UK - PLASA ran a second online programme from 10-13 May, covering the most vital topics and trends for those who work across live events and entertainment sectors. Following the successful debut PLASA Online in October 2020, PLASA Online 2021 attracted thousands of industry professionals who signed up to watch the four-day programme which featured expert panels, technical sessions, and presentations on creative projects and products. The ABTT partnered with PLASA Online to host popular presentations each day. These included a panel of Health & Safety and production experts who discussed the challenges of returning to work; a talk with CREATEBritain co-founder Richard Woods who introduced the new features of the online platform for creative professionals; the 2020 updates to the Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment and Volume 1 of The Theatre G
World - The programme of events for Virtual Showlight has been announced. The online event, taking place on 25 May, gives delegates the opportunity to hear industry-leading lighting designers talk about their work, ask them questions and network with others from across the industry, for a flavour of the full Showlight experience. The programme is as follows (all timings are BST): 15.00 - Introduction & welcome from Showlight chairman John Allen 15.10 - Paper 1 - The Disco Lighthouse - Hamish Jenkinson 15.45 - Break 16.00 - Paper 2 - Lighting a Comic Book Movie - Birds of Prey Case Study - Mike Bauman 16.45 - Sponsors Breakout Rooms 17.35 - Paper 3 - Lighting Around The World Without Leaving Home: The Story of Waitress in Japan - Ken Billington, Rob Halliday, Aaron Porter 18.15 - Networking, Sponsors Breakout R
UK - Production designer Tim Dunn has joined the UK’s nvisible Agency, a group of independent live production professionals offering a dynamic range of project management and creative production services for events worldwide. The nvisible Agency’s other core team members include some true entertainment industry mavericks! Founder and MD Mark Bustard and chairman promoter Harvey Goldsmith are joined by show and event producer Jim Baggott, technical director Tim Spears and project director Luke Carr. For 24 years, Tim was based in South Africa and worked extensively throughout the African continent, Asia, and the rest of the southern hemisphere on some of the highest-profile and most interesting productions, including dealing face-to-face with governments, politicians, and world leaders. These include the 2010 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony, multiple SEA Ga
UK - Event catering and brand logistics specialist Global Infusion Group has launched the Tony Awards, an internal awards ceremony held in honour of the company's late founder and CEO Tony Laurenson, who passed away this January. Established to bring the team together, the Tony Awards will be a celebration and allow everyone to have some fun after an incredibly difficult period for the business. The ceremony will be held on 21 May and t he winners of the tongue-in-cheek categories will be decided upon by Global Infusion Group employees who have all been invited to take part in a public vote.
Europe - LED manufacturer Absen is set to hold three online round table panels on immersive LED experiences. The sessions will cover immersive LED in virtual studios, retail spaces, and corporate spaces, with each round table session hosting a variety of expert brands in each sector. Hosting all the roundtables will be Jessica Golding, Absen’s European brand manager. The first roundtable, upcoming on 19 May, will discuss the impact and rise of virtual studios on the AV industry over the last year. With a panel of the industry’s virtual studio experts, including Christian Czimny, Absen’s industry product director, the panel will discuss what virtual means in the industry, where virtual studios can be used, and what the benefits are of using LED over traditional ‘green screens’. The event will provide a multitude of perspectives, from end user to integrator, on the r
UK - Following on from the latest Scottish Government announcement and in light of UK guidelines summarising clear plans for the return of the events industry south of the border, event industry leaders across Scotland have warned of a critical juncture in the recovery of the Scottish sector, as there still remains no indication of when gatherings of scale will be permitted and when social distancing parameters will be removed. Whilst restrictions on retail and leisure are lifted in Scotland, the events sector remains largely locked down and unable to plan ahead under current policy and plans. Geoff Crow, director of 21CC Group and member of the Event Industry Advisory Group comments, “We need consistency and clarity. The event sector in Scotland is at a standstill, which is difficult to watch when we see other sectors opening up and the rest of the UK and parts of
