Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025

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The LDI Show will go ahead as planned from November 2-4 in Orlando. In response to a number of enquiries following the events in New York and Washington, the organizers are keen to reassure people, through a statement posted on their website, that the exhibition will go ahead as usual. "We at LDI would like to express our deepest sympathy to all who are affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Our thoughts are with you. We cannot let terrorists bring world business to a halt and we at LDI and Primedia Business Exhibitions feel it is very important that all businesses show their resilience. At this time, we do not foresee major disruptions for a smooth and successful show floor opening on Friday, November 2, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. LDInstitute is still scheduled to open on Monday, October 29."

If any exhibitors or visitors have a

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A new organization representing professional audio and lighting rental companies has been established in The Netherlands. PRESA - Production Rental Equipment Services Association - like fellow organizations ESTA and PSA, has been set up to promote safe working conditions, high technical standards and regular contact between professional rental companies.

Behind the new association are Ampco Pro Rental, Flashlight, Focus Show Equipment, Improve and R&R Show Equipment, all well established companies in the entertainment industry. Chairman Antoinette Wijffels told PLASA Media: "We have finally managed to create a platform where members can exchange ideas, and one which we hope will lead to an even more professional attitude towards clients. We can now also negotiate on important matters at government level, which, as individual companies, was not possible before."

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It seemed like business as usual: another year, another PLASA Show. Existing products, refinements of products, new products; familiar faces mingling with the next generation of entertainment industry practitioners all anxious to find out what was new.

Then came Tuesday September 11th and the PLASA Show faded into the background. Word from New York spread quickly around the hall. The atmosphere was surreal because the events that those who had received phone calls from the States were describing, couldn’t possibly have taken place, even in the wildest imaginations of those who work in this crazy business of ours that specializes in dreaming up the impossible then making it happen.

But as those who gathered in the Platinum Club lounge to watch the news live quickly found - all this, and more, was true. We watched the second World Trade Centre Tower crumble live in front of our e

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There was not much in the way of cricketing glory for England this summer, but there was one glorious day on the field at Littlewick Green, Berkshire, on August 23rd, courtesy of PLASA member Hayden Laboratories.

Three squads competed for the third annual Hayden Laboratories Pro Sound & Lighting Cricket Trophy, in which teams representing the PLASA Show's lighting and sound exhibitors took on the might of the PLASA Show organisers, Clarion Events. After successfully defending their title in 2000, Clarion were set for a fall this year, and fall they did, losing in the final to the PLASA Audio team, captained by Hayden Labs' Simon Curtis.

All three teams fielded some great performances during the day, with only one notable injury - to the neck of PLASA's financial controller Shane McGreevy (playing for PLASA Lighting), who took a show-stopping catch to send Clarion's James Brooks-Ward

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This month the BBC is running free courses for anyone in the broadcast industry to mark European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2001. This initiative aims to provide every opportunity for those in the broadcast industry to increase their knowledge and safety awareness. Key areas covered in all of the courses include risk assessment, responsibilities, control, co-ordination and communication.

Bob Forster, BBC Health and Safety Manager, says: "The lack of safety competence is one of the contributory factors in many accidents within the broadcast industry. Through this programme, anybody from stunt artists to special effects supervisors will be able to attend free training at a convenient location."

The BBC initiative has been warmly welcomed by the HSE, which has said: "Everyone has a responsibility for their own health and safety and all those involved in broadcasti

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At the PLASA Show, PLASA launched a new initiative in association with Forester Health, designed to pay for basic healthcare needs no longer fully funded by the NHS and to provide financial assistance in the event of hospitalization, accident or the birth of a child.

The Forester Cash Plan is not just another Private Medical Insurance (PMI) scheme - it complements the facilities of the NHS and will also complement and enhance existing PMI schemes because of the different types of benefits provided. The plan will cover pre-existing conditions for all PLASA members - companies and individuals - who sign up for the scheme before 31 December 2001.

