Robe - LEADERBOARD - Feb 2025
Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

Business

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UK - Scotty Moore - guitar player and manager for Elvis Presley performed with some of the World's most prestigious musicians at the Abbey Road studios, including Bill Wyman, Dave Gilmour and Eric Clapton. Utopium Lighting lit the televised show using 14 x X-Spot Extremes, 12 x Studio PC Beam, 6 x Lycian Follow Spots, 84 x Par 64, 140m of truss and 28 x hoists.

At the Deutsche Bank Christmas Event on the South Bank with Bjorn Again performing was lit by Lestyn Thomas. Utopium utilized 24 of its brand new Chroma Spheres, which are part of the company's continued investment in LED lighting.

Tommy Hillfiger launch its new clothing range at the Bentley Garage in Berkley Square. Lit by Chris Bushell and Utopium for Outer Sanctum, part of the brief was not to mark the £145k cars in the two hours the technicians had to get in and fit up!

Other TV work included a Christmas special

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USA - Theatrical Lighting Systems one of the largest entertainment lighting and service providers in the United States, announced a new, exclusive financing arrangement with Austin, Texas-based FX Financial. The arrangement will provide monthly payment financing for a wide variety of TLS customers, from theatres and arenas to churches and production companies. Both companies will jointly market the new program.

The leading provider of equipment financing for the entertainment and house-of-worship industries, FX Financial recently became a part of the Commercial and Industrial division of USXL, an independent leasing company based in Parsippany, New Jersey. With world-class financial backing, USXL originates leasing transactions through its select network of dealers and vendors in all 50 states.

"Through our new relationship with FX Financial and USXL, we can now leverage

Doughty - Banner - ABTT (27 May - 5 June)

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UK - LSI Sales & Distribution has announced the formation of a UK national distributor network for its ADB range of controls, dimming and luminaires. "This is a major step forward for both LSI and ADB in the UK," says LSI's UK sales manager Andy Trevett. "We now have a consolidated network of distributors throughout the UK, from Scotland to the West Country, all of whom are industry professionals and who will operate as a team to promote and support our products. It will give fresh impetus to our current sales strategy as well as providing local technical support for our customers. This is just the beginning," added Trevett, "To date our distributor network comprises nine companies with further agreements to be concluded over the coming months, including companies based in Ireland."

Those Industry professionals which are part of the LSI-ADB Distrib

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UK / USA - Software provider Stardraw.com announced its most significant US expansion to date, with the establishment of a West Coast office in partnership with US distribution specialists, North American Pro Audio (NAPA). The move follows an extraordinary year for Stardraw, which has necessitated the provision of additional resources to serve and develop the US market. The partnership with NAPA, operating as Stardraw.com USA, will look after all Stardraw's customers within the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, and manage resellers and reps in the territory with effect from 1 January 2005.

In addition to handling all sales and front-line technical support, Stardraw.com USA will offer a comprehensive schedule of user training seminars across the US for 2005. Furthermore, support through Stardraw's toll-free number has now been expanded to operate between the hours of 9am Eastern to 6pm

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Italy - Allen & Heath's iDR DSP system has been installed in a new top fashion retail outlet opened by Spinazzè, in Noventa di Piave in the north-east of Italy. The owners requested a modern, cutting-edge system that would also be easy to manage by store staff. Salgareda-based Elettrostudio, was entrusted with the management of the audio installation, selecting Allen & Heath's iDR system and accompanying PL Series of remote controllers through the manufacturer's Italian distributor, Grisby Music srl.

There are six zones in the venue where the audio must be distributed - men's, women's, and children's departments, the admin offices, the dressing rooms, and the concourse outside the shop. Elettrostudio programmed the iDR system using the iDR System Manager and PL Designer software.

During opening hours, a music source is selected from CD, radio, or MP3 (via a PC). The iDR is pr

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UK - On 31 March 2004, the identification colours of electrical cables changed in order to harmonize with Europe and other countries. The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), in association with Lighting&Sound International magazine, has now produced a guidance document and aide memoir card (included with the January issue of the magazine) on how to work safely during the two year transition from the old wiring colours to the new.

The document has been produced with a view to being established as a Best Practice Guide for the industry and has been created by a team of industry representatives. Please click here to view the document.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

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The Netherlands - The second edition of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), which takes place at the The RAI in Amsterdam from 26-28 January, will offer a full programme of educational seminars and workgroups, hosted by exhibiting companies. The manufacturers' forums are complementary to visitors and exhibitors and designed to illustrate advanced digital systems' solutions across expanding vertical market sectors such as Education, LeisureBuild and Retail, say the organizers.

