An article from the September issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine, which also appeared in the August issue of PLASA's Standards News, explains the background to this new initiative - read it here.
If you would like to attend, or nominate a colleague in your place, please RSVP to the e-mail address below.
(Lee Baldock)
Please note: due to the current security situation, there will be full bag checks as you enter the show and all visitors are being asked for their co-operation. In the meantime, to help you plan, don't forget to check out the show website - see address below - for all the up-to-date news in the final run-up to the show.
Stage Technologies has many years experience of working in the Italian shipyards of Fincantieri supplying and commissioning stage automation systems for the theatres on board many of the large cruise ships that have been built there, including ships for Disney, Carnival and Princess. However until now this has always been as a subcontractor supplying only part of the theatre rigging system, for installation by others. This contract direct with the yard includes the supply and installation of the complete stage rigging system.
The completed s
The shape and profile of the viewpod was a key design factor and so Stage One faced a major construction challenge to produce a balanced, seamless, 'floating' structure, able to bear a weight of nearly one-and-a-half tonnes, whilst at the same time ensuring it was aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with the designers vision.
Stage One rose to the challenge, fulfilling the brief by constructing the pod in steel and then cladding it in
With the experience gained from involvement with the Wembley Pavilion project where a large back stage area was required, the Star Events Group design t
Events branding specialists Sunbaba was brought in by Surrey Cricket to provide over 600sqm of its Austronet and DigiMesh branding for use at The Oval during the fifth Ashes Test. Sunbaba's specialist work in the events industry makes them a key choice when venues and sponsors want printed branding that fits perfectly and matches their corproate image.
For the BBC's Last Night of Proms in the Park events, Sunbaba was chosen to provide its specialist "DigiSound" PA scrims for the events in Manchester, Glasgow and Swansea, in addition the company supplied BBC Scotland with heras f
Liverpool Culture Company's three day Mathew Street Music Festival is Europe's biggest free city centre music festival, annually attracting over 350,000 visitors over the August bank holiday weekend. Visitors watched artists spread over five SRC stages. Still a celebration of where it all began with the music of the Beatles, the festival, now celebrates a myriad of musical tastes from Abba to Tony Christie.
SRC and its fleet of mobile stages enabled the hugely complex logistical requirements of installing performance areas in the City Centre, which were operated and then removed - some within a 24-hour period. The scale of the operation is unparalleled in any city in the UK, with ove
With the experience gained from involvement with the Wembley Pavilion project, where a lar
Appropriately for DJ Sunday, seminars today include a session on Digital Turntablism and Mixing, chaired by David Eserin, editor of the Technoscan section of DJ Magazine, the session features world-renowned DJs Chris Liebing and Jonathan Lisle, and Eitan Zilkha of Sapphires. Following the session, Jonathan Lisle will be perform
Two new CyberHoist intelligent hoist motors will join the original 500 kg-capacity, 0-20 meters per minute (1 foot per second maximum) variable speed CyberHoist 500.
The new high-speed CyberHoist 250 motor is capable of lifting 250kg at variable speeds of 0-40 meters per minute (2.17 feet per second) - the company says this is designed to produce smooth, fast and agile moves. Like all CyberHoist motors, it features an integral processor and Ethernet networking.
Topping the motor range, he new invertible, high lifting power CyberHoist 1000 features a 1000kg (1 ton) lifting capacity and fully variable speeds of 0-10 meters a minute (0.54 ft / sec). Suitable for inverted and non-inverted use (usable with the motor facing u
Initiated by the rigging sector, who looked to PLASA to further develop the template for a National Rigging Certificate, the Award has become vital in a climate where there is a growing focus on health and safety, and an increasing expectation from the insurance sector.
For the last 10 months, PLASA has been working with government bodies and members of the rigging community on the development of the Certificate, a consultation process which has been underpinned by the formation of the PLASA Rigging Advisory Group.
The Group is now working on the fine details of the criteria and assessment process, but once finalized, the scheme will include a tiered progression structur
The Awards, which are judged by a panel of professionals, attracted 66 nominations, leading to eight technical awards and an additional award for environmental impact.
The winning products were:
The arrangement, announced by Mitch Clark, president of Tomcat and Thomas Dory, CEO of Pfaff-silberblau GmbH, will see the two companies working together to develop and deliver new projects utilizing their combined resources and experience. Their collaboration will strengthen sales, technical and design support and enable a significant expansion of the UK stockholding of the specialist products re
(Lee Baldock)
Designed by ASM to meet the exacting requirements of the German BGV C1 safety categorisation, D8++ means a rig will not require a 'secondary' or safety suspension line, saving hours of valuable stage time and hundreds of pounds in kit.
