Rigging / Staging

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14 December 2016

Penn Elcom chairman and founder Roger Willems stated: "The Irish pro entertainment industry market shows definitive signs of recovering from the economic dip, there are many installations and other projects happening and flourishing! It's been our intention to open a base there for some time, but then circumstances converged to make this a really opportune time."

These circumstances include Rory becoming available to run Penn Elcom Ireland and also the 7000sq.ft warehouse facility in south County Dublin coming on-stream, so with these two plusses, Roger activated the plan. Stock of Penn's extensive standard flightca

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14 December 2016

WI has previously worked with Dragone on several projects, explains project manager Koen Peeters, and for this one the show creators turned to them to provide solutions for several staging conundrums, all of which had to be delivered in an extremely short timeframe.

With the tour starting in Russia, crew visas, paperwork and transportation needed special attention, in addition to all the engineering and physical creative work!

The first WI element of the project was to create 14 aluminium flying wings and a kinetic system to make them move. All of these flying elements have an i

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14 December 2016

PLASA Show's first year at Olympia sees the show showcasing the latest technology in Olympia's National Hall and the Gallery floor above, with the two seminar theatres, product demos and interactive showcases also situated on the Gallery floor.

As always, every session at the PLASA 2016 Seminar Programme is free-to-attend, with subjects including audio, lighting, AV, staging and business skills being covered. The first 15 have been confirmed and include the return of LSI journalist Phil Ward's popular panel

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14 December 2016

Blackout's director Kevin Monks and his eight-strong team were called upon to help transform Stoke Park's indoor tennis courts into an entertainment venue fit to host glittering performances from Sir Tom Jones and Laura Mvula.

With a complex build in a challenging indoor venue with limited roof loading capabilities, Blackout designed and supplied a James Thomas ground supported super truss grid for over the stage plus an additional truss goalpost for hanging the upstage LED screen supplied by PRG XL. The truss grid also provided support to lighting from PRG XL and sound equipment supplied by Britannia Row.

The team supplied and installed over 50 motors

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14 December 2016

ETCP uses a point system to determine eligibility to sit for examinations. A candidate must have 25 points to apply for the ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician examination. Points can be earned through work experience alone or through a combination of training (i.e., internships or apprenticeships), licensure, and degrees from accredited institutions. Courses taken outside a formal prog

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14 December 2016

An experienced jury of working practitioners and industry peers considered entries for the ABTT Awards. Both previously submitted nominations and items brought to their attention on the day, which satisfied the entry criteria were reviewed.

Commenting on the event, ABTT CEO Robin Townley said, "The Awards ceremony, held in the Petrus Bertschinger Studio (PBS), was again a great opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to gather and celebrate good technology and excellent technical practice. It was also very good to be able to welcome the Association of Lighting Designers' for the presentation of their Bursaries.

"There was a great atmosphere in the PBS which clearly conveyed the congr

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14 December 2016

Held on the first day of the PLASA Show (London Olympia, 18-20 September), this unique conference looks at the issues that are specific to rigging for the entertainment industry and regularly attracts over 150 practitioners, managers, engineers, safety professionals and policy makers from around the globe. "With 30% of its delegates attending from 20 different overseas countries, it has a truly international flavour," say organisers PLASA Events.

During Rocky's keynote presentation, he will talk about his career as a rigger and the influences from his early

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14 December 2016

The 13th Download Festival boasted headline performances from Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, with Serious providing the stages to house rock royalty and structures to house their production equipment.

A Serious designed and manufactured 25m x 30m Tower Roof was the main stage, which was renamed The Lemmy Stage in memory of the late Mot

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14 December 2016

In a continuing commitment to update its inventory with the latest rigging, lighting, and video technology, PRG XL Video has purchased a large number of the new EXE-Rise 8:1 range of chain hoists to update its rental offering.

The selection of the EXE-Rise units followed extensive evaluation of different hoists by a team of PRG XL Video's rigging experts including Chris Walker, Account Director, Q Willis, Head of Rigging Services, and Richard Gorrod, Head of Event Services.

This new version evolved from the already successful EXE-Rise electric chain hoist family and is designed with a WLL of 1000kg and a safety factor of 8:1. This new model includes all the key features and more of the existing product rang

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14 December 2016

These new hoists went straight out for use on the current UK and European tour of Riverdance.

The history of Riverdance goes back to 1994, when it was an intermission act for the Eurovision Song Contest. It was an immediate hit and quickly gained worldwide recognition. Since that time, it has continuously played to sold out venues and is one of the most successful dance shows in the world.

PSI is now on a fourth tour with Riverdance, supplying all lighting

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14 December 2016

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14 December 2016

The ship is the latest addition to the Thomson brand of cruise ships. Matthew Bull the sales and marketing manager took the lead on the project. The creative brief included building a stage into the ships swimming pool, as well as a main stage for Jess Glynne to perform on. The installation used the company's Versa stage deck and support structure. This system is designed for speedy construction and de-rig time - perfect for the ships tight build schedule.

The ship was launched on 10 June with a show and naming ceremony created by Black Skull followed by fireworks and a set from Jess Glynne.

(Jim Evans)

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14 December 2016

Designed by the celebrated Misty Buckley, following her work on Coldplay's appearance at the NFL Super Bowl 50's halftime show in February, the latest stadium tour sees a lavish explosion of colour accompanying the crowd-pleasing performances by the Chris Martin-fronted fivesome.

This time around, Stageco is building the sub-structure for the 65m wide x 25m deep main stage, the 30m long B-stage runway and a C-stage on which the band play a short, intimate set amongst the audience at the rear of the stadium. The company is also responsible for the steel structures that support the central video wall and side screens, the rigging points, PA and spot towers

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14 December 2016

Seventy-one axes of movement feature a variety of CM Lodestar motors, 29 of which are fitted with Kinesys Elevation 1+ vari-speed drives and these move two (out of 10) chevron-shaped trussing pieces; four individual sides of a large video cube plus assorted other scenic metalwork elements like 'the claw' which flies in and out over 'the Orb' drum kit.

