UAE - ARX Systems has announced that Gala Electronics will now handle the distribution of ARX products for the entire Gulf region. Appointed in 2019 as ARX distributors for the United Arab Emirates only, Gala Electronics will now expand their reach to supply Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. With a head office located in Dubai, Gala Electronics is the pro audio division for the AVISS Group of Companies and has, in a short space of time, established itself as one of the leading players for providing professional audio and video solutions in the region. Owner of Gala Electronics, Sanjeev Singh, commented on the new agreement: “At Gala, we have vast experience in designing audio systems for all types of projects and since we took on the ARX brand last year we have been very pleased with the positive response from our market. Expanding our di
Indonesia/China - Generation AV, the company that represents Martin Audio in the APAC countries, has appointed two new distributors to target key markets in Asia. PT Goshen Swara Indonesia has become the exclusive distributor for Indonesia, while Guangzhou Guidance AV Technology Ltd Co will add to Martin Audio’s distribution network in China. Headquartered in Jakarta, PT Goshen is a well-established distribution company, with representation right across the country. “They are a great fit for Martin Audio as they cover all the vertical markets we work in - from touring/rental to all the installation markets,” explains Generation AV founder Dave McKinney. “PT Goshen’s MD, Cunario Suriya leads a terrific team of people, and sales director, Franky Cahyadi runs a highly motivated sales force. They have a highly capable technical team that will be able to provide
USA - A theatre lighting designer has launched a podcast to explore what it takes to financially sustain a career in the arts. The Artistic Finance podcast is the brainchild of New York City-based LD and producer Ethan Steimel, who speaks to workers in the entertainment field on how they deal with their personal finances, addressing questions such as why some practitioners do well whilst others never break through to financial security. “Our first interview is with Tony-award winning theatrical lighting designer Peter Kaczorowski,” says Steimel. “We learn how he came from Buffalo, New York all the way to Broadway. His career has spanned more than 40 years, and we learn what his finances looked like through it all.” Steimel is a theatrical lighting designer from Saint Charles, Missouri, who moved to New York City in 2013. He has designed lighting for
World - The AES Virtual Vienna Convention takes place online this week (2-5 June) and the final schedule of events has been announced, including the convention’s slate of over 100 on-demand presentations being made available throughout the show. “From full scientific research paper presentations and poster sessions, to experimentation in practical applications of breaking audio technologies outlined in Engineering Briefs and more, this year’s AES Spring Convention technical programme offers unprecedented access in an affordable format available to anyone with an internet connection,” say the organisers. This year’s Papers programme features over 45 presentations, available on demand, covering a variety of disciplines including Audio Signal Processing, Perception and Evaluation of Audio, Spatial Audio, Loudspeakers and Microphones, Recording and Product
USA - Lighting designers Sooner Routhier, Cory FitzGerald and Travis Shirley are set to share their insight into concert and live event lighting on the 3 June Elation Hour. Routhier counts artists like KISS, Muse, Halsey, Mötley Crüe, and Depeche Mode as clients, while FitzGerald has lit some of music’s biggest acts like Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez. Shirley has designed for names like Christina Aguilera, Smashing Pumpkins, Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Linkin Park. The session is hosted by Elation national sales manager John Dunn and global product manager Matthias Hinrichs on Wednesday, 3 June 10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. See how to register here.
