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UK - Since launching back in September 2014, over 250 rental businesses in the AV, lighting, events and broadcast sectors are now signed up to Current RMS, quickly identifying the benefits of cloud rental management software.

At the end of January 2015, Current RMS officially became a partner of the popular cloud accounting software Xero, offering seamless integration with this easy to use product, streamlining the rental cycle that one step further.

Prior to launching Current RMS, rental experts came onboard to test the system, working with the team to ensure it was entirely ready for launch. The same process took place for the Xero integration. One of the testers, Steve Lucas, owner of Soundbite Productions, has quickly seen the benefits of operating his rental business entirely in the cloud.

"Current is a must have for rental and hire companies, especially for those

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UK - Jonathan Djanogly MP, made a special trip to officially open Le Mark's new super-efficient office & warehousing expansion in Cambridgeshire.

The new extension allows Le Mark's UK & export teams to expand even further, with almost double the original floor space.

The new development also includes a showroom for its global brand-Dirty Rigger Gloves & Accessories and an in-house photography and video studio. The studio will be there to support Le Mark's global distribution network, offering on-demand, customised product demonstration videos and marketing material.

With energy efficiency and green credentials held paramount throughout the design and construction, Le Mark's new development offers 21st Century low-energy innovation.

From state-of-the-art intelligent air-sourced heating to multi-layer insulation, natural light tunnels and LED low-energy lighting, Le Mark's n

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Record Receipts - London's West End has reported its 11th consecutive year of record box office takings, measuring gross sales of more than £623m in 2014. Figures published by the Society of London Theatre also show increased attendance at London's major commercial and subsidised venues during 2014. However, some of the increase is due to the fact that the year was recorded as a 53-week period, rather than the usual 52.According to SOLT, 14.7m people attended the 52 London theatres in full SOLT membership in 2014, a 1.0% increase on 2013. Gross box office revenue was up 7% on 2013, rising from £585.5m to £623.6m. This is a 29% increase on the last 53-week year, which was in 2008, and an 82% increase on the 53-week period before that, in 2004.SOLT claims that the increase in revenue can be attributed to an improved seat capacity achieved across the year, which is

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UK - Greg Wood has been appointed to the Group Executive Board in the position of chief operating officer, further strengthening the senior management team.

Greg, a CIMA qualified accountant, joins the business from the Avesco Group, where he held senior positions including group finance and operations director for Presteigne Broadcast Hire.

"I have worked in finance for many years, predominantly with entrepreneur-led businesses such as Regus, Holiday Autos and lastminute.com, all of which were in particularly high growth or restructuring situations," Greg explains. "More recently, I joined the Avesco Group, which includes Creative Technology, mclcreate and Presteigne Broadcast Hire.

"Stage Electrics has a fantastic history and was a founder-managed business for many years," Greg adds. "It has gone through a successful management buyout and sign

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The Netherlands - Integrated Systems Events, the company that produces the ISE exhibition, has entered into a joint venture agreement with invidis consulting to take a majority share in respect to its Digital Signage Conference, an annual event that takes place in Munich, Germany.

The Digital Signage Conference, run in cooperation with trade association OVAB Europe, is taking place this year on 14-15 September at the Hilton Airport Hotel, Munich. It will feature a mix of presentations and workshops on digital signage and DooH technology and business topics.

Invidis is a research, and communications business specialising in digital signage and Digital-out of-Home (DooH). It launched the Digital Signage Conference in 2007. Invidis has been a regular ISE partner in recent years and has run several successful digital signage programmes and installation tours around the exhibition.

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UK - The challenge of environmental sustainability is prompting creative and collaborative responses. Increasingly, people are coming together through networks and associations to pool knowledge, expertise and resources, and enable a faster transition to low carbon and sustainable ways of living and working.

Inspired by Manchester City Council's A Certain Future strategy, cultural organisations from across the city have been working together under the banner of the Manchester Art Sustainability Team (MAST) since 2011, and have collectively achieved great strides towards the city's target to reduce emissions by 41% by 2020.

Making Creative Places Sustainable, set for 25 March, will discuss and showcase how MAST and other cultural networks from Newcastle, London and Wales, are addressing sustainability in inspirational ways, and contributing to greener, future-proof citie

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UK - If you find yourself in the London area next week, do drop-in to Ambersphere Solutions. Their newly refurbished showroom features all the latest products from Ayrton, Clay Paky, MA Lighting and Robert Juliat. The showroom is open from 16-20 February with snacks and refreshments available throughout.

