Business

Details

14 March 2016

This radical approach was adopted to help contain the environmental noise spillage, by completely isolating the stage so it had no contact with the ground.

The stage, measuring 18 metes wide at the front, 12 at the back by 12 metres wide, featuring 10 metres of headroom. weighed approximately 70 tonnes and was floated on twenty-seven 4.8m x 2.4m wide pontoons, each a metre deep. The pontoons were commissioned by Serious and made by Steeldeck.

The lake sits at the base of surrounding natural amphitheatre like terrain, and the stage shape was developed to offer the tunnel like effects of shrinking perspective to the audience sittin

Details

14 March 2016

The Rolling Stones sold out stadiums across the UK and showed fans they are still at the top of their game, performing classic tunes and songs from their latest album, in a spectacular show.

Arena's Seating's Dave Withey liaised with promoters Live Nation to draw up seating plans and ensure over 45,000 seats were installed safely for audiences at Twickenham, London; Hampden Park, Glasgow; Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

The installation of each show was challenging, as Withey explained: "This tour was carrying a huge production with a lot of equipment on the pitch of the stadiums due to the rolling 'B Stage'. This meant we had less time than usual to install the seating between the main production and the doors opening, but the tour

Details

14 March 2016

The 44 wall-mounted digital dimmers consist of 12 single 3 kVA dimmers (without RCD) have a large graphic display which shows status values and special functions as well as phase control display. The lighting control, which ranges from classic lights to professional projectors, is via Creston.

Patio Rosinus was responsible for the lighting design of the hotel, with Moris Brill Lighting Design as the executive company.

(Chris Henry)

Details

14 March 2016

Vice-president of Total Structures, Adrian Forbes-Black, explains that the stock consists of a diverse range of truss. "Although our own Californian warehouse is only five hours away from Las Vegas, when we spoke to our customers there they told us that very often if they can get something immediately they will buy it rather than try to sub-hire elsewhere. Even though we can get to Vegas from Ventura in under a day, even this delay can make the difference between getting the sale or not. To improve matters further we have also decided to keep a stock of less common lengths there. This includes items such as four foot and three foot trusses which may not normally be held in large numbers by rental houses or

Details

14 March 2016

Paul Thandi, recently announced CEO of the NEC Group, said: "Service is at the core of our business, and improving our customer offer to provide and deliver first class audio visual services is part of the vision shared at the NEC. This initiative underlies our continual focus on putting our customers first and leading the marketplace. Ultimately we want to ensure that every live event has tomorrow's technology, wrapped up in excellent service and delivery focus. We are delighted to have SPS on board to help achieve this."

Robin Coles, managin

Details

14 March 2016

The hugely popular 'boutique' style music festival now in its third year on the Isle of Wight expanded dramatically in size, capacity and surface area this year - almost doubling - for producers Loudsound. Headline acts included The Pet Shop Boys and the Scissor Sisters.

HSL has also been involved with Bestival since its inception, and once again worked closely with event production manger Lee Charteris and Loudsound's Jim King and Jo MacKay in co-ordinating all the site's technical production and infrastructure.

They brought ML Executives onboard to supply the main stage's VDosc sound system and also co-ordinated with Star Events, site-wide suppliers of staging and structures

Details

14 March 2016

This reflects the interest of Spanish companies in this exhibition, which has become the prime market focus for Spain's national entertainment technology industry. Contracted exhibitors to date include Adagio, Ben-Ri, D.A.S. Audio, Equipson, Gemini, Guil, Pinanson, Seesound, Stonex and Yamaha, among others.

Further information on the exhibition is available from the AFIAL website provided below.

(Lee Baldock)

Details

14 March 2016

Exact visitor figures will be released in due course, following the independent ABC Audit of the figures. However, early indications are that PLASA '06 may even have surpassed last year's PLASA Show (which was memorable for its frenetic business activity) with a notable increase in visitor numbers, and a very strong international attendance.