Cleverdis is sponsoring 12 dedicated forums designed to highlight systems integration across a variety of applications. Staged in the VIP room on Thursday 27 January and Friday 28 January, the sessions focus on digital solutions for the restaurant trade and education sectors, and will be presented by Raphael Pinot, head of market publication for Cleverdis. Another 10 sessions will illustrate the vertical marke

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USA - Loud Technologies Inc, the developer and marketer of the Mackie, EAW, EAW Commercial and Tapco pro audio brands, has announced a cross-licensing agreement with Egosys Inc (ESI). Under the terms of the agreement, ESI will license Mackie Tracktion digital audio workstation software, as well as Mackie-branded plug-in products from Loud.

As part of this agreement, ESI will immediately begin bundling Mackie-branded software products with their PCI and FireWire audio and MIDI devices. This bundle will include Mackie Tracktion, the easy-to-use digital recording and MIDI production software; as well as Final Mix, the stereo mastering plug-in originally developed for the award-winning Digital 8·Bus console.

"Combining ESI's value-oriented audio hardware with Tracktion's ease-of-use and functionality creates great packages for users wanting to get the most from their digit

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UK - Brummie legend Jasper Carrott gave Birmingham his very own Christmas present packed full of entertainment when he staged his 'Christmas Cracker' at the NEC Birmingham on 19 December. The line-up was a closely guarded secret and none of the capacity 12,500 crowd who packed in to the NEC Arena knew who would be performing until the artists came on stage. Among some of the Country's top stars who appeared for charity were X Factor stars G4, comedian Bill Bailey, King of the Jungle - Joe Pasquale, Liz McLarnon from Atomic Kitten and music legends Robert Plant, Lulu and Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees. Proceeds for the event go to a number of local children's charities.

PSP provided six live cameras, four Barco 12,000 Lumen projectors and two large screens, which enabled the capacity audience to get closer to the performance. PSP also provided backstage monitoring equipment and li

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UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced the following technical theatre training courses, scheduled for spring 2005 and to be held at the Plaza Theatre, Stockport.

On Friday 18 February: Knots & Splicing - The course covers the handling of different ropes and tying knots proficiently and safely knots that are useful in a theatre situation. Attendees will learn to differentiate between various natural fibre ropes, splice rope ends and use tools for splicing, etc. Knots including bowline, clove hitch, reef knot, wagon hitch, rolling hitch and sheet bend.

On Friday 4 March: Counterweight Flying - The course objectives are to teach the safe handling of counterweight sets and will cover terminology, parts of a counterweight set, loading and unloading, operating, first line maintenance, single and double purchase systems, putting knots

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France - Described as 'a European institution like no other - at the crossroads of choreographic culture, creativity, diffusion and teaching' - the Centre National de la Danse turned to Harlequin to furnish the all important dance floors. The company then provided 1,648sq.m of Harlequin Cascade flooring.

12 years in planning and development since the original idea was first mooted in 1992, the Centre National de la Danse (CND) is a new French state establishment devoted entirely to dance. Housed in a former municipal administrative building, the architects in charge of its refurbishment, Antoinette Robain and Claire Guieyesse, were briefed to renovate the structure and to adapt the space to meet the needs of the CND. Arranged around the dominating presence a concrete central staircase, are 11 dance studios, a specialized media archive, an exhibition hall, a dance cinematography

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USA - The recent production of Peeru Gunto at the University of Colorado in Boulder displayed a magical array of Kabuki-style surprises, lit with Wybron Nexera lighting. A variation of Peer Gynt, by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, this production is based on Japanese themes.

The play was adapted and directed by Dr. Cecilia J. Pang, known for the critically acclaimed Alice in Wonderland - Or Not! Pang, who studied the Kabuki style of theatre in Japan, introduces cultural themes in the form of vibrant costumes and colourful scenery representing locales from Japan to the American Wild West. The superhuman-sized, spectacularly lavish style of Japanese Kabuki theatre required imaginative stage lighting. Robert J. Shannon, senior instructor and lighting supervisor at CU's Department of Theatre & Dance, explains his choice of Wybron Nexeras to compliment the ri

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UK - The Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers (ISCE) has announced continued interest in the forthcoming ISCEx 2005 exhibition and conference, with another four companies - Allen & Heath, PC Werth, Sennheiser and Shure - signing up to the show. This brings to 24 the number of participating companies at the show, which takes place at the Watford Moat House Hotel on Tuesday, 22 February.