Highlights include Robert Juliat's latest follow spots, the Merlin and Roxie which are coming straight from ISE in Amsterdam, along with the R range from Ayrton, the latest offerings from Clay Paky in the form of the Mythos, Super Sharpy and Stormys and the full line-up of MA2 Lighting consoles.

The days will be based around a relaxed format, with guests welcome to drop-in anytime between 11am and 5pm on Monday and 11am to 7pm Tuesday through Friday. The technical sales team will be on hand all week to discuss the products and offer help with any specific projects or challenge

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UK - Culture Liverpool has appointed REM (Richmond Event Management), to provide site and production management for all of the city's annual events in 2015.

REM will provide full site and production management for events including Three Queens, Mersey River Festival, On the Waterfront Concerts, Transatlantic, Liverpool International Music Festival, Bonfire Night celebrations and Chinese New Year 2016.

Culture Liverpool delivered a varied programme of events in 2014 with three major events attracting 1.4m attendees and generating £55m into the local economy. Having successfully delivered elements of different Culture Liverpool events over the previous eight years, REM's award winning team has now been entrusted across all of the events, drawing on its deep understanding of the local ethos and the aspirations of Liverpool City Council to combine best value with modern prod

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UK - Britannia Row Productions Training is now offering a new range of courses. From complete beginner, to professional wanting to progress their career, Brit Row is opening up more opportunities than ever to learn about live sound from a company with 40 years experience in the industry. Training is now based at Britannia Row Productions head office in Twickenham. Courses for 2015 include:

A Talk on Live Sound Industry - one day - An overview and insight into what the Live Sound Industry is all about and how it works.

Live Sound Basic two-day PA Course - Learn how to jump onto a small P.A. This two-day course is suitable for anyone who needs or wants to do this and is not entirely sure how to go about it - from the person working with their friend's band, to the teacher who needs to get the PA system out of the cupboard a couple of times a year and make it work for the school

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The Netherlands - After proving the OCA control architecture in the field on global tours and major music festivals, the OCA Alliance is promoting the OCA message to the wider market.

At and around ISE 2015, several of the large number of OCA member companies exhibiting at the show participated in various activities to promote OCA. These included a presentation to members of the press, to carry the OCA vision of a common remote control standard to the AV industry, as well as presentations to AV consultants and system integrators. Meetings with numerous manufacturers also helped move forward the process of making the OCA vision reality.

OCA Alliance member companies Yamaha Commercal Audio, TC Group and Salzbrenner Stagetec, joined d&b audiotechnik in presenting the current status and future vision of Open Control Architecture, as these relate to the AV Installation and Systems

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WhatsOn Winners - Miss Saigon has dominated this year's WhatsOnStage awards, winning nine trophies including best West End show. The record haul follows the musical's return to the West End last year, 25 years after it premiered in London. Former Doctor Who co-stars David Tennant and Billie Piper won best actor and best actress in a play. Tennant for Richard II and Piper for Great Britain. The awards, focusing predominantly on London theatre, are voted for entirely by members of the public.

The new production of Miss Saigon won nine of its 12 nominations, including best actor and actress in a musical, best direction, best choreography and best musical revival. The musical, set during the Vietnam War and based on the opera Madame Butterfly, opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre last May.

Lee Hall's adaptation of the 1998 film

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USA - PRG has announced the passing of Board Member and award-winning theatrical producer, Joseph P. Harris. As a producer and general manager, Mr. Harris had been associated with over 200 Broadway productions. He died peacefully at home in Greenwich, CT on Wednesday 11 February at the age of 87.

Mr. Harris was born in Manhattan on July 2, 1927 and moved to Queens during his childhood. He graduated from Forest Hills High School and was drafted into the Army. After returning home from serving as part of the occupation forces under General MacArthur in Japan, he started his theatrical career as the assistant general manager on Finian's Rainbow, in 1948, working alongside his father, the general manager, Charles Harris.

During his 54-year Broadway career, Mr. Harris crossed paths with many artists, including the legendary Bob Fosse, producing Fosse's Chicago and the

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UK - Presteigne Broadcast Hire has appointed Neil Coles as its sales manager. A sales professional, he has a solid history in the studios and post production industries, so clearly understands the challenges and opportunities facing Presteigne's clients today.