Many of the exhibitors that the PLASA Media team spoke to across during the four days of the show praised both the quality of the customers they had been seeing, and the large numbers of international visitors from all around of the world. Despite a relatively 'quiet' S

Details

14 March 2016

The Tour Grade units purchased by Vision OB feature six drawers of various depths, which were mounted on ball-race slides, with heavy-duty aluminium rails for additional durability. The cases went into immediate use as general-purpose utility and tool cases. "The Tour Grade rating ensures they will last for many years service and withstand the rigors of the road and constant travelling," explains 5 Star's Dave Harris.

The drawered cases are particularly popular for utility or accessory use, as clients can specify the exact layout required. "We are finding that more and more touring companies are using these drawered utility cases by replacing worn out and un-managable ty

Details

14 March 2016

Essentially a bar, grill and smokehouse, Sam & Maxies offers a subtle, more mature offer of 'Americana' but is not overly themed. Targeted at families, especially those with children of a school age, Sam & Maxies is an elevated offer of the typical American restaurants found within the UK today, with the children's menu being a scaled down version of the adult menu. Music is an integral part in establishing an appropriate dining experience and James Horler, chief executive of La Tasca Group, turned to tsg and its candyrock music

Details

14 March 2016

Built in 1944, the renewed theatre opened in February with a production of Verdi's A Masked Ball, complete with 21st century lighting technology illuminating the stage's original 1940s furniture. Since Malmö is only a 20-minute drive from Copenhagen via the new Öresund Bridge, ETC's Danish distributor, BICO, handled the installation, commissioning, training and project management together with ETC regional manager Tim Stokholm and field project manager Jeremy Roberts.

ETC has installed five IES Matrix Mk II dimmer racks for the main stage, four racks for the smaller Intim stage and one rack for the workshop stage

Details

14 March 2016

Designed to provide a forum for those issues affecting the automotive retail business, the 2007 New Model Introduction meeting gathers Ford Lincoln and Mercury executives with the nationwide network of independent franchise dealers. Through a series of highly engaging business meetings, dealers have the opportuni

Details

14 March 2016

Over ninety Latin American Aero systems owners attended the event which focused more on the theory behind line arrays rather than on the practical side. The opening talk was by Jack Palacio, D.A.S. Audio export director; Able Villanueva's talk was concerned with the line array theory; Javier Navarro focused on the technical settings of Aero systems and the handling parameters of digital processors; Alejandro Valles commented on the electric and electronic aspects in the context of equipment interconnections. Ashok Maharaj expose

Details

14 March 2016

Commenting on the production itself, Rearden said, "All too often I hear the euphemism of 'we want to make this show all about the music' when the translation means, 'we want to make it all about the money!' However, in an absolute first, this show really is 'all about the music'. They have a stunning nine piece band whose talent is spectacular."

"This was my first outing with the BigLites," adds Rearden, "and I was very seriously impressed. At full intensity, they have the punch required, but it is the other functions that

Details

14 March 2016

"Radio microphone and miniature microphone technology in particular has had a huge impact on musical theatre," says sound designer Mick Potter, who specified the DPA mics, having used them extensively on all his sound designs since Saturday Night Fever in 1998. "The amount of frequencies now available for reliable use means miking all performers in a cast of 30 or 40 is no longer an issue. Transmitters are so small that on this production, female cast members wear them in their wigs, meaning no visible cable or transmitter packs at all. This is

Details

14 March 2016

John Harris,/XM Effanel Productions mixer, and Jay Vacari produced the live performance mixes for the VMAs telecast, and once again relied on their renovated L7 mobile production trailer's ICON system.

"At the VMAs, there is limited time for performing artists to rehearse on stage," explains John Harris, XM Productions/Effanel mixer. "ICON allowed us to maximise that time by recording

Details

14 March 2016

Hamilton House in Balham - originally a gift from Lord Nelson to Lady Emma Hamilton and later owned by the Kray Twins, has operated as the White Eagle Club and hosted a wide range of Polish community activities since the 1960's.

