Georgia - A football stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia provided the unlikely location for a huge rock concert - in honour of the BP operated Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline running some 1100 miles between Baku in Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea, to a newly constructed terminal at Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

RG Jones was contracted to provide the audio - based around their Synco Martin three-way W8LC/WLX line array system - for an event which was headlined by Simply Red and staged at the Mikheil Meshki Stadium, home of Lokomotiv FC.

The company were working for Steve Nolan's Chromatic Productions, who in turn had been contracted by Neos Creative, BP's main contractor for the event.

RG Jones' engineer, Simon Honywill explained: "BP as operators of the BTC pipeline are staging events to celebrate the completion of this pipeline which runs through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Tu

China - Aviom, manufacturer of the Pro16 Monitor Mixing System, has announced that a digital snake consisting of five AN-16/i Input Modules, five AN-16/o Output Modules and three A-16D A-Net Distributors was installed for audio distribution at the opening ceremony at the 10th National Games at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Stadium in Nanjing, China. The Aviom gear was supplied by Acton Audio & Musical Instruments, (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., which is part of the Tom Lee Group.

"For the opening ceremony, more than 60 audio signals generated from the mixing console needed to be distributed to processors located 300m away," comments Jeffrey Lim, Aviom's international sales manager for Asia. "System designers Ruan Feng Audio & Lighting Company Limited decided against using a conventional analog snake system, choosing instead to use a distributed audio system from Aviom."

USA - Now in its ninth year, the Rock 4 Xmas Foundation is presenting its annual holiday tour, covering over thirty cities throughout the US. Again this year, Community Professional Loudspeakers is donating six of the company's M12 stage monitors for the events.

Founded in 1996 by Morrison Music and Production's Wayne Morrison, the Rock 4 XMas Foundation works to bring food, gifts and holiday spirit to less fortunate families by hosting the annual concert series. Past shows have featured performances by Bad Animals, Blue Oyster Cult, Randy Jackson, and members of Toto, Quiet Riot, Dio, Vanilla Fudge and many others.

"The annual Rock 4 XMas tour is a massive effort, and has grown bigger every year," remarked Morrison. "We'd never be able to pull it off without the help of our sponsors. Community has been a generous supporter of the organization, and we really app

UK - 100% Light is a brand new show launching in 2006. Running alongside 100% Design and 100% Detail, it will feature the very latest and best in architectural and contemporary lighting product.

50-60 selected lighting companies will exhibit, the majority new to the 100% brand. 100% Light is a selective show and all exhibitors will be vetted by the 100% Light Selection Panel, made up of lighting industry experts.

The 100% branded shows held at London's Earls Court, attract over 25,000 architects, specifiers, interior designers, engineers and lighting designers amongst the 36,000 visitors each year. Exhibitors at 100% Light will not only be able to build on this established visitor attendance, but meet new visitors only interested in seeing the best lighting product.

100% Light will be located between 100% Design in Earls Court 2 and 100% Detail in Earls Court 1. A comprehens

UK - Buro Happold engineers dominated this year's Teambuild competition taking home the overall winner prize as well as the award for best contract strategy.

The competition, run by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), sets a series of challenges for groups of up to six engineers under the age of 30 to test their team working skills. Each team has to provide the necessary, multi-disciplinary skills to cover all aspects of masterplanning, building design and construction, tested through completing five stages of a build project, based on a real site.

The winning team, named Imhotep after the architect credited with building the first pyramid in ancient Egypt, included Rachel Banham, Rachel Sandbrook, Ivan Chan, Ben Worth and Ruth Bailey, all based in Buro Happold London, and Alex MacLaren, an external architect.

"Congratulations to all our staff who took part,"

Belgium - Following a busy spell of exhibitor bookings during the last two months including 3LCD and Belden, the organizers of ISE 2006, Europe's biggest trade show for AV Systems Integrators report that the event next February in Brussels will be twice the size of the 2005 show and is almost sold out.

Mike Blackman, managing director ISE 2006 is delighted, but not surprised by these figures. "The AV Systems Integration market continues to grow at an increasing rate, the outlook for new business is buoyant and we have more than justified our decision earlier this year to invest in a substantial increase in floor space at the Brussels Expo to accommodate the increase in bookings."

