UK - Robert Juliat will be exhibiting at PLASA 2019 on Stand K40d with UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions, where it will demonstrate SpotMe, its award-winning, bespoke 3D position-tracking system for followspots, which earned Robert Juliat a PLASA Award for Innovation in 2018. The ZEP2 range of LED zoom profile spots and Fresnel fixtures will be on display. Equipped with an enhanced white LED source providing a higher light quality and output, ZEP2 can be used as a direct complement or replacement for traditional 1kW or 2kW units but uses only 150W or 300W of long-life LED power resulting in huge cost savings. ZEP2 profile spots deliver a smooth flat beam, CRI of up to 92, and all the SX range features including three variable zoom options (28°-54°, 16°-35° and 11°-26°), a strobe function, and a built-in flicker-free dimmable PSU with silent operation which ma
UK - Ayrton will be exhibiting at PLASA 2019 with its exclusive UK distributor Ambersphere Solution on Stand K40b. On display from the French lighting manufacturer will be its latest luminaires - Khamsin, Bora, Mistral and Levante – and two new products, Perseo and Huracán-X, will be launched at the show. Ayrton will also celebrate its heritage through a product showcase styled as a timeline, showing products manufactured since the company’s inception in 2001. Perseo is Ayrton’s first multi-function, compact, powerful, IP65-rated fixture developed for outdoor use. Feature-rich from the factory (including 100% framing shutters, a variable CTO and six-colour wheel), Perseo produces 27,000lm from its 500W LED source, and sports a fully weather-proof housing with a new water-resistant menu navigation system. The fixture has a 27,000-lumen output calibrated at
The Netherlands - MOG Technologies, supplier of end-to-end solutions for professional media, will present its latest developments at IBC 2019 (13-17 September, RAI Amsterdam). The focus will be on the latest advances for the production management platform with MAM4PRO; a new professional media deck station; new enhancements to Vizzi online video platform, and various technical deployments throughout its solutions. MAM4Pro is an enterprise solution designed for managing and executing all media operations - record, ingest, play, stream, encode, transcode and decode - in a native virtualised environment. MAM4PRO brings to the market a set of software services that focus on asset management, resources management, and media operations. mDECK is billed as “the ultimate professional media deck appliance to record, ingest, transcode and play in any format of video con
UK - Time is running out for those wishing to take advantage of the free registration period for the 2019 PLASA Show, taking place 15-17 September at London Olympia. Visitor registration is free until Friday, 30 August (£12 thereafter). Organisers have also announced new additions to the seminar programme, which is covering various industry topics, from ground-breaking audio installations to safety and career advice, and practical training. In 'More than a venue', Royal Albert Hall’s head of technical Ollie Jeffery and Steve Jones of d&b audiotechnik will reveal the story behind the venue’s multi-million pound audio installation and its effect on the RAH and its many visitors (
Russia - ETC and High End Systems’ dealers will present the latest product innovations from both companies at the 2019 Prolight+Sound NAMM Russia tradeshow. From 12-14 September, visitors to the Sokolniki Exhibition Centre in Moscow will find the latest additions to ETC and High End Systems’ fixtures and controls families in Hall 4. DOKA Centre will demonstrate Augment3d, ETC’s new fully integrated 3D programming environment in Eos v3.0 on stand C6. Users can interact with their fixtures through augmented reality as well as controlling and designing in a three-dimensional space. Augment3d will be shown on an Eos family console desk. They will also present Relevé Spot, ETC’s moving light specifically designed for theatre which brings affordable, high quality color mixing to smaller venues. Alongside this there will be EchoTouch, a standalone intuitive touchscr
