General

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14 March 2016

Located in Frederikshavn, in the northern part of Denmark, the facility stands out in the relatively flat landscape around the Knivholt area of the town - it’s an impressive exhibition window for Martin products, particularly its architectural lighting ranges, which are a relatively new, but fast-expanding, part of the Martin business. Its design owes something to the industry it serves - the support infrastructure features 455 tons of roof truss - influenced, no doubt, by the touring and performance systems Martin works with every day of t

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14 March 2016

(Jane Cockburn)

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14 March 2016

The company was founded by Mike Henden in Luton in 1990, and having grown consistently year on year, moved to its existing address in Leighton Buzzard in1995, since when the premises have literally trebled in size. The expansion has come from diversity: the company stocks and distributes an extensive range of products catering for many different market applications from pro audio, retail, studio, conference, stage and lighting, to education, pubs and clubs. The stock is vast, and the main emphasis of the business is on customer care and commitment to detail - complemented by experienced staff from a range of backgrounds.

Henden is understandably proud of his company’

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14 March 2016

More than 1,000 visitors from across the lighting industry visited the Heinz Nixdorf Museum in Paderborn, to participate in the three-day event, the central theme of which was technology and design. To this end, there was a wide array of equipment on show from companies such as Pulsar, Rosco, MA Lighting, Vari-Lite, Osram, Philips, GE, Rainbow, ETC, Clay Paky, Spotlight and Doughty, n

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14 March 2016

Details of the rates offered are outlined in the table below, and demonstrate that even those companies which handle relatively small amounts will immediately see a benefit. (Switch and Visa Debit cards are charged at 20 pence per transaction).

Users of the scheme will also have the advantage of additional security, at no extra cost, provided by the Card Verification Number Scheme (CV2) and Address Verification Scheme (AVS) - designed to com

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14 March 2016

(Ruth Rossington)

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14 March 2016

The new PLASA Travel Service has been established in partnership with Kuoni Trade Fairs, a travel specialist with 30 years’ experience in providing travel services to trade shows and events worldwide.

No matter what level of travel you or your staff do during a year, the Kuoni service will prove highly beneficial. It covers just about every travel requirement, and includes flights (and upgrades where required), group and private transfers, ferry and Eurotunnel travel, accommodation, local hospitality assistance and pre-booked entrance tickets to events and trade shows.

The main benefit to PLASA members will come from the significant buying power of the Kuoni organization, which will translate into prices that are competitive and a range of services that can remain flexible and individual-friendly. In looki

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14 March 2016

Joining as a corporate members are Hong Kong-based International Optics Ltd (Tel: +852 2304 7200), linked to British Optical Ltd, a manufacturer of projection and moulded optics for over 25 years, and Brown Box AV Ltd of Reading (Tel: +44 (0)118 970 8395), linked with Atmospheric Ltd, and set up to distribute audio and lighting solutions to AV dealers throughout the UK and Europe.

Anne Valentino (Tel: +1 201 530 9250) of New Jersey, USA, joins as an individual member. Valentino works as a consultant on product development, marketing and public relations for companies in the entertainment technology market.

To join, call us now on +44 1323 410335 or e-mail

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14 March 2016

The factsheets come under four main headings

Legal

Employment

TAX

VAT

and include Security in the Workplace, Business Contracts, Absence Control, Data Protection, Long-Term Sickness Absence and Unwanted Faxes and Phone Calls.

PLASA’s Business Support Helpline provides the factsheets as a complementary service to the advice and assistance they already provide to members over the telephone. Members can use the free telephone service to obtain further information or guidance on any of the topics outlined. The information within the factsheets is updated on a regular basis to reflect best business working practices and changes in legislation.

PLASA members can gain access to this new resource by using their current username and pass

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14 March 2016

He leaves a son, Guy, and a daughter, Meredith. The family has requested that flowers be sent from family members only, while anyone wishing to contribute should send a donation to the family’s chosen charity, Diabetes UK, c/o the Funeral Directors at: Fred K W. Paine, 24 Old London Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6QG.

Following the service, a Mem

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14 March 2016

Matthew Griffiths, chief executive of PLASA and also the Chair of Metier commented: "On behalf of the Board I’d like to express my thanks to Duncan for his achievements since his arrival in May 1996. During this time he has overseen considerable changes in Metier's fortunes and has been instrumental in raising the annual turnover of the organization from £250,000 to £1.5m. We believe that Duncan has been instrumental in bringing £10m to the sector - a large proportion of this has been invested in partnership projects helping to support the viability of around 35 other organizations."