Europe - Ayrton has announced the appointment of LiteNordic as its new exclusive distributor for Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The new arrangement takes place with immediate effect in Sweden and Denmark, and from 1 July in Norway. Formed in January 2018, LiteNordic is a ‘young’ lighting distribution company with many years of industry experience due to its team of skilled and knowledgeable individuals. LiteNordic identifies as a Scandinavian operation with offices and sales teams in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and a comprehensive network of partners in all three countries. “We work closely with influencers such as lighting designers for live and corporate events and installation projects,” says Espen Bechmann, LiteNordic’s sales manager for Norway. “And as Norway, Sweden and Denmark are small countries, we work alongside partners in many fields in each count
The Netherlands - punQtum B.V., specialist providers of digital communication tools for the live event and professional audio industry, has announced a series of webinars in order to communicate more effectively with potential customers as face-to-face contact continues to remain restricted for the immediate future. Starting with an introductory session on 3 June at 11:00 CEST, followed by a session on 8 June at 11:00 CEST that explains the punQtum Expert concept and how to become one, the full schedule plus registration details can be found on the punQtum website. The first webinar, punQtum Digital Intercom, is designed as a company overview as well as a demo of punQtum’s first product, the Q110 Beltpack. The Q110 is the first element of a larger networked intercom system that offers up to 32 party lines via standard IP networks and infrastructures. Providing
Europe - Having enjoyed a business relationship for years, Artistic Licence and Controllux have announced a formal distribution agreement for The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Founded in 1968, Controllux is a leading name in the distribution of professional lighting equipment. With many experienced staff, the company provides comprehensive supply and support for respected brands in the theatrical, broadcast & film, entertainment and architectural markets. Artistic Licence CEO Wayne Howell comments: "Our broad range of lighting control and infrastructure products will nicely reinforce the Controllux emphasis on solutions. Both companies have been trading for many decades and bring customers the reassurance of experience, quality and reliability. Artistic Licence designs and manufactures all its own products in the UK - something that we are very proud of - an
Europe - The Performing Arts Employers Association League Europe (PEARLE) has put together a map that shows when European live performance venues will be allowed to reopen following the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions imposed across the continent. The map, available here, has been devised based on information the Association received from its members. It will be continuously updated according to information received. Countries that have already lifted restrictions have a green badge whilst those yet to announce any information on the resumption of live events carry a grey badge. Countries that have set out their plans on reopening venues and allowin
Australia - Exertis ProAV Australia has announced that it has been appointed to distribute the Airtame wireless screen sharing and collaboration platform in Australia and New Zealand. “Airtame’s wireless screen sharing and Digital Signage platform creates a better environment for learning, sharing and creating together,” Exertis ProAV Australia president & CEO Kevin Kelly says. “The addition of Airtame to our portfolio of offerings means that resellers will have an innovative new communications and collaboration solution to offer their business and education customers. “Airtame has helped more than 20,000 businesses and schools across the world cut the cables, unlock collaboration and use screens better and our team of sales professionals is going to help many more schools and enterprises do the same.” Alongside its wireless screen sharing solutio
UK/USA - The organisers of the 2020 Knight of Illumination (KOI) Awards have announced the cancellation of both the UK and the USA events due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the entertainment industry. The difficult decision has been reached following extensive discussions between the committees of both the UK and US versions of the KOI Awards: The Fifth Estate and KOI co-founders Durham and Jennie Marenghi, along with the ALD and STLD in the UK and Live Design/LDI in the USA. All parties explored various possible options to secure the events, including virtual, live streamed/webcast ceremonies and postponed or scaled-back ceremonies. However, these ideas were ultimately deemed not to be viable for 2020. KOI-UK and KOI-USA executive committee member Sarah Rushton-Read of The Fifth Estate comments: "This has been a challenging decision, given the unpredi
