"I chose Brilliant Stages because their stages are always beautifully built. They present you with good 3D drawings at the design stage, which means alterations can be made early on and there is far less to change during production rehearsals," says Vaughan. "All the components fit together accurately and quickly which is vital in allowing me to fulfil our tight touring schedules."
The initial structural design was carefully thought ou
The smartStage 45 is a mobile stage trailer with a characteristic lean-to roof and a set up time of only 30 minutes. It offers a tandem axle and overrunning brakes and the roof is lifted using an electro-hydraulic system with remote control. The stage conforms to the temporary demountable guidelines of 5kN/sq.m and was launched by Stage Electrics at the Showman's Show in Newbury in October 2007.
Stage Electrics has supplied the lighting and sound equipment for the Exeter event for the last three years, previously the official switch-on team performed from a traditional modular stage system, ground support truss and a tarpaulin roof.
Project manager for the event, Simon Foster explained: "Access into the area is very
Attendees learn safe and efficient rigging techniques for sound, lighting, video, scenery, and special effects. The methods taught apply to theatres, circuses, arenas, stadiums, schools, hotels, museums, conference centres, outdoor venues, and studios.
The Atlanta class is combined stage and arena rigging, taught by Bill Sapsis and Harry Donovan. The Seattle class is combined stage and arena rigging, taught by Jay O. Glerum and Harry Donovan. The Las Vegas and Chicago classes are intensive arena rigging classes taught by Harry Donovan.
(Jim Evans)
The project is being co-ordinated for Summit by Jon Bray - whose history with the band dates back to the early 1990s when they first burst onto the UK pop scene. Bray is working in close collaboration with the tour's production riggers Jez Craddock and Phil Broad, production manager Chris Vaughan from The Production Office, production designer Ray Winkler from Stufish plus all the other contractors including Capital Sound (audio), PRG (Lighting) and XL Video/CT (video).
One of Summit's major tasks for the tour was to produce a comprehensive rigging plot covering the requirements of all technical departments, and realise Stufi
The stand was the result of a collaboration with three other international companies - UK-based Stage One, specialists in automation systems, stage machinery and set creations; Anglo-French draping and material specialists Blackout and lighting, LED screen and sound rental house, Lumière et Son Paris.
The stand and the live show presentation on it were designed by Fabien Martineau of Scenographism, who was also integrally involved in the R&D of the new OnlyView 3D product launched by ETC at the show.
The show centrepiece was a revolving cube, projected onto with video controlled by OnlyView 3D. This was Martineau's brainchild for demonstrating the versatility and scope of the system, on which he collaborated with ETC France'
On the back of the success of PLASA07, many companies have increased their stand size and several have doubled their space, setting PLASA08 on course to be the major industry event of next year. The success of the 2007 show has also been a catalyst for drawing back former exhibitors and generating strong levels of interest from new exhibitors, impressed with the professionalism and energy of the event.
The show management team has identified a range of new initiatives to develop and strengthen visitor attendance and is also focusing on a number of key areas for further development.
"One of the key messages that came across very powerfully from
The first containers arrived at the loading doors of the Esplanade on Sunday 21 October. With two full days of hard graft, all the equipment was unloaded and put into position backstage; the show deck was laid down with the floor-track winches already installed inside and the Performer Flying sliders were motored up into the air by Chain Hoists on lengths of truss.
For the next three days, Stage Technologies' engineers set about commissioning the automation sy
The Polar Focus catalogue shows the company's large stock of standard hardware, and describes its Turnkey Audio Rigging Systems, as well as its Consultant Support Programme. From large systems using speakers such as JBL's newest VLA line array for stadiums, down to a pair of speakers neatly attached to wood beams in a small church, Polar Focus has what you need, says the company.
(Jim Evans)
Fronted by the irrepressible Dave Grohl, the band provided maximum entertainment via a complex live show, which included two stages. In order to cope with the ensuing Front of House audio requirements of the show, a pair of DiGiCo D5 consoles were put to use.
FOH engineer Bryan Worthen has been using DiGiCo consoles for three years, replacing the original analogue console he had been previously using with Foo Fighters. "I knew I needed to go digital or I would get left behind, although I fought it for a long time," he says. "But I had to make the leap and it was actually the band's management who told me about the DiGiCo D5. It was being used on the Be
The company was asked by Robbie Williams Productions to carry out the scenic internal fit-out of a purpose-built temporary structure and was one of several key suppliers tasked with turning the space into a themed Victorian theatre fit for royalty, in this case: Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
Steve Dolan, account director, Stage One, said, "This project threw up several challenges, one of which was manufacturing timber to realistically resemble Victorian cast iron. Our art department and CNC workshop worked extremely hard to achieve exceptionally effective results."
Stag
On 25 September 2007 the Wyvern, a busy receiving venue, reopened after nearly a year in the dark following the discovery of asbestos in the auditorium roof (see Lighting&Sound International magazine November 2007). Stage Electrics was contracted by Swindon Borough Council to design, install and supply technical infrastructure and equipment to the venue.
The Wyvern Theatre is a truly multifunctional venue hosting everything from Shakespeare to ballet, live music to comedy and conferences to cinema. With a reasonably small team of staf
"I am excited to apply my accumulated experience in production, administration and community cultural organizing to the work of TPC." says Forman. "Building or renovating a performance space has always been a keen interest of mine, and I now feel well suited to this unique endeavour. I am thrilled to be part of the team."
(Jim Evans)
The move reflects Hoist UK's growth and success over the last year which has seen an expansion in the company, the product range and business generally.
