Events

LDI 2001 to Continue as Planned

Details: 14 March 2016

The LDI Show will go ahead as planned from November 2-4 in Orlando. In response to a number of enquiries following the events in New York and Washington, the organizers are keen to reassure people, through a statement posted on their website, that the exhibition will go ahead as usual. "We at LDI would like to express our deepest sympathy to all who are affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Our thoughts are with you. We cannot let terrorists bring world business to a halt and we at LDI and Primedia Business Exhibitions feel it is very important that all businesses show their resilience. At this time, we do not foresee major disruptions for a smooth and successful show floor opening on Friday, November 2, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. LDInstitute is still scheduled to open on Monday, October 29."

If any exhibitors or visitors have a

Creative Technology is Official Exhibitions Supplier

Details: 14 March 2016

The recently expanded Creative Technology has quickly gained official IT and AV supplier status on a number of high profile exhibitions, including the recent Total Publishing 2001 show at Olympia in London. Contracted by organizers Quantum Business Media, Creative Technology supplied a semi-permanent network of PC hardware and iMacs for the Technology Theatre, which was used by numerous exhibitors for training workshops aimed at visitors to the show. Extensive use of sound equipment and IT data presentations were also incorporated for assisted product demonstrations.

Additionally, Creative Technology has gained official show status for numerous ongoing events, spearheaded by CT’s Exhibition Organiser’s account manager Beth Hathaway, recruited earlier this year. Based at CT’s NEC office, Beth covers the whole country and since joining has secured a number of exhibitio

Show of Strength

Details: 14 March 2016

It seemed like business as usual: another year, another PLASA Show. Existing products, refinements of products, new products; familiar faces mingling with the next generation of entertainment industry practitioners all anxious to find out what was new.

Then came Tuesday September 11th and the PLASA Show faded into the background. Word from New York spread quickly around the hall. The atmosphere was surreal because the events that those who had received phone calls from the States were describing, couldn’t possibly have taken place, even in the wildest imaginations of those who work in this crazy business of ours that specializes in dreaming up the impossible then making it happen.

But as those who gathered in the Platinum Club lounge to watch the news live quickly found - all this, and more, was true. We watched the second World Trade Centre Tower crumble live in front of our e

EST Still Trucking

Details: 14 March 2016

Summer may be over but the boys from EST are still busy rolling around Europe. Four trucks, laden with props for Welsh crooner Tom Jones’ Eastern Bloc tour, have just left Russia. In addition, EST is providing logistical support to the R Kelly tour of Europe, and to French star Garou as he embarks on the second leg of his mammoth tour of France which he started back in March. EST’s purple and yellow trucks can also be seen with Orbital as they perform a series of one-off shows around Europe.

Meanwhile, in the corporate arena, two trucks, laden with almost a mile of trussing have just left Frankfurt where Summit Steel rigged a special event for PCI Live Events, a launch party that heralded Ford’s new Fiesta before an invited press audience on the evening before the Frankfurt Motor Show opened.Following this event, EST scheduled in over 70 trailer movements for the retu

Chiswick House - Son et Lumiere

Details: 14 March 2016

Chiswick House is an historic 18th century home whose walls no doubt have tales to tell of its many fascinating inhabitants. The house was designed and built by the wealthy Lord Burlington, who was an amateur architect fascinated with the classical period; hence the lines of the house are simple and elegant - a perfect canvas for the projection of stunning images to recall the spirit and lives of those associated with the glorious building.

Ross Ashton from E/T/C UK was the man responsible for the creation of an absorbing 35-minute Son et Lumiere that recalls the halcyon days of Chiswick. Famous figures such as King George 1, Handel and Alexander Pope all succumbed to the charm of the House and it was these that inspired Ashton and his collaborators: "When I was first presented with the idea of creating a Son et Lumiere about Chiswick House, the trickiest part was figuring out who

Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award for Croft

Details: 14 March 2016

On Friday, January 11, 2002, Brian Croft, Chairman of Vari-Lite Europe, will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Created by Pro Production 2002, the award is dubbed the ‘Parnelli’, in memory of respected tour manager Rick ‘Parnelli’ O’Brien, who passed away in October 2000. The Parnelli recognizes outstanding individuals in the live event production industry and their contributions to the field.

Terry Lowe, executive director of Pro Production 2002. "We’re very pleased to establish the Parnelli here at Pro Production 2002. And there is no more fitting recipient for a lifetime achievement award than Brian Croft." Croft, whose production career spans 40 years, was a founding member of Britain’s National Youth Theatre, and studied at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. He broke into the business as a theatrical stage manage

Exhibitors Unite to Support LDI Show

Details: 14 March 2016

Major manufacturers across the entertainment technology industry are gearing up for this year’s LDI trade show in Orlando in a strong display of industry solidarity. Responding to a call by ETC CEO Fred Foster, manufacturers across the spectrum of entertainment technology have confirmed that they are following through fully with plans to exhibit at LDI 2001. So many exhibitors have voiced their resolve that a separate website link has been established to showcase their responses (see below).