Under the Cash Plan, cash refunds are provided for dental treatment (100% refund), eye tests, prescription glasses and contact lenses (100% refund), prescription charges and physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic homeopathic acupuncture, refle

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An emergency exercise involving the mass evacuation of several London theatres will take place this month as part of a campaign to mark European Week for Safety and Health. The Ambassador Theatre Group, which owns nine West End theatres, is planning to ask patrons and employees to carry out timed evacuations after each performance during the week, which begins on October 15.

The Group is one of thousands of organizations throughout the UK set to take part in this annual event which this year focuses on the prevention of workplace accidents. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the main organizers of the event in the UK, has received a record-breaking 100,000 requests for action packs - almost double last year’s figure. Provisional statistics for the year 2000/01 indicate an increase of 34% in fatalities among Britain’s workers, with 295 deaths compared to 220 in 1999/200

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Australian company Bytecraft has won the contract to supply the Beijing Grand National Theatre with its control system and electrics. The state-funded Opera is scheduled for completion in December 2004 and the Bytecraft contract - which covers both the control system featuring 400 axis of control and electrics and is worth $32million - will see the creation of one of the biggest control systems in the world. Bytecraft expects to go on site in early 2002 and remain there until the venue opens.

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Now here’s an artist looking for a voice - literally. Since the demise of the ‘cock on legs’, Thin Lizzy’s guitarist has been in need of a singer. As a guitarist he stands tall, maybe not a Robert Cray or Mark Knopfler, but nonetheless he does have his own style, and it sells. As Andy Crookston (tour manager), Mark Scrimshaw (lighting designer) and Andy May (house engineer) all confirmed, "he tours year after year, and makes money."

He also produces an album every two years or so, and on tonight’s evidence he certainly has an ear for a melody. And that’s essentially why he needs a voice; for the bluesy part of his repertoire he can get away with his shouty vocals, just another cracked walnut veneer on the guitar of melancholy, but when it comes to Parisian Walkway and the like, he needs a voice that can match all the subtlety and nuance of

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Orchard Road in Singapore is the main thoroughfare of this City State. Rivalling Rodeo Drive as a retail nirvana, Ngee Ann City is its focal point, a modern shopping plaza filled by the world’s leading designer brands. It was also the site chosen by one of the most highly respected amongst them - Chanel - to launch its new collection to the Far-Eastern world.

One major problem though. Being the tropics, most afternoons the plaza is deluged by rain of unbelievable ferocity - not the ideal environment then for a fashion show. Which is why event producers Faber Image, and particularly director Robert Seah, began to give this conundrum some serious thought. "This was to be a big show, a reception followed by the fashion parade for a seated audience of almost 1,000. We needed a large, flexible structure, at least 40 by 20 metres, and it needed to be elegant as befits our client.&

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Samantha Forrester has been appointed by Richard Martin Lighting (RML) to take up the newly-created position of marketing manager. RML is a specialist rental supplier of intelligent lighting and control systems to the film and television industry. The company’s clients have included Top of the Pops, The Spice Girls, SMTV Live, BBC Studios, Comic Relief and The Brit Awards. Previous to this appointment, Forrester was marketing coordinator at Martin Professional UK.

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Mark Henderson is an LD of long standing and someone with considerable experience of the business of being a lighting designer. L&SI caught up with him recently at The Peacock Theatre in London, where he was in the midst of lighting Victoria Wood’s new live show. We took the opportunity to invite him to unravel a few of the mysteries of lighting design.

"I think 75% of what a lighting designer does is solving problems. So much of the design thought process is about creating the best picture within the limitations you’re working to - and there are always limitations! If you remember the basics of lighting design you can usually get a good end result - it may not always be the end result you were hoping for, but it can be a pleasant surprise.

"Don’t ever forget the basics: cover the performance area in a simple way and hopefully leave yourself something to p

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The summer is about Festivals and this year was no exception: in late August, L&SI mingled with the crowds at the Reading Festival, part of the Carling Festival Weekend, which also plays in Leeds and Glasgow.

Sound for Reading (and Leeds too) was supplied by SSE. Chris Beale explained that the company had adopted a slightly different approach for the main stages this year, using BSS systems to split the Nexo systems into six separate zones and thereby optimize performance and controllability.

