Home

Success in the corporate sector with Clay Paky

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - "The client was really surprised about how we totally transformed the room using just six Alpha Spot QWO 800s and four A.leda Wash K10s," comments Presentation Rentals' director, Justin Hammond. "At our very first outing with the new Clay Paky stock we knew that the decision to purchase from Ambersphere Solutions was the right one. The event was The Evening Standard Film Awards and the venue was The London Film Museum so this was a high profile show with a knowing audience in terms of theatricality. The Clay Pakys definitely didn't disappoint."

Presentation Rentals services the ever expanding corporate market from their base in South East London and have recently chosen to invest significantly in the Clay Paky brand as Hammond explains, "A lot

Harlequin turns back time for Colne Bank

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Harlequin Reversible has brought long-lasting quality to the dance floor for Colne Bank School of Dancing. Despite being used for tap dancing, the style of dance that usually causes the most damage to flooring, Jenny Overton who runs the school is delighted to see that the vinyl flooring has not been damaged in the slightest.

Back in 1996, when Jenny Overton purchased Harlequin Reversible, she did not expect to enjoy such longevity. To make matters all the more impressive, Colne Bank School of Dancing only uses one side of the two-sided dance floor and it is still as functional and attractive as the day they took it home.

"We have a school of approximately 250 students doing ballet, modern theatre, tap and jazz from three years up to and including advanced. The 3m x 15m rolls have been rolled out, swept, stuck down, used and rolled away again, 5 days a week for the l

Pat McCrory was recently sworn in as the 74th Governor of North Carolina

IC Live rings in North Carolina's governor

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - For more than 170 years, North Carolina's State Capitol building has served proudly as a centrepiece of the city of Raleigh, and a focal point of state government. This classic architectural masterpiece, its majestic columns evoking ancient Greek temples like the Parthenon, has been a gathering place for generations of events, both large and small.

With this grand building as a backdrop, Pat McCrory was recently sworn in as the 74th Governor of North Carolina. Despite the familiar setting, McCrory's inauguration was the first to take place on the Capitol's South Lawn, with the stage looking out down Fayetteville Street, a vibrant thoroughfare that serves as Raleigh's ceremonial centre.

With highly reflective marble buildings lining both sides of the street, the setting presented some daunting obstacles to speech intelligibility. "We were really concerned about the l

ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features.

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

Kekul Sheth (IES), Rajkumar Wadhwa (owner, Wadhwa Decorators), Abhijeet Khanuja (head of the lighting division, Wadhwa Decorators), Rasesh Parekh (IES)

Robe match for Pune wedding specialists

Details: 14 March 2016

India - Pune- based wedding and event specialists Wadhwa Decorators has opened a new lighting division and invested in Robe moving lights - Robin 1200 LEDWashes, MMX Spots and 300 Beams - in order to offer a premium service to their many high profile clients.

The company operates Laxmi Lawns, a large wedding and celebration / party venue in central Pune comprising a selection of different buildings, gardens and exterior spaces with the capacity to stage events with up to 10,000 guests. There is a constant stream of celebrations taking place throughout the year including around 40 weddings and 15 - 20 other events.

Wadhwa Decorators is a well-established and very successful business providing designs ideas and infrastructure for a diversity of productions. With the demands becoming ever more complex, and wanting to be able to offer the best services, it made commercial sense to

PLASA Focus: Austintakes place at the Palmer Events Centre, Texas on 10-11 September 2013

PLASA Focus: Austin 2013 registration opens

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Free registration is now open for the PLASA Focus: Austin 2013 Professional Development Programme, a two-day programme of free educational seminars and workshops, running alongside PLASA Focus: Austin, at the Palmer Events Centre, Texas on 10-11 September 2013.

Still in the early stages of development, the programme already includes talks from some of the industry's leading talents who will discuss the latest trends, technologies and techniques, and is a unique opportunity for visitors to further develop their industry knowledge and take part in the discussions.

Lighting designer and programmer Eric Wade will present Designing AND Programming - Life is Good. Currently working as Usher's lighting designer, something he describes as "kinda a full-time gig", Wade has developed his skills over three decades and has become the favourite programmer and lightin

Peter Stressing joins the Milos UK team and will lead new business development for all Milos products

Milos Group acquires Mobil Tech International

Details: 14 March 2016

UK / Czech Republic - Last year the Milos Group became the world's largest manufacturer of modular aluminium truss and staging systems with the simultaneous acquisitions of TomCat in the USA and Litec in Italy.