UK - Blackout, an immersive installation designed by Mig Burgess to raise mental health awareness, will be presented at the PLASA Show from 15-17 September at Olympia London. After an initial run at Guildford School of Acting earlier this year (see LSi June 2019), the project, which fuses cutting-edge technology, art, theatre and education, will visit the tradeshow as it gears up for a nationwide roll-out. Blackout aims to give visitors a rare insight into the mind of someone with bipolar II disorder by utilising light, sound, video and vibration, creating a sensory journey into the mind of a bipolar II patient who transitions through a hyper manic and manic low episode. The experience has been created for a s
UK - Theatres Trust, the national advisory public body for theatres, has confirmed programme details of its 2019 conference - Centre Stage - artist and audience at the heart of theatres to be held on Tuesday, 15 October at the Battersea Arts Centre in London. Conference 19: Centre Stage will look at theatres from the perspective of the people they are there to serve. It will ask how to ensure that the needs of artists and audiences sits at the centre of theatre buildings. Plenary speakers include celebrated sociologist and urbanist Professor Richard Sennett, who chairs Theatrum Mundi, a network of artists, critics and scholars who explore the relations between stage and street, Rebecca Holt, Battersea Arts Centre and the architect who worked on its recent restoration, Martin Lydon, Haworth Tompkins. David Micklem, 64 Million Artists, Hannah Fox, Derby Museums an
Switzerland - Ayrton has appointed menzi ebz of Horgen to its international distributor network. From 15 September, menzi ebz will exclusively distribute and support the full Ayrton range of LED lighting fixtures across all three language areas of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Clients can still contact Ayrton’s current distributor, cast Switzerland AG, until the end of 2019. To introduce the French lighting brand to its customers, menzi ebz is holding an open day at its head offices on Tuesday, 17 September, with members of the Ayrton team also attending. Marco Menzi, CEO of menzi ebz, comments: “We aim to have the industry’s leading brands in our portfolio and pride ourselves on working closely with our customers with a focus on service and support. For this reason, we consider the partnership with Ayrton a perfect match. Ayrton is a
UK - Flightcase Warehouse has acquired London-based case manufacturer ABS Cases. The acquisition came into effect on 1 August and will see all manufacturing being transferred to Flightcase Warehouse’s head office site in Tamworth, Staffordshire. ABS Cases has built a global portfolio of clients over the past 30 years, from corporate giants to leaders in the entertainment industry. The company’s reputation has been built on the back of client recommendation and has seen ABS Cases grow into a respected UK flightcase manufacturer. Sam Austin, managing director of Flightcase Warehouse, comments: “The Flightcase Warehouse acquisition of ABS Cases complements our overall offering whilst strengthening our hand in the production and live events marketplaces. Combining the manufacturing processes of our two brands, Pro Flightcase and ABS cases, we will continue
UK - The shortlist for the Theatre category of this year's Knight of Illumination (KOI) Awards has been announced. The KOI Awards are dedicated to celebrating British and international lighting and video designers for their work in the UK. The KOI theatre judges, each serving a two-year term, are all leading UK critics. Neil Fisher, deputy arts editor of The Times and Tim Bano, lead critic of The Stage, both made their KOI judging debut. Louise Levene, dance critic for the Financial Times returned for the first year of her second term while Zoë Anderson, dance critic for The Dancing Times, opera critic George Hall and Britain’s longest-serving theatre critic Michael Billington completed the final year of their time on the Theatre panel. The judging was once again expertly overseen by founding chair of the theatre panel, critic and broadcaster David Benedict.
