Attendance Figures - Star performers, including Keira Knightley, helped ensure that the proportion of West End theatregoers watching plays in 2010 rose again. The share of attendances for plays last year was 26.2% - up 0.7% from 2009, the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) said. It was already up 4.3% from 2008. The share for musicals was 59.5% - down 1.2% from 2009. It fell 4.4% from 2008 to 2009. Total attendances topped 14m. Figures refuted "claims that musicals are taking over", the SOLT said. Plays also achieved a record attendance total of 3,702,031, while the musicals attendance total was down 3% to 8,423,430.

In its box office data report, the SOLT states that "the big driver" behind business in 2010 was major name actors in plays. They included Knightley and Damian Lewis in The Misanthrope, as well as Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall and Matthew M

USA - During the weekend of 15-17 April 2011 Atlanta staged two large festivals at the same time and this year it was RCF TT+ systems that supplied the sound to a big audience at the SweetWater 420 Fest and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival.

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is an arts and crafts festival held each spring at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Originally held for nine days across two weekends, it is now held only one weekend during early April, when the native dogwoods are in bloom.

The Dogwood Festival 2011 was celebrating its 75th years anniversary in the beautiful surroundings of Piedmont Park. With several stages with continuously performances the festival gives many upcoming artists and talents the opportunity to play their music to a wider audience.

On the festival there were performances by Charlie Wayne Watson, Arena Sound, Off the Grid, Frets on Fire, OGYA World Music

UAE - Melody House, distributor of HK Audio speaker systems has recently supplied Dubai-based rental firm Abacus Rentals with a ConTour Array system from HK Audio. The rental firm decided on the purchase after a comprehensive demonstration that highlighted the power, flexibility and clarity of the system from the German company.

"Abacus Rentals are a growing rental firm and this latest purchase will take them to new heights," commented Dino Drimakis, business development manager at Melody House. "With this second ConTour Array system in the UAE, HK Audio is gradually building a strong reputation in the live sound market."

(Jim Evans)

Switzerland - Barix AG reports that it surpassed the 100,000 device threshold for sales as part of a highly successful 2010 that also saw major project wins and double-digit growth.

"2010 was a huge success for Barix," said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and founder of Barix AG. "We passed a major sales milestone and experienced a substantial revenue increase. Barix contributed more than 1,200 devices to the largest Audio over IP project for live sound ever at a sports event in India, while securing key customer wins in security, transportation, healthcare and other markets."

Barix supplied the 1,200-plus Audio over IP devices for the Commonwealth Games in India last summer, handling IP contribution from all the venues to the control room; and distribution to a large number of broadcast studios. The company also continued to develop technology and business part

Canada - US microphone manufacturer Blue Microphones has appointed HHB as exclusive distributor of its products in Canada, effective 1 June.

Blue Microphones has grown to become a major international force in microphone manufacturing, with a product range that now encompasses studio, live, USB and iPod mics.

"In HHB, we've found a partner that shares our vision of providing the highest quality microphones to those with a passion for uncompromised sound," comments Blue VP of sales Dino Virella. "Blue Microphones is excited to expand our availability through the efforts of HHB Canada President Dave Dysart and his team who have a solid track record in supporting audio professionals and recording musicians in Canada."

Located in Toronto, Ontario, HHB Canada was formed in 1997 and is exclusive Canadian distributor for a range of audio technology innovators inc

UAE - Ampco returned to the simmering heat of Abu Dhabi this spring for the third WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) event to be staged in the UAE capital, supplying audio control and crew for the festival's three main stages.

Staged by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and WOMAD, the multi-cultural festival is unusual among international events in being staged in two separate locations. Three stages grace the Abu Dhabi Corniche beach's white sands, while the historic Al Jahili Fort in the desert town of Al Ain provides a picturesque setting for two further stages. In all the festival attracted some 22,000 people a day, a total of 80,000 over the weekend.

Artists included Paloma Faith (United Kingdom), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Toumani Diabaté (Mali), Tarab Al Emarat (United Arab Emirates), Hindi Zahra (France/Morocco), El Tanbura (Egypt), Jimmy Cliff (

Denmark- For Christian Behrens, owner and engineer of SoundCrew Live Production, Aviom Personal Mixers have been the solution to help minimise volume and ease production setup for countless projects - from concerts and musicals to corporate events.

