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Events

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UK - ACE PA selected a 40-channel Allen & Heath ML3000 VCA live sound console configured with six stereo channels to provide sound reinforcement at the 80th Rotary International Annual Conference, held at Manchester's MEN Arena in April.

Production company Comtec Presentations appointed ACE PA to provide a PA system for the various speakers and performing artists during the three-day conference and celebration. Approximately 3,000 club members attended this year's event. For the conference - where guest speakers included HRH Princess Anne, Duncan Goodhew and Orpheus Trust founder Richard Stilgoe - there were inputs from two lectern mics, six radio mics, with VT, PC, DVD, CD and MD feeds. The first evening's entertainment included performances from a steel band, three school orchestras and a 200-strong choir, supported by carefully placed condenser microphones. Other entertainmen

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USA - The Universal Forum of Cultures, with walls built from coral-like blue concrete and water flowing from a giant reservoir on the roof to keep it cool in summer, is a spectacular architectural addition to Barcelona's seafront. Known locally as the Forum, it was, quite fittingly since the Toyota Prius was the official car of Forum Barcelona 2004, the site of Toyota's European Regional Dealer Managers Conference 2005, an event produced by Jack Morton Worldwide. Sound was provided by UK sound production company Delta Audio, with DiGiCo D5 Live consoles providing their mixing solutions.

"In the past this event has been held in the Palau Saint Jordi in Barcelona, and also in Lisbon," explains Delta Audio's sound designer for the event, Jim Lambert. "It's a conference and party for 5,000 Toyota car dealers and managers from around Europe, held over two days. This ye

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UK - David Atkinson Lighting Design (DALD) recently completed the lighting of the UK Pavilion at World Expo, Aichi, Japan. The theme of Expo is Nature's Wisdom, with the aim to raise people's awareness of the global environment and explore the ways to promote a sustainable future. The UK pavilion called www.my-earth.org.uk was designed and created by Ten Alps Events, Landesign and the Natural History Museum (London).

The pavilion site incorporates a garden and an internal exhibition space. Both the garden and internal space contain specially commissioned artworks by nine renowned British contemporary artists on the theme of mankind's relationship with nature.

Although the garden would be viewed during daylight hours throughout the summer months DALD chose to illuminate the space for dusk and overcast conditions. The pre show queuing area consists of large 'leaf-filigree' woode

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UK - PLASA Media has received a warning about a con-man operating in the London area who has stolen several thousand pounds worth of equipment from a London-based AV hire company. The culprit gave his name as David Jones from BBC Worldwide, and presents convincing paperwork - and an internal answerphone message at the BBC itself - to back up the claim. He then collected, via courier, a range of equipment including laptop computers and plasma screens, and disappeared.

The BBC is aware of the problem, we are told. If anything suspicious arises, please contact Simon Brown at the BBC's investigations department on 0208 752 5094.

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - Clarion Events Ltd (CEL) and the NEC Group's Centre Exhibitions are to form a dynamic new joint venture, to be called Clarion Events NEC Ltd (CENL). The two will come together in an innovative partnership to drive forward The NEC's exhibition organizing capability and maximize opportunities to stage and acquire new shows. The new partnership will combine the expertise of the two companies, bringing together CEL's creative approach with the NEC's formidable brand position.

CEL, which manages the PLASA Show on behalf of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), is the former in-house organizer of Earls Court and Olympia Group, and completed a management buyout last year. CEL will invest a two-thirds majority share in the joint venture which will acquire a portfolio of 10 shows including Antiques for Everyone and The Classic Motor Show. Simon Kimble, managing di

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UK - The UK 's dedicated technical showcase for contemporary solutions in theatre and auditoria, the ABTT Theatre Show 2005 (15-16 June, Royal Horticultural Halls) will present a variety of advanced automation and control systems for power flying, designed in line with the new industry standard - BS 7906-1 (Use of lifting equipment for performance, broadcast and similar applications. Part 1 Code of Practice for installation, use and removal of above stage equipment (excluding trusses and towers).

