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14 March 2016

Gaetano Castelli's set was immediately christened the 'ark of music'. It consisted of a large 'space ship' that dominated the stage with surprise effects as it moved and opened. The 20m long, 9m high scenic machine was so heavy (20 tons) that preparatory reinforcement work was necessary on the structure of the Ariston Theatre. The 'musical spaceship' took three months to put together and was entirely built in Rome. The work also involved the capital's TV Production Centre. It was then taken apart and reassembled piece by piece on the stage at Sanremo.

Th

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14 March 2016

Maxi Audio technical manager Sandro Monteiro had been impressed by the DiGiCo consoles on show at InfoComm 2009 and, with sound engineers at Brazilian events asking for DiGiCo consoles, he began to investigate what would be the best option for the company.

"As a sound rental company, we need to offer the best products to our clients," he says. "The DiGiCo SD10 has fantastic sound which has the same 'colour' as that of an analogue console. The digital processing has great clarity, the preamplifiers are high quality, the workflow is straightforward and the MADI system is really useful. On top of all that, the console has a great price."

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14 March 2016

Stage Electrics will be showing an array of audio products from EM Acoustics. The company has recently become the UK dealer for this leading independent British loudspeakers manufacturer. EM Acoustics loudspeakers are often found in West End productions and on shows on Broadway. Installation versions can be found in venues as diverse as The National Theatre, Westfield Shopping Centre and The Eisenhower Hall (USA).

Other products being displayed on Stage Electrics stand this year is a display of Prolyte Trussing, the new ELC Green Go communication systems, the company's custom built Table Top Stage Managers Desk, Interspace Theatre Cue, Altair Wired & Wireless Communication System, DiGiCo's SD11 console, Pulsar's latest model of t

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14 March 2016

To ensure the designer clothing was shown at its best, lighting was given the utmost consideration. Tupac Martir, director of Satore Studio in London lit the runways at the Temperley, Björn Borg, House of Holland and Vivienne Westwood shows, amongst several others, doing all previsualization in wysiwyg.

"We use wysiwyg for all the shows, it helps tremendously when they occur so closely together," says Martir, "We actually run wysiwyg on a gaming machine at our studio with Alien Ware and two v

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14 March 2016

The latest and fourth location of Rigging Services is based at Pinewood Studios. Although supplying its services across the entire event industry, not only within TV & Film, there is a good synergy with Rigging Services and other complimentary services also operating from Pinewood.

"We are really pleased to be a part of the Pinewood community and look forward to working amongst like minded individuals," states Bob Dean - national sales manager.

From this new location Rigging Services can offer a quicker, cost effective and more local service to its clients on the west side of London. This site also allows quicker links to its other locations in the Midlands and Nor

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14 March 2016

Taking place this year on Tuesday 24 April on both sides of the Atlantic, By Design Day focuses attention on the various ways that individuals can support the two organisations that are dedicated solely to helping entertainment technology professionals in need.

Whether you prefer to make a personal donation, hold a collection at your place of work or, if you are a designer, simply support the day by voluntarily giving a day's royalties to one or both of these charities, it's the action (not the thought) that counts.

Light Relief is there for those involved in the UK lighting industry while Behind the Scenes aids professionals based in the US and Canada working in any area of the enterta

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14 March 2016

Another constant was the participation of Weilheim-based production company TC Showtechnik. This was the eighth time the company led by CEOs Martin Schulze and Stefan Rehthaler had been charged with responsibility for the sound reinforcement, both piste-side and in front of the show stage in the Kurpark.

"This year, the variations of the weather were almost beyond belief," reports Schulze. "Whe

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14 March 2016

With crowds like these, the sound reinforcement systems need to pack plenty of punch. That's why on a recent trip between Miami and the Bahamas, several systems drawn from the catalogue of D.A.S. Audio were out in full force.

