PLASA Show Champions Live Production

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Posted on: 6th September 2018

Following extensive research, PLASA is tailoring this year’s event format and content to match visitor needs. Zoe Mutter speaks to Peter Heath, managing director at PLASA, about reflecting important industry issues, embracing new technologies and placing an emphasis on networking and education.

In the past 12 months the live production industry has joined forces like never before, something which this year’s PLASA show is hoping to reflect. The EU Eco-design proposals jolted the lighting sector into action due to the threat of regulating stage lighting in line with domestic and industrial lighting. Meanwhile, the audio industry is dealing with the loss of the 700 MHz bandwidth.

“Issues like these highlight the importance of unifying the industry to tackle issues head on. Whether through events such as PLASA or membership associations, the more we combine our expertise, the stronger the industry will be as a whole,” says PLASA managing director, Peter Heath.

The show is run by PLASA Association, the trade association for the global entertainment industry, which represents the whole spectrum of sectors, from audio and lighting through to rigging. “This means we are well positioned to stand back and take an all-encompassing view of the industry and feed it back into how we run our trade events,” adds Heath. “We believe a holistic approach is the only way to safeguard and champion the whole industry. It’s a complex but exciting challenge.”

Focusing on the future

Following last year’s 40th anniversary show the PLASA team is looking head long into the future, embracing new technologies and focusing on what people enjoy most about the event. Independent visitor research has shown the seminar programme is popular with visitors. To build on this, PLASA is adding an additional theatre and organising an extra 25 hours of content from a selection of leading experts.

“This reflects this year’s slogan – ‘Learn. Explore. Connect.’ – which puts networking and education at the heart of what we do,” adds Heath. “We are taking on board the feedback that visitors and exhibitors value the sociable and networking elements of the show, with 56 per cent visiting for that reason, so we have decided to stay open later on the Monday. We are integrating more technology, including large LED screens to display show information, and adding more live performing entertainment, using all the technology available to us.”

An increase in audio

PLASA has invested a lot of time in the past year working with the audio community to learn more about what they are looking for in a show. This year the team has seen a significant increase in audio exhibitors, including brands such as L-Acoustics, taking a stand at the show for the first time in quite a few years. More space has been opened up for audio brands to demo the latest sound systems, as well as more keynote speakers, workshops and training, including from Audinate’s Dante.

“We have seen a shift in how the industry wants to participate in trade shows, and visitors will see brands taking part in various aspects of the show, from demonstrating products to hosting training sessions, and as thought-leaders on our seminar programme, enhancing the experience for exhibitors and visitors,” says Heath.

Valuable lessons

Education once again makes up a sizeable chunk of PLASA’s offerings. Freelance recordist Richard Merrick and Jonathan Edwards from Terry Tew Sound and Light will present a session titled Wireless Audio as a Production Tool. They will explore the ways that wireless can support production, help newcomers source appropriate equipment and advise on the ever-decreasing spectrum now available for Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE).

Audio experts from Britannia Row Productions are hosting seminars to discuss the current state-of-play of immersive audio and the possible uses for live performance. They will also demonstrate speaker system prediction software to create a system design for an arena. Additionally, sound engineer Simon Hodge (Robbie Williams) will build a mix from scratch using a multitrack recording.

PLASA and AV Magazine will co-present a PLASA seminar revealing insights from industry wide research that both parties have been conducting. PLASA has been carrying out extensive industry research into the size of the entertainment technology industry, trends over time, service types and sectors. AV Magazine also recently completed an industry wide salary survey.

Elsewhere, AVNU Alliance representatives Genio Kronauer of L-Acoustics and Henning Kaltheuler of d&b audiotechnik will present The new application layer protocol for guaranteed, future-proof AV networks. They will delve into the recent history of derterministic networking and discuss how the new application layer protocol can help AV manufacturers promise deterministic and reliable delivery of networked media well into the future.

Continued growth

PLASA aims to continue to grow the show year on year, providing a steady, reliable platform where companies and individuals can gather to advance the industry.

“Our long heritage, great networking platform and industry ownership through the PLASA Association will ensure the PLASA Show remains a unique proposition in the industry calendar for many years to come,” says Heath. “We will also continue to develop our educational events in sales, marketing and health and safety through our Professional Development Training initiative and carry on working with special interest groups and raising awareness of working conditions.”

Registration for the show is open now which takes place on 16-18 September at London Olympia.

Click here to check out our highlights from PLASA Show 2017 over on the Leisuretec Galleries.

Courtesy of AV Magazine