The full technical programme promises cutting-edge seminars from leading industry experts. Subjects covered include Audio over TCP/IP, Wireless Microphone RF Pitfalls, Test Instruments for Room Acoustical Analysis, Update on Induction Loop Systems and The Basics of Fibre Optics. Last year there was standing room only at several sessions, say the organizers.

Tickets, including free parking, refreshments and VAT, cost £5 for the exhibition alone and £50 (£60 for non-ISCE members)

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UK - Harman Pro UK has supplied Sound Division with an AKG CS 2 Conference System for installation at the Kennel Club's HQ in London's Mayfair, complete with a Base/Chair station and 21 Delegate stations. Kennel Club manager John Golding was seeking an upgrade for their existing conference hall, which regularly facilitates the General Committee's meetings. Golding wanted a system that was quick, easy to set up and intuitive to use, so there was no chance of some of the more elderly attendees being intimidated by the new technology.

Harman's Andy Duffield and Sound Division's David Graham collaborated on the specification and supply of a fully modular, portable AKG CS 2 conference system. It's a plug-and-play system that comes complete with amplifier; each Microphone/Delegate station features two powered speakers and a microphone with 'Call' and 'Volume Up/Down' push button feat

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UK / Japan - London-based RF manufacturer Trantec Systems is pleased to announce the appointment of Otaritec as the exclusive Japanese distributor of its award-winning S6000 range. Otaritec premiered the range at the 40th InterBEE (International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition) staged at the Nippon Convention Centre in Chiba City, Japan. The S6000 range, comprising the award -winning S6000 rack-based system and its single receiver version the S6001, was positively received by broadcast engineers, sound operators and designers alike, say Trantec.

Otaritec is a trading subsidiary of Otari Inc. Their activities stretch far beyond the selling of Otari products and include the import and sales of professional Audio equipment from all over the world. Perfectly complementing Otaritec's existing portfolio, the S6000 range fits alongside leading industry names including, Aphex, d&b, Gene

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USA - The Entertainment Services & Technology Association (ESTA), has announced the creation of the ESTA Foundation, which aims to meet the need to provide entry-level entertainment technicians with the essential skills necessary to practice their craft. To further this purpose, the ESTA Board of Directors created the ESTA Foundation, to be established as a 501(c)3 organization. ESTA's Technical Education Committee and its subcommittees - Essential Skills, Publications and Assessments and Seminars & Training - have been moved under the auspices of the Foundation.

Members of the inaugural Board of Directors are: Chair, Bill Price - director of systems, Barbizon; Vice-Chair, Rick Rudolph - executive vice-president, Stage Equipment & Lighting; Secretary/Treasurer, Mark Heiser - managing director, New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center; and Directors Gavin Berger - director of Con

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UK - A wide range of LED lighting products from the catalogue of Lighting Effects Distribution has been supplied and installed by TMC, the main sound and lighting contractors for Cosmos Leisure's new Rififi Club in Stalybridge. Fronted by the experienced Caroline Madden, the converted 1930s Palace Cinema opened its doors in early December following an extensive refit and reconfiguration of the space.

The building now houses a downstairs front bar, with all day trading, linked via a removable partition to the rear bar, which is available for private lets and trades alongside the upstairs nightclub. Ian Kirby's Lighting Effects Distribution have specified the effects and architectural lighting to all the main feature areas, using Coemar, Geni and proprietary LED-based fixtures. Six Solar M100b RGB LED units positioned on each side of the building, project columns of colour changi

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USA - 2005 promises to be a strong year for the cruise industry, which looks set to achieve record growth. Numerous new cruise ships are scheduled for launch in 2005, with further major projects slated for 2006 and 2007. This positive trend will translate into real business opportunities for UK specialists providing lighting, audio, AV and staging technologies.

Exploiting this development will be the forthcoming SeaTrade exhibition in Miami (March 15-17) - the largest gathering of cruise line owners, operators and suppliers in the world. One of the main features of the show will be the new 'PLASA at Sea' Pavilion - a showcase of all the latest innovations in entertainment and leisure-based technology. Confirmed exhibitors to date include Barbizon, Vari-Lite, Rose Brand, Rosco, Color Kinetics, Xilver, Martin Professional, Mavco, Teledimensions, Stage Technologies and Snow Master

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UK - With effect from 1 February, the sales and marketing office for D&M Professional will relocate to the former Marantz UK headquarters, close to Heathrow Airport. The rationale, says D&M Pro's general manager, Mark Perrins, is to consolidate all of the D&M group's resources and assets - both Consumer and Pro - with future growth in mind. "It's a simple restructure following an operational review, and as the business continues to evolve, will allow us better opportunity to develop the sales and marketing teams."