The company now announces another recent addition to the Group - with the purchase of UK lighting / speaker stand and truss lift manufacturer Mobil Tech International.

For many years Mobil Tech has worked in close partnership with Milos in the distribution of OEM products within the entertainment industry, including the popular PAD, PAX & PAZ trussing ranges and accessories.

At present, Milos is in the process of transferring operations from Letchworth, Hertfordshire to be fully integrated within Milos UK's Design & Distribution Centre in Cambridgeshire.

The Mobil Tech range will be supplied as part of Milos's extensive portfolio, and it is planned that design and p

The celebrity-filled ceremony was taped for broadcast on HBO

Clay Paky at R&R Hall of Fame ceremony

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Clay Paky lighting fixtures were out in force at the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which honoured inductees such as Aerosmith, The Doors, James Taylor, Albert King, Donna Summer, Rush and Quincy Jones at a gala event at LA's Nokia Theatre.

The celebrity-filled ceremony, which was taped for broadcast on HBO, featured 40 Clay Paky Sharpy Wash lights, 28 Sharpys and 7 Alpha Profile 700s controlled by two grandMA2 lights and one grandMA2 full system, all supplied by Atomic Lighting of Lititz, Pennsylvania.

"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame usually focuses on six or seven performances in the multi-camera show, and the tone was very vibey, not overly glammy," says Kevin Lawson who programmed the lighting with Felix Peralta. Lawson handled the key lights and audience lights for lighting designer Allen Branton while Peralta programmed the scenic lig

Strictly FX Highlights

Strictly FX was founded in 1996 by industry veterans Mark Grega and Ted Maccabee. Our expertise and knowledge of the world’s leading pyrotechnic, laser, and flame manufacturers allows us to curate astonishing live events. With over 500+ shows performed a year, there’s good chance you’ve seen some of our work!

DWR stages first Vectorworks course in South Africa

Details: 14 March 2016

South Aftrica - The first ever Vectorworks course for the entertainment industry in South Africa was presented by Francois van der Merwe from Wizardry Group on the 30 and 31 May at DWR Distribution, Johannesburg. Even though this was a basic introduction to Vectorworks Spotlight, the demand and interest was overwhelming and it was an eye-opener for all who attended.

"The industry has changed so much that we can't just do drawings on the back of a match box," said presenter Francois van der Merwe. "Health and Safety is imperative and from the Wizardry Group side, we believe in skills and the big need to transfer skills to the younger guys."

Van der Merwe has worked on Vectorworks since Version 9 - some years ago - and has become an expert as he daily uses the software design programme. "This was not a course with accreditation," he explained. "

Pet Shop Boys patched with Optocore network

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Mixing the Pet Shop Boys' current Electric world tour, the band's long term sound engineers, Holger Schwark (front-of-house), and Seamus Fenton (monitors) have been relying on an Optocore 'multicore' system to transfer signals, and keep the sound within the digital domain.

Holger has been carrying two Optocore DD4ME MADI converters in his compact FOH side rack for some time, with a third DD4ME at the monitor desk. Providing production on this tour is Capital Sound Hire - who themselves invested in an Optocore system for last year's Take That stadium shows.

Both Holger and Seamus have chosen the compact DiGiCo SD10-24 consoles, along with a DiGiCo SD-Rack at the monitor desk. While these consoles come equipped with an optical loop interface, they decided instead to run Optocore as an entirely independent network, giving them greater flexibility to patch signals between the

The Week in Lighting & Sound

Details: 14 March 2016

London Calling - Punk pioneers The Clash are to be given an honorary award recognising their contribution to the music industry at the Silver Clef Awards next week. Mick Jones, the guitarist and co-frontman of the group which split up almost 30 years ago, said it was a "real honour" to receive the award..

David Munns, chairman of music charity Nordoff Robbins, which organises the awards, said, "The Clash's music has just as much influence today as it did when they first came onto the music scene in 1976." Other award winners to be honoured at the event in London on 28 June include Coldplay, Labrinth, Alison Moyet and Barry Gibb. The winner of the best live act prize will be announced on the day. The Kinks' Ray Davies will get an ambassador of rock award. New York band Vampire Weekend will also receive the international award.

Glastonbury Live - The B

Wildfire installs JBL sound system

Details: 14 March 2016

Australia - Wildfire, one of the leading waterfront restaurants in Sydney, has gained an enviable reputation over the years for fine dining, fine wine, all with a stunning view. Recently, owner Ton?i Farac decided it was time to give their fine establishment an audio makeover calling in the experts at Compact Monitor Systems.

