Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

The recent production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Novello Theatre implemented the F:light system, which allows moving lights to follow the motion of automated scenery and performers, whilst remaining fully under the lighting designer's control. The system enabled technical staff to finely tune the lighting of the aerial scenes and maximise magical effects - in this case, Titania, Oberon and Bottom taking to the air in the aura of a striking full moon.

Often flying effects are used in situations that require highly accurate lighting in order not to reveal 'the trick'. Stage Technologies recognised that there was a distinct gap between lighting and automation. The F:light concept came about to b

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14 March 2016

The crowning attraction of the many multi-media and live entertainment venues within the complex will be the Dragone aqua spectacular, which is scheduled to première towards the end of 2009. The resort's permanent show is expected to dazzle audiences with the same imaginative flair as previous Dragone productions such as Le Rève and A New Day.

Designed by the renowned architectural office, Pei Partnership of New York, the City of Dream'

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14 March 2016

Rigging Europe is a new company formed from a partnership between two of Europe's most experienced and well respected sales companies - Louis Reyners from the Netherlands and Sonoss from France. Conceived as a one-stop rigging supplier, RE works all over Europe embracing multiple entertainment industry sectors - concert touring, theatre, film and TV, corporate and special events and installations and venues of all types - distributing a full range of the highest quality rigging and automation products from leading international brands.

The Evo is the new precision variable speed chain ho

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14 March 2016

During the pre-planning stage the tour's production rigger Jim Allison, Jon Bray and PRG Lighting's crew chief Ben Holdsworth collaborated closely in planning the hoist control and cable routing alongside lighting.

The majority of the rig has to be linked by cable runs, which then requires a simultaneous lift of 37 hoists over a wide area. The Summit Steel six-way rack mounted controllers were specified for this task. The complete control system is housed in a single dolly combining several control units and power distribution

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14 March 2016

The move is scheduled to take place during the first weekend of April, in time for the new unit to be open and operational from Monday 6 April 2009. Just 6 miles away from their previous home, the new site is conveniently located just off the A2016 dual carriageway on the Belvedere Business Park.

Ample free parking directly outside the trade counter and warehouse entrances makes stock handling for both collection and delivery much quicker and far more convenient, whilst a much larger storage area means increased stockholding, with a greater quantity of products available immediately from stock.

Commenting on the new premises, Solutions Group sales

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14 March 2016

Mary Shelley-Smith, Eat To The Beat operations director said, "We are delighted to be adding this prestigious festival to our extensive roster of high profile summer events. The backstage catering has become a key ingredient in the success of the festivals we have become regulars at, thanks to great staff, equipment and expertise. We have previously worked with V Festival in the USA through our American office so to also be working with this one on our home turf is an honour."

Eat To The Beat has over 25 years of tour, location and festival catering experience spanning across the music, film, television and production sectors. During that time they have secured many long term festivals contracts including Glastonbury, Reading an

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14 March 2016

Attended by 30 individuals representing rental and staging companies from all industry sectors and Milos users from across Europe, the two-day event was designed to highlight new and key products in the Milos range of trussing, staging and roofing systems. It also focused on the services and support offered by the company.

Jeff Broitman from Milos America kicked off the proceedings with an introductory speech, followed by a tour around the xtensive manufacturing facility. This enabled attendees to see first hand all the elements involved in the manufacturing process, including cutting and automatic welding, all types of trusses, the production of circles and other shapes and special projects, control, packing and final products. It also included the Milos

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14 March 2016

The Hoist and Truss workshop featured the disassembly and reassembly of a one ton Lodestar as well as a Prostar with Dave Carmack of Columbus McKinnon. Dave Sowa of Tomcat USA led a discussion on control systems and also coached an advanced troubleshooting session along with CM's Dave Carmack. Instruction was rounded out by Dana Bartholomew of Fisher Technical Services who gave instruction and demonstrations on automation.

G. Anthony Phillips, of RigRider Rigging Services and ETCP certified rigger and instructor taught safe rigging practices and principles while Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances gave instruction on fall protection practices and equipment. Pa

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14 March 2016

"We want the end-users of our equipment to be successful," said Tom Young, vice president of marketing for J. R. Clancy. "Motorised equipment is more complex than manual equipment, and it needs more specialised inspection and maintenance. We want our users to have trouble-free systems, and the best way to ensure this is to have the equipment inspected regularly by a trained professional.

"OSHA requires an annual inspection of all overhead lifting systems," Young continued. "But many facilities do not inspect and maintain rigging systems in their stages. As the first rigging manufacturer to offer a three-year warranty on motorised rigging, we can emphasize t

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14 March 2016

As part of the rigging renovation, all the on stage circuitry and associated support structures were replaced. The new on stage lighting rig includes 18ft of ProSpan box truss, 20 ProBurger couplers, three CM half-ton chain motors and a Skjonberg motor control system. The custom-designed on stage lighting system includes 150 stage circuits, using 59 custom ProCable assemblies as well as a 96 circuit custom multi-connector panel. Equipment was supplied by TMB.

"We had to design a complete system specific to the theatre's needs," says Rich DiMinno, of RDM Rigging. "It was conceived, designed, and installed in 30 days. Because o

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14 March 2016

Prolyte Space Roof is a a modular roof system; Prolyft Mark IIIis the latest version of the Prolyft hoist; Prolyft Controllers are a new range of high-end but affordable controllers, and there will also be more in the Prolyft Rigging hardware line.

