Business

Details

14 March 2016

This competition recognises the commitment, sacrifice and hard work of all the choir members, employees of the Barclays Africa Group, who practiced uncompromisingly, outside of normal working hours.

When travelling abroad ten years ago, Robbie Blake, director of Showgroup, was inspired when seeing Clash of the Choir. "Back in the day, Robbie pitched a similar concept to ABSA bank when they wanted to do something for their staff," explained Andries from Showgroup. ABSA - now under the Barclays Africa Group umbrella - have run the event ever since.

For the latest competition, crew moved into the Joburg Theatre as Starlight Express w

Details

14 March 2016

"This is the third season we've worked with Donny and Marie's Christmas shows and tours," says Guy Benjamin, VP at Pete's Big TVs. "This design is similar to their past designs, including their Broadway Christmas shows, but the production has gotten bigger this year. We're using newer LED technology in the three main screens, which are also larger than last year, and we've added two extra LED video screens just for the IMAG."

Based in New Castle, Delaware, video equipment rental company Pete's Big TVs is providing a full HD production system with 3 new digiLED MK7 HB LED screens, 2 digiLED MC7

Details

14 March 2016

"We chose Viper because of its size and weight. It's really the only full-feature light that will stand up to our video backgrounds and the wide variety of other beam-driven graphics on stage. Viper's crisp beam and flat field really impressed me," stated Alves. "I have eight instrumentalists on stage at every venue and I require a light that will hold up to everything from the bright spots to the wear and tear of international travel."

The Quadrays were originally slated as MAC III Arifx fixtures, but after

Details

14 March 2016

Formed in 1991 by piccolo trumpet legend Otto Sauter, Ten of the Best features its founder plus nine other players of global renown, including the principal trumpet players of the Royal Stockholm Opera, Vienna State Opera, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the Radio Symphony Orchestra Prague.

Recently the group played several of their Richard Wagner Project concerts in Mexico, where the band's sound designer and front of house engineer Olli Nohl was reunited with an trusted friend - the Yamaha PM5D-RH.

As well as the 10 trumpeters, the ensemble included two guitarists, two vocalists, strings, keyboards, bass, drums and percussion for the shows in Pue

Details

14 March 2016

The Brixton shows were the culmination of a busy year for brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence whose career has leapt from 0-200 in the last 18 months.

Disclosure's production team including tour manager/production manager Toby Iddison and FOH engineer Rob Webster-Reed approached Adlib to put together a touring package after they had crossed paths on numerous festivals throughout the Summer ... and all were impressed with Adlib's attention to detail, dedication to the job and great sense of humour!

Says Adlib's account handler Phil Kielty, "Apart from being a really solid live act, Disclosure and their crew really appreciate each and every person working for them and are p

Details

14 March 2016

Featuring the familiar programming and command line interface and user-friendly ergonomic control surface that have made the Hog series so widely accepted by lighting professionals throughout the world, the HedgeHog 4 is a powerful, self-contained lighting controller with a built-in computer running Hog 4 OS software, the same software as all the other Hogs, and even comes with ArtNet and CITP capabilities.

The new console has a 12.1 touchscreen interface, two onboard DMX and four Art-Net universes, ten Playback Faders and many other outstanding fe

Details

14 March 2016

This year Radio 1 DJs Trevor Nelson and Sarah-Jane Crawford hosted the Awards. Performing on the night, between award presentations, were many of today's top Artists including Tinie Tempah, Naughty Boy, Iggy Azelea, Laura Mvula, Rudimental and So Solid Crew.

Tinie Tempah set the stage alight, backed by a number of flaming, supersized music stands and 16 x high output Clay Paky Alpha Beam 700s place

Details

14 March 2016

Stage Technologies' continued support of the event by taking the principal Platinum sponsorship role for the third consecutive conference, illustrates the tremendous reputation that ITEAC has established over the last 12 years.

The launch of ITEAC 2014 recognises the demand for this major event, which seeks to investigate the developments that have already been made, and the innovations that will be required, in the ever-changing world of live entertainment.

