Co-founder Sarah Rushton-Read says: "During the show we shot past the 200 barrier in terms of membership and now have over 270 members and counting! It was great to meet and greet so many of our members on our own stand and we thank our sponsor Bryan Raven of White Light, Esther Heaslip and the White Light team for making this happen. The WiSE stand was heaving every day during Tea O Clock (4pm - 6pm), where WiSE members served tea and cakes to industry colleagues and other WiSE members. Of course we could not have achieved this without all the wonderful WiSE women who were prepared to - tongue in cheek - don their pinnies, bake some fabulous cakes and serve tea!"
WiSE co-founder and award winning lighting designer Paule Constable continues: "All our visitors said what a wonderful and welcoming place the WiSE stand was and I believe we successfully conveyed our message to the wider industry with humour and honesty. We've had some very generous pledges of support from some of the biggest movers and shakers in the sound, lighting, production, rigging and service industries and we're looking at ways that support can benefit our members. Our male colleagues told us they enjoyed it as much as we did and as far as I can see support the WiSE cause wholeheartedly.
"PLASA gave WiSE the opportunity to set out its stall and let everyone know who we are and what we do. Our seminar was a huge success; the room was full to bursting and people actually had to stand at the back and sides to get in. We thank our fabulous seminar panellists - Sasha Milroy (production manager at the National), Anne Minors (managing director of theatre consultancy AMPC), Tanya Burns (lighting designer, Imagination), Coral Cooper (Moving light trainer) and Anna Mac (production electrician on Wicked) for their honest, insightful and WiSE words. We also thank all those who contributed and shared their views and concerns or came along to listen."
Every day WiSE is welcoming women at all stages of their careers into its fold via its members only networking website. Many industry-experienced members are offering to share their talents and knowledge with those who are just starting out - male and female - in the form of mentorship and internship opportunities. WiSE will be announcing who some of those people are and what they will be doing for WiSE very soon.
Rushton-Read explains: "It will be these people who will help WiSE get to the next stage in its development and promote positive female role models to the wider industry. They will ensure the organization can offer the support and resources required to ensure the industry becomes a more equitable and pleasant place for everyone to work in."
WiSE is also going Multi-lingual - during the PLASA show offers came in from European members from Italy and Spain to set up home country language groups on the WiSE site, hopefully more will emerge as time goes on. Two student members have set up a dynamic and popular Student Group where students network, share concerns and discuss the issues that affect them. They will then bring their agenda to the wider group including our new Educators and Trainers group and our Mentors group.
Constable and Rushton-Read conclude: "There are lots of new initiatives, links and contacts to follow up and I hope our first PLASA will mark the beginning of a mini revolution in our industry that will ultimately benefit everyone who works in it, men and women alike."
Finally WiSE is celebrating one of its founder members - Coral Cooper - winning a lifetime recognition award at the Knights of Illumination Awards. Former lighting designer Cooper has trained over 2000 moving light technicians for Vari*Lite and continues to do