SSE used SIA SmartPro computer-based analysis software to give them precise system control. This ensured both systems behaved in exactly the same way in terms of SPL, EQ, dynamic performance and other general characteristics, allowing bands to have as near the same sound as possible at both sites - notwithstanding the natural variants of wind and atmosphere. True to form, the elements remained

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Oakleigh Cases specializes in the design and manufacture of flightcases and padded bags - those essential items too often taken for granted - which protect sensitive (and often very costly) equipment from both the rigours of travel and difficult environmental conditions on location. It’s a role that this family-run business has carried out successfully for 25 years - hence my visit to meet with directors Richard and Liz Puxley and general manager Martin Cockton, to learn more about a business that, in truth, I thought was relatively simple. It’s far from it.

Richard Puxley started Oakleigh Cases with his uncle in 1976: like others in the industry, his interest had been fostered by his father, who manufactured record player and tape recorder cases. The fledgeling company started in the the British Rail Yard in Camden Town, north London. By a stroke of luck, in one of the ad

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The Production Services Association has opened a collection for the widow of Danny Lee, who had been working as a set carpenter on the Back Street Boys’ tour. Danny was killed aboard American Airlines flight 11 which hit the World Trade Centre’s South Tower on 11th September. Danny, 34, was returning home from Boston to Los Angeles to be with his 30 year old wife, Kellie, for the birth of their second daughter. Two days later she gave birth to a healthy, 8lb 2oz baby named Allison Danielle.

Danny had been on Patrick Stansfield’s staff for some years. More recently he had toured with N’Sync, Yanni, Bette Midler, Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand. A fund has been set up in Los Angeles for the benefit of Danny’s widow and, at the request of the trustees of the PSA Welfare & Benevolent Fund, the PSA has set up a bank account to collect and consolidate UK and E

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Nominations are currently being accepted from PLASA’s Full Members for the forthcoming Executive Committee Elections. The deadline for nominations is 15 November, and voting forms will be issued to PLASA members the following day. There are three three-year seats on the Committee up for re-election, due to Diane Grant (DHA Lighting), Paul Hinkly (LMC Audio) and David Hopkins OBE (Audio Design Services) all coming to the end of their elected terms. In addition, there is a one-year term available, as Paul Adams of PAI Group has chosen to stand down from the Committee at the end of the year.

All Full Members of PLASA are reminded that nominations for election must be submitted by 15 November at the latest. The election results will be announced on 3 December.

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PLASA will be sponsoring a UK exhibitor group to the SIB 2002 exhibition, which will run from 24-27 March in Rimini, Italy.

The DTI’s SESA (Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad) funding programme will cover 60% of proven stand and construction costs, up to a ceiling of £2,300. In addition, PLASA will provide shared telephone and fax facilities and full on-site support for members of the Exhibitor Group. PLASA Members benefit from a reduced management fee for this service.

For more information, e-mail trade@plasa.org, or visit the PLASA Website at www.plasa.org/events

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PLASA Members can gain a competitive edge if they take advantage of PLASA’s pioneering industry research. The findings into the entertainment technology industry were launched by the Association at the recent PLASA Show, providing Members with the first available opportunity to gain in-depth market knowledge. At a time when the industry is facing an uncertain future, the research could prove vital to any company’s strategic planning.The first report, entitled ‘Establishing a Baseline’ is only available to PLASA Members and provides long-awaited reference material. The 147-page research report includes an overview of the global and UK markets and market-specific sections for the AV, lighting, pro audio and stage engineering markets. Each market is broken down into identifiable sectors with a definition of products and services within that area.

PLASA Members who

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The nominations for this year’s PLASA Executive Committee Elections are currently being collected, and voting forms will be distributed to PLASA members in mid-November.

PLASA Members were informed of the start of the nomination process in mid-October. Following the cut-off date for nominations on 15 November, members will have two weeks to submit their votes to PLASA. This year there are three vacancies for three-year seats, due to Diane Grant (DHA Lighting), Paul Hinkly (LMC Audio) and David Hopkins OBE (Audio Design Services) all reaching the end of their elected terms. There is also an additional one-year vacancy due to Paul Adams’ decision to stand down at the end of 2001. The final results will be announced on 3 December.

