Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

BA (Hons) Performance Sound reflects the growing importance of sound in every field of performance - from theatre to music concerts, from sports events to dance, and from site-specific installation to radio drama. The programme combines sound design, technology and operation, with a strong emphasis on live production, and has recently attracted the support of key players in the audio industry, including sponsorship by Harman Pro Group UK in the shape of a Soundcraft VI-1 digital mixer.

BA (Hons) Creative Lighting Control has been created in response to rapidly growing industry demand for s

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14 March 2016

FocusTrack was specified by production electrician Michael Pitzer to document Tony Award-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz's work on the show. Pitzer has previously used the software on The Addams Family and the Broadway revival of Les Misérables. On Sister Act, the software took the information from the show's grandMA console, programmed by Hillary Knox, and identified more than 1600 lamp-focus positions across the show's 125 moving lights - an average of over 12 positions per light.

With the lighting complete, Pitzer organised a focus plot session where he connected FocusTrack t

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14 March 2016

The H40R has three-sided webbing. The thicker braces on the bottom side allow easy mounting of automated luminaires/moving heads and central loading, reducing the torsion effect resulting from one-sided loading in standard trusses.

The spigot orientation follows that of the S series truss, allowing easy assembly while the truss is still on the floor. The H40R measures 339mm high by 239mm wide. The diagonals are placed to allow room for a 30D truss to rest on the bottom chords.

The loading rate is comparable to the H40V, taking into account that, due

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14 March 2016

Tait Towers project manager James Erwin started concept development with Chris Vaughan, Es Devlin, Malcolm Birkett, and Phil Broad four months ahead of the tour, working on three key custom show elements.

The custom B-stage was 40' 6" wide and37' 6" deep, based on Tait's proprietary Mag Deck. Incorporating eight 30"x80" lift decks and one 12'4"x7'11" centre- lift, the stage was designed with maximum use of limited space in mind to store theatrical props used during the show. To maintain clea

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14 March 2016

The Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) provides its students with specialist education and preparation for a career in music, theatre and performing arts.

In June 2011 RWCMD opened a £22.5m performance and rehearsal complex incorporating the 160-seat Richard Burton Theatre and the Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall. In a major installation J&C Joel designed and installed stage machinery and equipment in both venues to help establish them as facilities in which the college's students can perfect and perform their craft.

The Richard Burton Theatre provides teaching space for some of the UK's most exciting young actors and also hosts many of the RWCMD's annua

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14 March 2016

In addition to issues surrounding the build and stability of the structure itself, the question of why the event was not stopped and the audience evacuated far sooner will surely form a major part of the investigation.

It is reported that organisers had urged audience members to seek shelter just minutes before the sudden winds hit the stage structure - far too late, as it turned out, for an effective evacuation. With news reports claiming that forecasters at the National Weather Service had predicted the strong winds of 60-70mph up to t

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14 March 2016

PLS which manufactures and brands for other leading manufacturers, will have an impressive range of product available which will be complemented by SES 19" rack mount distro.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The building is being constructed by Southern Cross Projects and sees Jands again working with Peddle Thorp & Walker (PTW), City Electrical, and The PA People to deliver "a world class performing arts and music venue". Jands previously worked with PTW on both the Sydney Theatre and City Recital Hall.

This project includes the installation of JLX-PRO Lighting Bars, Jands H500PVX Hoists, and SAX P1 Controllers together with Jands Dimmers and ETC Control.

The PA People have developed a Vocal PA with Jands Technical Resource Group using JBL VRX and CBT loudspeakers, BSS Blue and Crown Amplifiers.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Over the last few months, E&MS has been supporting the Sceptics in the Pub regular meetings that have been held at D fly in Cheltenham. These discussions provide opportunities for people who are "interested in science, scepticism, rationalism and critical thinking to socialise and discuss matters of interest, usually with a guest speaker".

