Peter Gabriel’s first North American tour in nearly 10 years opened in Chicago last week. The tour is due to cover around 22 cities in total and incorporates new material from his album ‘Up’ along with many of his favourite hits. Stage Technologies, who have provided automation for Westlife and Janet Jackson’s ‘All For You’ tour have recently collaborated with Total Fabrications, working with director/designer Robert Le Page in providing American Peter Gabriel fans with a spectacular centre stage production.
The show was structurally very complex to design, with the understage area required to act as the main storage facility for the tour. To optimize this space, Total Fabrications, who have provided set design for Kylie Minogue’s ‘Fever’ tour, incorporated a donut revolve made from aluminium. The 15m diameter revolve is thin enough
Show Presentation Services (SPS) has secured a further three-year contract as the preferred AV supplier at the Business Design Centre (BDC) in Islington, London. SPS, which has an in-house residency at the North London venue, has been working on events at the BDC over the last three years, and has most recently provided AV support for Cycle 2002 - The International Cycle Show.
Robin Coles, managing director at SPS, says: "We are delighted to be extending the working relationship with the BDC, and we hope that our expertise will continue to add value to all events at the venue. We have become an integral part of the way in which the BDC works and the two members of the SPS team that are permanently based at the BDC is testament to our close working relationship."
This sentiment is echoed by Dominic Jones, Managing Director at the Business Design Centre. He says: "We fe
The Barco Technology Showcase, held at Pinewood Studios on the 8-9 October provided an interesting opportunity to view the display specialist’s wide range of projection and display products, while the company’s experienced and knowledgeable staff were on hand to talk visitors through each product.
The Barco portfolio is certainly impressive, ranging from the compact state-of-the-art Cine Versum 80 home theatre projector through to the ScenergiX seamless wide screen and SLM Performance projectors - ideal for panoramic backdrops on stage.
Also on view to visitors was Barco’s iStudio, one of the most advanced all-in-one solutions for managed monitoring. Intended for use in studios, control centres, playout centres, uplink centres and for downlink monitoring, it has a high quality display with rear screen projection, a graphic controller and web-based operating softwar
15,000 people gathered at St George’s Plateau in central Liverpool to see a free mixed-media extravaganza that fused live performances, lasers, fireworks and an interactive snow storm. The event was promoted by Liverpool City Council and ensured that the city was turned on for an early white Christmas.
The event was designed and produced by LCC’s Cultural Events Unit, which sorted all the necessary technical and health and safety infrastructure and dealt with all site co-ordination. The show was run by event manager Nick Handford, working with Lee Forde (CEU Manager), Eddy Grant (CEU Operations Manager) and Kirstie Blakeman (CEU Events Officer). The City’s Christmas Illuminations were switched on by Stephen Gately, ex-Boyzone pop star.
The CEU team’s biggest challenge was squeezing an ambitiously-sized production into a small area full of beguiling and histori
Leading Norwegian rental company AVAB has completed a sold-out world tour with a-ha using a Meyer Sound line array PA system driven by XTA digital signal processing. Destinations on a-ha’s Lifelines tour included Europe, Russia and Brazil. They played to audiences as large as 30,000 in Riga, Latvia and 24,000 in Norway, and ended in the UK, including a date at Wembley Arena.
AVAB co-owner and senior technical director Sven Persson explains: "They came back from the cold, played a comeback tour in Germany, and haven’t looked back since. When we started work on this tour we did a lot of work in pre-production to make the show as good as possible, and it’s just been going up and up."
Persson, audio director for the tour, has been a key figure in a-ha’s resurgence. He has worked live with lead singer Morten Harket since his solo album ‘Wild Seed&rs
At the Swiss Expo 2002, 60 Clay Paky V.I.P. projectors illuminate the breathtaking pool in the ‘CY-City Pool’. The Cyberhelvetia stand is found in the Arteplage Biel-Bienne’s Forum at the Expo, combining the appearance of a traditional Swiss bathing complex with more modern forms of meeting and communicating in cyberspace. Today, going for a swim together no longer requires water: now, swimmers simply dive deep into the Cyberhelvetia stand’s multi-faceted ambience of extended virtual reality.