USA - The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) has offered a financial boost to roadie advocacy group The Clinic, the Crew Nation charity fund, and the AES. “The impact on the live sound industry has been devastating for the business as a whole,” comments Greg Beebe, chair of the PAMA board of directors. “On the personal level, that business disruption means economic hardship for those who rely on live sound for their livelihood. Recognising the need for a helping hand for the unsung heroes of the industry, PAMA has allocated funds to help two organisations that are firmly entrenched in this sector - The Clinic and Crew Nation. We are donating $2,500 to each to target individuals in need.” Founded by Courtney and Paul Klimson, roadie advocacy group The Clinic carries out the stated mission “to empower and heal roadies and their families by provid
The Netherlands - punQtum B.V., specialist providers of digital communication tools for the live event and professional audio industry, has today become the latest company to form part of the Ravenna community. The move underlines punQtum’s commitment to supporting open technology standards and embracing the ongoing transition to digital IP solutions in pro audio applications. Established in 2019, punQtum recently launched its first product: the Q110 Beltpack is the first element of a larger networked intercom system that offers up to 32 partylines via standard IP networks and infrastructures. Providing ultimate scalability, the Q110 suits systems of any size, ranging from small events requiring just two beltpacks to as many are required for large, complex systems. Using AES67 as a solid technology cornerstone, the punQtum Intercom system integrates seamless
Royal Patronage - The Prince of Wales has raised concerns about how orchestras and theatres will survive the coronavirus crisis. He said it was important to “find a way of keeping these orchestras and other arts bodies going”. The prince, who is patron of dozens of arts institutions, noted they were of “enormous importance” to the economy. “It's absolutely crucial that they can come back twice as enthusiastic as before,” he said in an interview with Classic FM. The heads of the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and the Southbank Centre have all warned they are facing financial collapse without additional government assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Royal Opera House, of which Prince Charles is a patron, says it has seen 60% of house income fall away since the start of the crisis. “They're in terrible difficulties, of course, because h
USA - Elation national sales manager John Dunn and global product manager Matthias Hinrichs will feature on the Elation Hour on 27 May, discussing tradeshow, corporate and special event design with John Featherstone, Chris Medvitz and Ignacio Rosenberg of lighting design group LightSwitch. (10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time). Lightswitch is a consortium of lighting, media and visual designers that has been creating experiences for over 25 years. They design award-winning environments for a diverse network of clients across concert, event, experiential environment, and architectural, operating from studios across the globe. To register for the session, visit this webpage.
Canada - Digital signal processing specialist Xilica has appointed Techni+Contact Canada as its sole distribution partner for the Canadian market. Headquartered in Montreal with multiple Canadian offices, Techni+Contact has served Canada’s professional AV business community for more than 40 years. Xilica joins a range of Techni+Contact-represented brands, including AMX, Ecler, Utelogy, Spinetix and WolfVision. “Xilica is the first professional DSP manufacturer in the Techni-Contact portfolio, and fills an important gap in our product line,” said Julie Legault, president of Techni+Contact. “Xilica is aligned with our core verticals, and will help us propose and configure fully integrated solutions that are more competitive and on target with what our customers seek. Their clever, compact, and modular designs are an especially strong fit for the AV over IP
UK - PSAV, parent company of Hawthorn and AVC Live, has created MeetSAFE, a set of guidelines to help the live event industry safely adapt to the changing landscape for meetings and events. Designed “to inspire trust and confidence”, the set of tools is “focused on redesigning events to successfully deliver on the strategic goals of the meeting while defining new guidelines to minimize risk and promote health”. Ben Erwin, president of PSAV, comments: “Our industry has more to consider when planning live events in the future. While there has been an explosion of virtual events due to today’s environment, we know there will be a time when both hybrid and fully live meetings will return. “People feel a strong desire for face-to-face interactions, so we wanted to be proactive and offer guidance on how they can ensure important live meetings and events a
UK - The ALD has today announced that its ALD Awards for Excellence 2020 are open for submissions. Aimed at all students and recent graduates studying in the UK, the awards are a celebration of imaginative and creative lighting and video production and represent a chance for young designers to showcase their talents and to bring their work to the attention of experienced lighting and video designers. Johanna Town, chair of the ALD, comments: “The ALD’s Awards for Excellence are so important to a designer’s future. To be able to sell your ideas and passions for a design or methodology to other industry leaders is an important skill.” The awards are now open for submissions from students studying in the UK, recent graduates from 2018 onwards, or corresponding affiliate members of the ALD, in the following categories: The Michael Northen Award in L