UK - Martin Audio has announced the latest in its series of product open days, which have been running twice a year since 2017 at the company’s High Wycombe HQ. The latest programme will run over five sessions spread across three days, on 17 September (at 10.00am and 2.00pm), 18 September (at 10.00am and 2.00pm) and 19 September (at 11am). The event is aimed at existing distributors, dealers, integrators, rental partners and sound engineers as well as potential new customers wishing to gain in-depth understanding of Martin Audio’s platforms and at the same time take advantage of plenty of listening time in relaxed surroundings. Many new products will be showcased for the very first time and tours of the factory and refreshments will also be provided. The demonstrations will include: the full line up of Wavefront Precision line arrays including the new WPS; s
USA - ESTA and USITT have announced the sponsors for the 2020 New World Rigging Symposium, taking place 31 March to 1 April in Houston in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo. Returning as the platinum sponsor for the third year is Stage Rigging, Inc. a diversified theatrical rigging company that provides a full range of specialised rigging services on a global basis for tours, corporate and special events, and expositions. Chris Schmidt, vice president and general manager of Stage Rigging, comments, “When I started my career in rigging little did I know that by working for Stage Rigging, one of the first to focus only on arena rigging, I had access to the some of the industry's most respected and innovative professionals to bounce ideas and ask some of the most basic questions. The New World Rigging Symposium is the perfect place for both seasoned r
USA - The Sound Reinforcement Track sessions at the AES New York 147th Audio Engineering Society International Pro Audio Convention (16-19 October at the Javits Centre) will offer “insights for sound professionals of today and tomorrow”, say organisers. “This year, we have once again gathered top industry experts and manufacturers at the pinnacle of live event production and sound reinforcement to share their hard-won knowledge,” comments AES New York sound reinforcement chair, Henry Cohen. “From foundations of systems design, to the latest in the science and technology of audio perception, the AES New York Sound Reinforcement events offer unprecedented access to the latest from the industry’s top researchers and gear designers, as well as the engineers that exemplify best practices in the craft of sound reinforcement.” The AES New York Sound Reinforceme
South Africa - Stage Audio Works is celebrating the success it has seen at Mediatech 2019. With a two-storey booth design, the company made a statement on the show floor as visitors looked to find out more about its latest audio, visual and staging solutions. The company succeeded in winning a number of deals over the three-day event. “Mediatech only takes place once every two years, so we have spent a lot of time and energy ensuring that we can maximise our presence at the show,” reflects Shaun Xavier, marketing manager at Stage Audio Works. “The response that we have had over the three days has more than justified this effort. We have been able to spend time with old friends and make some strong new contacts, as well as writing a significant amount of new business.” This success has been boosted by the support that the company has received from the various br
UK - The upcoming PLASA Show (15-17 September, London Olympia) will enjoy "huge support" from the pro audio industry, with more brands debuting at the tradeshow and an increased number of live demos also taking place, PLASA has announced. Among the companies supporting the show are L-Acoustics, Coda Audio, d&b audiotechnik and Void Acoustics. The PLASA Show has also doubled the amount of audio demonstrations on offer with the inclusion of three Audio Lounges and a new live feature, Stage to Studio, held in association with Sound on Sound and Headliner magazines. PLASA MD Peter Heath comments: “PLASA has worked hard over the past few years to make the show an essential destination for all things audio. As a result, we are confident that this year’s show will inspire professionals working across the audio industry.” Among the brands
UK - A respected sound engineer will record and mix live performers to demonstrate the intricacies of mixing and capturing live sound as part of a new initiative at the upcoming PLASA Show (15-17 September, Olympia London). Running from 3pm on Sunday 15 September, and Monday, 16 September, Stage to Studio - organised by PLASA alongside Sound On Sound and Headliner Magazine - will feature Simon Todkill, chief engineer at London’s Miloco Studios, who has worked with the likes of Kanye West, Matt Corby, Hiatus Kaiyote, Charli XCX, Movement and The Griswolds. Todkill will offer advice on his techniques, microphone choices and placements, step-by-step mix decisions, as well as insight on how to maximise multi-track recordings. After the sessions, the audio stem files will be made available to the audience and a competition will launch, inviting people t
UK - Four events sector businesses have been merged into a new full-service company called Star Live. Live events equipment supplier Star Events, event management agency Mobile Promotions, brand partnership agency BluePeg and staffing business Beautiful Minds - all owned by entrepreneur David Walley - will adopt the new name and brand identity with immediate effect, while founders of the four companies will form part of Star Live’s senior management team. The merger was preceded by the recent acquisition of Star Events in July. All four businesses have been acquired by Walley within the last 18 months. “This is a logical and exciting step for us,” comments Walley, Star Live CEO. “We have brought together four market-leading companies with a clear vision - to