UK - Eyes in the UK and across the World focused on Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock successful test events, at Circus, hailing the return of live music from lockdown, with two nights of dance music (30 April/1 May), with over 6,000 people in the audience and Symphotech managing the health & safety. Symphotech worked from the conception of the test events, supporting the organisers, Circus Music and The Events Company UK, to create a Covid safe event. With the emphasis on the research and test event aspect of the shows, protocols had to meet the criteria required by the scientists and multiple stakeholders. Symphotech director Eddy Grant was their project leader, producing a detailed, constantly evolving risk analysis for the staff and the audience. He explains: “When the roadmap out of lockdown was announced by the government, in February, I spoke with Sam News
UK - A recent study conducted among 25,000 concertgoers has shown fans are overwhelmingly in favour of providing COVID certificates to be admitted to a live event. 75% of those surveyed have said they would be happy with the idea of COVID certification, and over 50% have said they are ready to attend music events right now, with a further 25% stating they would attend once the right mitigations are in place. This is welcome news for the live events sector, which is currently in talks with the UK government over the type of access control measures that should be put in place to allow events to resume in the summer. The #ReviveLive survey was released by LIVE (Live music Industry, Venues and Entertainment), a federation of live music industry associations representing 3,150 businesses, over 4,000 artists and 2,000 backstage workers. Members include Associa
UK - Only Helix, known for its work with artists like Years & Years, Bat For Lashes, Amy Macdonald and Bombay Bicycle Club, has launched a new travel service that’s designed to meet the specific needs of touring professionals. OH Visas is rooted in an understanding of how the entertainment industry works, and has been developed to take the travel stress out of touring. Only Helix’s Steven Down and Tom Nicol are the masterminds behind the service, which will be headed up by travel industry specialist, Ben Young. “OH Visas was borne from our combined experiences, frustrations and successes with travel over the years,” explains Down. “Brexit and Covid-19 has obviously also shifted things quite dramatically and we wanted to find an easier process for ourselves and our clients.” Nicol elaborates: “We realised this solution was something that others w
Europe - Showlight has revealed the speakers for its one-day online Virtual Showlight on 25 May. In a snapshot of the full Showlight event, a series of papers will be presented by international keynote speakers, interspersed by a series of video shorts from the likes of Peggy Eisenhauer and Bill Klages. There will also be a discussion panel based on the subject of diversity in the lighting industry, chaired by award-winning lighting designer, Paule Constable. The speakers for Virtual Showlight 2021 are: David Bishop - BBC Strictly Come Dancing - BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s award-winning lighting designer, David Bishop, will outline the challenges of re-designing an icon of UK television after 15 years, the latest season of which required the incorporation of live augmented reality into the show. Ken Billington, Rob H
UK - PLASA, the lead association for the entertainment technology industry, is hosting a second PLASA Online from 10-13 May, following on from a successful debut in October 2020. The programme will address the most pertinent issues facing the industry, present pioneering technology, and deliver several sessions on technical theatre in partnership with the ABTT. The free-to-view programme will span four days, bringing you creative presentations, business panels, industry advice and technical training, each led by experts in their field. Furthermore, each day you will have the opportunity to watch live product presentations hosted by leading manufacturers. Running alongside the programme is a virtual Exhibitor Showcase featuring an extensive A-Z of brands from audio, AV, lighting, rigging and staging. The ABTT will deliver the very latest amendments to
World - PRG has set up a worldwide network of 20 studio environments suited for scalable production of pre-recorded and live content in a COVID-compliant setting. The studios are housed in the immediate vicinity of major facilities, to enable PRG to react to project-specific technical requirements from clients by utilising its portfolio of lighting, audio, video, scenic and digital solutions. Each studio has its own character, catering to the markets it serves, whilst an expert team is in place to supervise and staff each location. There are two types of environment – the PRG Virtual Production Studios, designed for productions that require more demanding technology such as extended reality (xR), and PRG Digital Studios for pre-recorded or live broadcasts. The Virtual Production Studios – located in Hamburg, Los Angeles, and Paris – are equipped with xR technology,