UK - Philip French of UK technical production company Peachy Productions has just relocated to Wiltshire after being based in Guildford, Surrey for eight years. But during the coronavirus crisis, he is making the journey back twice a week to volunteer for the Surrey Drive Campaign. This is a locally-based crowd-funded initiative that delivers around 2,500 cooked meals - with locally sourced ingredients - each week for hardworking staff at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust hospital. The Surrey Drive Campaign includes some of Surrey’s live event experts. After seeing heart-breaking stories of exhausted NHS workers finishing their arduous frontline shifts and being unable to buy food at this critical time, Steve Page and Hannah Sheppard thought it was time to step up. Having furloughed all his staff while the UK continues in a largely restricted lockdown
USA - Obsidian Control Systems will present an Onyx at Your Service webinar on 28 May at 10am PST, focused on lighting control and programming for houses of worship. Onyx is Obsidian’s scalable lighting control platform that is a popular choice for many houses of worship around the world. It is promoted as easy to learn for volunteers, while having the feature set and power to drive large gatherings. In this webinar, Obsidian Control Systems product manager Matthias Hinrichs will lead a two-hour discussion with experienced Onyx programmers and lighting designers Chris Eguizabal of Riverside, California, and Joseph Wolff of Calgary, Alberta. The programme will include insight into their workflow and programming styles and the components needed to put together small and large Onyx systems for churches and other venues. You can register for the event
USA - Eventide Audio’s Quarantide has named an impressive line-up of pioneering musicians for its daily discussions. On Friday, 22 May, Backstage in the Green Screen Room will feature genre Jon Anderson, Laurie Anderson, Clara Ponty and Jean-Luc Ponty, hosted by violist and composer Martha Mooke, an Eventide artist in residence. Joining the artists will be Eventide principals Tony Agnello and Richard Factor, along with Jean de Reydellet, Eventide brand ambassador in France and a musician/composer. “Some of the most inspired and intriguing conversations happen backstage in the ‘green room’ just before musicians go on to perform,” shares Mooke. “I’m truly thrilled to spend some time in the Eventide ‘virtual green room’ with these musical icons.” Created to keep audio aficionados connected, to stimulate their minds and provi
UK - Record industry charity the BRIT Trust has announced a donation of £30,000 to Music Support, the peer-led music industry charity that provides confidential mental health and addiction services. The funding will help Music Support at a critical time when many people in the artist and music industry community are in urgent need of its help. It will also go towards Music Support’s ambition of giving 10,000 people access to Thrive, the NHS-approved mental health app. Matt Thomas, chair of trustees of Music Support, comments: “We are hugely grateful to The BRIT Trust, the BPI and the recorded music sector for their valued support when we are seeing a sharp rise in the number of vulnerable industry peers coming to us for help. Technology has provided a lifeline to many during the of COVID-19 emergency, and this timely funding will enable us to give thousands of peo
UK - During Mental Health Awareness Week, Unusual Rigging is urging its industry counterparts to consider what mental health in the workplace will look like in a COVID-adapted world. As the entertainment industry has been knocked sideways by the global crisis, Tom Harper, managing director at Unusual Rigging believes the time is right to tackle the growing problem of work-related mental health problems head-on and to nip it in the bud rather than simply putting a sticky plaster on it. MD Tom Harper comments: “If ever there was a time for it to be OK to not be OK, it’s now. With the world as we know it turned on its head, those who can put their hands up and say they’re ‘absolutely fine’ are, without doubt superhuman. With lives and livelihoods lost or at least put on hold, this year’s Mental Health Awareness week is really shining the light on the problem
UK - The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is one of the world’s leading opera houses. The recent Open Up refurbishment created a series of new spaces within the building offering a more welcoming visitor experience. Built in 1858, the Royal Opera House is home to The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera, as well the Linbury Theatre and various restaurants and a gift shop. The Open Up project was a £62m major refurbishment to create a welcoming visitor-friendly experience, improve crowd flow, welcome daytime activity of events for all ages relating to the art of dance and music and refurbish the Linbury Theatre into a world-class venue for intimate performances for ballet and opera. Martin Adams, technical manager, Open Up Project, Royal Opera House, and Tom Thompson, technical manager, Linbury Theatre, were tasked with creating an audio network to meet the theatre's c