The stand holds 200 guests and can accommodate up to 600 visitors per hour. The project was developed by Wiesbaden’s ‘3 de Lux’ and required 130 metric tons of material extending over around 1150sq.m on two levels: the exhibits have utilized 110 metric tons of wood, 11.5 metric tons of glass, eight metric tons of steel and 12 kilometres of cable. The Wiesb
Bournemouth-based CPS Group supplied a substantial Renkus-Heinz sound reinforcement system for a one-off performance of Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables in the Windsor Hall of Bournemouth’s International Centre as part of its UK tour. Staged in association with Bournemouth’s Orchestras by Wing & A Prayer Theatrical Productions under licence from Cameron Mackintosh Overseas, the evening was a resounding success.
Sound designers Chris Caton and Richard Colegate from CPS specified the R-H system. Colegate explains: "We chose the R-H system as it enabled us to provide West End style sound in a large multi-purpose room with a very challenging, hard acoustic environment."
In order to provide a coherent and uniform soundfield across the whole auditorium, a combination of R-H Co-Entrant loudspeakers were deployed - based around 14 of the CE153 cabinets (
Freelancing in the 21st Century is the title of a seminar to be held at the next PSA Get Together, which will take place at A.C. Lighting facility in High Wycombe on 4 December 2002 at 7.30pm.
The evening will begin with a review of the current system of using freelancers as self-employed subcontractors, the rights and responsibilities of the freelancers and their clients and the potential problems now facing the Industry as a result of the abuse of the IR56 self-employment regulations, particularly the possibility of crippling tax arrears bills faced by some users of freelancers. Following this will be an examination of the alternative ways of freelancing, either as one-person Limited Companies or as Temporary Employees, taxed at source under PAYE. Finally there will be presentations of management and freelance points of view, followed by a question and answer session, drinkies and ni
Queen Mary’s, University of London has collaborated with six other British universities to establish the UK's first ever Digital Music Research Network. Linking experts in the fields of music, electronic engineering and computer science, the forum will aim to create a community which will be at the forefront of the very latest research in the rapidly growing field of digital music and its related technologies - including the creation, coding, distribution and delivery of musical audio. The network also hopes to act as a liaison point with the commercial music industry and music publishers.
Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the network brings together researchers from Queen Mary, University of London; City University, London; the University of Cambridge; the University of Glasgow; the University of Sheffield; the University of Surrey; and th
Mackie Designs Inc (NASDAQ: MKIE) announced today a new operating structure to enable the organization to weather the current economic downturn, as well as streamline its communication channels and reinvigorate the product development process.
According to Jamie Engen, president and CEO of Mackie Designs Inc: "Our goals are simple: bring Mackie closer to its customers in order to deliver the highest levels of service, develop more timely and relevant products, and enable the company to endure the current economic downturn and quickly return it to profitability."
In addition to workforce reductions to scale for increasing offshore production and the expansion of management accountability from a core group of senior executives to a broader team of functional leaders, the company realigned resources around three functional areas: Front Office (including sales, marketing and cu
With a debut album produced by legendary Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, their first US tour completed, and the Japanese leg imminent, indie-newcomers Haven are set to give Coldplay and Travis a run for their money.
The group’s US tour consisted of small venues - bars and clubs - where house systems had to be used. Ian ‘Hippo’ Williams, the band’s FOH engineer, explained: "I started this tour never having been to any of the venues before, and I didn’t have the luxury of any technical specs prior to us arriving. I felt it would be safer to look after myself by carrying my own control for the in-ear mixes for the four band members, two wedge mixes as backup and FOH. It also meant that there would be some consistency to the sound both for the band and myself. The problem I had was to get it all to fit in the bay of a bus along with the backline. But this p
Arbiter Pro Audio has supplied South London-based PECO Electronic Distributors with a large quantity of AKG WMS40 radio mic transmitter systems for installation into various Mecca bingo halls across the country. The most recent was completed last week in Bradford. Supplied together with three HT40 microphones per system, this is part of an ongoing updating-and-replacement scheme, encompassing all of the Mecca bingo hall sound systems across the country.
PECO's Derek Paul is familiar with AKG systems, and has already supplied several WMS PT40 body packs for staff use in assorted Holmes Place fitness centres. He therefore knows the product is reliable and robust, and was confident it would be a good choice for this very specific application.
