Frankfurt Previews: Prolight + Sound

From 10 to 13 April 2013, Prolight + Sound will present all major products and services in the fields of events technology, entertainment, systems integration and AV media technology, write Andreas Höflich, Prolight + Sound...
Prolight + Sound is the sector's most important meeting place for exhibitors, wholesalers and retailers, international trade visitors and professional users from all over the world. The comprehensive range of products and services at the fair and the high degree of internationality on both the exhibitor and visitor sides make Prolight + Sound the largest and most important trade fair of its sector. At the last event in 2012, 878 exhibitors from 41 countries presented their products and services to around 41,000 visitors.
Prolight + Sound and Musikmesse (held concurrently) are strengthening the interdisciplinary presence of the production, broadcasting and recording product segments across the two events. Products and services from the production, broadcasting and recording segments are used in a wide variety of fields. Hence, exhibitors with these products will be in abundance at both fairs. The tools for producing and broadcasting audio and video recordings are becoming accessible to more and more groups of users. Internet publication channels such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and IPTV are turning producers into broadcasters. Exhibitors with production, broadcasting and recording products will be found in both the Musikmesse (5.1) and the Prolight + Sound halls (8.0, 9.0, 9.1 and 11.0).
For the first time, exhibitors from the camera and TV equipment sector will make presentations in the Moving Picture Pavilion in Hall 9.0 B14, which Prolight + Sound is arranging in cooperation with Teltec.
To make it easier for visitors to find exhibitors and products for production, broadcasting and recording, the exhibitor search engines of the two websites have special filters to single out companies in these segments and make them researchable. At Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound, the production, broadcasting and recording product groups are also to be found in a printed 'Quickfinder', listing around 200 exhibitors with hall and stand numbers.
To find exhibitors using the search engines of the Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound websites, users should firstly click the ‘special interest’ filter and then the 'Production, Broadcast, Recording' button.
Prolight + Sound Conference
The information and training events at Prolight + Sound will be regrouped in 2013 under the name ‘Prolight + Sound Conference’. This will be subdivided into three main sections: event technology, media systems and VDT Academy. The Prolight + Sound Conference will be held in Hall 9.1 and the Cosmopolitan Lounge of Hall 9.T. With lectures and presentations, speakers in the media-technology field will pass on knowledge gained from practical experience and present product solutions and services from the fields of AV media technology and systems integration. In the event-technology section, speakers will discuss security in the event sector, legal issues, regulations and training options. The VDT Academy is an information event organised by the Association of German Sound Engineers (Verband Deutscher Tonmeister – VDT).
Eventplaza
The Eventplaza is a three-day conference and trade exhibition with trends, strategies, expertise, ideas and impulses generated by speakers with practical experience. The Eventplaza Conference is the information event for the event-management business and includes the 1st International Safety Conference (I-ESC) on the first day. The topics to be covered by I-ESC, which will be held in the Portalhaus building of the Exhibition Centre from 11.00 to 18.00 hrs, embrace innovations in the field of fire protection, building law, escape situations, technical safety and safety concepts for fairs and exhibitions. Exhibitors in this field can be found both in the halls and in a special area in the foyer of Hall 11.0 and are listed in a special 'Quickfinder', which will be available during Prolight + Sound. The Eventplaza Conference will take place in Room ‘Granat’ (Hall 11.0).
Systems integration and AV media technology
The fields of systems integration and AV-media technology are presented in an integrated manner in all halls at Prolight + Sound. For easier orientation during the fair, exhibitors in the Media Systems product section are listed in the 'Media Systems Quickfinder'. Also an integral part of this segment are the information events held within the framework of the Prolight + Sound Conference.
Outdoor exhibition area
On the outdoor exhibition area, the Concert Sound Arena and the Portable Sound Arena will showcase large-scale stage constructions and small and large scale PA systems operating in realistic con­ditions. Another expanding area is the presentation by manufacturers of large portable display systems, mobile stages and tent systems, who can also be found on the outdoor exhibition area
Read the article in the online edition of Regional Film & Video here.