The quadrennial three-day event, which will take place from Sunday 8 June 2014 to Tuesday 10 June 2014, brings together the world's leading theatre technicians, architects, engineers, consultants, acousticians and production managers, plus theatre mak

Details

14 March 2016

Glenn van Eck and David Limbert from Magnetic Storm required new spots. Wanting to go with LED technology, they had a good look at Mediatech to see what was available. Harry von den Stemmen from Robe was at hand to introduce the equipment to them. The Robin DLS and Robin DLX fixtures have been making waves, well received for their low maintenance and great output.

"They were the best option available t fit our needs at this stage," said van Eck. "We decided to go LED due to the lamp life, lower maintenance and power consumption. It also brings our intel rig up to date and in line with national standards and offers our national client the latest technology n

Details

14 March 2016

D.A.S. Audio of America's new facility is a 25,000sq.ft free standing building and includes an adjacent lot that will enable the company to expand its operations in the future. Purchased in March 2013, the building underwent extensive remodelling so as to accommodate the special requirements of a sound reinforcement equipment manufacturer. Key to the new facility is the inclusion of an acoustically treated training room-enabling the company to provide the best possible instruction to both its sales force as well as both potential an

Details

14 March 2016

"Since we are a benchmark as live music technical support goes in the South of the country, with more than 200 shows a year, and since there is a growing interest in dry hire throughout Germany and Austria, it is vital for us to be able to count on highly reliable and easy to maintain products," said managing director Florian Daniel Tospann when commenting on their purchase. "We chose Lightpower for the same reason. They are an unequalled trustworthy distributor, who has so far joined us as a pres

Details

14 March 2016

With this in mind, Tomcat is reintroducing its popular Tomcat U for newcomer and veteran riggers and hoist technicians in the entertainment industry.

The 2014 Tomcat U takes place from 17-20 February in Knoxville, Tennessee, home to the Tomcat factory and epicentre for the education of riggers and hoist technicians.

"The schools give extra value. I've been to three Tomcat schools and have used this training in practical applications. The knowledge and hands on experience from TOMCAT U have given me the confidence to handle situations when they turn nasty," says Kurt Jaeckel, Quickbeam Systems.

Tomcat U is an annual all-inclusive four-day hoist and rigging sch

Details

14 March 2016

But Ho's greatest pleasure is taking Hawaiian music to people, performing it in concerts all over the world. And besides his ukulele, he always travels with his L1 portable sound system from Bose Professional Systems. From ukulele clinics at venues around the country, including Guitar Centre stores, to huge concert settings, Bose L1 systems and T1 ToneMatch components have supported Ho's live performances night after night.

Ho travels with a pair of Bose L1 Model II loudspeaker systems and uses one or both, depending upon the size and the acoustical nature of each venue. F

Details

14 March 2016

Thomas has worked for Jill Scott since 2007, after working with her previous designer, the late Tyrone 'Admiral' Long on the Sugarwater Festival Tour in 2006. For this tour, the start of a live performance campaign that continues into 2014, he took a complete departure from the last one in terms of the lighting aesthetic, putting intimacy, close communication and a sense of timeless elegance right at the heart of the performance.

"The previous tour featured large, dynamic lighting elements while this year's look is more subtle and refined," he comments.

The 24 Pointes were newly purchased f

Details

14 March 2016

Already DPA Microphones enthusiasts for the ability of its mics to reproduce the natural beauty of a Steinway, the music staff at Southwestern Baptist knew it wanted to equip all 17 pianos with three d:vote 4099 Instrument Mics each, for a total of 51 mics. A clear, pristine sound was the school's primary requirement when searching for a mic, and it was obvious that the DPA d:vote was the only choice.

"The Steinway instruments have a very beautiful, very unique sound that other in

Details

14 March 2016

"We had heard through the grapevine that the 1100-LFCs were amazing, but when we first fired up the units for testing we were dumbstruck," says Aart Habraken, rental manager for Bazelmans AVR. "The 1100-LFC maintains linearity regardless of power levels and SPL output. It truly raises the bar for all others to follow. With the EDM [electronic dance music] market now showing keen interest in Meyer Sound, the 1100-LFC couldn't have come at a better moment."