PECO has been working with Mecca for the last nine years, building and supplying bingo hall and cashier monitors for installation by Mecca's own e
It's been an autumn of parties for the White Light Group - and winter looks set to continue the same way, but with one major difference: autumn was political parties, winter will be festive ones! In the political arena, White Light Group members were responsible for lighting both the Labour and the Liberal Democrat Party Conferences.
Having worked with the LibDems during their 2001 Election Roadshow, Colourhouse were once again entrusted with the Party's lighting, working again with lighting designer Tim Ball and set designers The Original Propshop. Meanwhile, the Labour Party conference called for lighting with a rig that included 50 moving lights and ten 5kW fresnels supplied by White Light and The Moving Light Company, with the installation overseen by a team led by production electrician Stuart Crane. At least one attendee seems to have thought that the rig was overkill: the Daily
Following the success of their established venues in London's Covent Garden, and more recently in Nottingham, Scottish and Newcastle have recently opened their third Long Island Iced Tea shop in Sutton which has been furnished with a significant Nexo/Crown audio system. TTL Music in Nottingham was responsible for the installation, specified by Birmingham-based consultancy, TASC.
In the style of many current venues, the Long Island Iced Tea shop is designed to cater for comfortable eating and drinking throughout the day before turning up the energy for the night time crowd with a DJ and a dance floor. The system therefore needs to be capable of providing high quality background music during the day, whilst still having the power and the poise to deliver the same high quality at levels required by club system at night. A Nexo PS system was specified both for the inherent quality of the p
Following the sale of its Vari*Lite product manufacturing and sales division to Genlyte Thomas Group (as reported on this site last week), Vari-Lite International, Inc has announced organizational expansion and investment plans for its rental division, VLPS Lighting Services.
"We have provided professional rental services to the entertainment industry for 21 years and we will continue to build on this well established foundation," commented Rusty Brutsche, CEO of Vari-Lite International, Inc. (to be renamed VLPS Lighting Services International, Inc.). "The sale of our manufacturing division enables us to focus all of our attention and resources on pursuing and developing growth opportunities in the rental market." VLPS will continue its strategy of providing equipment for rental along with commitment to customer service and support. The company will also continue
Pro Audio Light Middle East (PALME), the region’s first dedicated professional sound and lighting communications exhibition being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates next year, has expanded its portfolio to include systems integration solutions.
The move has been spurred by exhibitor demand, according to organizers IIR Exhibitions. With the rapid development in digital technologies, and the advent of converged communications, entire entertainment showcases are able to be controlled using centralised interfaces. "We are seeing the industry moving to a converged environment where everything from sound and lighting to audiovisual offerings are being integrated into a singular infrastructure," said Iain McLean, project manager PALME, IIR Exhibitions.
According to McLean, the move has been well received by the industry, both regionally and internationally, with key Gulf pl
Theatre Projects Consultants has worked all over the world, but never created a drive-through theatre - until now! At the eleventh hour, the Emir of Abu Dhabi has called in Theatre Projects Consultants to work on a new 500-seat waterfront theatre being built for the Royal Court, one of the requirements being enough space between the stage and the stalls to allow the frail leader to be driven to his seat.
Although the original plan had been to erect a tented theatre, this was abandoned when the Royal Court decided it wanted a more permanent structure and contracted local company Algeemi Code to design, build and fit-out the new facility. Soon after the metal framing had been put in place, it was realized that there were opportunities to improve the design and one of the Public Works Department's architects contacted Theatre Projects: within a week Mark Stroomer, design director, was in
Delta Sound Inc has once again supplied a complete sound and communications system for the Anniversary Convention of the International Association of Scientologists, now in its 17th year. More than 3,000 Scientologists from as far a field as Australia gathered at St Hill Manor in Sussex, the former home of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, for three days of talks, music and entertainment featuring guest artists Isaac Hayes, Dougie Fresh and the Jives and the Golden Era Musicians.
This is the fifth year that Delta has worked in conjunction with Golden Era Productions, a Scientology-owned company which produces all the association's events worldwide as well as its training videos, CDs and films. The convention was held in two venues, the 600-capacity Great Hall and an overflow tent which could accommodate a further 2,500 delegates. "The event gets bigger and bigger each year,"
Syncrolite is offering a $10,000 reward for the return of an SX7K Xenon Skylight which was stolen from LDI 2002 in Las Vegas on October 22. In addition, the reward rises to $25,000 if information is provided which leads to the arrest and conviction of the thieves.
