Clay Paky set up its main stand, overlooking the busy PLASA central bar and Innovation Gallery in the heart of the exhibition centre, in partnership with Ambersphere Solutions, the sole distributor of Clay Paky and MA Lighting products in the UK. The stand provided an overview of all Clay Paky's new products: the A.Ledas, the Series 800 Profile and QWO lights, and the GlowUp Strip 100 LED bars.
More than 40 new product demos took place on the various exhibition days, accompanied by an impressive light show. They were held in Clay Paky's magnificent demo room, where a spectacular rig was set up, comparable to those used at the best live concerts. The numerous visitors from the UK and several other countries were received in a comfortable lounge to watch a light show put together by Marco Zucchinali, Clay Paky's lighting designer. Marco said that it took several days of design and planning, both in Clay Paky and on site, to create a show that exploited the infinite graphic effects possible using the A.Ledas' pixel mapping.
As occurred at ProLight+Sound, Clay Paky TV was the 'live' voice from PLASA in London. Every day the crew gathered interesting interviews with leading figures in the business, and recorded regular updates at the various stands in the exhibition hall.
At the end of the show, the name of one of the visitors was drawn out of a hat. The lucky winner received one of the six historic Union Jack Sharpys, customised with the colours of the British flag, which was used for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year. The souvenir light bears the original signature of Durham Marenghi, official lighting designer for the event.
The winner was announced in the Clay Paky demo room - Jacek Pancierze?ski, manager of the Polish company GIG. He was not at the show at the time, but when Durham Marenghi reached him by phone, he said he was thrilled to win "a piece of history".
The fifth Knight of Illumination Awards saw a record 400+ people take part, gathered together in the beautiful setting of the Battersea Park Events Arena. The awards are organized by ALD, STLD and Clay Paky in order to give public recognition to the best lighting designs in British productions.
(Jim Evans)
