General

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14 March 2016

With the introduction of the Climate Change Levy in April 2001 (a new tax on energy use in industry, commerce, agriculture and the public sector) and the recent UK government PIU report suggesting that up to 30% of energy - the equivalent of £12 billion per annum - is being wasted, there has never been a more important time for businesses to address energy efficiency. Through Action Energy, organisations from multinationals to small businesses (including not-for-pr

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14 March 2016

The weekend of 22 and 23 June saw PSL out in force at Gatecrasher Tour Western providing crew and a total of 11 Barco projectors and folding screens across the four arenas. Orbital also continues its long-standing relationship with PSL for the Somerset House and Glastonbury gigs using two Barco G5 projectors, a motorized screen and magic DAVE for Orbital. Meanwhile, Mardi Gras 2002 at Hackney Marshes will see two of PSL’s new Barco DLite 7 screens in action along with a four-camera digital PP

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14 March 2016

During his tenure, Pike, who started out as a theatre electrician, has been responsible for the systems design and implementation of presentation technology at numerous venues, including Tussaud’s in New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Australia, as well as at Scenerama in Amsterdam and both Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures and numerous other destinations. A party was held to mark Phil’s departure at the newly opened Embassy Club, at the old Legends site in Old Burlington Street, towards the end of June.

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14 March 2016

Overseeing the new venture will be Gabriel West, a long-standing member of The Screen Works management team, who has relocated from Chicago to take up his new role of European operations manager - Netherlands. Company president, Lee Facklis explains: "An overseas operation allows us to manage equipment resources, accelerate turnaround times and contain freight costs. Customers wi

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14 March 2016

Operating from bases in London, New Malden, Corby, Manchester, Newcastle and Paris, the three companies had made their names specializing in the supply of lighting and sound equipment to the entertainment and leisure industries. Whilst Lighting Technology and Cerebrum concentrated on the distribution of a large portfolio of brand names, Lighting Technology Projects focused on installation, specializing in high profile architectural projects. It should be emphasized that the

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14 March 2016

Commissioned by Hillingdon Arts Association, ‘Anticipation’ was the work of Welsh-based sculptress Anita Lafford. Crowds lined the streets outside The Chimes Shopping Centre in the town centre as Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, performed their royal duty and the sculpture was revealed. ARRI GB were represented by managing director, Renos Louka, and finance director, Sean Leone.

The company will begin its three-phase move into its new three-storey home at the end of August. It has already forged links with the local Brunel University - which recently installed a media suite of television and video studios -

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14 March 2016

The exhibition is curated by Swapna Tamhane and introduces the work of the artists Zeyad Dajani, Anthony Gross, David Gyscek and Seema Rao. The artists have come together to produce a series of site-specific works that explore the dialogue between the individual and the public. The venue offers visitors an intrusive view into a piece of London’s Victorian history.

ESS’s Stephen Court told us: "We were approached to provide support for the exhibition by Seema, one of the artists, and Swapna, the curator. We were able to assist the event by providing practi

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14 March 2016

Taya Kajanus joins Dimes & Sillitoe from a background in TV and photography to take the role of PR support manager. She replaces Nicky Quentel who is moving to France with her family. Taya’s role will be to lend support to the PR team, dealing with enquiries, updating the company website and assisting with the general maintenance of the office. Leander Browning has joined the team as PR account manager. Leander previously worked as a music journalist for three music titles and as PR coordinator for a local authority housing association. She will be liaising with clients and the media to ensure positive publicity for all accounts held.

(Ruth Rossington)

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14 March 2016

Members of CTI commit themselves to innovation in their corporate strategies and business plans and to implement innovation in their daily businesses practices. As a result they have been able to prove that innovation has helped strengthen their business, secure new orders, create new employment and provide new investment opportunities. To date, 113 companies from throughout

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14 March 2016

The combined portfolio means that the group has a much wider range of products and solutions for their existing markets. Manufacturing and production of the current portfolio of Amek and DAR products is being integrated into the Potters Bar facilities that already house Soundcraft and BSS

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14 March 2016

The division will incorporate the Group's international broadcast and audio-visual activities, including Charter Broadcast, Cinevideo, ABS and Blitz Communications, all of whom will continue to trade under their own names. David Carr continues as managing director of the broadcast businesses, whilst Paul Hutton, a director of Blitz Vision since 1993, will become the managing director of Blitz. The new division will be headed up by Evenser main board director Michael Breen.

Michael Breen comments: "This is a great opportunity for both the audio-visual and broadcast busine

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14 March 2016

Edelstein’s resignation comes in the wake of the de-merger of his company Triple E from Blackout and issues including the relocation of his business have put pressure on his availability and time. David told us: "It is with much regret that I resign, as there are a number of initiatives that I would have liked to see through to completion. I will, however, continue to serve on the Council and the ABTT will have my full support."

The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) is run by a Council of eleven volunteers and Mark White will now serve as Chairman until July 2003. Having worked in the theatre industry since 1985, his career

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14 March 2016

Opened on its present site in 1982, The Albany established a formidable reputation for itself in the 1980s as a thriving community theatre with the backing of some big names. But as the years passed, lack of funding took its toll and the theatre fell into disrepair, its equipment failed or was removed, and eventually, in 2000, it succumbed to darkness.

Since then, an energetic campaign to bring it back to life has seen the birth of a three-phase refurbishment programme, most of which is now complete. Thus, the Albany opened its doors again in March, boasting a fully refurbished interior, revamped flying grid and brand new sound, lighting, comms and patching systems with names such as Meyer Sound, XTA Electronics, MC2, Yamaha, ETC and Strand in the rig.