D8++ is also virtually silent, so can be used in quiet stage conditions. On board electronics mean the unit can be controlled with a cheap power inversion system instead of an expensive compliant system required by the competitive hoists.
Charles Haines, Hall
"As a part of the company's long term strategy, expansion into the Midlands enables us to serve our nationwide customer base better" explained Paul Fulcher, operations director, LGH Rigging Services.
LGH Rigging Services was established at Three Mills Island Studios in London's Docklands in 1997 as a specialist equipment resource to provide the whole event and entertainment industry with stringently tested, high quality rigging equipment and service via hire or sales solutions, say the company.
Staffed by personnel with strong experience in dry hire, sales, testing and inspection of rigging and associated equipment, the operation has grown rapidly to become one of Europe's leading rigging suppliers, dealing with all the major players in live production services, TV, Film,
Initiated by the rigging sector, who looked to PLASA to further develop the template for a National Rigging Certificate, the Award has become vital in a climate where there is a growing focus on health and safety, and an increasing expectation from the insurance sector.
For the last 10 months, PLASA has been working with government bodies and members of the rigging community on the development of the Certificate, a consultation process which has been underpinned by the formation of the PLASA Rigging Advisory Group.
The Group is now working on the fine details of the criteria and assessment process, but once finalized, the scheme will include a tiered progression structur
Jones, a veteran of over a decade of PLASA shows, says that 2005 one was: "Absolutely the busiest exhibition since the show moved into Earls Court - the show was even too busy on Wednesday for us to get off the stand"
LTM demonstrated its ability to think on its feet when it arrived for the PLASA build! Realizing its single sided corporate sign needed in fact to have signage on both sides, John Jones thought laterally. He asked around site for any contacts in t
Developed with very speedy build times in mind, HSL say it is ideal for city centres, green field sites and any other location. With a mast height of 13m to fly point, it has a base size of 4.5 x 4.2m, a maximum payload of 2000kg in wind speeds of up to 44mph or 20m/s. Ballast weighs in at 2400kg and the average build time is around two-and-a-half hours when using a build crew comprising one HSL rigger and four local crew; de-rig is around an hour-and-a-half using the same crew, say the company. On-site machinery required is just one Telehandler for one hour on the in and out.
HSL Rigging supplies a full health and safety policy and structural report directly to the production or site manager. Once the
Bright Lites' Neil Dolman says he bought the motors for his hire stock from LTM because of the "Service, detailed product knowledge, friendliness and helpfulness" of the team at the Wirral based company.
Bright Lites supplies lighting and rigging equipment to venues, councils and other professional entertainment industry areas and applications. Dolman wanted a leading industry standard product that was ultimately 'hirable', and since the purchase, the Lodestars have been in constant use, he reports.
"Dealing with LTM was excellent" he says, "Their team are consistently good on the phone, and really friendly. It was great to also meet them face-to-face when I collected the motors in person from the warehouse on Merseyside. I would rec
The Stage System 360 is comprised of rectangular stage platforms, stepladders and safety railings that can be used in any combination to meet the precise staging needs of a specific event. Each 3'3" x 6'6" (1m x 2m) platform can be linked to other units on all sides, allowing users to create a stage with the square-footage they need and the shape most suitable to their event. Plus, the height of the platform can be set t
Reviewers are asked to see if the document now gives adequate and accurate guidance on the construction and use of wire rope ladders, and are also asked to identify any protected intellectual property they might see in the draft document. ESTA doe
As in previous years, the Show had a strong international profile with a third of exhibitors based outside the UK, and an increasing international visitor attendance, which is now nudging the 30% mark.
One of the key reasons for the Show's continued momentum is its focus on new developments and its ongoing investment in interactive feature areas, awards that recognize the best design work in the indu
The schedule featured a programme of classic films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Oscar-winning Japanese animation Spirited Away and the metropolitan premiere of the horror film Land of the Dead, as well as music sets from DJs as diverse as Asian Dub Foundation, Osymyso and Four Tet.
Blackout's Project Manager Kevin Monks collaborated with Somerset House's Events Manager John Howes to design and supply the integral giant cinema projection screen to his specifications.
Manufactured by Blackout France, the 17.5 metre x 7 met
