Photo: Chris Toulmin.
UK - The inaugural PLASA Focus Show in Leeds on April 28-29 was a great success, beating the headiest expectations and the credit crunch. Anticipation had been high since PLASA Events announced the takeover of the event from AC Entertainment Technologies last year. The team had set out to continue the show's compact, user-friendly format while opening it up to the entire industry, broadening the marketing and creating new networking opportunities. By its close, the show had registered a total of 1,398 visitors (pre ABC audit).

Philip Norfolk of MA Lighting, which showed its new MA2 control surfaces, commented: "We've seen an excellent mix of students as well as serious clients, users and operators - a really broad spectrum of visitors. There have been good visitor numbers, high levels of interest and an excellent environment . . . and the time to spend with these people. For anyone that's exhibited in Leeds before it's an expected mix, but it has altered for the better by being part of PLASA; it's a forward movement for the show and I'm very happy with that. We'll be returning - this is a show that's definitely on the map, both for its visitor quality, for its commercial success and for the excellent atmosphere that's been created."

The broad spread of visitors from across the entertainment production world was a theme for many, including Hoist UK's Paul Jordan, on the company's first appearance in Leeds. Paul said: "There's been a lot of interest in our products, so it's been really good for us. The show's very well attended and people find it great, now that there is such a variety of manufacturers and it's really becoming a very representative show for the entire industry, especially in the northern area of the UK."

He added: "Visitors have come from both theatre and the rock and roll industry - a good, wide spectrum of people. We've seen a lot of students as well, which is also good because we want to meet the people who are going to be in the industry in the coming years. So it's excellent all round. We expect to do it again next year but we might need a bigger stand!"

Tim Chapman of Lab Gruppen, also on the company's first time at the show, and sharing a stand with Peavey, commented: "Both of us are looking at doing it year after year. The amazing thing to me is the first three people I met at the show this morning were customers of ours who I'd never had the opportunity of meeting before. A regional show like this means you uncover more of your regional end users. So we're very pleased."

Clay Paky's Ashley Lewis, previewing the new Alpha 700 Series, said: "We knew this show was going to be good - quite a number of us had spoken about it and we were all correct. As soon as the doors were open it was busy; it's been busy all day and it's been quality people, mostly from the north but visitors from Scotland as well. We'll be doing the show again and we will strongly support it."

Erik Larsen of ETC - which held the European launch of its Element desk at the show - said: "Now it's hosted by PLASA there are more dealers exhibiting here, which is a benefit for the end users. We're very happy with the way it's gone."

Matthew Griffiths, PLASA CEO, said: "I'm thrilled that we've managed to establish PLASA Focus as a complementary event to the PLASA show in London. All our objectives of developing a regional event with relevant regional content through the seminars, and being able to access all types of people in the industry from students through to practitioners, from local designers through to local businesses, have been met. And we've been able to do it in an inexpensive format, in a very friendly environment. It's also allowed us to try ideas that we've always wanted to such as the visitor catering and the exhibitor party and various other touches.

"Another factor that many exhibitors have commented on is that they have time to talk to the people they want to, which adds another dimensio


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