The team re

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14 March 2016

From its now established base at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London, the ABTT Show continues to underline its role as a key event for the theatre industry. Well over 100 exhibitors from across the wide spectrum of supplies and services were at the show, drawing in over 2,500 visitors.

Before we get down to brass tacks, a quick mention of the Dinner, staged on the first evening, at which Major Sir Michael Parker, famed for his work on such events as the Royal Tournament and more recently All the Queens Horses, was the guest speaker. During the dinner, Andrew Bruce of Autograph Sound collected a Lifetime Achievement Award; Nick Wade, chief electrician at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, was handed Technician of the Year;

Vari-Lite’s VL1000 won Lighting Product of the Year; AVW’s Impressario stage motion control

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14 March 2016

The Credit Circle has been created to benefit PLASA members by helping them identify companies which have defaulted on payment. The information gathered is displayed on the PLASA website in real-time so that all contributing members can immediately profit from this exchange of data. The success of the Credit Circle depends entirely on the input provided by members - it costs nothing to join, but could prove to be a valuable resource in maintaining the financial health of your business.

The service is open to all UK PLASA members and only requires agreement with the terms of the Constitution created specifically for contributors to the Credit Circle. For details of how to sign up for th

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14 March 2016

The format of the AGM has changed gradually over time, and has for some years included an industry dinner event at the close of the day. Last year, a series of ‘Break-out’ meetings were held for the first time, providing valuable discussion and feedback on a number of topics.

The aim of the Association Day is to gain further advantage from the opportunities offered by having a large contingent of PLASA members, plus the PLASA Executive Committee and head office staff, together in one place. Rather than concentrate on the AGM itself - a legal formality - the emphasis has now been shifted f

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14 March 2016

Note the word ‘destination’, because it’s entirely appropriate for the modern retail experience. And the Designer Outlet - a project undertaken by Orbit Developments (Manchester) Ltd - is as much a destination as it’s possible to be, as witness its recent opening marked by the imaginative use of exterior colour changers.

Both the exterior and interior lighting scheme for the project was devised by Into Lighting Design’s Northern Studio in Nottingham, and supplied and installed by A.C. Lighting.

The exterior

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14 March 2016

What's more, US glass-gobo manufacturer, Apollo, has offered to make any number and size of gobos featuring the Light Relief logo, the idea being that as many exhibitors as possible will use them in their on-stand demos.

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14 March 2016

Over 90 delegates attended the event, including a number of record producers who were invited through the Music Producers Guild that, in recent months, has been developing closer links with the MMF. "We were delighted with the attendance and with the quality of debate from both panelists and members of the audience participating in question and answer sessions," said the MMF’s Executive director James Fisher. "It was particularly satisfying that, in our 10th anniversary year, we were able to provide such a highly professional list of panelists to discuss matters that are becoming increasingly important in this new and difficult age for managers and their artists.&qu

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14 March 2016

The company appeared before a Judge at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday morning to plead guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. In addition to the record breaking fine, Earl’s Court Ltd was also ordered to pay £70,000 to the Royal Borough in respect of its legal costs.

26-year-old Kevin O’Bryan fell 60 feet from the roof of the Exhibition Centre as he attempted to de-rig lighting equipment following a pop concert at the Centre. O’Bryan, who was employed as a lighting technician, had gained access without authorization to the highly dangerous roof void area that was under the control of Earl’s Court Ltd staff. He was

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14 March 2016

The research (conducted as before by Business Diagnostics) draws on a number of sources, principally PLASA members, but is also supported by a broader market analysis. The findings indicate that the UK market in 2001, in terms of user expenditure (and excluding any cross-selling among suppliers) is worth £1,139m. That figure has been broken down into five main product categories: professional lighting is valued at £229m, pro audio for presentation and performance purposes at £332m, pro audio for architectural or commercial purposes (e.g. voice alarm, public address systems) at £49m, staging at £44m and professional AV at £485m.

It’s clear from the research

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14 March 2016

The building is in an industrial park located within the Route 110 industrial corridor and near a general aviation business airport. The new, larger facility provides Union with room for expansion of its manufacturing capabilities. "The increased size of the facility has allowed us to install a new powder coating operation, along with expanding our existing CNC sheet metal and machining operations", said Ray Wolpert, VP of operations. "We'l

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14 March 2016

The move fulfils Avesco’s intention to focus on providing its core services to the events market. David Nicholson, Avesco’s chief executive, told us: "Fountain has been a good solid business for us, but there are limited synergy benefits, with virtually no relationship with any other group company. The cash we have generated from this sale allows us to cut our debt still further. We have taken actions this past year to reduce our debt rapidly. Following completion of this transaction, the Group’s net debt figure will stand at less than £11 million, having been more than hal

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14 March 2016

The first session Freelance Rates - Due for Review? will focus on the current rates of pay for freelancers, which over the years have shown a downward trend in real terms, and will be led by a panel of industry professionals on both sides of the fence. The second session, Discounting Rental Rates: Is it Economic Madness? will look at discounting in rental markets, and how companies may be devaluing the services they provide in their attempts to undercut competitors. Once again, the panel will be drawn from those who deal with these issues on a daily basis.

The Freelance Rates session will take place on Monday 9 September at 3pm in the Westminster Room on the Mezzanine L