South Africa - Johannesburg rental company MGG supplied the full technical production package for the Africa Play Conference. Hosted at The Maslow Time Square hotel in Pretoria earlier this year, the conference is a partnership between the Lego Foundation, the Department of Basic Education of the Republic of South Africa, UNICEF South Africa and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). Four hundred delegates from around the globe, including educators, policy-makers and researchers, joined together to share insights and come up with ideas to help equip children in Africa to become creative and life-long learners. The emphasis was to explore learning through play and how this could improve the quality of early childhood development and become an integral part of the education system. “To add an element of fun, MGG was asked to include L
Australia - After months of anticipation and secrecy, Halo - the light and sound experience designed specifically for Townsville, a coastal city in north eastern Queensland - has opened. Created and produced by Sydney-based AGB Events, Halo transforms Castle Hill, the natural ‘halo’ that hovers above Townsville. Presented by the Townsville City Council, Halo runs in conjunction with the inaugural North Australian Festival of Arts, and has been made possible through the support of the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund. “Townsville City Council wanted to create something highly memorable that would truly mesmerise and captivate the public’s imagination,” says Anthony Bastic, CEO and creative director of AGB Events. “We were thrilled and honoured to be asked to undertake such a prestigious and challenging project. We’re de
UK - Technical production company Maestra Group has launched a scenic division. Based at Maestra’s London HQ, Maestra Scenic will offer services including CNC, carpentry and joinery, fabrication and engineering, painting and finishing as well as integration of other technical detailing - such as lighting, video or audio - into scenic fabrication projects. The new division will employ a team of 20 full-time staff, who will be led by director of production Mark Davies, former director of technical operations at the National Theatre and sales director at Stage One Creative Services. Davies comments: “The goals for good scenic companies are about meeting and then exceeding client expectations in all aspects - quality and build, finishing, being on-budget and ease of installation. It is essential to have the right people and processes all working harmoniously and with
USA - The Empire State Building has gifted the Audio Engineering Society with one of the 32 elements from its Alford antenna array, which overlooked Manhattan from high above for more than half a century. This piece of FM broadcast history will be on display at AES New York 2019, the 147th Audio Engineering Society International Pro Audio Convention at the Jacob K. Javits Centre in October. “The Alford Antenna is an important part of what made broadcasting as we know it today possible, and the Empire State Building is excited to share this special piece of history with the Audio Engineering Society,” says Anthony E. Malkin, chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. Since its opening in 1931, the Empire State Building has been on the cusp of innovation. When the Alford master FM antenna was installed around the 102nd-floor observation deck of the Empire State
UK - Event industry entrepreneur David Walley has acquired Star Events, provider of stages, support structures, rigging and design services. Star Events has been supplying equipment and services to the events industry for 40 years, working on high-profile events such as British Summer Time Hyde Park, Download Festival, and the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. The company has also worked for artists including Adele, Spice Girls and the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Walley’s portfolio of event businesses includes event management agency Mobile Promotions, brand partnership agency BluePeg and staffing business Beautiful Minds. He was also managing director of De Boer and has led the Freeman Company in the UK. He comments: “Star is one of the great names of the UK events industry. They have an inspiring legacy and are both trusted and innovative. We are looking forward to int
UK - Harlequin Floors' Liberty panels were used for the set of the eagerly-awaited film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, the manufacturer has revealed. Filmed at Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, the upcoming musical drama features a star-studded cast, including actors Jennifer Hudson, Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift and James Corden, as well as Royal Ballet principal dancers Francesca Hayward and Steve McRae. Over 550sq.m of Harlequin Liberty panels were hired for the film set, to provide the cast a safe sprung floor on which to practice their lifts and jumps. The sprung dance floor panels were then covered in Harlequin Reversible Pro performance vinyl, which helps to prevent slips and falls. Ballet barres and 15 mirrors were also bought from the Tunbridge Wells-based manufacturer to complete the professional dance environment in wh
UK - Five years on from the original 14 teams and £7,000 raised, Kartfest 2019, the charity fundraiser organised by Backup, raised £28,300 with 34 teams taking part in the event. With a diverse mix of manufactures, rental companies, agencies and end-clients arriving at Daytona at Surrey’s Sandown Park each year, Kartfest has become a must attend annual event for the entertainment technology industry. The 2019 headline sponsor was Chauvet, with further support from Autograph, Creative Technology, The Technical Department, IPS, JPP bars and Heli-Teli as production partners. “We have really established this day as a date for all of the industry to come together and meet up, race and raise an amazing amount of money for Backup and subsequently the industry,” says Kartfest organiser and Backup trustee Lee Dennison. “And the support from our sponsor and prod