Visitors who attend will see a number of new displays, a comprehensive conference including a new manufacturer's forum and a series of displays in the Brussels Expo. The Residential Solution

USA - Theatrical Lighting Systems (TLS) has received the Parnelli Award for Regional Lighting Company of the Year at the 5th annual Parnelli Awards in Orlando.

Named after Rick "Parnelli" O'Brien, the awards honor both individuals and companies in the entertainment industry who keep it moving forward with the "four H's": Humanity, Humility, Honesty, and Humor. These qualities were the defining traits of Rick O'Brien, a renowned production manager and respected colleague.

The award banquet was held in conjunction with ETS-LDI, the industry's yearly product and services convention. Chip Monck presented this year's lighting awards. TLS David Milly said that receiving the award was a real honor, but having Chip Monck present the award was just as notable. Monck is a previous Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The award is voted on by

USA - Rigging Seminars will conduct four classes in 2006. They are in Las Vegas 20-23 February, Las Vegas 3-6 April, Denver 5-8 June, and Seattle 9-12 October. Each class covers the principles and operation of both stage rigging and arena-style rigging. The most popular part of the course is the hands-on training.

The seminar is suitable for beginning and advanced riggers. It is for riggers, venue staff, stagehands, universities, production companies, consultants, engineers, and contractors. It can be used as preparation for some sections of the ETCP Rigging Certification test.

Rigging Seminars is the longest established entertainment rigging training program. It has trained thousands of riggers and is highly respected in the industry for the extensive knowledge of the teachers. Classes are taught by Harry Donovan and Jay O.Glerum, both working professionals with more than 40

UK - Bloc Party has recently completed a successful UK tour and are currently on a 15 night European tour rigged out with a full selection of Evolution wired microphones. Featuring heavily in the mic line-up is the award-winning 900 Series which has won Sennheiser its fourth prestigious TEC Award in as many years.

Introduced in 2004, Sennheiser's 900 Series features a range of powerful transparent mics ideally suited for stage use with excellent transient response and feedback rejection. Bloc Party FOH engineer Pete Bartlett has chosen the e935 for Kele's lead vocals and explains, "The e935 has given me far greater definition on Kele's voice, crisp and clean, but it also copes easily with his wide range, and dynamic variations". An e935 and e945 are used by Matt and Gordon respectively on backing vocals.

The bass is miked up with the legendary all-rounder MD421, and

UK - Live brand experience specialist MMM has won the coveted 2005 Corporate Event Award (CEA) for Event Management Team of the Year.

MMM nominated its in-house Jaguar event management team for the award and won because of its innovative approach to live branding exercises, the huge success of the experiential events that it produces for Jaguar and the way the company works with the client on a strategic level. This involves a truly comprehensive understanding of Jaguar's business on all levels, says the company.

MMM has handled Jaguar's account for over 15 years and is made up of a core team of five people - a director, two event managers, an administrator and a warehouse manager. The judges were impressed with the longevity of the relationship, which has needed a lively and constant creative evolution to develop the brand identity and keep pace with the times.

The Team del

Germany / Europe - The organizers of Photokinaannounced that the fair looks set to be a success. Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive vice president of Koelnmesse GmbH, says: "The imaging market is booming and therefore provides ideal conditions for a successful photokina 2006. The World of imaging is benefiting from the increasing convergence of markets and technologies. It's the only event in the world that represents this market in its full complexity."

Koelnmesse is expecting to attract around 1,600 suppliers from 50 countries to the event which opens on 26 September 2006, with more than 60% of the exhibitors coming from outside Germany. Also on hand will be major names from the IT and telecommunications segment. Many of these, including Epson, HP, Casio, Samsung and Panasonic, will be enlarging their stands - as will companies such as Nokia and Microsoft. Kuhr

UAE - Events freighting specialist EFM recently shipped 60 tons of sensitive production equipment for the formal inauguration of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), to celebrate its first successful year of operations. With offices worldwide, EFM was brought in to move the technical production, including screens, a giant revolving stage, PA, lasers and most sensitively, pyrotechnics.

