Plasa Focus 2012 Marked As Success

Not even the rain could dampen the enthusiasm at the Royal Armouries this week as PLASA Focus: Leeds 2012 opened its doors for two days of unparalleled access to the newest and most innovative products on the market for the live entertainment industry.
Visitor numbers reached a record-breaking 2122 - an increase of 8.5% on 2011. In all, 2680 people attended the show over the two days and such was the confidence felt by exhibitors that an unprecedented number of exhibitors re-booked on-site for 2013.
As always, the combination of the Professional Development Programme which profiled the effective use of new products and explored areas of special interest through seminar and discussion, together with the dozens of new products for people to get their hands on proved a massive hit with visitors and exhibitors alike.
Among the many new products making their UK debut were Chauvet Europe's latest products including the MVP 12 modular video panels, Legend 412 pixel-mapping moving yoke, Q-Wash 560Z-LED moving yoke, COLORado 2 Zoom Tour and COLORado 1-Quad Tour wash fixtures; from MIDAS, the new Generation-II Software and the new XL48 'digi-log'mic preamp; Martin Professional introduced the new Viper family of MAC moving heads, Studio Spares gave visitors the opportunity to experience their new M1000 studio headphones; FBT Audio announced its new Installed Sound division; entertainment lighting specialist White Light showcased lighting solutions from their exclusive product line; Hall Stage premiered the new, innovative Chaindrive system for T60 and T70 track systems; Highlite International presented the UK launch of over 200 brand new products including the Pipe & Drape range from Wentex; Ambersphere brought new products from Clay Paky and MA Lighting; Sennheiser unveiled the XS Wireless Series. Leeds also saw the UK premiere of the Yamaha CL Series Digital Consoles, and a new acoustic solution for stages and venues from PLASA Focus debutante Showtex, while ETC showed the new Source Four LED and the LUCAS Nano 300 made its UK debut courtesy of JHS and HK Audio.
The expanded and enhanced Professional Development Programme proved more popular than ever with sessions being divided into Special Interest seminars and Exhibitor Driven training and demonstrations. The programme range extended from a six member panel of experts debating the future role of the lighting designer from the Association of Lighting Designers and Leeds University, to a demonstration of how and why loudspeakers produce what they do in 'Can You Hear Me At the Back?' from d&b audiotechnik, where there was standing room only.
PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 will take place at the Royal Armouries Museum and Saviles Hall on Tuesday 30 April and Wednesday 1 May 2013.
(LB)