World - Registration for Virtual Showlight is now open. Tickets for the unique online event can be secured via Hubilo, here. Tickets are free of charge but delegates are encouraged to make voluntary donations when registering, as all proceeds will go to support industry charities Backup and Behind the Scenes. The event will be hosted on behalf of Showlight by MaxLive Events and takes place on 25 May between 15.00 BST and 23.00 BST. “We have an exciting programme of speakers lined up for your entertainment and education,” say the organisers. “These will be interspersed by a number of ‘Video Shorts’ - short stand-alone papers, some of which will be forerunners to the full Showlight event that we hope will resume next year. A discussion panel of international speakers will focus o
Spain - Integrated Systems Events’ managing director Mike Blackman recently took part in the Barcelona reACT Conference, a four-day working event to relaunch the city’s economy after a year of pandemic. Speaking at the conference and looking forward to June, Blackman said: “We recognise that the world needs events to get back to business and we are thankful for the support we have had from the national, regional and City authorities, the team at the Fira and of course to the pro AV industry for its enthusiasm in the face of what has been an incredibly difficult period. Whilst 2021 will offer a different experience we are confident of delivering a great event which will pave the way for ISE 2022 in Barcelona.” Blackman added: “Whether joining online or in-person in Barcelona, attendees can access inspiring content from innovation leaders, networking opportunit
UK - PPL, the UK’s music licensing company for over 120,000 performers and recording rights holders, has again chosen to support touring crews and event production workers during the live industry’s ongoing unemployment crisis, with a donation of £75,000. PPL previously made a significant donation to Stagehand’s COVID-19 Crew Relief Fund earlier in the pandemic. Further strengthening its commitment to the future of live entertainment and the value placed upon its workers, PPL has stepped in to support the ecosystem surrounding the wider music industry. As the roadmap to easing lockdown in the UK gets underway, Britain’s event and concert touring personnel remain unable to return to work in any meaningful capacity. While restrictions on audience gatherings remain in place, skilled crews are left without the opportunity to earn a consistent income. Funding from
Germany - Integrated Systems Events has released more details about its ISE Live & Online programme, which will run throughout June. ISE Digital is a two-day web event of live and on-demand content powered by CISCO technology. ISE Digital will be launched to run concurrently with the Barcelona event on 1-2 June and will be available on demand in the weeks that follow, reactivated with live updates from the Munich, Amsterdam and London events. Registration for any of the four regional events provides access to this content from launch; online-only registration is also available. Exploring The Future of AV, ISE Digital will highlight business growth and opportunities, while showcasing solutions, in the context of the industry emerging from the confines of the pandemic. Mike Blackman, Integrated Systems Events managing director explains: “We are proud
South Africa - Pixel Nation has recently inaugurated a new virtual production studio in the heart of Johannesburg’s vibrant Rosebank district with content delivery based on StreamWorks infrastructure from Stage Audio Works. StreamWorks is a new initiative from SAW that provides full end-to-end streaming services comprising hardware and software, as well as support and expertise. Pixel Nation was created by a team of AV professionals who have always operated in the live event space, particularly in the corporate market. As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced in-person events off the agenda for the time being, Pixel Nation was formed in order to be able to deliver events virtually, and not just as a pre-recorded show, but as fully interactive, live events with participants from all over the world. “In creating Pixel Nation, we’re leveraging our expertise in AV event c
UK - A new cinema experience at Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, is set to bring cultural events by some of the country’s leading arts companies even closer to home for local audiences. Presented in the familiar Theatre space at Lighthouse, Screen On Stage will show content in high definition on the largest roller screen on the market, with a newly installed hi-tech surround sound system and digital projector. "We’re really excited about Screen On Stage - it represents offers a fantastic new experience for our audiences,” says Lighthouse chief executive Elspeth McBain. “We took the decision to dramatically expand our digital capabilities in lockdown and are enormously grateful to have received the funding that has enabled us to create this programme as one of a number of new developments.” On sale from next week, the Screen On Stage program
