UK - Following on from the ABTT’s inaugural Make A Difference conference held earlier this year at the Albany in Deptford, the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced the launch of the second edition of this annual proactive conference day - committed to finding solutions to current industry issues.
The 2024 conference will be held on Friday 12 April 2024 at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’s Embassy Theatre in London. The theme for this year’s discussion is ‘Bridging the gap between Education and Industry’,
The conference is designed to be more than simply talking, say the organisers. There is no passive sitting and listening at the conference, if you attend, your thoughts, views and ideas are welcome, and you will spend the day developing ideas. By asking attendees to commit to taking action and developing strategies, de

Slovakia - HOF has announced Adam A Syn as its new sales partner for Slovakia. Adam A Syn was founded in 1990 and has many years of experience in the distribution of professional event technology. The company works with TV studios, theatres and congress halls, and more.
Dagmar Pastorkova, CEO of Adam A Syn, says: "We offer top products from well-known brands. We are impressed by the innovative and high-quality products of the MLT Pre Rig Truss series from HOF, which save a lot of time and space."
Edwin Duivelaar, export & sales manager at HOF, adds: "Adam A Syn is a major player on the Slovakian market. I am sure that the HOF products will be a successful addition to their existing portfolio and will help the company to be even more successful." Adam A Syn will mainly distribute the MLT Pre Rig Truss series.

UK - Following the administrators being called into Sheffield-based outside broadcasting company Televideo - a two day live streamed auction of assets is due to take place over the 19-20 December.
Televideo has been involved in the outside broadcast and production industry for over 47 years. They have worked with several leading broadcasting clients including the BBC, Sky Sports, Netflix, Channel 4, Channel 5, BT Sport, and Eurosport. With recent projects including the UCI Cycling World Championships and the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo.
Management of the upcoming sale involves a three-way partnership between Walker Singleton, Hickman Shearer and CA Global Partners. Each are specialists in management and disposal of assets. They will be conducting a live and online auction of a selection of over 800 pieces of outside broadcast and TV production equipment on behalf of Hart

USA - Gore Arena has a seating capacity just under 3,100, and is used by basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams, as well as to host other indoor events, across Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
In the process of revamping the auditory experience at the Gore Arena, it was crucial to address specific challenges posed by the former sound system. Community loudspeakers from Biamp were chosen as the solution.
The Community loudspeakers from Biamp helped address one of the most evident issues - the inconsistent sound quality across different seating areas, which often left sections of the arena audience straining to discern announcements, commentaries, or even the ambiance of the sporting event. Equally, the old system lacked the desired clarity, muddling certain frequencies and diminishing the overall auditory experience.
“Once we understood

UK - Peerless-AV has presented a fundraising cheque to Young Lives vs Cancer after the third annual charity golf day on 28 September, held this year at Foxhills in Surrey. In previous years, the company has supported Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and Ruth Strauss Foundation; charities close to the hearts of Peerless-AV’s management team, employees and their families.
Young Lives vs Cancer is a UK cancer charity whose care teams provide specialist support for children, young people and their families across the country. It is shocking that an average 12 children and young people a day are diagnosed with cancer. Twelve families will receive this devastating news today and Young Lives vs Cancer will be able to use this £13,500 donation to support those families in their time of greatest need.
Clare Moulder, a parent whose life has been directly affected by c

UK - Two of the theatre world’s leading creative lighting designers, Paule Constable and Tim Lutkin, have both become early adopters of GLP’s new impression X5 platform.
Both have been supplied by Sparks Theatrical Hire, while a third designer, Paul Pyant, has also requisitioned the X5 for Noises Off at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, which is currently in production.
Paule Constable had been keen to work with the impression X5 again after debuting it on The Devil Wears Prada and Guys and Dolls at The Bridge Theatre gave her the perfect opportunity. “I first looked to the impression X4 and then the X5 to replace the big soft keylight that I’ve always used 5kW units to give me. I think it’s amazing that an LED unit can provide that same diffuse, soft directional push - but I also love the beam control and quality when it is spotted down.