EFM's Chris Lumb was flown into Germany to manage a 26-hour load, which was particularly arduous due to the size and complexity of the staging. EFM's managing director Mike Llewellyn and Lisa Ryan were in Dubai ready to receive the unusual consignment and oversee the success of the project. On completion, Chris was flow out a few days later to re-pack the equipment and get everything safely back to base. The German production companies have expressed their admiration of the extemporary

Belgium - ISE - Europe's largest trade show for AV systems integrators - will include a powerful demonstration of large LED video screens, which will take over the impressive frontage of the huge Brussels Expo Centre, say the organizers.

ISE 2006 is already set to be twice the size of the 2005 show. Mike Blackman, managing director of ISE 2006, says the event is set to stimulate all human senses over the three-day event. "People who come to trade shows are looking beyond just seeing a series of products. Our exhibitors and sponsors have pushed the boundaries of showcasing systems integration solutions into a new era of dazzling shows and eye-catching displays. Without giving too much away, no one who arrives at the Brussels Expo will fail to miss the gigantic LED Outdoor Park that we have set up with our partners. Huge LED video screens will welcome visitors and set the sce

Spain - D.A.S, the Valencia-based loudspeaker manufacturer distributed in the UK by Sennheiser UK, has a busy show calendar during the next few months. The company will be represented on the road at a number of trade shows, on both the national and international scenes.

The latest D.A.S. products, such as the Aero-38A powered line array systems and SML-12A 'low-profile' powered monitors will be on display at international shows including NAMM (Anaheim, California, 19-22 January), SIEL (Paris, France, 12-15 February), Entech (Sydney, Australia, 13-15 February), SIB (Rimini, Italy, 11-14 March), NSCA (Las Vegas, USA, 16-18 March), and MusikMesse / ProLight & Sound (Frankfurt, Germany, 29 March - 1 April). On the national level, meanwhile, 15-17 February will see D.A.S. at AFIAL, Spain's pro lighting and sound association's official show, to be held at the Cristal Palace in Madrid'

USA - NSCA has announced a major expansion of its attendee marketing efforts to draw increased professional audiences to the NSCA Expo (16-18 March 2006). NSCA Expo traditionally attracts systems integration professionals, with over 11,000 attendees, representing systems contractors/integrators, manufacturers, architects, consultants, sales representatives, specifying engineers, and other allied professionals.

"The most important part of building a better business and a better industry is making sure that you have the right connections before your competitor does," said Chuck Wilson, NSCA executive director. "Whether that means the newest product, finding a better way to do business, or meeting a new colleague, attendees and exhibitors can really feel confident that they will be finding the right connections at Expo in March."

The organizers say NSCA Expo w

UK - Britannia Row alongside Creative Technology, PRG Europe and Blackout Ltd held a Christmas Party at Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square on Tuesday, 13 December. Over 600 friends and clients of the four companies during the course of the evening were treated to a flamboyant Burlesque-themed venue. Hailed as 'The Christmas party of the year', the black tie event featured cabaret-style live-artists and musicians.

Bryan Grant at Britannia Row commented: "This was a relaxed and informal party for all four companies to thank our friends and clients for their ongoing help and support. I couldn't wish for a better way to end a really successful year."

(Lee Baldock)

Thailand - South East Asia's most established exhibition in professional sound, lighting, broadcast, AV, installation and music - PALA Thailand 2006, is set to take place at the newly opened Royal Paragon Hall Exhibition & Convention Centre, in the heart of Bangkok, from 20-22 July 2006.

The Royal Paragon Hall is composed of a main hall which can be divided into two halls with respective sizes of 3,000 and 2,500sq.m, with five good-sized meeting spaces to accommodate seminars and conferences, say the organizers. The multipurpose venue will host events including exhibitions, trade fairs, high end consumer fairs, product launches, live performances, concerts and fashion shows.

"It had been a tough decision on our end to decide on the ultimate venue for PALA Thailand, for the simple reason that Bangkok has a good selection of world-class exhibition centres! Accessibility and

Belgium - With five weeks to go before the start of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2006 at the Brussels Expo (1-3 February) the organizers report that the show is now practically sold out, and will be more than twice the size of the 2005 event.