Personnel involved are Mark Perrins (general manager), David Atkinson (marketing and communications), Stephen Griffiths (finance) and the respective sales desks, who will relocate to: Kingsbridge House; Padbury Oaks, 575-583 Bath Road, Longford, Middlesex. UB7 0EH. New contact numbers are: +44 (0)1753 680023 (telephone); +44 (0)1753 686020 (fax) and +44 (0)1

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USA - Calvary Church Santa Ana, in Santa Ana, California, has opted for a digital audio processing and control system in the form of SymNet Audio Matrix. Like many churches, it increasingly incorporates live music into services and stages drama skits. In addition, the facility is used for other non-church purposes, such as school graduations, which demand extensive mic capabilities.

The new system enabled the church to replace its old analogue equipment with a system easily configurable and controllable via computer. Doug Gates, owner of Gates Sound, a Buena Park, California, sound systems installation company that installed SymNet for the church, said the system has vastly simplified audio management and given the church the confidence to make future changes as needed. "This was the first major upgrade to the church's sound system since the early 1990s and it replaced abo

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Canada - ESTA's Seminars & Training Committee has announced an intensive, one-day hands-on training workshop in Ontario entitled 'Programming Automated Lighting Fixtures On A Conventional Tracking Console (Strand Lighting 500 Series)'. The workshop is limited to 20 people (two people per console), and immediately follows USITT in Toronto, Canada, on Sunday, 20 March, 2005, from 9.00am - 5.00pm. The instructor for the course is Bobby Harrell, a lighting designer and programmer in opera, dance and theatre for over 15 years.

The workshop, presented in cooperation with Strand Lighting, will be held at Strand's facility in Mississauga, Ontario. Transportation will be provided to and from the Metro Toronto Convention Center. The workshop will cover such topics as patching, LTP versus HTP, tracking/nontracking, command line programming, programming fixture selections, cues, cue playba

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UK / Switzerland - Tower Productions' Oxford office recently packed their crampons and harnesses, poured over a lengthy carnet, filled a 45ft step-frame to the roof and set off for the Swiss resort of Klosters with a brief to light a party being held at the top cable-car station, the surrounding mountain-side and anything else of interest they could find.

Not having seen the site, the crew walked around with the client early in the morning before going back down the mountain to start tipping the truck - only to get to the top cable car station to find the first of 146 flightcases were already making their way up the mountain! Swiss efficiency was becoming apparent.

A battery of High End Studio Colors and Studio Spots were employed inside and out (in Condomes), Studio Due 2500W City Colors made mountain-lighting less of a challenge and blue 400W HQIs made light work of the

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UK - Russia came to London on 15 January 2005 when Trafalgar Square London hosted the Russian Winter Festival - a feast of music, theatre and street entertainment to mark the 'Old New Year' according to the old calendar of the Orthodox Church. The show opened with speeches from Russian and London dignitaries including Ken Livingstone, watched by an 18,000-plus audience.

Produced by Greenwich & Docklands Festivals, the eight-hour show embraced cultural song and dance from across Russia to mainstream rock and pop acts. The Alexandrov Military Choir performed with 75 members on stage, its first UK appearance since 1967.

John Radford, Technical Project Manger for Stage Electrics Production Services, worked closely with production manager Colin Nightingale to supply technical event production including provision of staging, lighting, sound, site distribution and LED screen and cam

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USA - When Rochester Assembly of God church built its new addition in 1997 it included a rudimentary lighting system, with 'theatrical' lighting consisting of a few coloured lights and a couple of basic 'can' spotlights near the ceiling, all controlled by infrared dimmers purchased from a national electronics chain store. The only control the church had over the fixtures was to turn them on or off.

As the church grew, so did the need for a more extensive lighting system. Church officials wanted to create more professional looking and appealing productions and more emotional traditional weekly services. With its annual Christmas program on the horizon, Rochester Assembly of God decided to upgrade to a new system that would be both cost-effective and expandable.

"We were going to be presenting The Gospel According to Scrooge, so we decided to install a lighting syst

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Astera - June 2025
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