Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

Litec is part of the Vitec Group which also includes companies such as Brilliant Stages and Manfrotto. They are also a master distributor for Columbus McKinnon so Kinesys felt this was the right company and product mix to complement a premium automation product.

Kinesys' sales & business development manager Mark de Gruyter comments, "Litec is a highly respected company with a great contact base and a real knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the live production and performance industry - so we are well matched partners."

As soon as the deal was sealed, de Gruyter and Kinesys' Dave Weatherhead travelled to Mogliano Veneto near Venice to meet the full Litec team and undertake two days of comprehensive staff technical trainin

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14 March 2016

The new course has been developed by the University in close partnership with Showsec to meet the needs of learners, contributing to the longer-term development of the organisation and resulting in a formal qualification in the area of crowd management and event security. So far, 22 junior and mid-operational management executives have embarked on this flexible programme, combining academic and theoretical knowledge with work-based skills.

Conor Moss, workforce development fellow at University of Derby Corporate says, "The commitment f

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14 March 2016

All three ETCP examinations will be offered at USITT in Kansas City, MO. All applications must be submitted to the ETCP office no later than 5pm on 12 March 2010.

The exam dates are: Entertainment Electrical Exam: March 31 (9:00 am); Arena Rigging Exam: April 1 (9:00 am) and Theatre Rigging Exam: April 1, (2:00 pm).

All three exams are available at over 190 testing centres in the US and Canada on most business days. The Arena and Electrical examinations will also be given at InfoComm this summer in Las Vegas.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Keynote speakers included Lord Mandelson, Secretary of state for business, innovation and skills. Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and leading business CEOs. The 48 Group Club was formed in the early 1950's when the founders were the first westerners to break the international trade embargo on China (The Icebreakers). The original 48 companies involved went on to establish mutually beneficial t

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14 March 2016

Pagel, a director of the Belfast based lighting rental and sales company, says: "With health & safety issues increasingly topping all rigging agendas, and our commitment to offering clients the very best and highest quality services, industry driven and recognised qualifications like this are vitally important."

PLASA's National Rigging Certificate demonstrates that individuals have reached a professional standard within their chosen rigging discipline. The NRC is not yet a compulsory scheme, but increasingly major UK venues are requiring it for riggers working in their spaces. PSI undertakes a lot of rigging projects in both Irela

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14 March 2016

"We've recently bought a new set of legs to build a three-metre high tier with a boxed in, enclosed space attached," says Harrison. "Also, our lighting and sound control is operated from tall Metrodeck structures.

"In the past we have also built a two level 'in the round' space, seating about 200 people. The year previously, we extended our proscenium arch stage to incorporate a catwalk for our production of We Will Rock You. The flexibility and sizing of the system allows us to easily design stages and seating plans with little training required, and only a couple of spanners."

Future plans at Canon Slade Schoo

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14 March 2016

The draft standard is part of the BSR E1.6 powered theatrical rigging system project. This part, BSR E1.6-3, establishes minimum safety requirements for the selection and use of serially manufactured electric link chain hoists having capacity of two tons or less in the entertainment industry. This standard does not address the design or maintenance of these hoists. The standard is intended to provide for the protection of life, limb, and property.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

"EES has proven to be the strongest contender in Spain, representing some of the best brands in entertainment lighting products", said Lotta Schiefer, EMEA sales manager for Wireless Solution. "Our products fit in very naturally with the EES portfolio, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with them."

Nacho Acha-Orbea, CEO for EES added, "We are focused on high quality brands and equipment with which we can be confident we are offering the best products with the

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14 March 2016

ARX's Melbourne- based managing director Colin Park said, " This year ARX is exhibiting with our German Distributor I.A.D. "We're looking forward to spending the exhibition working with Thomas Shrill, Frank Swierzy and their team showing I.A.D's local dealers and customers and all our international visitors ARX's new and current product ranges."

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Research carried out by the not-for-profit Forum of Private Business (FPB) also found that business owners expect their efforts will pay off. More than half (56%) of those surveyed expect to increase their turnover in 2010 and 44% believe their business will grow.

The findings are the first of the FPB's new 'economy watch' panel - a body of more than 350 members who are sharing their experiences as the economy heads away from recession. The panel is designed to provide an accurate and timely reflection of what small businesses are experiencing on

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14 March 2016

HSE is now thanking all the retailers, manufacturers, trade associations and local authorities who have played their part in the campaign which gives workers the opportunity to get rid of old, damaged and broken ladders and trade them in for new ones at a discounted price.

In the most recent campaign, HSE's partners were inundated with a variety of precarious ladders with missing rungs, bent sides and ladders that are clearly not up to the job anymore.

In 2008/09 a total of 35 workers died and over 4000 employees suffered major injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. Many of these incidents could be avoided by using the right equipment and taking simple precautions.

HSE is working with industry t

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14 March 2016

The four-day London conference began with a production day, attended by several hundred international suppliers to venue, tours and festivals. Showsec managing director Mark Harding participated in a panel about how to deal with emergency incidents arising from inclement weather.

Every year there are a significant number of casualties caused by bad weather related incidents at outdoor events and members of the panel recounted personal instances and experiences as to how to avoid or overcoming these. Responding to questions from members of the audience, Harding explained the value of effective planning and communications infrastructures from managing s

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14 March 2016

The story unfolds at the turn of the 20th century in Phantasma, a fabulous showground in Coney Island, New York - home to freaks and entertainers. Bob Crowley's set and costumes combine the colours and thrills of the fair with the dark longing and macabre mania of the Phantom. A series of projections on layered tabs creates an immersive experience that opens up elaborate illusions of space and dimension, reality and fantasy, past and present.