The ABTT has been closely involved in writing BS 7906-1, which complements the existing BS 7905-1. It draws heavily upon the existing ABTT published Code of Practice for Flying and contains additional advice on the use of power flying. The ABTT Code will be revised to reflect the new Standard, once the full impact of the Work at Height Regulations is assessed. Pressures from the Work at

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UK - White Light recently lit a charity dinner for the Rugby Football Union at their Twickenham headquarters, held to raise money for the RFU's two nominated charities - SPIRE, the official RFU charity that assists players who have suffered permanent total disability through rugby, which is currently supporting around 115 ex-players, and Show Racism The Red Card (SRTRC), which aims to combat racism through education and the use of professional sports players as role models.

The rig for the evening, overseen by White Light's Jon Coventry, included 24 of White Light's Exhibition Uplighters, 26 ChromaQ ColorBlock LED fixtures, eight Par cans, a Source Four followspot and a Zero 88 XLS lighting console along with associated rigging, cabling, colour and control. "We received lots of positive feedback from the guests," commented Sharon Moy-Taylor, the RFU's retail operations

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UK - The internationally renowned "physical theatre" group DV8 embarked upon a world tour this spring with their new production Just for Show. The performance is about inventing a new reality for yourself when the one you encounter is not what you hoped for. This is an especially resonant theme for a touring theatre company as each venue throws up its own particular problems which have to be rapidly overcome before the show can begin. And first among these is the stage itself.

DV8 bought an initial package of Metrodeck last year and have now invested in substantial further stock which is used to build a large raked stage. The ease with which a stable Metrodeck stage can be set up and taken down is a massive help to a touring company - especially one whose work is built around physical movement. The performers must be able to trust the stage they are standing on.

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UK - Annual General Meetings are a legal requirement but, truthfully, can be dull, intimidating and best avoided. The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), however, is determined that its AGM and Members Lunch, which takes place on Tuesday 14 June 2005, will not be a wasted opportunity but rather a memorable day out for its members and guests. In response to membership feedback PLASA has planned an interactive and sociable member-focused event, with the late-morning AGM offering a chance to catch up on what PLASA has been doing over the past year.

Members will be welcomed at the unique setting of BAFTA's prestigious Headquarters in central London and it is anticipated that the business of the day will be over within an hour allowing time for members to ask questions of the executive committee, raise issues and take part in a debate about what matter most to them.

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UK - The 27th ABTT Theatre Show (15-16 June 2005, Royal Horticultural Halls, London) will feature a record 130+ exhibiting companies, the organizers report. The show will also include a host of product launches and presents a broad cross-section of products and services designed for use in theatres and auditoria. Responding to the growth of integrated systems-led designs, ABTT 2005 delivers a convergence of technologies. From lighting systems and rigging, staging and high level access solutions, to sound, communications and broadcast solutions, ABTT embraces the entire technical spectrum, which includes the latest in seating and DDA solutions, say the organizers.

Among the new products on show, Euro Seating UK will showcase its new 'reproduction-style' chairs, which have been designed for traditional or English Heritage projects. Spanish seating manufacturer, Figueras, will show

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International - With just one week to go until Showlight 2005 (22-24 May, Munich, Germany), more details of the event's papers programme are available: A paper by technical broadcast specialist Chris Bretnall will address HD and how it's affecting television production. As digital replaces analogue as the broadcasting standard, such rapid advances are being made in technology that it's easy to feel left behind. 'High definition' (HD) is a current buzzword, but how many of us know exactly what it entails? What new equipment needs to be bought? What new techniques need to be learned?

The technology at the heart of HD broadcasting is the HD camera. Closely complementing Chris's paper will be a presentation, by television Director of Photography Sue Gibson and representatives from manufacturer ARRI, on the company's new high definition camera. Originally designed for motion picture

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UK - Sony Entertainment Television Asia recently staged its Boogie Woogie International Finals at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at Heathrow. Hawthorn's main challenge was to create a suspended stage across the Sheraton's 11m wide swimming pool. Martin Hawthorn, managing director said: "Its not often we tell our crew to pack their swimming trunks, but on this event it was a must, as the stage was rigged from the swimming pool!"As well as the stage, Hawthorn also provided full lighting and sound for the live studio audience as well as for the TV broadcast.