Also on display will be established Prolyte trussing products and Stage DEX.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

"We're delighted to be working with the Forestry Commission again this year," says AP's national sales manager, John Phillips. "We're even more pleased to have the opportunity to work on every site this year."

Rachael Miller, events manager for the Forestry Commission, comments, "We take the safety and security of our concert-goers very seriously. AP has provided a top quality service for us in the past and we look forward to working with them again this year."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 places an absolute duty on employers to provide suitable and sufficient training to all staff, for their health, safety and welfare.

Dave McDonald, principal consultant and head trainer at ForeFront says, "Health and Safety is evolving and moving away from traditional concepts

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14 March 2016

The theatre consultant, Michael Nishball, of Theatre Projects Consulting said, "When direct lift, multipart-line in a high capacity hoist is required, there is no group with as much experience as the Vortek team at Daktronics. At this point, it's clear to me that this is going to be a very successful power flying and controls installation."

Scheduled for completion in October 2009, this 74,915sq.ft facility has 12 stories and seats approximately 600 people. The vertically stacked floors are unlike the tra

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14 March 2016

The first fruits of these collaborations will be seen at ProLight&Sound in Frankfurt, where the Performer Fly System, a modular fly system, built in a H40V truss, approved at SIL 3 levels will be shown alongside a new winch for stage and theatre use.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Those interested in supporting this venture and in exploiting the potential it represents should contact Laurie Giraudeau or Ben Brooks to discuss their detailed requirements or to explore the options and alternatives.

Litestructures exhibition will be based around well lit spaces for exhibitors created from Litestructures trussing and staging products, giving an attractive display for all participants. The maximum booth size will be 4m2 per exhibitor.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Woodstock Reprise - Michael Lang, the co-founder of the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival, is reportedly seeking sponsors for a 40th anniversary reprise in New York City. "The chances that something will happen are probable," he told the Times. "But I don't really have the answer yet as to what that will be." Central Park has been suggested as a possible location for the event. The Who were among the acts who played at the original concert, which took place in Bethel, New York State. A 30th anniversary concert

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14 March 2016

"The rigging grid system installed over the stage, and repeated above the centre of the arena floor, is second to none in terms of sheer utility and speed of operation," says David Bond of Star Events Group. "It has the reduction of Working at Height hours at its core."

The grid system was installed and is operated on behalf of the Echo Arena by Star Events Group; the control and hoist system used to move it comes from Lift Turn Move (LTM), a specialist entertainment rigging hardware supplier based close by in the Wi

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14 March 2016

The roof was installed in a narrow street beside the coffee cafe-and-more outlet in downtown Oslo. Its purpose was to extend the boutique area during the spectacular opening event. Under its cover was a stage, an action-packed entertainment programme and VIP guests.

"We used side skins on three sides, leaving the wall facing the boutique open," explains Oslo Audio's Erik Berg, who project managed the event for the locally based company. The side skins were carefully hung to cover only the top part of the 9m high MR4 elevation, and a 2.5m high ice-wall was constructed to make up the lower parts.

The challenges included fitting the structure in around two 9mhigh trees located right where the stage needed to be built, which entailed the top canopy being put o

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14 March 2016

"With Litestructures, winning an Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster is simplicity itself. Just place a minimum of €1 million in orders between 01/04/09 and 31/08/10, with the award being presented at the PLASA show in Earls Court, London next year," says the company.

The company's presence at ProLight&Sound was very successful with visitors excited by the unusual incentive displayed in the centre of the stand. The main prize of an Aston Martin will be accompanied by other incentives during the period of the challenge including the opportunity to win two tickets to the Le Mans

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14 March 2016

Litestructures sales director Lee Brooks stated, "it is a real privilege for our company to be associated with Aston Martin Racing in this way. The Aston Martin marque is synonymous with tradition, heritage quality and performance through design, all attributes which Litestructures have engendered in what we do.

As part of our partnership we intend to promote our company and products through this powerful association, and have offered the prize of a beautiful Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster to our overseas distributor who puts in the best performance over the coming months. At the same time, we very much look forward t

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14 March 2016

"With so many customers being hit hard by the economy as well as other demands, we set out to develop a less expensive product," stated general manager, Stefano Rosellini. "What we discovered in the process was that we could also make the product 24% stronger - adding a great deal more value for the customer."

The first offering in the product range is Core 12. Tomcat has essentially taken the conventional 12" X 12" light duty box truss and modified the components to provide a more efficient truss - at a more efficient price. At only

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14 March 2016

This season, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal reopened with Romeo and Juliet, which features two moving floor tracks. Another school production of The Man of Mode, at the Circomedia St Paul's venue, utilises a BigTow winch for a flying chandelier.

The school provides practical industry-focused training for careers across the arts and entertainment sector. With as many production students as it has actors, its courses focus on the major management, technical and craft skills required for employment

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14 March 2016

The new 18,000sq.ft facility is located near Interstate Highway 95, just north of Richmond, Virginia. This central location enables same or next day delivery to east coast customers from New York to Atlanta.

West coast clients also have the option of three day delivery, while nearby port connections enable efficient deliveries to Central and South America.

An increased inventory and a larger product range are immediately anticipated to meet the growing needs of Milos' customers, and in support of the successful QuickShip programme,says the company.

With future expansion in mind, the new building