Founded in 2001, SoundCrew Live Production provides sound equipment and engineering for small concerts, corporate events, amateur musicals and school functions. When it comes to events such as church concerts and school musicals, where minimum volume on stage is crucial, SoundCrew has come to rely on Aviom, as the company's A-16II Personal Mixers help get a clean front of house mix and keep productions running smoothly by providing users with custom monitor mixes.

"We selected the Aviom equipment because of its low- to no-latency and availability in the Danish professional audio rental market, thanks to Moto Audio Sales,"

Germany - Black Box Music has become one of the first in a growing number of rental companies to invest in a second L-Acoustics K1 WST line source system, giving the German company a total of 96 K1 boxes.

The new K1 system, which raises BBM's inventory of L-Acoustics cabinets to more than 700, will be busy from May until September on major tours with Sade and Rammstein across Europe as well as North and South America, and will remain in the US for further shows. In the meantime, BBM's original K1 system, purchased in 2009 and the first in Germany, will be used for a Herbert Grönemeyer tour as well as the Hurricane/Southside festivals.

"K1 enjoys a high level of demand and market acceptance, and we were receiving more bookings than we could fulfill," says BBM technician and K System Engineer (KSE) Ulf Oeckel. "K1 is the best full range system on the market, inst

USA - Outline will showcase its iMode intelligent digital loudspeaker control platform at InfoComm 2011. iMode technology embeds a Linux-based CPU - with integrated DSP chip, parameter control software and web server - right into its powered speaker systems, thereby streamlining setup and control by eliminating the outboard gear between the console and power amplifier. Winner of a PLASA Innovation Award in 2010, iMode represents the next step in the marriage of loudspeakers, amplifiers and IT, says the company.

"When looking at what the next logical step should be for advancing digital parameter control for its self-powered loudspeakers, Outline decided to go to an entirely different level than anyone in the market by developing iMode," says Tom Bensen, senior vice-president and managing director of Outline North America.

"Not content with simply adding a DSP ch

UK - SFL Group has carried out the first UK install of the L-Acoustics KARAi modular WST line source system for permanent installation at Jesus House, a 2,000 capacity church in North London owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

SFL Group chose the system because, according to technical director Mark Payne, "It presents a significant saving for the customer as the boxes don't have fixed touring rigging, which isn't necessary in a fixed installation. As an installation product it looks really neat; I'm very pleased with it and so is the customer, it sounds absolutely phenomenal.

"Being a bi-amped product, KARAi works really well for this installation because it has loads of high frequency headroom, so even when the box is pushed hard it maintains a high degree of clarity. Jesus House is within the contemporary worship/gospel tradition, so their music i

USA - At this year's InfoComm, Meyer Sound is featuring live presentations of the Constellation acoustic system, D-Mitri digital audio platform, and recently introduced loudspeakers including the JM-1P arrayable loudspeaker and MINA line array loudspeaker.

In Meyer Sound's demo room, visitors will experience the sonic fidelity and power packed in the compact MINA line array loudspeaker along with the JM-1P arrayable loudspeaker, which allows pinpoint control of horizontal coverage in stand-alone or arrayed configurations. The demonstrations will also include the D-Mitri digital audio platform, which employs the AVB (Audio/Video Bridging) standards. D-Mitri will showcase its pivotal role as a comprehensive AV production solution by controlling not only dynamic surround sound effects but also complex lighting effects and video cues.

On the show floor, another schedule of listeni

USA - Penn-Elcom is launching its new Penn Guard polyurea spray coating for speaker cabinets in two conveniently sized packages, ensuring that speaker manufacturers of all sizes will be able to benefit from its use, in addition to the larger manufacturers, many of whom have been using the finish as a standard for some time.

Penn Guard is a two-part spray, and is now available in two different sizes to suit all customer needs - 55 gallon drums and five gallon pails.

Special equipment is required to mix the two components (the polyurea and the activator). Penn offers several choices of application equipment for both high or low volume outputs.

Penn Guard's now increased accessibility dovetails into Penn-Elcom's range of speaker cabinet grills, hardware, accessories and Fane component speakers, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

USA - At InfoComm 201, Outline will show the Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. iMode which is designed for small-to medium-sized systems for touring or fixed installations.

"Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. iMode is the most advanced system of its type on the market," says Tom Bensen, senior vice-president and managing director of Outline North America. "Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. delivers a compact form, self powered, vertical line array system that is lightweight, easy to haul, easy to aim and contains not only a power amplifier, but the DSP engine iMode.

"Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. iMode receives its signal directly from the console without any outboard EQ, compression or crossover units. This saves on hauling, inventory and considerably streamlines system wiring. We believe Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. iMode will have a significant impact on the industry."

Users can control a Mini-COM.P.A.S.S .iMode sound

USA - Sound Media, a full service sound and lighting company based in Hollywood, Florida, has selected the Turbosound Flex Array as its flagship loudspeaker system. Founder and president Lennox Foster based his decision on the sound quality, efficiency and flexibility of the TFA-600H.

"My degree is in electrical engineering, so I am very analytical in choosing my equipment," he notes. "When we auditioned speakers for this purchase, the vocal clarity of the Flex Array really caught our attention. It provides great intelligibility, and really highlights the subtleties of music at any volume. Combined with the other design factors of the cabinet, it was the clear choice for us."

Corporate and worship events comprise the majority of Sound Media's business, along with a steady stream of music concerts. With venues ranging from hotel ballrooms and churches to gol

UK - Brighton Electric recording studio is launching a series of master classes under the banner 'Learn How the Professionals Really Do It'.

The studio, which is part of a complex that also offers extensive rehearsal facilities and related services for musicians is currently working with Mumford & Sons, White Lies, Sigur Ros, Noisettes, The Cure and many more.

The master classes are in fact intensive week-long modules featuring daily theory and practical sessions led by top producers, pro audio engineers, session musicians and technicians.

The schedule includes: Drums In The Studio (25-29 July), Studio Engineering (1-5 August), Live Engineering (8-12 August) and Record Production (15-19 August). Booking details are available at www.brightonelectric.co.uk.

All the modules are based around teaching the best techniques to achieve professional results through practical hands

Finland - Viiking Musiikki Oy has been appointed the exclusive distributor of Kling & Freitag for Finland.

The company, headed by Juha Jäppinen, has been using K&F products including CA1215 and Access for some years. At the end of April, a Sequenza 10 system, a SCENA 15 and other K&F products were delivered which are used for demonstration and renting purposes.

Upcoming events where the new equipment will be used include the Kuopio Vine Festival which will feature 22 bands. This will be followed in July by the Ilosaarirock Festival with Kate Nash (UK), The Exploited (UK), Kolmoslava , Rentolava and others.

Viiking Musiikki Oy was founded in 1994 and as well as sales and leasing of professional equipment also manufacturesin high quality custom-made flight cases.

(Jim Evans)

UK - L-Acoustics has appointed Chris Vass to the position of UK technical support manager, working alongside UK sales manager Stuart Down. Both will be at ABTT in London on 15 and 16 June on the HD Pro Audio stand.

Vass comes from a background of large scale corporate, rock and roll and theatre events, and has used L-Acoustics products for a number of years. "I feel there is really nothing better on the market," he says. "An opportunity to work with the company that not only invented the technology as we know it today, but is always at the cutting edge with regards to new products, doesn't come along very often, and I was very excited to be offered the job."

(Jim Evans)

Turkey - An Istanbul branch of the Nomads club has opened in Istanbul, installed with an L-Acoustics coaxial sound system.

Nomads Istanbul follows the concept of the original Amsterdam venue, serving up a combination of European and Eastern culture in both its style and cuisine, with interior decorations and tableware sourced from Morocco and Egypt.

Attention to detail didn't end with the interior decor. The Su Entertainment Group also deemed technical design to be a crucial factor in the new club's success. The group thereby handed responsibility for sound and light system design and installation to L-Acoustics' Turkish distributor, Elit Light&Sound Technologies. Elit has installed a system of four L-Acoustics 12XTi and seven 8XTi coaxial loudspeakers and four SB18 subwoofers around the club, powered by three LA4 amplified controllers.

"At Elit Light&Sound Technologies

Germany - Andreas Köstlinger has accepted the position of technical support manager - mobile audio EMEA with EVI Audio GmbH. In his new position, Köstlinger will be the contact partner for tech support solutions as well as training opportunities.