Metier has made the successful transition from a National Training Organiza

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14 March 2016

The BBC, together with other major broadcasters, now demands that all contracted staff must demonstrate safety competency. However, with freelancers making up almost 44% of the industry's workforce, and few able to find the time or money to train, ens

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14 March 2016

USITT president Bruce Brockman has appointed Dennis Dorn, USITT vice-president for commissions and professor of theatre technology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as USITT’s representative to the Council. He has also appointed Joe Aldridge, USITT vice-president for special operations, professor and technical director at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and a trustee for IATSE Local 720-Nevada Resort Association’s Training Trust as their alternate member of the Council.

President Brockman commented: "USITT strongly endorse

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14 March 2016

The company’s reputation for care and quality has spread well beyond their home country. The relationships it has forged wi

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14 March 2016

Dandridge comes from an industrial design background, and joins the company having completed a degree in Product Design at Bournemouth University. Tom Colbourne is the fourth member of the team and was instrumental in creating Blink’s award-winning visuals for Kylie’s ‘Fever’ tour last year.

Blink Production occupies the top two floors of a converted mill. The new edit suite includes both Avid Express and Cinewave edit systems, complete with Sapphire effects plug-ins for the Avid. The Cinewave runs Final Cut Pro,

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14 March 2016

There are strong reasons to justify attending: the Middle East continues to present the professional lighting and sound industries with significant market potential and is the world’s fastest growing tourist destination, predicted to attract 68.5 million tourists by 2020 - an annual growth rate of 7.1%, well above the world average of 4.1%.The region, and the UAE in particular, continue to invest huge sums in new, architecturally-driven initiatives which require state-of-the-art facilities to be competitive. Projects in development include the Kempinski Hotel on The Palm island (US$50 million); The Gardens s

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14 March 2016

"Of course we can attribute a certain amount of our success to having a core of strong brands," says Ward, "many of whom have been with us since the beginning, and on the whole, excellent relationships with our suppliers. However, it’s far from the whole story. As businesses we are all under pressure at the moment, and it’s at times like these where it’s even more important to remain professional. I believe we need to look at business models outside our own industry and apply them here . . . so often in our i

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14 March 2016

Several factors have worked against the theatre. Its funding was cut by Leicester City Council earlier this year and it also lost money when shows were cancelled whilst it negotiated new pay rates with its staff - members of BECTU.

With the closure will come significant job losses, leaving a reduced core of staff to work on the development of new projects, and to plan for the o

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14 March 2016

One of the key features is an exhibition charting Brel’s life. Stan Colders of Nexus Creative People was commissioned to design the exhibition, his ideas relying heavily on theatrical techniques - lighting, video and set dressing - mixed with artefacts from Brel’s childhood. The ‘set’ incorporates the house where Brel grew up, taking the visitor on a journey from Brussels to Paris, to a recreation of his Parisian room where he wrote many of his songs. Visitors can also re-live Brel’s last co

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14 March 2016

The unpredictable nature of their work lies at the root of this problem. It means that most freelancers are unable to make long-term training commitments and pay for formal

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14 March 2016

PLASA is looking at the possibility of running a half-day seminar on the research findings: led by Trevor Wilkinson of Business Diagnostics, the session will demonstrate to members how they can gain commercial benefit from the research. PLASA envisages that the event will be a half-day session, starting at 11.00am and concluding at 2.00pm, followed by lunch, and is currently looking at venues in London. The event would be open to all PLASA members.

If yo

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14 March 2016

IAAM president Joe Floreano, CFE, has appointed Don Hancock, Ph.D., CAE, IAAM’s director of education, research and development, as their representative to the Council.

The ESTA Certification Council will represent the diversity of the industry. Members will include key leaders in entertainment business, labor, facilities, associations, and academia. ESTA is in the process of extending invitations for Certification Council membership. IATSE, (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), and USITT, (the United States In

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14 March 2016

With over 30 years' experience in the pro audio world, Formula Sound is well placed to advise on noise control, whether in entertainment venues or industrial locations. In addition to the new noise control content, the company's revised website also contains both general information and detailed specification data on Formula Sound's extensive range of products.

These include a variety of noise control units, rack-mount, standby, zoner and fixed forma

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14 March 2016

PLASA hosted its 2003 Association Day and Annual General Meeting on Friday 6 June, in the impressive surroundings of the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel, near Coventry.

The PLASA Association Day is designed to incorporate the Association's AGM into a full day's activity, offering PLASA Members an event that is both useful and enjoyable, as PLASA's managing director Matthew Giffiths outlined: "We've made a conscious effort in recent years to get away from the focus on the AGM: this meeting is a legal formality for an Association, and is itself over very quickly. The real value of the Association Day then arises from the seminars, discussions, networking and entertainment which follow - all of which is heavily subsidized by the Association and is there for members to take up."

The AGM itself provided the opport