PLASA Focus Leeds Hits High Notes
Posted on: 6th June 2019
UK - PLASA Focus Leeds returned to the Royal Armouries from 14-15 May for its 11th edition. With an 8% increase in visitors, the show once again proved to be a key social and business event in the entertainment technology calendar, welcoming professionals from across the industry over two days.
The show floor spanned two halls, offering products and solutions from a mix of audio, AV, lighting, staging and rigging brands, with some new faces who were keen to capitalise on their debut.
With its popular capped stand format, the show provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Wayne Juggins, Commercial Manager at Leisuretec Distribution Ltd, commented “This is what makes PLASA Focus Leeds unique among the big AV shows. It provides visitors with a great opportunity to get up close to the latest technology and spend time with some of the major brands and personalities.”
Peter Condron, UK sales manager for Martin Audio confirms this sentiment: “It’s been a great show, due to the family feel which the show is known for. It’s just the right size and the fact it’s spread over two halls also makes it feel more spacious and relaxed. It has been really busy with both valued clients and potential customers coming by our stand. The show has been very positive.” At this year’s show Martin Audio debuted their new VIA amplifier range alongside the brand new D4X Controller.
WATCH - Brand New DX4 Controller from Martin Audio
“As we are new to PLASA Focus Leeds we tried to do things a little differently” says Sam Nankivell, K-array UK distributor. “We achieved this by installing an immersive audio system at our stand which included twenty speakers for a full 3D soundscape. This surprised many visitors and we had a number of new enquiries.”
The show floor also featured many products appearing in the UK for the first time:
Martin by Harman debuted their Atomic Dot and MAC Allure fixtures and P3 software. Check out our coverage of the latest lighting from Martin by Harman on our YouTube channel.
WATCH - Martin Atomic Dot UK Debut!
Avolites debuted Synergy, their new lighting and video integration, weeks before its actual release. “The reaction to Synergy has been really exciting for us,” says Stephen Baird-Smith, Sales Manager at Avolites. “Furthermore, we’ve met a lot of familiar faces at what we consider the most sociable show of the year, as well as many of the future’s lighting designers and programmers.”
Doughty were in attendance showcasing their new Fifty Clamp and Scaff Boom Arm. Watch as Laurence gives us an overview of their new products.
WATCH - Brand New Mounting Hardware from Doughty
A considerable number of visitors took advantage of the expert-led programme which presented a selection of this year’s biggest creative projects, technical updates and practical training.
It was a full house for More than a Venue which unpacked the challenging audio installation for the Royal Albert Hall, a venue known for its acoustic imperfections. Another highlight was Stormzy’s audio engineer Raphael Williams who explained his unique challenges and preparations for the grime star’s debut headline Glastonbury performance this summer.
The show hosted various sessions on the latest regulations and legislation. James Eade presented a well-attended series on electrical safety, busting widespread myths and promoting best practice. Elsewhere, a comprehensive Ecodesign update was delivered by Adam Bennette, Rob Halliday and Steve Giudici, who have been working closely with industry bodies and the EU Commission to achieve the best outcome for those who work with stage and studio lighting.
PLASA launched their new training programme at the show, unveiling National Event Lifting Training (NELT) aimed at production professionals. Furthermore, PLASA chaired a panel of industry leaders to explore the most effective approaches to supporting mental health throughout the industry.
PLASA’s head of events Sophie Atkinson says, “We are thrilled that PLASA Focus Leeds continues to grow in popularity and diversity, facilitating connection across the entire industry.
“We are proud of our friendly Focus events and are very much looking forward to rolling out a revived PLASA Focus Glasgow from 3-4 March 2020, as well as returning to Olympia London from 15-17 September with our flagship PLASA Show.”
Visit our YouTube Channel to see all our coverage from the show.
PLASA Focus Leeds 2019 Playlist
Courtesy of LSI Online