The SX7K is the flagship product of Syncrolite’s award-winning Xenon Skylight line and one of the largest theatrical lights in use today, so not something easily concealed. Its case measures 57" x 39" x 39" and weighs 560lbs. The company guarantees that all leads will be treated in confidence and the reward will be paid in two parts, $10,000 immediately on return of the light and $15,000 upon arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. If you have any information, contact Gary Carnes at Syncrolite on the e-mail below.
S. Leonard Auerbach, ASTC, founder of Auerbach + Associates Inc. has announced that both of the company’s divisions have changed their names to more accurately reflect recent company expansion. The name of Auerbach + Associates, Theatre and Media Facilities Design Consultants, has been changed to Auerbach · Pollock · Friedlander, Performing Arts/Media Facilities Planning and Design. Auerbach + Glasow, Architectural Lighting Design, is now Auerbach · Glasow, Architectural Lighting Designers and Consultants.
"The new name recognizes the firm’s growth and evolution from a San Francisco-based consultancy to a national entity with a thriving New York City office and a busy Minneapolis project office, marking yet another step in the ongoing development of the firm," said Len Auerbach.
The change of name also reflects the rise of two of the company’s principa
transtechnik Lichtsysteme is expanding its national sales network, adding four new dealers to further serve the German sales regions. The dealers will be authorized to sell an extensive portfolio of transtechnik Lichtsysteme, ETC, and Avab brand products.
The new transtechnik Lichtsysteme dealers are WIBA Theater-und Studio-Equipment of Cologne; Think Abele of Nufringen; Fischer Vertriebgesellschaft of Berlin and Lucifer of Wolfenbüttel. In Germany, ETC Source Four-line luminaires will continue to be distributed exclusively by Paderborn-based Lightpower, whilst WYSIWYG lighting-visualisation software will remain exclusively distributed by Arcus Licht-und Präsentationstechnik of Hoevelhof. transtechnik Lichtsysteme, which also supplies advanced studio automation systems and components, was acquired from parent company transtechnik GmbH by ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.) in Ma
Skye Media, the Toronto-based outdoor advertising specialist, has installed a giant Lighthouse LED video billboard - the first of its kind in the world - overlooking the city’s prestigious Dundas Square project in the centre of Toronto.
The 64-panel LVP1650 (15.875mm pixel pitch, 5000-nit brightness) screen is in an 8x8 configuration 26.7ft wide by 20ft high. The 13-bit panels utilize Lighthouse’s M4 uniformity control and the screen has an overall resolution of 512 x 384 pixels. Although the high brightness, high resolution LVP1650 screen has been installed at the new Seattle Seahawks stadium, this is the first billboard application for it worldwide.
Skye Media’s newest outdoor advertising location is in the heart of Toronto's retail, financial and theatre district, on the south-east corner of Yonge and Dundas Square. Overlooking the new Dundas Square project, whic
Lighting Services Inc, a leading US manufacturer of track, accent, display and fibre optic lighting systems, is opening a UK operation.
The New York-based architectural lighting company, whose new BP150 Series Metal Halide Image/Framing projector won the award for Debuting Product of the Year for Architectural Lighting at the recent LDI show in Las Vegas, already enjoys success in Europe through distributor Enliten. However, with the products in demand throughout Europe, and equipment in retail stores across the continent, plus other installations such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the company is keen to establish a more formal presence in the European market. A UK operation will also enable the company to work directly with the designers who are now doing work all over the world.
"Lighting Services collaborates with designers worldwide and in recent years we have become
Twenty-year laser industry and special effects veteran, Kevin McCarthy, has launched a new firm, Holo-Walls, specializing in producing large holographic environments and effects that are available for sale or rental to the entertainment and display industries.
Previously with Laser Media until 2001, he moved on to work with Hiro Yamagata, producing spectacular holographic art installations throughout the world - the largest being the critically acclaimed 'NGC6093' at the Ace Gallery in New York, which comprised of 25,000sq.ft of holographic mylar panels covering floors, walls and ceilings.
In his new venture McCarthy has a total of eight patterns with five patterns producing varying multi-coloured effects while three patterns simulate the raw look of steel such as galvanised metal, diamond deck or brushed aluminium. "Holo-Walls are basically a product that incorporates a thin fi