Working for the past three years as a business development consultant, largely with clients in the broadcast and media sector, he has also driven sales at post house Prime Focus in London, fixed-rig specialist Roll to Record, and Pinewood Studios Group where he was primarily responsible for the light entertainment television studios at Teddington.

"Production companies and their facilities are under tremendous pressure at the moment," said Coles. "On one side they need to produce more content on ever-tighter budgets and with ever-increasing audience expectations. And on the other, there is a continuous str

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USA - Production Resource Group LLC, (PRG) one of the world's leading providers of entertainment and event technology solutions, has announced that it is combining several business units to create the PRG Music Group. This new division will be under the leadership of Mickey Curbishley, CEO PRG Music, and will focus on providing integrated video and lighting solutions for tours, festivals, and concert events around the world.

"We are bringing together leading industry veterans, technology experts, and the operational know-how of PRG Concert Touring, PRG Nocturne, and Chaos Visual Productions into a single integrated organisation," says Curbishley. "The PRG Music Group is and will be the 'go-to' production resource for our clients. The goal is simple-we want to make it as easy as possible to do business with PRG."

In addition to integrating the three teams, P

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UK - Northern Stage Services Ltd, the specialist lighting, sound and stage solutions provider, has completed the acquisition of the business of Lancelyn Lighting and Lancelyn Theatre Supplies.

Northern Stage Services Ltd, whose client list includes the RIBA award-winning Liverpool Everyman Theatre, Brio Leisure and Manchester Communications Academy, acquired the business on 16 February 2015, enhancing its overall offering to be UK-wide spanning the theatrical, architectural and construction sectors.

Northern Stage Services Ltd managing director, Patrick Colin, comments: "Lancelyn has a long history in both Oxford and The Wirral and its customers very much value the service given by its skilled design, manufacturing and installation teams.

"Similarly, Northern Stage Services has built up a solid reputation within the industry through our ability to work on larger, m

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Fighting Talk - Foo Fighters have revealed they will be the headline act on the first day of Glastonbury Festival. The US rockers announced the news after they were named best international band at the NME Awards. In a recorded video message, frontman Dave Grohl told music fans at Brixton Academy, south London, they were returning to the UK to play Glastonbury. They are the first major act announced for this year's event. Foo Fighters will headline the Pyramid Stage on Friday, Glastonbury's website confirmed, making their first appearance at the Somerset festival since 1998. Lionel Richie was the first 2015 performer to be announced in November. He will make his debut in the Sunday teatime slot on the Pyramid stage.

Festival Move - T in the Park will be on a new site this year and the headliners will be Kasabian. Avicii will make his debut at the festival when he closes t

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South Africa - For the fourth year, MJ Event Gear provided the full technical for Product of the Year 2015 held on 5 February 2015 in Johannesburg. Product of the Year is claimed to be the world's largest consumer-voted award for product innovation and currently operates in 40 countries with the purpose of guiding consumers to the best products in their market and to reward manufacturers for quality and innovation.

The South African Awards were hosted at Summer Place, a graceful venue in the heart of Hyde Park, Gauteng. Working closely with their client, Edith Venter of Edith Unlimited, MJ were given full creativity rights to provide lighting for the outdoor area comprising of an exquisite garden, swimming pool, and Bedouin tent, and more importantly, for the prestigious awards ceremony.

Lighting designer Olebogeng Boinamo from MJ created an upbeat show on an Avolites Tiger To

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UK - Northern Light Stage & Technical Services has announced the successful management buyout of its hire department with the formation of NL Productions Ltd.

Intended to capitalise on the growing order book of the last two years and under the leadership of managing director Phil O'Halloran, the new business will operate as a unique alliance with the hire department of Northern Lights' sister company Stage Electrics.

Phil O'Halloran commented: "Our local knowledge and capabilities within our specific market area coupled with the backing of an alliance relationship with Stage Electrics provides an ideal combination to drive continued growth and deliver value for customers that will be a benefit to all parties."

Providing technical expertise, design and equipment NL Productions offers lighting, sound, AV, staging, rigging and power distribution to events across Scotl

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UK - The sixth School Theatre Support Group (STSG) conference took place in February 2015 at the Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Cheltenham. The event was attended by technicians, managers and teachers from school theatres and drama departments around the country.

Workshop sessions on a range of relevant technical topics were provided by AC Entertainment Technologies, Stage Electrics and White Light, alongside displays from GDS and iStudio Projects. Charcoalblue Theatre Consultants also provided sponsorship.