"The client also wanted to expand the audio to several zones and include areas that haven't previously been covered whilst redoing those that had with a more complete sound system," explained Bill Richardson, managing director of Compact Monitor Systems.

Compact Monitor Systems completely dismantled the existing audio system and replaced all of the processing with BSS BLU, all amplifiers to Crown Audio and added a wide range of JBL speakers. The venue already had a dozen JBL Control 25AV speakers which were redistributed into areas that were not

Delta ladies climb Snowdon for charity

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - On 15 June, the ladies of Delta Sound and Sound By Design pulled on their hiking boots and windbreakers to make the 245 mile trip to climb the highest peak in England and Wales, Mount Snowdon. Leaving behind the warmth and safety of their office in Surrey were Emma, Emily, Ruth and Sarah who braved fierce winds, lashing rain and freezing temperatures as they trekked to the 3,560ft summit to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The idea for the expedition began back in January when Sarah chirped up with an idea of mountainous proportions. "I want to climb a mountain, who's with me?" she said. Just half an hour later the team was assembled, a plan formed and the all-important team name chosen. The MountainEARS, were going to climb Snowdon in the middle of June in the beautiful Summer sunshine. It was foolproof....

Fast forward to 4am on 15 June as the pierci

Performances range from student societies and comedy nights to live music and club nights

d&b bridges the gap at SUSU

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The University of Southampton Students' Union building, more familiarly known as SUSU, is a busy place offering a broad and varied range of facilities to the students. The Bridge venue offers a relaxed bistro dining experience during the day and in the evenings is host to a varied line up of events and performances. Consequently when Ed Blackwell, assistant technical co-ordinator at SUSU, needed to install a new loudspeaker system into The Bridge venue, his shopping list needed to tick a lot of boxes simultaneously.

The choice of a d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker system from the xS-Series was made after extensive research despite SUSU already being a d&b customer through Entec Sound and Light, as Blackwell explains, "When The Bridge was refurbished, the aim of the project was to create a space that appealed to a wider demographic of students, provide a small gig space for

The World Travel Awards — Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony

PR lighting luxuriates in the Maldives

Details: 14 March 2016

Maldives - When the exclusive World Travel Awards - Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony took place recently at the luxurious Paradise Island Resort & Spa in the Maldives, local event company, Azidon Pvt Ltd used the occasion to introduce its new lighting inventory from the Chinese lighting manufacturer PR Lighting.

Azidon Pvt Ltd sponsored the production for the World Travel Awards - Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony as an event partner. "Our intricate local knowledge of the seas, islands and beaches gives us an edge when it comes to delivery," says Azidon's managing director, M. Fayid Farouk.

In addition, Azidon also offers private and exclusive VVIP event packages in partnership with its sister company, Lets Go Maldives Pvt Ltd.

As an event partner, the company knew that the set needed to be dressed to perfection and it turned to its recently acquired PR Lighting inventory, whic

The Pacific Place shopping centre in Seattle

GLP Spot Ones for Seattle shopping mall show

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Enhancing the overall shopping mall experience for visitors - by creating a unique atmosphere with low maintenance colour-changing fixtures, which can be activated for selective events - is a challenge facing all management companies.

And when Gene Tasche, operations manager of Pine Street Group LLC, the company responsible for the Pacific Place shopping centre in Seattle, contacted GLP authorised dealer PNTA, it was precisely with that in mind.

With the Christmas season approaching, and the annual Snow Show looming, he needed something innovative to grab the attention of passers-by, and give the 15-year-old retail centre a fresh approach. Having worked on other projects at the site previously, the lighting specialists recommended seven of GLP's LED fixture, the impression Spot One, to be installed in each of the mall's seven columns.

Sheldon Warshaw, PNTA's Cus

The building has now returned to private ownership

SGM's P-5 technology brings old castle to life

Details: 14 March 2016

Sweden - Ulfsunda Slott, situated near Stockholm's city centre in Sweden, is a castle with much history and numerous anecdotes. Built during the Thirty Years' War, and having been used by royalty, the history of this castle is indeed a rich one.

The building has been in the possession of private families, a prime minister, the county council and has now returned to private ownership - furniture designer from Svensk Inredning (Swedish Interior) Torbjörn Blomqvist, who initiated a major renovation upon the acquisition in 1999. Now the 1600's have met the 2000s in an amazing contrast, and the castle is now ranked as Sweden's number one luxury hotel, featuring facilities for art showrooms, conferences and restaurants.