The other eight chevron trusses are flown on fixed speed motors that are controlled with Kinesys DigiHoists.

All of these are controlled via Kinesys' powerful and stable Vector control platform.

The tour kicked off in fall 2014 and is still going - such is Brooks' popularity as a live a

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14 December 2016

Fresh from Glastonbury Festival, the band performed on a Star Events' 15m by 12m SAM platform, the largest single truck mobile stage in Europe.

Since 2006, Sentebale has been helping children in the south African kingdom of Lesotho affected by HIV/AIDS and Coldplay's 11-song set culminated in current single Up & Up accompanied by the Basotho Youth Choir and the charity's founder.

"Please drive home safely and carry on the work of Sentebale," Prince Harry said afterwards. "And thank you to Coldplay, you've rocked the palace."

Working to the tightest deadline, in on Sunday night, show on Tuesday, out first thing Wednesday, Star Events fitted the SAM stage with extended wings to accommodate Coldplay

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14 December 2016

The famous play, directed by Trevor Nunn, was performed during a three-week run at the theatre. It required an elaborate set that included a large raised floor with an automated lift, two 9m-high towers and three platforms connected via numerous staircases and walkways. Any remaining empty space between those towers and walkways was finished with wooden cladding. Elsewhere on set, two large sliders concealed a throne.

Wayne Parry, head of production at the Rose Theatre Kingston, explained that the load cells were used only for set installation, not during performances. He said: "Large steel sections were lifted using several motors

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14 December 2016

At the meeting, the association's new managing director, Peter Heath, will be outlining his plans for the development of PLASA during this time of change and renewal. Peter commented: "I am looking forward to meeting many industry colleagues and friends at my first AGM in charge of PLASA. The AGM is our big opportunity to bring members together, to communicate our aim to grow PLASA and clearly explain the benefits this will bring to all."

PLASA members will be encouraged to ask questions and participate, and, perhaps most importantly, to come tog

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14 December 2016

In his role, Nobile will be based out of ETC's Rome office, with much of his time spent in the sales territories of ETC GmbH and ETC Ltd, working in collaboration with distributors, dealers and integrators.

Nobile's involvement in the industry began in 1979 when he established the design and installation company Elettrosistemi. Six years later, he accepted a position with ARRI Italia and developed the technical department while working alongside Fulvio Cotogni, the former ETC regional manager for Southern Europe and the Middle East. Subsequently, Nobile served as a project manager for Strand Lighting, and later for the Manfrotto Vitec Group, before setting up the TEYCORIG rigging brand in 2011

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14 December 2016

igus has developed a cable-friendly alternative to the reeling drum with its e-spool system, which allows multiple cable types and diameters (even compressed air and fluids) to be enclosed in one e-chain, with no limit on the direction of travel and no joins or slip-rings. An integrated spring enables rotary retraction, a

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14 December 2016

Innovation and collaboration is at the heart of the entertainment technology industry, and is therefore a hugely important element of the PLASA Show. 'Sadlers Wells: New Technology for the Stage', on Tuesday 20 September at 1pm, is a great example of this, highlighting significant improvements of the theatre's systems through technical innovation and collaboration. This session will be presented by Emma Wilson, Sadlers Wells' director of technical production and Christian Wallace, technical manager.

Wilson says:

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14 December 2016

A first event for Lewis Cubitt Square, the new civic space behind King's Cross station, production company Produce called on Star to design and deliver the structure, enveloping a 360° screen, to broadcast live coverage from 45 Euro 2016 matches. Forty five thousand tickets were available free via Ticketmaster over the course of the tournament.

The Orbit Flexidome's modular design brought the best out of the small site, its roof comfortably accommodating over 500m2 of projector screens, lighting and sound. In a major first, Star treated the whole building with a new acoustic barrier system, lowering the exte

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14 December 2016

The Impact Block load cell is manufactured in partnership with tree safety equipment pioneer DMM and contains electronics and software from force measurement, load monitoring and suspended weighing load cell equipment specialist Straightpoint. A tree maintenance company in the sector commissioned the product.

The industry has acknowledged that the Impact Block can fill gaps in knowledge about the forces put through rigging equipment and the weight of loads as they are cut away from trees. It can become as important as a training device as it is a practical onsite tool for the sector.

Unlike crane-related or other typical rigging scenarios, in tree applications profess

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14 December 2016

Heng Mao is one of the main players for rental of truss constructions and hardware integration in the event and touring industry in Taiwan. With a wish to grow and further expand their business, they were looking to invest in truss with a high loading capacity for their rigging department.

As Mr. Su Xin Bin, managing director of Heng Mao explains, "Our company has a reputation for delivering top-notch services to its customers. Safe working practices are a high priority within the company, furthermore the requirements for truss constructions are getting more and more challenging as the demand for complicated set ups and ever increasing loads grow.

"We also see a growing demand from the organizer

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14 December 2016

Established in 2001, Forest Live is an independent concert series, promoted by the Forestry Commission. Hosted within seven nationwide forest locations, which include Westonbirt Arboretum, Thetford Forest, Dalby Forest and Mansfield Sherwood Pines Forest Park. This year's line-up has seen performances from Rudimental, Kaiser Chiefs, James Bay and Guy Garvey.

For the 2016 shows, Serious Stages supplied two 16m Supernova's to accommodate simultaneous performances at different locations throughout the summer. Serious Stages also installed steps, access ramps, handrails and two flanking single PA masts, as well as a double decker front-of-house tower to accommodate t