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German media is reporting a large-scale investigation into corruption at the Frankfurt Messehalle, home of the Frankfurt MusikMesse and ProLight & Sound exhibitions. According to Die Welt, 25 people have already been arrested on charges of corruption. In one example quoted, an employee of the Messe allegedly received almost £60,000 in one cash payment. Die Welt reports that seven employees of the Messe and as many as 90 entrepreneurs from 20 companies based in the Frankfurt-am-Main region are being investigated as part of the ongoing case. It is thought that the scale of the corruption could equate to many millions of Deutschmarks.

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Stardraw.com has appointed David Morrison as international sales manager. Morrison joins the well-known software provider with 20 years experience of senior sales roles with majormanufacturing companies in the PC and networking industry, including Compaq and Research Machines. Stardraw managing director David Snipp told us: "David's appointment is just part of our plan for continued growth. We wanted to find someone who could add real value for our existing channel partners, and who would also be able to manage significant OEM relationships in our existing entertainment markets and beyond. His experience in the broader spectrum of the telecomms and networking industries will be invaluable to our strategic plans for expansion." Snipp hinted that Stardraw's position within the audio, AV and lighting industries will be used as a springboard into larger markets. Morrison operates o

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The Boardwalk nightclub, where Oasis began their career, has been put up for sale. Built in 1876 as St Peter’s School, it opened as The Boardwalk club in 1986 and ran successfully for 13 years until August 1999.

The Boardwalk has witnessed the UK debuts of Primal Scream, Sonic Youth and Courtney Love’s band Hole. Big names such as Oasis, M People, Pulp, The Verve, Suede, Blur and the Stranglers have also appeared, along with DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Todd Terry and Pete Tong and comics Steve Coogan and Peter Kay.

The basement rehearsal studios were as famous as the club. Acts who rehearsed at The Boardwalk included Terry Hall & Colourfield, Nico from the Velvet Underground, Simply Red, The Fall, James, The Railway Children, Manic Street Preachers, ACR and Happy Mondays. The Happy Mondays’ residence is immortalized in the new film about Factory and The Hacienda -

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The 2001 LDI exhibition in Orlando ended yesterday after a successful three days which included a full and well-attended conference programme. At the LDI/ESTA Awards ceremony held at the Orange County Convention Center auditorium on Saturday evening, Jim Bornhorst of Vari-Lite was this year’s Wally Russell Award recipient. Amongst the product awards were the Omni Connector from Total Structures, Protec’s Smart Motion control system, Rosco’s ImagePro, Wybron’s Eclipse 2. Prizes for ‘Widgets’ went to Rosco, Lex Products and Lee Filters. High End Systems’ Catalyst picked up the Entertainment Lighting Product Award to add to the Award for Product Excellence it won at the recent PLASA Show. Best Audio Product was the Legend tri-purpose mixing desk from Midas.

Full details of the rest of the award winners will follow and a full report from LDI, inclu

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Angelo Russo has joined giant screen manufacturer, Lighthouse, in its UK office as product marketing manager. Angelo had worked for nearly three years as marketing manager for Clipsal Vision, Australasia's largest supplier of Lighthouse screens, where he was involved in a host of prestigious projects including the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, the Jade and Eden Park stadium installations in New Zealand and the Subiaco Stadium in Perth, as well international events such as the Hanover Expo.

Angelo brings with him a vast knowledge of Lighthouse screens and will be working alongside marketing support manager Sian Sparkes. Commented Lighthouse international sales and marketing director Graham Burgess: "Angelo's arrival brings an extra dimension to Lighthouse's UK-based team and we're delighted to have him on board."

  1. JBL Appoints Chaikin
  2. Stagetec New Faces
  3. Blitz Double Act
  4. PSA to Assess Impact of 11 September
  5. EST Still Trucking
  6. Michael Garl Receives Swan Award
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