Hoist UK is a UK distributor for the complete range of Verlinde industrial and entertainment lifting equipment.From 3 January 2008, the new contact details will be: Hoist UK Limited, Unit 11, Carrock Road, Croft Business Park, Bromborough, Wirral, CH62 3RA. Tel: +44 (0) 151 334 7682. Fax: +44 (0) 151 334 9373.
(Jim Evans)
"Truss today is meant to be seen," said Ken Kahn, general manager of Global Truss America. "Architects, designers and lighting directors like the way it looks and are incorporating it into their aesthetic schemes. We came out with white and black truss in response to the growing role that truss is playing in event, production and interior design."
The underlying truss itself is TÜV approved and made of the same high-strength 6082-T6 extruded aluminium alloy as the rest of Global's line. Additionally, like all of Global's trussing, the new white and black truss utilises
"Quality products, fast deliveries and maximum project support - these are the reasons why the organisers chose Milos. Our experts also took part in several training constructions preceding the official term of the celebration. Everything simply had to be 100% correct," said Vladimír Hasman, sales department manager for Milos.
(Jim Evans)
TÜV approval is granted only after rigorous testing of a product and its manufacturing facility. Consumers can therefore be assured that Global Truss clamps meet the highest quality standards and will perform with the utmost security and reliability in fastening fixtures and trussing, said Ken Kahn, general manager of Global Truss America.
"Clamps are an essential component of any trussing setup - they are, literally, what holds the whole rig together," said Kahn. "The mark of TÜV approval is a formal assurance to customers that they can rely on our clamps, like our trussing, to perform safely and reliably. We are very
In early 2006 Stage Technologies was awarded the contract to supply the complete stage engineering package for the Royal Court Theatre and Queen's Room venues on-board. The Royal Court Theatre is an 830 seat venue and the first cruise ship theatre to feature a Royal Box and private boxes on each side of the auditorium, like those seen in Victorian style West End theatres.
The stage is well appointed with automated equipment, which includes motorised lighting trusses, both over-stage and front-of-house, two stage lifts with two-part sliding lids, two storage lifts, 18 flybars, six Serapid stage tracks, curtain tracks, safety curtain, and roller projection screen. The control system in
This series of flight cases features an improved partition system for instant variation of the internal space. Two partitions are supplied as standard with each case (additionals are available as extras) and these can be slotted in at 12mm intervals along the length of the case.
David King from LTM, comments: "Having successfully sold the Amptown motor cases for several problem free years, we are confident that the Transflex range will be equally successful."
(Jim Evans)
Litestructures was commissioned to build an unusual stage - a 48ft (15m) by 44ft (13m) vertical wall used to rehearse an aerial 'wall walk'. Working with production manager Simon Barrington and opening events team manager Nick Birkinshaw, the rehearsals took place in the Litestructures Studios in November.
The rehearsal wall proved so successful it was decided to replicate them for the actual event. The result was two walls used as screens (40ft x 40ft) for the ceremonies using over 100 LiteDeck. Being used as screens, all the decks had to be colour matched to a specific sample provided by the show
Bob Sandon, technical director for The Colosseum said: "Tait was the natural choice for this project. Their long term relationships with artists combined with their technical expertise provided the synergy we required to make this new stage exactly what it needed to be. Their smart design makes better use of the space and has added much needed additional seating to the venue."
Tait Towers engineers worked with Bette Midler and her design team to transform The Colosseum to suit the singer/actress/comedienne's desire to perform in a traditional, technologically subtle, theatre setting.
Tait To
The cost includes all training and a full set of instruction manuals, Certificate of Attendance, lunch for two days and light refreshments during the course hours.
The Motor School will be presented by LTM's Dave Ward and John Jones in the company's specially designed Training Room. The format is "no-nonsense hands-on and practical", designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the CM Lodestar hoist. It will familiarise users and specifiers with operational theory, design philosophy, safety aspects, internal workings and trouble-shooting methods of the Lodestar.
It also offers the chance to get dirty and completely strip a hoist down to its component parts - and then re-build and operate i
More conventionally, this is used by companies in the roofing and wetroom sealing business, but Fineline is going to utilise it for a range of stage, presentation and performance based applications. Its primary function will be for spraying items like sets and props that have been machined from polystyrene on their five-axis CNC router.
"This is part of our ongoing investment in the fabrication side of the business," explains Fineline's Darren Wring, adding that it will also help increase the efficiency and speed of Fineline's operation which enjoyed exceptional growth last year.
The company has just completed part of the set build for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour via Total Solutions. Fineline supplie
LTM started manufacturing hoist controllers in 2005 and has constructed systems for both Direct and Low Voltage controlled hoists. The past 12 months has seen the range expand from 4 channel to 42 channel units. These are available as movable, flight cased units and as wall mounted systems for permanent installations. LTM can design and construct bespoke control systems to fit a client's exact and specific requirements.
(Jim Evans)
The exhibition, to be held on 28 and 29 May 2008 at the RSAMD in Glasgow, has confirmed Christie Digital, Doughty Engineering, ETC, Hall Stage, Le Maitre, Lift Turn Move, MA Lighting, MGC, Selecon, Strand, Triple E and Zero 88 as exhibitors.
Gavin Stewart, managing director at Black Light, said: "Our plans for PerformTech really are coming on at quite a pace. The majority of industry players will be represented and will enable our visitors to view equipment that provides lighting control and effects, pyrotechnics, audio control and kit, projection, rigging, hoists, pai
