost of £1.6m and designed by world-renowned architect and designer Stuart Jones of Design Mode. Stuart has blended soft nautical themes with up to date, modern architecture and interior styling, and, with a capacity of nearly 1000, Oyster Quay is now proving to be the new place to be seen in Poole. Divided into five zones, the exquisite venue is centred round a circular bar, which features an 80-gallon aquarium, and is comp

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Amek and Soundcraft have merged their operations to form a much stronger console group with a wide-ranging portfolio. Soundcraft sales director Adrian Curtis takes overall responsibility for sales of Amek and DAR, in addition to Soundcraft, with his existing team of Jon Ridel (Middle East and Asia), Karl Chapman (Europe) and Trevor Coley (UK and Ireland) heading up regional sales for the three brands. Inder Biant joins the team as product specialist and there are plans to strengthen the team further with new market and product specialists. All marketing activities for the group come under David Neal.

The combined portfolio means that the group has a much wider range of products and solutions for their existing markets. Manufacturing and production of the current portfolio of Amek and DAR products is being integrated into the Potters Bar facilities that already house Soundcraft and BSS

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Evenser Group, the UK's largest event services Group, has created a new division - Evenser Broadcast and Presentation Services. The creation of the new division will enhance the service offering available to clients through greater access to technical expertise, equipment and project management, say the company.

The division will incorporate the Group's international broadcast and audio-visual activities, including Charter Broadcast, Cinevideo, ABS and Blitz Communications, all of whom will continue to trade under their own names. David Carr continues as managing director of the broadcast businesses, whilst Paul Hutton, a director of Blitz Vision since 1993, will become the managing director of Blitz. The new division will be headed up by Evenser main board director Michael Breen.

Michael Breen comments: "This is a great opportunity for both the audio-visual and broadcast busine

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Luciano Pavarotti recently celebrated the 10th edition of his annual Pavarotti & Friends charity concert by gathering a star-studded cast in his hometown of Modena, Italy. The event, the proceeds of which were donated to aid Angolan children, was telecast nationwide in prime time by RAI, the national Italian broadcasting company. Along with solo performances by Sting, Lou Reed, Grace Jones, James Brown, Cuba's charismatic Augusto Enriquez and his Mambo Band; Italian chart-toppers Zucchero, Andrea Bocelli, Raf and Elisa also performed duets with the world-renowned tenor. Many of the performances included accompaniment by a 70-piece orchestra and a children's choir.

For the second successive year, the Mackie HDR24/96 was chosen to record and broadcast the event. "These units played a fundamental role in the broadcast sound," explained Pavarotti's sound engineer John Pellowe, wh

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Russian installation specialist Elarcon has recently completed a major audio system upgrade for the main concert hall of Moscow's prestigious Cosmos Hotel. The 1000-seat hall is employed for a broad range of applications, from upscale rock performances and classical concerts to corporate events and international conferences. The 2002 schedule includes the Russian State Circus, the Moscow City Ballet and the Russian Imperial Ballet.

Elarcon, which is the installation division of prominent Russian distributor, MixArt, was asked to supply a system that reflected the full flexibility of the venue. As a result, a 40-channel Allen & Heath ML5000 live sound VCA console was selected to perform all front-of-house and monitor mixing tasks. In addition to its eight VCA groups, the mixer has a flexible output structure, allowing any combination of up to 16 auxiliary sends and up to eight audio sub

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Edwin Shirley Staging (ESS), the international staging and structures specialist, has just completed another project for an event that is synonymous with the quintessential English summer season, the 2002 Henley Festival in Oxfordshire. The Festival, which took place in mid-July, hosted a diverse array of artists over a five-day period at one of England’s best known event sites, which is also home to the famous international regatta. ESS, having already this year been present at Epsom, Ascot and Wimbledon, and with Goodwood still to come, see 2002 as a successful year for the company in terms of servicing these classic calendar fixtures.

ESS delivered a 20m Orbit stage, called the floating stage as it was positioned in the Thames facing back to the riverbank, as well as producing a 14m wide, four-bay clear-panelled Superstructure building christened the ‘Transparium’

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Cinematographer Jon Driscoll contacted XL Video UK to supply projectors, playback and a control system for the dramatic projected backdrops he designed and produced for Up For Grabs. The production - specifically the projections - wowed the packed audiences flocking to see Madonna’s West End debut at the Wyndhams Theatre. The 10-week run was fully sold out in advance.

Driscoll was originally approached to design backdrops for the project - directed by Laurence Boswell, designed by Jeremy Herbert - by John Owens, a director of Aura Sound, the production’s sound consultants. Driscoll had previously worked with Up For Grabs’ sound designer Fergus O’Hare (who’s also a director of Aura Sound) at the National Theatre. Driscoll worked on the projection design and production with his colleague Richard Overall, who edited and post-produced the origina

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The Waterfront Nightclub in Arbroath has turned to Turbosound to boost its sound quality, installing a sizeable Floodlight Series system to handle the club's mix of dance music and live sound. The installation was handled by Blue Audio, and took place over a two-month period earlier this year.

The PA system is divided into two elements: the live stage set-up comprises a left/right rig of Floodlight Series TFL-760Ht trapezoidal loudspeakers, complemented by TSW-718 folded horn bass enclosures stacked directly below, plus TFM-202 passive two-way floor monitors. Overall system control is provided via the LMS-D6 digital loudspeaker management system. The second system is designed to create a surround-style set up for the DJ, using one Floodlight Series TFL-760Ht positioned on each corner of the dance floor, with a TSW-718 directly below to cover the rear area. Blue Audio also provisioned a

  1. A busy summer for Stagetec
  2. Arbiter in new Revolutions
  3. Digigram completes acquisition of Innova Son
  4. LGH flies the flag for England
  5. Event Lighting and Design and the Hong Kong Festival
  6. Sennheiser sponsors Glastonbury new bands stage
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