Not only will companies be at LDI, many have reported that they will indeed be expanding their presence this year. AC Lighting, Arriflex Corporation, Bandit Lites, Color Kinetics, Le Maitre Special Effects, Martin, Tracoman and Vari-Lite are among those who have announced that they have planned for their largest showing at LDI to date, and many more are preparing to unveil brand new product

Smart Move for Universal

Details: 14 March 2016

Universal Events was called in by Mark Borkowski PR to provide full technical infrastructure for the world launch of the revolutionary smart car (right hand drive versions) from Daimler Chrysler UK. The event took place in the car park at Wembley Stadium, and revealed the vehicle for the first time to UK smart dealers and users, plus the national and motoring press.

Universal supplied everything - from the lighting, sound, video and staging - to the dome-shaped marquee and seating rostra. The company’s brief was to provide a clean, slick, streamlined environment in which to launch one of the most ecologically sound vehicles available. Universal’s Steve Butcher designed the show’s production elements. A flat, empty centre stage at the start of the show was soon filled with the demo smart car, revealed by elevator, clouds of smoke and flashing lights, early on in the p

LDI 2001

Details: 14 March 2016

The 2001 LDI exhibition in Orlando ended yesterday after a successful three days which included a full and well-attended conference programme. At the LDI/ESTA Awards ceremony held at the Orange County Convention Center auditorium on Saturday evening, Jim Bornhorst of Vari-Lite was this year’s Wally Russell Award recipient. Amongst the product awards were the Omni Connector from Total Structures, Protec’s Smart Motion control system, Rosco’s ImagePro, Wybron’s Eclipse 2. Prizes for ‘Widgets’ went to Rosco, Lex Products and Lee Filters. High End Systems’ Catalyst picked up the Entertainment Lighting Product Award to add to the Award for Product Excellence it won at the recent PLASA Show. Best Audio Product was the Legend tri-purpose mixing desk from Midas.

Full details of the rest of the award winners will follow and a full report from LDI, inclu

Martin Produces MAC Number 100,000

Details: 14 March 2016

Martin had plenty of reason to celebrate at the LDI exhibition in Orlando this past weekend, but one accomplishment appeared extra special. At a press meeting held at the Martin stand on Saturday, Martin President and CEO Kristian Kolding presented the 100,000th MAC automated light produced. The 100,000th unit, a MAC 2000 profile spot, rolled off the production line just prior to the LDI exhibition. It was ceremoniously painted gold and is now displayed in the Martin manufacturing plant’s reception area in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

At the LDI Awards Ceremony Martin won ‘Product of the Year Lighting/Entertainment, Most Promising Prototype’ honours for the TracMAC mini, an easy to operate followspot luminaire that drew a lot of attention from visitors. Mach speakers was awarded the ‘Product of the Year, Sound, Most Promising Prototype’ for the Mach ViroStation

Mobos - Rising Star

Details: 14 March 2016

The MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards is the fastest-rising star of the international music awards circuit. In just four years the event has grown from its niche origins, through last year’s production at Alexandra Palace, to the London Arena in 2001. The star-studded event included performances from R. Kelly, Mis-Teeq and Usher, plus Beverly Knight and the legendary Dionne Warwick, amongst others.

Production managing the event was Mick Kluczynski of MJK Productions. "It was definitely the best MOBO Awards ever - the show has finally grown up, and I really enjoy working with the team. This year we had a new director, Nicky Parsons, and new producer, Lisa Chapman, with a 3,500 live audience. In spite of the events in America, we managed to retain most of the artists - only Luther Vandross pulled out."

Sound contractor Britannia Row decided to take the unusual step of

Blackout Triple E in Cannes

Details: 14 March 2016

PCI LiveDesign, the London-based production company which recently merged with Ultimate Events, was commissioned in October for two Microsoft events. Following a long-standing working relationship with Ultimate Events combined with the success of Blackout Triple E’s involvement with the Microsoft Tech-Ed Conference 2001 in Barcelona, PCI LiveDesign again contracted Blackout Triple E, and project manager Chris Brain, for the project in Cannes.