UK - Pioneer Pro Audio recorded another successful year in 2023 on all fronts. From professional and commercial installs on every scale, to live entertainment, ranging from pop-up presentations to major festivals, the company’s portfolio has been in high demand. The company has seen ‘robust and sustained demand’ for its loudspeaker ranges.
The year began with the launch of XPRS2 series of powered loudspeakers, which couple the versatility and mobility of the original XPRS Series with elevated audio sound-performance and audio intelligibility. Demonstrations of XPRS2 at ISE in Barcelona were very well attended, with guests introduced to the concept of ‘Versatile XPRSion’ from lighter and even more competitively priced units. The speakers were in evidence at a number of eye-catching locations during the year, including Trevarefest in Norway.
XPRS2 were also pop

South Africa - Founded in Randburg in 1979, the Rhema Bible Church is one of the largest church organisations in the Southern Hemisphere and was one of the first churches to defy Apartheid laws, offering non-segregated services as a precursor of what was to come in the new South Africa.
In May 2022, founder Pastor Ray McCauley handed the reigns of the organisation over to his son Pastor Joshua McCauley and his wife Pastor Tara McCauley, and it is under this new leadership that the church decided to update their flagship venue’s AV system with the assistance of South African AV distributors Audiosure.
“This is one of the largest churches in the world, so they needed an audio solution to match,” explains Audiosure digital mixer specialist, Lesedi Maponya. “The church was already running FOH, monitors and broadcast systems, but having grown a sizable online cong

UK - Stage Electrics is providing support for the next generation of lighting designers at the Jasmin Vardimon Company.
The Jasmin Vardimon Company is a professional dance company founded by the choreographer and artistic director, Jasmin Vardimon. The Company performs nationally and internationally, with productions including ALiCE, Pinocchio, Alice in VR Wonderlands and more. JV2 is a professional development diploma, which provides performers with an opportunity to train and develop alongside the Jasmin Vardimon Company dancers.
Stage Electrics managing director, Dave Coull emphasises the importance of the relationship: “Stage Electrics have a proud history of supporting emerging talents as they embark on a career in technical theatre. Assisting young people at this early stage of their development supports the healthy continuation of the indu

Canada - Situated in the Beaches neighbourhood in the east end of Toronto, History is a 2500-capacity live music venue. Run by Live Nation, its packed programme of events sees a wide variety of artists from all genres pass through the venue, with bills often featuring multiple acts.
These multi-band events present audio challenges all of their own. Often, each band on the bill will bring its own mixing console, which requires patching into the venue sound system for each soundcheck and between each set.
Technicians are only too aware of the pressure points that this can create, so to meet the demand for a solution to potential disruptions in this area, UK manufacturer, XTA, created the MX Series of DSP enabled console switching systems. The team at History recently invested in the MX36 to address the ever-increasing number of shows carrying multiple consoles.
The

Japan - Zouk Tokyo is within Granbell Hotel Ginza’s new commercial complex, the latest luxury hospitality launch from Granbell Hotel Group.
A Void Acoustics sound system has been installed across Zouk Tokyo’s two basement floors, one of which has a lounge space, premium bar and VIP seating, while the floor beneath contains an impressive dance hall and stage. Altogether, the space offers a 600m2 capacity, capable of holding 1,000 people.
Black and gold interior design contrasts with a distinct lack of pillars, the sprawling atrium, and a giant 5m wide lighting system called the Mothership, custom-built by a specialist lighting team in Barcelona, Spain.
The audio installation is by eastaudio, a Tokyo Sound System Laboratory member, a sound system production team responsible for many of Japan’s famous nightclubs.
Satoru Tocci Tochibori explained: “Yea

Gibraltar - Fresh Entertainment, Gibraltar's sole professional audiovisual company has an impressive track record dating back to 2005, Fresh Entertainment CEO Jonathan Collado has turned to Elation fixtures since 2012 to elevate a diverse range of projects in Gibraltar, from conferences to major music festivals.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, Fresh Entertainment successfully maintained its staff and used the time to lay the groundwork for new festivals. Identifying an opportunity in the local market, Jonathan, a former DJ, launched.
The festival marked a significant milestone as the first European EDM music festival to make a post-pandemic return in 2021, attracting attendees from Europe and beyond. Held annually in July, and with a Christmas edition added to the lineup, Jonathan emphasises that Elation lighting has been integral to the festival's