12 July at the Montpellier Chapter Hotel in Cheltenham saw the Launch of The sustainable S

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14 March 2016

Cover It Up was working for Detail, who specialise in providing high end facilities to prestigious sporting events. The venue, run by event hospitality specialists Keith Prowse for the duration of the Wimbledon Fortnight, was a 400 - 600 capacity glass fronted De Boer structure that was located in the grounds of the adjacent Wimbledon Cricket and Golf Club.

The themed colours were spacious white, cool green and effervescent yellow. With the aid of flexible drape rig configurations, the room could also be sub-divided into different areas and tailored exactly to individual group booking requirements.

Cover It Up decked the space out usin

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14 March 2016

Over the action packed two day conference, sharing their creative visions and a wealth of experience, speakers and panellists will include:

Michael Anderson, Ilan Bahar, Derrick Bailes, Rinus Bakker, Nick Barnfield, Chris Böettger, Ron Bonner, Harry Box, Simon Caldwell, Andy Charlesworth, Neil Darracott, Don Dimitroff, Tony Dickson, Robin Elias, Sally-Ann Dod, Cristiano Giavedoni, Amedeo Guizzi, Roger Hamilton-Smith, Marc Hendriks, Chris Higgs, Scott Johnson, Sven Knight, Oz Marsh, Abigail Matthews

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14 March 2016

Over 6,000 people attended and among the crowds were a plethora of special guests and VIPs including Prime Minster David Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The countdown, organised by Greater London Authority (GLA) in conjunction with Innovision event management company and Westminster Council, was televised live on BBC One. It saw David Cameron make a brief speech on the current planning and budgeting for the games, followed by dancing, live music from The Feeling and the unveiling of the 2012 medal designs by British artist David Watkins.

Dayo Adelugba, Showsec's head of se

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14 March 2016

Of particular interest is the Visage LED Multipar RGBAW - a new PAR unit that delivers a truly impressive light output from 18 x 8w LEDs. 12 x RGBW and 6 x RGBA 4 in 1 LEDs produce full spectrum colour mixing and control is achieved through DMX, auto programs, sound to light or master slave functions. The black multipar housing is more robust than conventional PARcan bodies and completes this tough, powerful unit.

Another brand making its PLASA debut is Lumaform. Offering a range of LED illuminated furniture in a variety of styles; Lumaform is at the cutting edge of this exc

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14 March 2016

The Stageline SL50 portable stage measures 6.1m by 4.9m (20' by 16') and features a fiberglass roof, light & sound rigging, full banner capability and an option of two roof heights. It can be towed by a SUV or pickup and sets up in 30 minutes, says Stageline.

"The reduced trailer dimensions make it very easy to park in tight locations. With the new SL50, owning a Stageline mobile stage is within everyone's reach and delivers a fast return on investment."

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14 March 2016

The two companies opened a joint London office in May, building on years of working alongside each other across a range of projects, and will be sharing a stand together for the first time.

"The joint approach will highlight Stageco and Tait Technologies' vast experience supplying the event industry, and will offer the production sector the opportunity to network with key staff that will be available to discuss engineering solutions and future projects," says the company.

Stageco and Tait, respectively, supply staging solutions and scenic motion technology, including to major projects such as Take That's record breaking Progress Tour, U2's 360° tour and Batman Live.

The two companies

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14 March 2016

Although they had not yet been named, it has been reported that the five dead are all Belgians: four died at the scene and one died later in hospital.

Video footage recorded at the Pukkelpop Festival, at Hasselt, Belgium, yesterday shows the site being struck by very heavy wind and rain prior to the collapse of the stage. The storm hit at around 6pm local time. Belgian news reports have said that the strong winds uprooted trees which then smashed into the stage structure: photography from the aftermath of the storm seems to show trees amid the stage d

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14 March 2016

Keith Wood of promoter AEG and production manager Sarah Hollis of Production North hailed the installation "a huge success", with Hollis stating it was the fastest build she had witnessed of a stage of such size at Wembley.