Miami-based Master Sound Productions, a full service production company providing stage, sound, and lighting plus turnkey logistic management services, handles the technical aspects for Whet Travel's Groove Cruise. Frank Gonzalez, Master Sound's sales and production manager, discussed hi

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14 March 2016

The rig will be used in dangerous hot spots, such as Helmand province in Afghanistan where Army bands will play to military audiences in operating bases all over the area. The system can provide sound reinforcement for up to 600 spectators and is capable of supporting a full popular music band, including drums, bass, two guitars, keys, a horn section, vocals and backing vocals.

"iLive was chosen because it has a high channel count and large amounts of processing in an extremely compact footprint, which is lightweight and easy to

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14 March 2016

And with the push of a button, its permanently installed Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system instantly optimizes acoustical response for both the current room configuration and the event at hand, whether a concert, conference, play, or opera.

"Constellation's effect is extremely realistic," observes Janne Auvinen, events and venue director for Logomo. "People don't actually notice the system because it is just so natural."

Logomo Hall is the centerpiece of a refurbished industrial c

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14 March 2016

British-born Pilbrow, who now lives in America, is joint founder of the Association of British Theatre Technicians, Society of Theatre Consultants, The Society of British Theatre Designers, and the Association of Lighting Designers. He has won countless awards, including the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award in Lighting Design from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Association of British Theatre Technicians Technician of the Year (2000), Lighting Designer

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14 March 2016

Starting with a backstage visit to the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, the conference, held at Rugby School in Warwickshire, included workshops by White Light, Stage Electrics and Charcoalblue Theatre Consultants. Other exhibitors included AC Entertainment Technologies, Theatre-in-a-Box, and Tophex TheatreCom.

The STSG is a small, but established network of professional theatre technicians and managers working in UK school theatres. The biennial conference (with plans to become an annual event from next year) is the main focus of the Group, bringing together its members with suppliers and leading industry practitio

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14 March 2016

The graphics, designed by Justin Southgate of Southgate Design for Media 10, feature both horizontal and vertical 2D architectural detail, so the Unusual Rigging team recommended keeping the printed mesh fabric panels as large as possible.

The central panel is the largest, measuring 30m x 20m and weighing a total of 335kg including accessories, while the side sections are made up of three panels. The outer panels are wrapped tightly round the sides of the building, and sheeted as close to it as possible, with tight guy lines to prevent air pressure getting underneath the facade and stressin

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14 March 2016

Stembridge was asked to present ideas for the influential and critically acclaimed band's live show video early this year after they were impressed with his work on Arcade Fire. He collaborated very closely with Florence's set and lighting designer Chris Bushell, and together they evolved a fresh, interesting live visuality for the show combining both mediums to great effect.

Stembridge comments, "I've always used XL as their level of support is unsurpassable! Their approach to, and their ability to provide for the most unconventional of touring situations puts them way ahead in my opinion."

Stembridge had only a week to create the video element

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14 March 2016

Prior to the move, all staff were located at the company's warehouse facility, but with a 100% increase in staff over the past 12 months, the move ensures not just capacity for existing office staff, but also provides room for further growth.

The subsequent increase in warehouse space allows for increased stock holding of Prolyte truss and Liftket chain hoists, as well as easier test builds of rigs and equipment testing.

The postal address of Unusual Rigging and Engineering LLC remains PO Box 283586, Dubai, UAE; telephone remains +971 (0)4 885 9009, fax changes to +971 (0)4 813 5145.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Kevin Perkins portrayed his comedy act of Michael Naicker and Just Ginger added entertainment to the evening.

MJ Event Gear were commissioned by Idealist Event to cater for the technical aspect of the show. For the fourth consecutive year, Johnny Scholtz did the full design. "I used four fingers of truss extending over the stage," explained Scholtz. An additional circle truss was rigged in the centre of the room, utilised to hang draping to further add to the carnival festive atmosphere and there were also two satellite stages.