Brain and his six-strong team made the journey to stylish Cannes to drape a drinks reception and party as part of a weeklong Microsoft conference. The theme required the team to turn their hands to more unusual drapes - plastic fish, to compliment the famous Palm Beach. The company also provided and installed 30 fibre optic starcloths (proving that it isn’t just at the annual Film Festival where the Stars come out in force), as well as

Total Production Awards 2002

Details: 14 March 2016

The Total Production Awards are scheduled for January 30 2002 at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in London's Edgware Road. The Awards will acknowledge the achievements of leading individuals and rental companies in the fields of live sound, lighting, video, staging, rigging and other key disciplines. Three special commendations will round off the Gala: a Lifetime Contribution Award, a unique Best Live Event of All-Time Award and The Editor's Award - something which TP editor Mark Cunningham promises will yield a big surprise on the night. Nominations will be announced in the Winter issue of Total Production, published on December 21.

A voting form and table booking form will be included in the forthcoming November issue of Total Production; alternatively, PDF forms can be obtained by contacting Andy Lenthall at the address below.

Theatre Engineering and Architecture 2002

Details: 14 March 2016

Richard Brett, ABTT Conference Director, has confirmed to PLASA Media that the international conference on Theatre Engineering and Architecture 2002 will take place between 16th and 18th June 2002, in London.

Focusing on stage technology in its widest sense, and covering all types of performance venues, this is the first international conference structured to attract theatre technicians, architects, consultants, scenographers, lighting designers, stage and building services engineers, acousticians and fire control specialists, as well as administrators, building owners, cost consultants and project managers. The conference includes papers and discussions on the current trends in stage machinery and other stage technologies, alongside debate about the types of, and need for, new buildings. One of the aims of the meeting is to offer those designing, financing and managing major arts proj

LDI 2001

Details: 14 March 2016

Despite some understandable concerns, LDI went ahead as planned. L&SI reports from Florida.

Naturally, there were doubts about this year’s LDI show following the events of 11 September. These ranged from concerns about whether people would travel to the visit the show - both internally in the US and from overseas - to whether the show would take place at all. With the assistance of ESTA and other supporters, the rallying cry went out through September and October, and the show went on.

Admittedly, some exhibitors dropped out, making a floorplan reshuffle necessary, and the general consensus was that the visitor numbers seemed markedly down. However, at the end of the day, business was done in Orlando: by the close of the show many exhibitors said they had done well - a few even said they had done better than last year. The prevailing attitude was well illustrated by TMB

Conferences at Entech 2002

Details: 14 March 2016

The Entech 2002 Conference program features workshops and seminars in areas of lighting, design, rigging, audio, projection and even the business needs of a DJ. Sessions includeIntroducing the Line Array; The Future of Systems Integration and ProAV Technology; Venue Design Forum; Digital Live Sound Mixing; Lighting Designer Forum; Rigging Workshop; Stacks and Racks; Motor Training School; Location Sound Recording; Trends in Facilities; The Art of Designing with Moving Lights; We Are Surrounded (Surround Sound); and The Changing Face of Post Production.

Entech 2002, Australasia’s leading entertainment technology trade show, will be held in Sydney’s Darling Harbour from 4-6 February 2002. For further details on the conference programme and exhibits, visit the web address below:

Shaken but not Undeterred: ILMC 2002 Dates

Details: 14 March 2016

The International Live Music Conference (ILMC) has announced the initial details of its 14th meeting next year. For ‘ILMC14’ the three-day conference will return to the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, over the weekend of March 8-10 2002. This time it comes wrapped in a spoof sixties spy movie theme that will see the invitation-only delegates challenged to complete a three-day mission that may not be ‘impossible’ but may certainly turn out to be ‘implausible’, ‘indigestible’ or even occasionally ‘incomprehensible’ (that is, should they choose to accept it, of course).

The ILMC’s usual array of in-depth debate, specialist breakout sessions, industry trade association meetings, and a whirlwind of social activities, culminating in the notorious ‘ILMC Gala Dinner and Arthur Awards’ on the Saturday nigh

PLASA Offers Major Export Boost for 2002

Details: 14 March 2016

PLASA (the Professional Lighting and Sound Association), in conjunction with British Trade International (BTI), will be conducting an extensive programme of government-funded overseas trade missions and other events aimed at boosting UK export trade, during 2002. The programme is part of PLASA's ongoing aim to provide valuable export assistance to the UK entertainment technology industry.

PLASA is currently organizing exhibitor groups to some of the world's key international trade exhibitions, including the NSCA, USA (April), Pro Audio & Light Asia, Hong Kong (July), and Lighting Dimensions International, USA (October). This is the first time that PLASA has been successful in a bid for funding for the NSCA Show - an event aimed at the sound contracting/installation market which showcases the products and services of over 500 exhibitors. It's also the first time that PLASA has had an op

An artist's impression of the IASC visitor attraction.