Wiljan Bazelmans, founder and CEO of Bazelmans AVR, adds, "We want the best experience for our customers, not just once but every time. We decided to step up fr

Details

14 March 2016

Walker had been using Sennheiser's 5000 Series systems for around 15 years, so he was keen to try the 9000 series. "I really like the 5000 Series - of the earlier Sennheiser systems I think it's the best suited to voices and I've been very happy with its audio quality," he says. "But the 9000 Series completely surpassed it - it's the best-sounding digital microphone system I've heard, by quite a large margin."

Walker and his team were so impressed that Loh Humm invested in 24 channels of the 9000 Series, which have immediately been

Details

14 March 2016

Soldaat van Oranje, De Musical is by far the biggest theatrical production ever staged in the Netherlands, housed in a converted aircraft hangar at a former military aerodrome in Valkenburg, near the city of Leiden. It tells the story of a group of Dutch students in the Second World War, each of whom follows a different path during the conflict, either as a collaborator or as part of the resistance under Nazi occupation.

The show's produc

Details

14 March 2016

James Apperley of Element Audio said of EPS: "The kit was great, reliable and performed well. It was great working closely with Rob again and we've got a good working relationship. I hope that this continues in the coming years."

Event Production Services Robert Nisbet was mixing monitors for the duration of the tour, which took in venues of around 1500 capacity, though Rob's own highlight of the tour was the intimate venue in Galway. "The staff and punters at the Roisin Dubh were friendly, fun and really into it. The atmosphere was great and we were made very welcome. We had a lot of fun at

Details

14 March 2016

For a certain generation, this Grade 2 listed building has and will always be known as Hammy O. Ziggy Stardust was killed off there, Motorhead wouldn't sleep until they got there and it was there that Thin Lizzy recorded, some would say, much of the greatest live rock album of all time. No matter what age or genre, it remains the ambition of musicians across the world to tread its boards and its future programme attests to the fact that this is a situati

Details

14 March 2016

This will specialise in the design and manufacture of tough, hard-wearing and practical bespoke padded bags, covers and associated products that will complement the vast range of case and trunk products offered by the 5 Star Group.

Manufacturing for ProTect is based at the existing 5 Star site in Cambridgeshire in a separate production unit recently acquired to help facilitate a general increase in business throughout 2013.

Being in a dedicated space will keep a separation between the case and the bag divisions and ensure maxim efficiency for the ProTect production process, which is headed up by operations manager, Andy Hudson, who has worked for 5 Star for over 23 years.

ProTect's products will bear all the h

Details

14 March 2016

Maynard's lighting designer Paul Smith from Edge of Blue Design wanted to make an impression, and so chose Robe Pointe and LEDWash 600 moving lights, among other fixtures to help achieve his goal.

The project initially went out to quote, and he recalls that Siyan were the first company to come back with all their requirements at a good price so they didn't have to start making substitutions to the kit.

Siyan's Tom Grant project managed, saying, "It was a pleasure working with Paul again - his designs are always practical, well thought out and look fabulous in action."

In this case and being the support act, time was absolutely of the essence in getting the rig on

Details

14 March 2016

Earlier this year AVU provided the full technical at the Samsung S4 Launch and their new brief was clear: To create something absolutely different from the S4 Launch as the same press and celebrities would be in attendance.

With a background in interior design, AVU's In-house Creative Designer, Garrith Castelyn, worked closely with colleagues Victor Vermaak (Project Manager) and Renaldo van der Berg (Lighting Designer) to come up with a concept that would work in that ven

Details

14 March 2016

As part of the London Palladium scenography, the LD utilised six X-5's - four attached to the set and two placed inside very large gold closets - which sprung into life when Robbie and Rufus Wainwright sprung from within in pink glittery top hat and tails to celebrate their 'coming out' in Swing Both Ways. The strobes were supplied by TV rental specialists, Aurora Lighting, and all fixtures were triggered from a Hog 4.

Commented Richards, "The feature I like most about the X-5s is that they physically look good on camera - nice and low profile,