"Four Sharpies were flown and an additional two

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14 March 2016

"On the second day of the festival we had one of the worst sandstorms in recent years," recalls Karl Da Costa, technical manager of Dubai-based Artes Middle East LLC, which has equipped the festival with Meyer Sound systems for the past five years. "A couple of video screens came down, and dust was getting into everything. Yet we managed to get through the afternoon sound check. Fortunately, the winds died down by evening, and all the loudspeakers performed flawlessly for the show."

The main

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14 March 2016

Currently ranked first in the country by audience share, STB needed a digital console that would withstand the rigours of moving around the country to regional heats of the Ukrainian version of Masterchef.

"The console had to be a reliable workhorse, able to work while constantly travelling - sometimes in hostile environments. As far as we were concerned, DiGiCo has the best protection against dust and shock resistance. There was also an urgent need for a MADI interface and we wanted the possibility of using fibre optic," says STB sound engineer for projects such as The X Factor and Ukraine's Got Tale

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14 March 2016

The subsequent increase in warehouse space allows for increased stockholding of Prolyte truss and Liftket chain hoists, as well as easier test builds of rigs and equipment testing.

The postal address of Unusual Rigging and Engineering LLC remains PO Box 283586, Dubai, UAE; telephone remains +971 (0)4 885 9009, fax changes to +971 (0)4 813 5145; email alan.thomson@unusual.co.uk.

(Lee Baldock)

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14 March 2016

Engel commented: "When we donate the proceeds from Rosco 359 Medium Violet to Behind the Scenes each year, we are reminded of the tight bond within our industry. Designers choose this colour and in return, Rosco helps their colleagues in need. This year we are pleased to present $2,174 to The ESTA Foundation, bringing the total since inception to over $10,000."

Rick Rudolph, the Chair of the Behind the Scenes Committee and a member of The ESTA Foundation Board of Directors, commented: "Everyone has a Roscolux swatch book tucked away. There is a power

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14 March 2016

The courses cover a range of backstage skills, from rigging and stage pyrotechnics, to the SPA Event Safety Passport (which everyone working on site at the Olympics must have this year) and Apple based technologies like Pro Tools and Final Cut for audio and video editing.

COO Robin Watkinson said, "Britain is going to host many exciting events this summer

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14 March 2016

The Barco Equipment Financing Program provides a range of financing options designed to meet the needs of the entertainment equipment rental industry. The 60-day Introductory program, available until May 1, offers two loan options: a Low Interest Rate Program and a special Deferred Payment Program, the first of its kind in the industry, Barco claims. The Deferred Payment Financing program permits equipment purchases of $150,000 and upwards, with minimal payments for the first six months of the loan period. Ongoing loan programs include a 5.99% Easy Application (one page)

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14 March 2016

The BBR64-Dante is the result of JoeCo's collaboration with Audinate, creators of the award-winning Dante digital media networking solution. The original BBR-Dante system was released in 2011 and was able to record up to 32 channels of audio from a Dante network. The new BBR64-Dante now doubles that track count to 64, while still occupying just one rack unit of space. The recorder connects to any Dante-enabled network device from a range of console and converter manufacturers. In addition to recording 64 channels at standard sample rates, it can also record eight channels of analogue alongside 56 chan

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14 March 2016

The Acoustic Baffle from ShowTex proves ecology and noise level control can go hand in hand. The new acoustic fabric panels are made from 100% recycled material compressed together to optimize sound conditions. The Acoustic Baffle comes in two sizes and can be installed modularly for extra flexibility. By combining the two standard formats, nearly any height or area can be covered. The Acoustic Baffle can be installed as a ceiling lining or around curves and corners. Custom formats and /or colours are available by request. The panels are finished off with Velcro for connecting together easily and can be used for temporary and fixed installations.

Another development is the TMC 1000 track motor. A compact version of the ShowTex TMC track motor; it's designed for smaller theatr