Italy - AtlasIED has announced a partnership with Leading Technologies to be the exclusive distributor for AtlasIED products and solutions in Italy. As part of the agreement, Leading Technologies will sell and distribute AtlasIED's entire portfolio of products, including audio, security, and mass notification technologies, for use across a wide range of markets.
Based in Monza, Leading Technologies will coordinate sales efforts between AtlasIED's U.S. headquarters, integrators, and end users in Italy.
Leading Technologies will represent AtlasIED's entire product portfolio, including the award-winning Atmosphere digital audio platform for hospitality, retail, and educational facilities. The company will also sell the AtlasIED GLOBALCOM enterprise-wide communications platform, used in transportation hubs worldwide, including over 300 airports and multiple train and bus

Mexico - Genelec has strengthened its distribution in Mexico by appointing Representaciones de Audio to develop the brand's presence in the MI retail, AV and Home Audio markets. Representaciones de Audio will work alongside existing distributor Video Audio Representaciones e Ingeniería (VARI), who will continue to supply Genelec solutions to Mexico’s professional audio community.
This new partnership will complement Genelec’s long standing relationship with pro audio distributor VARI, who will continue to serve Genelec’s professional customers in Mexico, particularly those in the important music recording and broadcast segments.
“It is a pleasure to begin our business relationship with Genelec,” declares Jaime Celis, general manager of Representaciones de Audio. “Both companies share family values that strengthen our way of working together. This collabora

Japan - The Adam Hall Group is further expanding its global sales network. With H. Ito & Co from Tokyo, the event technology provider has gained a new partner who will take over the exclusive distribution of Adam Hall Group brand Cameo lighting technology solutions in Japan with immediate effect.
H. Ito & Co was founded in Tokyo in 1979. In more than 40 years, the company has been able to build up an extensive network of partners and customers as well as constantly expanding its range of services.
"We are excited about the new distribution partnership with the Adam Hall Group," comments Akihiko Sato, president of H. Ito & Co. "Cameo's solutions cover all professional lighting requirements and give us the opportunity to offer new, innovative products to the Japanese lighting industry."
Glenn Lin, business development Manager, Asia Pacific, adds: "Japan

Ticket To Ride - Taylor Swift's concert tour brought in about $1.04bn (£829m) in gross sales across its first 60 shows, a new record, trade publication Pollstar said. Swift’s success came during a bumper year for a concert business. Overall, the top 100 global tours brought in more than $9bn (£7.17bn) this year in gross sales, up 46% from 2022, which had itself seen record-setting spending, Pollstar said.
Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen rounded out the top three concerts of the year. However, Swift, whose tour started in Arizona in March, did not just bring in more money than anyone else. She also did it faster, Pollstar said, and her mass popularity meant she played exclusively to stadiums - which seat bigger crowds. By contrast, it took previous record-setter Elton John 328 shows to bring in $939m (£749m) during his five-year farewell tour, which spanned the pan

UK - Hayden Borgars says that he’s always tended to view the lighting fixtures in his rig as musical instruments, not merely illuminating with them, but also “playing” them in ways that flow with the sound of his clients.
On the just-completed Sacred Blasphemy UK tour by Creeper, Borgars demonstrated his virtuosity on the Chauvet Professional Color Strike M by using the motorised fixture to follow the hauntingly evocative notes played by the band’s keyboardist Hannah Greenwood, and powerful beats by drummer Jack Fogarty.
“Aside from the silhouette looks I got from the Color Strikes, I also used a lot of the fixture’s pixel effects to go along with the key notes from Hannah,” he said. “I also used the clap out effect on both the beam and plate pixels to accent some of the drum hits and whip effects. It’s part of how I treat light as an instrumen

USA - Texas Motor Speedway’s (TMS) new Big Hoss TV debuted in September for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoff weekend. Sited on the backstretch of the track, it is made up of digiLED Vision Ultra panels, measures 23,000sq.ft, stands 11 storeys high and, with over 8.2m pixels, it is the equivalent of 4,331 42” TVs. All of this makes it one of the largest screens in the world.
Committed to TMS and partner and installer for the project, GoVision, digiLED custom engineered Vision Ultra, which features specially designed cabinets to enable a 1:1 replacement of the old display.
A key criterion for the replacement screen was to reuse all of the existing steel structure, which in turn removed the need for TMS to repurchase about 15 tons of steel - the existing layout meant that the original power supplies could also be repurposed, all thanks to digiLED