"In the course of my many years working in the live sector, I became intimately acquainted with - and quickly learnt to appreciate -- the reliability and quality of products from EVI Audio," says Köstlinger. "As technical support manager, it is important that I not only know the products inside-out but that I am also able to identify myself with them. And when it comes to the high quality of EVI Audio products, I can assure you that I'm utterly convinced."

Since graduating in electrical engineering, Andreas Köstlinger was involved initially in the planning, marketing, and service of audiovisual and pro audio eq

China - Babyface Beijing has undergone a major refurbishment including the replacement of the sound system, which is now APG throughout.

New owner Mr Dai was very clear about what he wanted to achieve: "I want this club to stand out from the crowd," he said. "And for that, I have to have the best sound system and the best lighting system available." He turned to local audio experts and APG distributors BVCAM to help him with his choice of equipment.

BVCAM organised a demo for Mr Dai at their dedicated APG demo room in Shenzhen that turned out to be extremely convincing. BVCAM's Danny Huen explained that Mr Dai understands audio and has listened to many brands over the years, so he was interested to have his opinion on APG. "Actually, he found APG to have a pure sound that set it apart from other brands, so he put our proposal on his list for considerat

The Netherlands / USA - Dutch loudspeaker manufacturer Alcons Audio has announced the formation of Alcons Audio USA, which sees the company take its first significant steps towards penetrating the US market.

Alcons Audio USA will be headed by David Rahn, most recently national sales manager at Renkus Heinz, and Pauline Ortiz y Pino, business development specialist, and will be based in Dana Point, California.

"We are very excited to be joining Alcons Audio," says Rahn. "What intrigued me most about this opportunity was not only the reputation that Alcons Audio has developed in such a short time, but the technology behind the Alcons Audio loudspeaker systems. First and foremost, their proprietary Pro-Ribbon technology leaves no question as to the superior performance and capability of their products."

"We are honoured to have been chosen to join the A

UK - On 18 June, The National Theatre will see a group of bikers, hailing from all sectors of the entertainment technology industry, set off on an eight-day motorbike tour of fascinating and historical UK theatres. Their mission: To raise as much money as they can for industry charity The Theatrical Guild (TTG).

At 10am, having fuelled themselves with a hearty, al fresco, breakfast, the chequered flag will be lowered and they will be on their way. However they will not be alone. A group of police motorbike outriders will accompany them, out of London to the A11.

Stars of the stage and screen, including West end actress Liz Robertson, James Fleet and a host of others, will be waving them off.

Rob Barnard, head of technical resources at The National Theatre says, "I am delighted to be involved with such a fabulous event. I will be doing the ride for the second year runnin

France - Nexo has announced the retirement of its CEO and president Keisuke Kobayashi, and the appointment of Yoshiyuki Tsugawa (also known as Yoshi) as his successor.

No stranger to Nexo, Tsugawa was appointed by Kobayashi as a key member of the project team which oversaw the acquisition of Nexo by Yamaha Corporation in 2007. Since that time, Kobayashi has been at the helm of Nexo at its campus in Plailly, north of Paris, where he has overseen the company's transition from entrepreneurial independent manufacturer into a prized subsidiary of Yamaha. Throughout, Tsugawa has remained involved, integrating Nexo's interests into overall Yamaha pro-audio strategy.

Yoshi Tsugawa has been with Yamaha Corporation for 19 years, having joined the company at the age of 23. Although he has spent several years in Europe, working in Hamburg, his most recent position has been as the general

In Orlando - Billed as the world's largest audiovisual trade fair, InfoComm 2011 is being staged this week at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando. More than 950 exhibitors are participating and the organisers are predicting an attendance figure of 32,000.

"Attending InfoComm's tradeshow is a valuable investment in both time and money," states Randal A. Lemke, executive director and CEO, InfoComm International. "In just a few days you can visit the most comprehensive array of professional audio, digital signage, display, conferencing and telepresence, lighting, control system and signal distribution technology manufacturers available in one location, all while receiving world-class education and training from leading experts and manufacturers."

Voluntary Work - Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to work on a new strategic plan for volunteerin

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