The 23m wide stage hosted performances by JLS, Jennifer Lopez, The Wanted, Nicole Scherzinger, Ne-Yo, Katy B, Cee Lo Green and Enrique Iglesias.

The stage included side wings to accommodate one of the biggest video screens that Wembley has seen (provided by XL Video), PA supports for speaker hangs (supplied by Adlib Audio) and incorporated specific loading points as requested.

LS-Live introduced the Space Roof to the UK earlier this year, following their merger with Acorn Event Solutions. Acorn's Andy Nutter, who i

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14 March 2016

The 15-month fast-track foundation degree, which is being validated by the University of Bolton, is set to begin in November and includes modules on lighting, sound, staging and live visuals as well as production design and specialist skills such as handling lasers and using 3D technologies. The foundation degree is suitable for anyone with a Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience working or volunteering in the live events industry.

The open day will take place this Saturday 20 August from 10am and places can be booked for an interview by phoning 01977 659880. The Academy is also happy to arrange interviews at other times if the 20th is not convenient.

(Ji

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14 March 2016

OM was first revealed to the audience as he slid out in a sitting position through the central performer stage which split in two to allow his entrance. Brilliant Stages created the dividing stage along with two band pods which rolled off-stage on tracks and were sited on hydraulic scissor lifts (two under each pod) to give them vertical movement.

As the show progressed, OM performed moves that including a sweeping motion of the arms, nodding the head, raising each of the singers in the palm of his hands, until eventually moving out in a recumbent position into the middle

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14 March 2016

"For the first time since Daktronics has been at the London show, we'll be able to demonstrate our easy-to-use, yet complex controller with our popular Vortek Classic hoist," said Operations Manager Dave Rossi, who will be at the show along with Ivan Del Rio, Project Manager for Europe and Middle East. "We're excited to show what our multi-cueing feature brings to the sophisticated, demanding performance requirements of today's stage."

PLASA participants will have opportunity to experience the intuitive, touch screen controls whether operating a full-sized or

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14 March 2016

Working alongside architect Keith Williams of Keith Williams Architects was project manager for Charcoalblue, Paul Crosbie. He discusses the development: "The Marlowe Theatre has always been an extremely popular venue but it had become tired and was quite simply not big enough. Part of Charcoalblue's remit was to increase seating capacity to 1200 to enable the Marlowe to host the biggest and the best in tour

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14 March 2016

AP Security provided crowd safety services at the 2010 Rewind in Henley and the promoter was so impressed that the company was asked to provide its services at both sites in 2011.

"We have a very good relationship with the promoter and they wanted to maintain the consistency of the production team, as well as it being an event which we understand," says AP national sales manager John Phillips. "We gave them the option of us just providing a management team, but we were asked to provide all the required personnel. So we hired a comfortable coach and brought 95 staff - AP Security went on the road for the weekend."

With John, Chris Hollands and Tommy Michalis managing the AP team

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14 March 2016

The StandTek series now comprises six lighting and audio stands. Features include a new auto-lock pin system, silent winch with a popular retractable handle, adjustable double-brace collar, adjustable legs and heavy-duty rubber feet with castor option.

The new 4m wind-up stand (SWT4001) is a development of the STW3001, replacing the long-serving SPTek 4000/SP2TA stand, but retaining the same important characteristics. The STW4001 w

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14 March 2016

Clancy will exhibit with its European partner, Hoist UK. Visitors to the show will have a chance to see how Clancy "can answer virtually any theatrical or arena rigging question" - from basics like Clancy's Sure-Grip rope (that displays a wear indicator when it's time to replace it),to completely custom acoustical solutions, hoists and stage lifts.

Attendees can examine the PowerLift - and view a series of videos of Clancy's other products for power flying. The videos feature Power Assist hoists, used to motorize counterweights sets; and Titan, Clancy's largest standard zero-fleet hoist.

There will also be screenings of the video one of Clancy's most extensive and distinguished projects: the award-winning chandelier at the Winspear Opera House in Dall