Mike Blackman, managing director of ISE 2006, says that ISE is more than just an exhibition: "AV and Electronic Systems integration is about stimulating the senses to reflect the growing use of digital signage in retail and corporate environments and custom residential systems. At ISE we will be breaking new ground in staging a series of spectacular visual displays and pavilions, which are strategically, placed throughout the exhibition halls."

Highlights of the exhibition will include the Lighting & Staging Pavilion, presented by PLASA and ISE, and the ISE Manufacturer's Forum, which will offer 45-minute sessions on topical

France - The first Salon de la Musique et du Son will take place at Paris Expo-Porte de Versailles from 9-12 September 2006. The show is a joint effort between Reed Expositions France and CSFI (Chambre Syndicale de la Facture Instrumentale), and aims to gather together in one place everyone who makes music, from instrument manufacturers and importers to music schools, from craftsmen to publishers. The show will focus on musical instrument manufacturing and technology, and will also include a section devoted to pro audio.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - Re-booking for the 2006 PLASA Show is already strong, say organizers Clarion Events. PLASA 2006 takes place from Sunday 10 September to Wednesday 13 September 2006 at Earls Court, London. The show attracts professionals from all over the globe and is Europe's leading exhibition for new developments in the entertainment, event, corporate, architectural and installation industries.

Over 300 leading companies will exhibit at the show, which has become a forging ground for new ideas in audio, lighting, AV, rigging, system integration, engineering and effects. The show also features a full seminar programme, numerous events and competitions, the prestigious PLASA Awards for Innovation and the best opportunity of the year for networking.Online visitor registration will be available shortly - allowing visitors to benefit from half-price admission to the event.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - The Technical and Production Arts (TPA) department at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Glasgow will hold its Graduate Exhibition and Trade Show on 22-23 March 2006.

The exhibition, held in the Academy's Chandler Studio Theatre, offers an ideal opportunity to view the work of students graduating from the RSAMD's BA Technical and Productions Arts Course. Many previous graduates have gone on to use their creative and technical skills to enhance projects and venues worldwide, including the English National Opera, the Sage Gateshead, Royal Caribbean, Cirque du Soleil, Scottish Opera and the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow.

Running alongside the exhibition is an industry trade show, held in the New Athenaeum Theatre, where sponsors of the TPA course display a wide range of innovative products and services. A number of companies have already committed to the ev

Australia - With just a few weeks to go, the entertainment technology industry is getting ready to surprise visitors with the latest products and releases. The trade show will be held on 13 - 15 February with the conference commencing on Sunday 12 February. The Entech conference offers exciting training and education in broadcast, pro audio, lighting and vision.

Industry professionals should note that the fully accredited OH&S course is filling up quickly and will sell out again. There are three days of training taking place. To register, go to www.entech-tradeshow.com.

(Chris Henry)

Spain - One of Lighthouse Technologies' key European rental partners, Spanish audio-visual specialist Stereorent, ensured its stand was an eyecatching highlight of the International Madrid Broadcast Fair, by utilising a pair of large format Lighthouse LED video screens.

This, the 12th Broadcast Fair, was held from 15th-18th November in Madrid's Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I. Held biennially, the event is a key date in the calendar for Spanish audio-visual professionals, with manufacturers and service providers the key exhibitors.

The Stereorent stand's main screen comprised over 9sq.m of Lighthouse R6 6mm panels. In addition, the Barcelona-based company was exhibiting its SRL1012 vehicle, which carries a 12sq.m Lighthouse R10 10mm screen. Both were used to display a range of footage of events organised by Stereorent and other live events where the company has been an audio-visua

UK - Building on the successful collaboration between Martin Architectural and Philips Lighting, ARC 06 will provide the platform to showcase the lighting solutions offered by both companies. Martin Architectural and Philips say the companies will feature dynamic solutions in the areas of interior and exterior architectural lighting as well as in the growing sector of health and wellbeing. "As the demand for more creative solutions grows, Martin Architectural and Philips are ideally placed to offer a wide range of programmable lighting possibilities including exciting colour changing capabilities," the companies say.

Situated prominently on the mezzanine level, visitors to the adjoining stands M26 and M26a will have an ideal opportunity to see a whole host of interior and exterior lighting solutions, including LEDs, wash lighting, controls, track, and spot lighting to

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