In this special environment, every detail is of high importance. The illumination of the castle by night has been a challenging task for Blomqvist, and for the owne

Family Fortunes returns with RML

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Vernon Kay is back to present a new series of the ITV show Family Fortunes . Dave Davey designs the lighting rig which is provided by Richard Martin Lighting (RML).

Each show, two teams of five family members (led by a celebrity captain) go head to head trying to guess the top answers in a series of open ended survey questions given to 100 members of the general public. At the end of this, the teams play Big Money. All prize money raised goes to the teams chosen charities.

Lighting-wise, this has seen some significant changes, the main one being the use of LED. Davey uses Robe Robin 600 LEDWash and Robe Robin 100 LEDBeams amongst other units including MAC 500s.

(Jim Evans)

The number of products and services launched at the Theatre Show this year was memorable

Positive reaction to ABTT Theatre Show

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The weather in London wasn't exceptionally sunny for the ABTT 2013 Theatre Show, but the atmosphere inside The Old Truman Brewery on 12 and 13 June was enough to put a smile on everyone's face, say the organisers.

The exhibition space, which was reorganised for 2013 with the addition of an extra hall, two seminar rooms and an imposing registration hall off Brick Lane in London's East End, provided visitors with an adventurous route around the exhibits and meeting areas. Two new initiatives - the Market Place and Village Green - were widely applauded. In the Market Place section of the Blue Hall, a collection of small booths enabled a wide range of theatrical suppliers and associations to present their services at an affordable cost.

The 'Village Green' as it became known during the event, became a central area for visitors to meet, have somewhere to sit and enjoy a coffee

Dave Isherwood, with some of the new SGM P-5's at White Light's Wimbledon facility

White Light invests in SGM wash lights

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - London-based lighting specialists, White Light, have become the first UK company to invest in SGM's new IP65-rated P-5 LED wash light to boost its hire fleet.

The agreement to supply 24 of the high power, low profile rectangular fixtures, was confirmed at this month's ABTT Show in London.

Incorporating 44 x RGBW 10W LEDs, the fixture offers CTC and White Balance control, with just 450W power consumption and LED source life expectancy of 50,000 hours. Stretching the output-to-consumption envelope by providing an overall efficacy factor of 52 lumens per watt (channelled through the 15°, 21° and 43° lens options) the green credentials of the P-5 raise the benchmark considerably.

Said SGM UK's Ian Kirby, "This is a highly significant sale for us as it is the first substantial P-5 rental sale - and to one of the industry leaders. Given that White Light also

Presentations at the Layers of Light theatre were popular in both German and English

ETC gobo-ing mad at Showtech Berlin

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - ETC's stand at Showtech in Berlin was busy throughout the three days of the show, with visitors often spilling into the aisles. And regular presentations at the Layers of Light Theatre in both German and English drew large crowds who found out more about how LED fixtures work and how they can work as part of a mixed traditional and LED rig.

Given the 34º heat outside, ETC was keen to proving how cool the LED fixtures run - a plastic gobo would melt in front of a tungsten lamp, but they work perfectly with Source Four LED fixtures.

Visitors to the ETC stand were invited to draw a gobo on a square of plastic, with ETC's Facebook friends deciding which were good enough to win a Source Four Mini. Hundreds took part in the public vote, with Linus Zahn, Lilith Gardell and Elana Siberski the clear winners.

European Promotion & Advertising Manager for ETC GmbH Rosi Marx s

The new Kaunas algiris Arena in Lithuania

Martin Audio reinforces top Baltic arena

Details: 14 March 2016

Lithuania - The new Kaunas algiris Arena in Lithuania, originally opened in August 2011 to host the European Basketball Championships, today enjoys a multipurpose role and has the ability to accommodate up to 17,500 people when used in concert mode.

Owned by the Kaunas City government, the 50m algiris Arena spans 39,684sq.m and is the largest in the Baltic states. This required a top quality PA that would deliver excellent sound coverage to every seat in the house. Management company Kauras Arena found this with a Martin Audio H3+ horn-loaded solution, proposed by Martin Audio's Lithuanian distributors, Audiotonas, which not only met the overall specification but introduced other advantages, when used for basketball or ice hockey matches.

Audiotonas co-owner, Algirdas Sidiskis, explains. "During basketball play, in particular, we typically have audience noise crossi