The lighting had to take account of the daylight from the glass roof at the beginning of the event, and then accommodate the fading light as the event progressed. Hawthorn's sound engineer Jon Curnew had the unenviable task of balancing sound against the pool acoustics. Jon commented: "The combination of the high roo

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UK - Original supergroup Cream's four-night appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2005 following a 36-year absence from the spotlights is already being hailed as the musical event of the year, if not the decade. Such classic rock and roll musicianship demanded sound equipment of a similar pedigree, which is why both front of house engineer Chris (Privet) Hedge and monitor engineer Chris Wibberley chose Midas XL4 consoles for the sonic excellence and reliability such a concert demanded. The PA system was supplied by Concert Sound, which has counted Eric Clapton amongst one of its loyal clients for over 20 years.

"We just wanted to go for the best sounding board we could, and to me that is an XL4," says Privet. "This is a classic, straightforward blues-rock gig and it's all completely organic, there are no scenes or midi; Sound quality is the only criterion.

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UK - A.C.Lighting North - Blinding - quite literally. Why? The entrance into the show blasted visitors witha star-shaped array of light - courtesy of the Chroma-Q Color Block LED fixture (never knowingly oversold!), no doubt cleverly programmed on a Jands Vista by Mr Neil Vann. Glyn O'Donoghue explained they had been positioned there on purpose to demonstrate exactly that, just how very bright the ChromaQs are. It worked.Once again, A.C's mini-tradeshow up north was hailed a huge success. With numerous new distribution deals, A.C. Lighting moves ever nearer to becoming a one-stop-shop for all hard and software needs in the live entertainment industry.

The popular seminars covered various current themes and issues concerning the industry such as production, lighting, digital vs. analogue sound, the new legislation on electrical colour coding, timeline programming, plus the art of

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Germany - Frankfurt is always a marathon, but making it more tolerable this year was an upbeat atmosphere and an abundance of new products. Obvious developments were in digital sound technology, networking and Ethernet. Various companies are developing strategic partnerships, although the symbiotic and open way they have found to connect with one another cannot have been without its challenges. Developing suitable technology for communication between own brand hardware and others must surely require some elements of trust. However, today this seems to be one of the limited roads to choose in the fight to gain momentum in an otherwise highly competitive market, where marketing by product association seems to be on the increase.

As for the show itself, having claimed last year that visitor numbers provided the biggest gate ever, I was somewhat surprised to discover that show organizers r

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UK - Eat to the Beat fed the artists, BBC and production team at BBC Radio 1's One Big Weekend in Sunderland. Many of the artists on the bill, including the Foo Fighters, The Levellers, Kasabian and Basement Jaxx along with the Radio 1 DJ's Chris Moyles and Colin and Edith , left the sanctuary of their dressing rooms and joined the production team in the sociable atmosphere of the 'backstage restaurant' created by Eat to the Beat.

The hail was bouncing off the roof of Eat to the Beat's temporary kitchen in the backstage area of Radio 1's One Big weekend, as superb food was served at breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooked on site by Heather and Paul and their team of six. The menu choices had everyone spoilt for choice and the compliments were flowing.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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UK - Hawthorn has taken exhibition space for the first time at this year's ABTT Theatre Show (15-16 June 2005, Royal Horticultural Halls, London). "The show will give us the opportunity of raising awareness of our Hire, Sales and Installation teams and also give our staff the opportunity to meet the people they talk to on the phone," said the company's Alan Jackson.

Hawthorn was started nearly 20 years ago by MD Martin Hawthorn, hiring equipment out of his garage, and has now grown into an international company with over 85,000sq.ft of warehouse space in Old Dalby, near to Melton Mowbray, at the heart of Britain. "Being dealers for many of the world's leading suppliers and with a team who have many years of professional theatre, events and entertainment experience, we feel we are very well placed to offer all our customers the best advice and product available&quo

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UK - A near-capacity 15,000 crowd thronged Trafalgar Square for the recent A Party To Remember Live - a two-hour concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Presented by Eamonn Holmes and Natasha Kaplinsky, the event saw appearances by Will Young, Katie Melua, Katherine Jenkins, Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and more. With a strong presence by the Royal British Legion, and the event televised live on BBC One, memories of victory in Europe 60 years ago were strongly rekindled.