Vietnam - Located in Rạch Giá, the capital city of Kiên Giang province in southwestern Vietnam, the Kiên Giang Music Theatre plays a significant role as a cultural and artistic hub - not only within the province but also throughout the wider region.
In addition to presenting contemporary programme material, the venue has gained recognition for its commitment to preserving and promoting the revered folk-art form of ‘cải lương’ - a complex artistic genre that blends traditional melodies with various musical instruments. The theatre therefore serves as a prominent focal point for national cultural exchange and enrichment, and audiences can expect performances and production values of the utmost artistic quality.
When the time came to modernise the sound system at the large theatre, many considerations came into play. Beyond the seamless coverage and sonic f

USA - Pittsburgh Penguins fans are enjoying an even more dynamic game experience this season with the installation of Ayrton Zonda 9 FX LED moving head washes beneath the new scoreboard at the PPG Paints Arena. ACT Entertainment is the exclusive distributor of Ayrton lighting in North America.
Kevin Hogan, the lighting designer and programmer for the NHL team since 2005 and the owner of Pittsburgh-based Process of Illumination LLC, chose eight Zonda 9 FX fixtures for the new scoreboard, which is part of an arena upgrade by the Fenway Sports Group (owners of the team since late 2021). Designed and built by Mitsubishi Electric, the much larger, four-sided scoreboard features 50ft LED panels around a hollow central core with two Zonda 9 FX positioned on the lower mounting rail of each panel.
It was Ayrton’s promotional video for the fixtures that sparked Hogan’s inter

Belgium - The historic Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles has upgraded its digital communications to a Green-GO system as part of a wider investment in its AV and IP infrastructure.
Green-GO distributor Luc Buytaert, manager of the technical department at Audio Visual Lighting bv was approached by the theatre and Riva Audio AudioVisual Solutions to design and specify a new IP-based digital system, to replace an older setup that was no longer supported or fit for purpose. It was part of the second phase of the theatre’s complete AV upgrade.
“The brief was to provide the users and technicians a more flexible and integrated communication solution, replacing the old system which was limited to a single line party extension,” says Frederic Vard, managing director at Riva. “We analysed a range of possible technologies and found that Green-GO products met all the r

UK - Every year in the latter part of July, York Racecourse stages the Live After Racing concert series. This event results from a collaborative effort between EnTEEtainment and Music Plus Sport, offering attendees a blend of daytime horse racing and evening live music. Since 2021, Adlib has orchestrated the audio environment for this event.
Adlib's account manager, Richy Nicholson, notes that this is the third year that Adlib has supported York Racecourse and Music Plus Sport: “Dick Tee from EnTEEtainment brought us onboard, and I think York Racecourse may have been one of the first shows we looked after in 2021 post-COVID," he says.
“The primary objective for York Racecourse in hosting these gigs was to provide a concert-grade experience to audience members across the 300 metres, and the lawn within the track, as well as to additional VIP areas,” Billy Bryson,

UK - The Christmas season traditionally brings with it magical and immersive eco-trails, with lighting and imaginative soundtracks replacing the more natural effects. Among these is Eden Project’s Music & Lights after dark experience, which runs during the month of December.
Based nearby in Cornwall, technology specialists (and Martin Audio partners) TruCru were brought in to provide a seamless audio experience. According to project manager, Toby Bodman, after much deliberation this was achieved by deploying Martin Audio’s weatherised CDD6-WR in a flown configuration to create seamless transitions and ensure maximum intelligibility of both the narrative and a soundtrack that varied from orchestral to ambient music.
This year, the sales and rental company turned its attention to the Rainforest Biome after having also helped stage events previously in different a

France - Audio network specialist and equipment manufacturer AuviTran celebrated its 20th anniversary during the JTSE (Journées Techniques du Spectacle et de l'Événement) show held in 29-30 November 2023. The celebration was an appropriate occasion for the AuviTran team to gather their long-time partners, clients and integrators, and raise their glasses to ‘past projects and future endeavours’.
Founded in 2003 by Yves Ansade, Jérémie Weber, Wlodek Sielski and Robert Morgan-Males, Grenoble-based AuviTran has built and developed its expertise on audio networking solutions.
In its early days, AuviTran focused on developing and deploying EtherSound-based solutions to serve OEM and integrator customers worldwide. The company rapidly extended its expertise to designing its own hardware solutions and was soon able to address a broader issue: bridging the gap between

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