The Really Useful Group, producers of the show, approached Stage Technologies and Delstar Engineering for the automation system. The Stage Technologies group

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14 March 2016

The aim of the conference, the first of its kind in the world, is to provide a unique specialist forum that will bring together entertainment rigging companies, riggers, venue operators, tour and event production managers and more. It is the latest industry-specific forum to be presented by PLASA Events and reflects the PLASA organisation's stated intent to reinvest in the entertainment and installation technology industries and deliver bespoke industry relevant events.

Chris Higgs of Total Solutions Group, consultant on the conference, comments: "This is one of those ideas that when you mention it, everyone says 'what a f

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14 March 2016

The Hoist and Truss workshop featured the disassembly and reassembly of a one ton Lodestar, a Prostar as well as advanced troubleshooting with Dave Carmack of Columbus McKinnon. Dave Sowa (ETCP certified electrician and formerly of Tomcat USA) led a discussion on control systems and conducted demonstrations of load testing. 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 gave instruction on fall protection practi

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14 March 2016

Designed to work as a one or two day course to suit all levels of interest, the response was "extremely positive", and all the places were filled predominantly with working riggers. Some also had lighting experience and were keen to further their knowledge of the system from a creative production angle so automation can be worked in to future visual designs.

HSL's Mike Oates was delighted with the results. "We'll definitely be running further Kinesys training in the future. The demand for knowledge is certainly there and we could have filled this course over again with no problem. I also feel very confident that I now have access to a pool of crew who understand the workings and capa

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14 March 2016

Products from Truss, Stage DEX, Barriers, Theatre products and Prolyft, will be represented. There will also be a new line up of rigging hardware and controls. The D75T truss, Snake Gate Barrier and the Power Fly winch will be unveiled.

Additionally, Prolyte will announce details of limited period price reductions.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

The group will be Silver sponsors of the International Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference, just before the ABTT Theatre Show and during the show, technical representatives from The Best of All Worlds group will be available to discuss requirements.

Hoist UK offers services such as the distribution of entertainment products to individuals, companies and end users. The Hoist UK project team will integrate products from their partners' ranges with equipment and services of its own design to create a "complete project solution". Hoist UK will design, manufacture, install, load test and commission solutions to suit needs under their banner of Safety Above All

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14 March 2016

This was the new division's first major event and involved several technical challenges, the first of which was that the roof had to be built over the top of a 100m wide by 11m high permanently installed Mitsubishi LED screen.

The roof was made primarily out of Serious Stages' Space truss to Atlantic Enterprises' and structural engineer Dragan Kuzamanov's method statement.

The cantilevered roof elevation measured 25m wide and overhung the stage just in front of the screen by 19m, with 16m protruding at the back supported by a scaffolding 'bird-cage', cable stays to a seven king poles at the top and 84 tonnes of concrete ballast down below stored in seven stillages at the bottom o

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14 March 2016

ETCP's Training Recognition Programmes are designed to assist certifcants in finding quality training opportunities. ETCP has just implemented a new designation, ETCP Recognised Training Provider, to accommodate organisations which offer multiple courses. The total fee for all submitted programmes is $2500. Organisations interested in having only a single course recognized may apply to have their course become a Recognised Training Programme for a fee of $1000. Recognition and fees are valid for two years for either designation.

There are several benefits to having courses recognised by ETCP. Certified Tec

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14 March 2016

"The conversion of the original truck, an iconic 1970's ex-army Land Rover 101, was a huge challenge," said Neil Franklin, head of interpretation for Stage One. "But by forming a close working partnership with Hotcow we were able to provide a solution to meet the aspirations of the client."

The process was, however, far more complex than it appears and throughout the conversion the design of the truck was constantly evolving, requiring Stage One to draw on their extensive experience to offer and incorporate design solutions. The conversion included extra lighting, panelling, graphics and a roof hatch, and drew o

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14 March 2016

GDS will showcase the newest addition to the LiteWare range, LiteWare HO (High Output). Following the success of LiteWare wireless RGB uplighter, launched in 2009, LiteWare HO is a high output version offering 80Watts of LED power. Designed to be completely compatible with the existing LiteWare range, the LiteWare HO product is the same footprint as the standard version and is calibrated to deliver colour-matched output.

Also at the show is the new TCP-IP CueSystem a Networked cue light system which launches at ProLight + Sound this week. In an industry first, with the ever-increasing trend towards completely networked show control and lighting systems, the TCP-IP CueSystem bridges the gap for stage m

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14 March 2016

"It's an exciting time to join Rycote," comments Italian-born Pucello, who has been settled in the UK for 12 years and previously worked in the wire and cable industry. "The company's new Universal Studio Mount redefines the concept of the low-noise recording microphone suspension, and, at well under the price of a typical dynamic recording mic, has affordable mass appeal to anyone who uses microphones, whether they're recording in a back bedroom or AIR Studios. That's a big new sales area for the company to service, in addition to the windshield market, where Rycote has al

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14 March 2016

This year's fashion show, hosted by TV fashion stylist Mark Hayes and celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, is set to be filled with glamour, together with a mix of this season's new fashion trends on the Catwalk. The event will also include expert style advice and beauty treats for those who attend.

Over the duration of the event, Stage Electrics has supplied two bright, 4.5x4.5m ground supported, high performance LED Screens. One screen is being used as the backdrop for the catwalk, situated in the main show Marquee which has been built specifically for the show, on the North side of the Mall. A further screen has been assembled in the food court area, to provide entertainment for