While front-of-house operates as a bar/restaurant for the Polish community, the 400-capacity multi-function room is used for additional activities including karaoke nights, discos and live music.

The hall was in a run-down state when Magda Harvey took over the premises last year. The services of freelance consultant/DJ Robert Czekalski were enlisted and on advice from Knight Sound & Light, he opted for a Wharfedale solution. "We had experienced environmental heal

Details

14 March 2016

They recommended a complete system overhaul, with a new audio setup based on Community Professional Loudspeakers' WET series. "We chose the Community WET series as our primary loudspeaker system based on its proven ability to stand up to the extreme weather the Browns' Stadium experiences on the shore of Lake Erie," explained John Horrell, President of Durrell. "As Durrell was asked to warranty the new speakers for seven years, the WET se

Details

14 March 2016

At Newmarket, the Serious team designed a flat roofed stage tailored neatly to fit in between the two main grandstands. It was the first season Serious has worked at this venue and with Liz Hobbs, and the aim was to reduce the stage height from previous years, making it a more comfortable viewing angle, to maximise the available space, and to dovetail the flat roof of the temporary stage neatly in with the grandstands either side if it.

The project was managed for serious by Dragan Kuzmanov. The 40 ft wide by 48 ft deep stage and aluminium roof structure were built on 4 steel tower legs, with the roof sloping away to the rear, to ensure any water drained away safely from the performance area

Details

14 March 2016

The colourful and lively booth situated at the core of the exhibition was designed by Robe UK's Nathan Wan and featured products from across the Robe range, including the latest DigitalSpot 5000DT, StageQube 324 and the new 700 Series of fixtures.

A ring of eight DigitalSpots encircled the top deck of the stand, projecting imagery onto a cylindrical gauze running round the elevated area, which featured a bar, seating area and Robe's famous hospitality.

At the rear of the booth was a massive StageCube 324 video wall showing an array of sources stored on Robe digital media servers, which attracted much interest, as did the new products that Robe launched at the show.<

Details

14 March 2016

"We set up with products that reflect our ethos," explains Walsh. "Audient for example has earned itself a reputation in the US for high quality at very reasonable prices. Although LA Audio has not yet gained much notice here in the States, I'm very optimistic about this product line."

Walsh cut his teeth in the sales and marketing role as VP sales and marketing at Martinsound and managing sales at Tannoy prior to running distribution company AXI. "I have been in the same basic position

Details

14 March 2016

UV/FX worked directly with Dedica Group, a California-based creative design and management consultancy, who delivered the completed project to their client, Mass Transit Railway Corporation.

The Cave scene is a massive set that literally disappears right before the audience 's eyes. The attraction represents a chapter in the life of Siddhartha, using narrative, theatrical effects and lighting. In an instant the cave magically transforms to reveal contemporary Hong Kong's Nathan Road, a blur of lights and busy people that signifies the relevance and importance of Buddhism in cont

Details

14 March 2016

The small but influential Rock'Oz Arènes festival got a bit of a shock this year, after adding a fifth night to the front of its programme to put on Radiohead. As tickets went on sale, more than 100,000 internet applications crashed the system, such was the demand to see this band in such an intimate setting.

PA company Jaccoud is one of the first in the world to invest in the GEO D tangent array system, purchased off-plan at the ProLight+Sound expo in Frankfurt this spring. Together with Frédéric Walder of Zap Audio, distributor of Nexo product

Details

14 March 2016

Highlights of the show include Sports Development Week with a built in sports arena. A series of sports demonstrations will take place featuring the latest techniques in training. In the wet leisure section of the show there will be a fully working swimming pool from Astral Pool UK, with a number of pool demonstrations from the ASA, STA and Olympic swimmers.

Networking events include the Leaders in Leisure VIP Dinner (by invitation only), the Attractions industry Party at Drayton Manor Park, and the FIA