Sound company System Sound had their own challenges to face as they rigged a powerful Martin Audio line array system for the occasion. Working for production company Mantaplan (with Martin Vanstone as site manager), System Sound director and event sound designer, Simon Biddulph, said that the Martin line array system was always in his mind when the classical event specialists were awarded

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Portugal - PRG Europe supplied lighting and a G-LEC large scale LED system with video capabilities for the sixth annual Laureus World Sports Awards in Estoril. The event attracted an estimated worldwide TV audience of 460 million. Award winners included athlete Kelly Holmes, yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur and racing driver Alessandro Zanardi,

Designed by Peter Bingemann, the Awards set used video screens and lighting for all the visual elements, with the video content provided by specialists Hello Charlie.

PRG Europe supplied 56 G-LEC ClassicFrames covering some 112m2 with five linked graphics computers. Configured as eight columns of seven panels each, four columns of G-LEC were used as static elements, while the other four were mounted on tab tracks, moving the lightweight screens across the stage as required.

Lighting designer Al Gurdon used a large lighting rig provided by

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UK - London based events agency GSP was chosen by Red Bull to design its Star Wars party, which celebrated Red Bull's and Star Wars' brand partnership at the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix. Staged in Monaco's Grimaldi Forum, the star-studded event involved an exclusive screening of Revenge of the Sith and an AfterShow party. GSP used two auditoriums in the Grimaldi Forum. While one was deployed for the screening in a 400 capacity cinema, the second was used for the party.

GSP's Director, Emma Gold comments, "This was undoubtedly a challenging event, but one we so enjoyed perfecting. We drew from our experience to create a movie set with a twist that offered the Wow factor that we feel is essential to stand out and leave a lasting impression."

(Jim Evans)

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Spain - Barcelona-based Lexon has won the HHB 2004/5 European Distributor Of The Year Award. Presented to José Bosch, general manager, by HHB Communications managing director Ian Jones at the Barcelona AES Show, the award recognises the Spanish distributor's status as HHB's leading European export customer in the period.

"It gives us great pleasure to make this award to our friends at Lexon in their home town, particularly at a time when the market for pro audio products in Spain is so vibrant," said Jones. "José and his staff have worked very hard as our distribution partners in Spain for more than eight years, and we are sure that Lexon will achieve continued success with future HHB products including the new CDP-88 Professional CD Player launched here at the AES Show."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - A.C. Lighting will be showing extensions to the Jands Vista and Chroma-Q Color Block product ranges plus a selection of products from its stockholding of leading technical theatre brands at ABTT.

The Color Block accessories range now features new Color Block pixel cap and 30-way power supply products, making the multi-purpose LED fixture suitable for a wider range of effects lighting applications.

The pixel cap is designed for applications under studio lighting conditions, where lens flare can appear on the TV camera image as a result of shooting into a bright light source. Designed to fit over individual RGB LED cells on the front of units, the cap blends together the RGB to show only the resulting colour, and because the light output is diffused, eliminates camera lens flare. Pixel caps can be used on all or any of the Color Block's 4 separate cells.

The 30-way PSU is

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Belgium - Sony Professional Solutions Europe has confirmed that it will be a Platinum Sponsor at ISE 2006 which will be held 1-3 February 2006 at the Brussels Expo. Following its successful debut at ISE 2005 in Amsterdam, Sony will demonstrate its "latest array of products that provide new ways to interact with multimedia information in the office and on the move".

"Sony is looking at the major shows to enhance its visibility in this emerging market and ISE is an emerging platform to achieve this." says Ian Collis, VP marketing for Sony Europe.

"We were pleased with the positive response, feedback and general enthusiasm generated by the 2005 show in Amsterdam and are delighted to see that ISE 2006 is already 40% bigger that the previous show. We see ISE as a pivotal event that has gained an important foothold on the Integrated AV systems market and we

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Bob Doyle was there for DiGiCo's third PALME; he said that take-up of digital technology seems to be slower in this region than elsewhere, again reflecting the need for technical knowledge out here. DiGiCo is investing in training and seminars, and emphasising its 100% back-up philosophy, to move things forward. Coincidentally, both Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey were performing in Dubai that week, and both with DiGiCo D5 consoles. Doyle added that 2005 has seen a marked shift in acceptance of the digital domain.
  1. Cadac
  2. Penn Elcom, S+H Technical Support, Freestyle Music, Metalworx and IBS Décor
  3. Lift, Turn, Move
  4. Avolites
  5. PALME 2005 - Dubai, UAE
  6. Executive Audio
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