This year's conference marked the tenth year of STSG as an organisation, having grown from an informal group of like-minded individuals, to now being affiliated with the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT). This important link gives wider recognition to theatre work within schools, as well as encouraging the development of the next generation of theatre pro

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UK - Star Events rounded off a successful re-brand launch event at the Event Production Show by signing a service partner contract with sports specialist Footwise UK, under its Brazilian Minds in Fusion banner.

The deal provides Star Events with high-level representation and experience in Brazil and gives Minds in Fusion access to Star's lauded logistical and technical abiolities, and equipment, ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016.Minds in Fusion produced the official Promotional Plan for the 2014 World Cup on behalf of the Brazilian Government. Football legend Cafu, Brazil's most capped player, is the company's global ambassador and Minds has worked with his foundation in Sao Paulo since 1999.

Roger Barrett, Star Events' special projects director, and Dominic Barrett-Evans, founding partner at Minds in Fusion, negotiated heads of terms on a UKTI trade mission to Rio at the end

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UK - Alchemea College is celebrating the recent success of several of its former students at this year's BRIT Awards, Grammy Awards, MPG Awards...and on the charts.

Jimmy Napes (aka James Napier, Class of 2004) was both songwriter and producer whose work contributed to Sam Smith's BRIT Award nods for British Breakthrough Act and British Global Success, as well as nominations for British Album and British Single. Other Alchemea alumni represented at the BRITs include Steve Sedgwick (Class of 2002), house engineer for British Male Solo Artist nominee Damon Albarn, and Robbie Nelson (Class of 2001) who engineered Morning Phase by International Male Solo Artist nominee Beck.

Earlier this month at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, Napes' work was also acknowledged as Smith took home the prestigious prizes for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, as well as winning Best New Artist

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USA - ANSI E1.19 - 2015, Recommended Practice for the Use of Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) Intended for Personnel Protection in the Entertainment Industry, and ANSI E1.23 - 2010 (R2015), Entertainment Technology - Design and Execution of Theatrical Fog Effects, were approved by the ANSI Board of Standards Review on 10 and 13 February respectively. They are now published and are available for free at http://tsp.plasa.org/freestandards. The free download is made possible by the sponsorship of Prosight Specialty Insurance. They also may be purchased from ANSI's eStandards Store (http://webstore.ansi.org/) for $15.00 each.

ANSI E1.19 is intended to offer guidance in accordance with existing applicable standards on how to select, install, use and maintain ground fault protection devices in the entertainment industry to protect persons from shock and persons and pr

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UK - Le Maitre Ltd is sponsoring fireman Scott Butler on his intrepid Journey To Elbrus challenge in what will hopefully gain him a place in the Guinness Book Of World Records.

In June this year Scott will be cycling 1800 miles across Europe then rowing solo 750 miles across the Black Sea. If that wasn't enough of a challenge he will then climb Mount Elbrus in Russia, the highest peak in Europe. Scott will be raising money for three charities - Firefighters Charity, The MS Society and Facing Africa.

Scott, a firefighter with the Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service has a history of challenging himself. He has run marathons and adventure races, cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End, driven the Nurburgring and also written a book. This will be his first ever attempt at a world record. Sponsorship details are available at www.journeytoelbrus.com.

(Jim Evans)

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Italy - The show Illusion, with several Salamanders from Le Maitre entertained visitors at the Rainbow MagicLand in Valmontone close to Rome throughout the summer 2014.

The attraction combines music, fantasy and projection. With hundreds of lights installed on the fountains and special effects enhancing the show, Illusion had nine dancers interacting with the fountains and the projections.

One of the world's leading companies for aquatic shows and an internationally renowned video designer participated in the realisation of this show.

Mr. Bonsanti, technical representative at MagicLand, commented, "The show went on two to three times a night for a duration of 25-30 minutes and could accommodate 300 people. Thanks to a series of effects, the organisers were able to create true illusions with pirate and jungle themes.

"The stage on the water with the castle built o

  1. Martin Manufacturing UK wins Semta Skills Award
  2. Nominations open for Technical Theatre Awards 2015
  3. UK quality mark for Rose Bruford College
  4. The Week in Lighting & Sound
  5. PLASA Technical Standards in action
  6. Stardraw.com receives accolades at ISE 2015
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