UK - Industry collective #WeMakeEvents, joined by over 150 industry players, has called for crucial government support for the specialist transport vehicles - carrying artists, crew, and equipment involved in touring productions - which have been rendered inoperable post-Brexit. An essential component to music, film, and TV tours, passenger transportation relies on operating freely in the EU. Under the current post-Brexit EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) hauliers are restricted, stopping the 30 companies in the sector from returning and UK artists from being able to tour. This is instead opening up opportunities for trucking companies to be set up in the EU and sacrificing specialist jobs. The industry is now writing to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, urging the government to negotiate exemptions or waivers to the TCA and/or provide short-term workarounds.<
Europe - Typically utilised before and after performances and during intermissions as practical audience lights, house lighting has traditionally played only a minor role in creating the atmosphere of a space. With the advent of dynamic LED house lighting however, that has all changed. Today’s house lights have taken on a more flexible and increasingly important role as an integral part of a broader and more immersive lighting design impression. In Elation’s 1 April Coffee Break, Alistair Smyth and Frederik Afif delve into the adaptable aspects of Elation’s colour-changing Fuze Pendant. This LED downlight produces high CRI variable tones to flood a space in hues of colour or functionally wash a venue in shades of white light. Add in a multitude of control, connectivity, mounting and lens options and it is the ultimate lighting tool for modern house and area lighting a
USA - Registration is still open for the New World Rigging Symposium (NWRS), produced by ESTA and USITT, which takes place online 6-8 April. The cost is $99 and the symposium carries up to nine ETCP education renewal credits for re-certification. The event brings together a wide group of industry experts for a series of panel discussions and live Q&As on video wall rigging, automation and motorisation, performer flying and rescue, and types of ropes. In addition, a case study will look into how the installation of a tension grid is working in a major facility, a group of structural engineers will answer your questions, rigging pros from the world of motion pictures will talk about some of their toughest challenges, and mental health professionals and advocates will discuss how to be
South Africa - As a direct response to the new pressures faced by businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johannesburg-based AV technology solutions provider, Stage Audio Works, has announced StreamWorks, an end-to-end live streaming service. “COVID-19 has changed the way we work forever,” says SAW’s group CTO, Nathan Ihlenfeldt. “Participation in virtual events and remote meetings via the internet has become the norm for most of us, and even when the world finally starts to open up again, will remain an important part of our everyday lives. However, public streaming platforms and the internet in general has come under increasing pressure, with embarrassing consequences to the host organizations. “With vast experience in delivering video reliably to internet users, especially in Africa, we decided to take things a step further and launched StreamWork
UK - Advance, a digital advancing portal for festivals and events, has been launched by SC Productions. The online tool will provide organisers detailed, realtime management over their site advancing, artist advancing, all accreditations, including crew, artists, guestlists and vehicles, along with health and safety inductions and COVID safety protocols. Each of these features can be used as a standalone entity or combined within a comprehensive package. Sarah Hemsley-Cole, director of SC Productions, explains: “Advance is a valuable tool, providing events professionals with key data and information at the touch of a button. It has been developed to ensure pre-production and planning is a smooth process. Advance can be customised for each client, meaning the platform becomes bespoke to an organiser or production manager’s particular needs and can be accessed and u
UK - The ABTT is joining forces with the Association of Lighting Designers to present a seminar, Lighting-in-the-Round on 26 March (Friday) from 2.00pm. The seminar will feature a number of lighting designers who have worked extensively in-the-round. They will talk about the challenges faced when creating lighting in this staging configuration, some unique opportunities created by theatre-in-the-round and about some of the productions they have worked on during their careers to date. This webinar is the second of six and will be hosted by Dave Wybrow (director, The Cockpit). Wybrow will be joined by lighting designers Johanna Town, Elliot Griggs, Daniella Beattie and Tigger Johnson. This webinar is followed by a Q&A session where you will be able to pose your own questions to the panellists. Tickets for the event are available at