Sarner Brings Time Travel to Life

Details: 14 March 2016

Sarner and ESP have combined resources to provide a creative solution for Liverpool’s new multi-million pound International Astronomy and Space Centre (IASC). Sarner, which has recently been bought-out by two of its directors, Michael Bennett and Ross Magri, is thrilled to have such an innovative and important project under its creative direction. "This is a great win, not just for us but for the team at Sarner and for all our clients and colleagues," comments Bennett. "Sarner has been highly successful for over 30 years and we intend to build on that reputation and drive the company forward with new commitment to delivering innovative design solutions that have so often won clients’ belief in our skills, quality and service."

Sarner will be responsible for the design and production of special effects for the new visitor attraction, while ESP will projec

PALA 2002, Hong Kong

Details: 14 March 2016

PALA 2002 will run from the 10-12 July in Hong Kong. The Show features a diverse range of exhibitors covering every area of the entertainment industry, including pro audio, lighting, club, broadcast and music. The show has always attracted the support of industry associations - amongst them PLASA, APIAS and SECARTYS - and for the first time will also be supported by ESTA, the US-based trade association.

Regular exhibitors at the event include AKG, Allen & Heath, AMEK, Apogee, Audio-Technica, Avolites, Behringer, Celestion, Cerwin Vega, Clay Paky, COEF, Coemar, Community Pro, DAS Audio, Denon, EAW, Ecler, EVI, FAL, FBT, Futurelight, Griven, Harman Group, High End Systems, JBL, Jem, Lexicon, Lite-Puter, Lobo, MACH, Martin Audio, Martin Professional, Meyer Sound, MIPRO, Nexo S.A, Optimus, Outline, Peavey, Penn Fabrication, Pioneer, Proel, Pulsar, QSC, Rane, Sennheiser, SGM, Shure, Sony,

New, Noisy, and Just in from Australia

Details: 14 March 2016

If you missed it don't worry, it will return. The World Wrestling Association presented by AAA is the latest wave to catch onto the growing craze for choreographed violence for the under 10s. The recent tour of rippling muscles with cartoon personas has swept through the UK, visiting major venues like Sheffield Arena and Wembley. "When you're presenting shows in venues of this size, and to audiences of 10,000 plus, the same rules apply as for the biggest rock shows," explained production manager Nick Levitt. "That's why we have three artics parked outside - there's a lot more to this than two men grappling in a ring."

One truck was almost totally filled with the ring itself and associated props, such as chipboard ringside tables for the commentators, which shatter harmlessly as these Cinderella Titans hurl each other from the ring in mock fury. In the air, 160ft of

McDonagh and Ministry Split

Details: 14 March 2016

Nodd McDonagh, operations director of London-based superclub the Ministry of Sound is parting company with the organisation after eight years. The surprise news followed shortly after the departure in November of Hector Dewar, chief operating office of the group, both moves as a result of what Ministry insiders call "a strategic reshuffle".

Nodd, formerly with leisure giants Rank and First Leisure, oversaw the club operations originally as general manager, then rising to operations director as the global music and media group capitalised on its early successes and began to expand into many diverse areas worldwide. It was in the globe-trotting, trouble-shooting role that Nodd excelled, finding himself organising successful Ministry events from Knebworth to Ibiza: more recently of course, he was heavily involved in the massive New Year’s Eve gig at the Millennium Dome - t

UK Government Support for TiLE in Berlin

Details: 14 March 2016

UK exhibitors at the 11th TiLE (Trends in Leisure and Entertainment) exhibition and conference will receive financial support from the Department of Trade and Industry'’ Trade Partners UK, through its SESA scheme. SESA (Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad) provides funds to help British companies exhibit their products and services at trade shows that have a proven record of attracting the right buyers.

TiLE‘s broad base covers visitor attractions, theme parks and themed environments, retail and shopping malls and exhibitions and product launches, attracting exhibitors from the A/V, multimedia, architectural, lighting, sound and special effects fields. The show takes place at the Estrel Congress Center, Berlin, from Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th June 2002.

(Ruth Rossington)

AES New York

Details: 14 March 2016

Phil Ward identifies some of the key product launches at the December AES Show in New York

New York at the beginning of December is a sentimental place. Horse-drawn carriages trot fur-coated shoppers along 59th Street at Central Park South. Sesame Street’s Big Bird switches on the Christmas tree lights outside the Lincoln Centre. Tourists flock to Ground Zero. And AES delegates - at least the Americans - exhibit, buy, sell and discuss in detail ‘classic’ audio technology.

One whole section of this show was dedicated to ‘When Vinyl Ruled’, and offered tear-jerking insights into valve and lathe technology. Even away from this grotto, microphone and signal processor designs from the 1950s were on display, re-issued and repackaged with loving attention to detail.

Les Paul himself, who pioneered multitrack recording in the 1950s, figured in Gibson La

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