ExCeL Welcomes PLASA 2013

Launched back in March, organisers revealed that this year's show will take place at the ExCeL in London for the first time ever, under its new name: PLASA London 2013.
PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths explains: "PLASA London 2013 reflects a new focus on international visitors, which is the number one reason we moved to ExCeL. ExCeL London is just five minutes from London City Airport, which handles 350 flights per day from over 40 international destinations. London is already the best connected City in the world and this October, PLASA London 2013 will take place in one of the best connected venues in the world, and that's a fact."
The ExCeL features seven onsite hotels, 1,900 rooms within walking distance and 10,000 rooms within 20 minutes, as well as a brand new floor plan, two new bars, three new business lounges and three educational theatres.
PLASA London 2013 will feature over 30 companies that did not exhibit in 2012, including Pioneer, Samsung and Sony.
Other exhibitors new for 2013 include Creative Technology, Aspen Media, PRG, Pyrojunkies and Sound Network, while Shure, Martin Audio, Roland, SSE Audio and Harman are returning once again with increased stand space.
Show Manager Jennie Barratt said: "PLASA London delivers an attractive proposition to exhibitors, with over 12,000 high quality visitors who are eager to see the latest technology and are in a position of purchasing influence. We are pleased to welcome both new and returning exhibitors, from the industry giants to smaller yet innovative brands, many of whom have new products to present during the show."
Described by organisers as "the most important edition in the show's history," this year sees PLASA run from 6 – 9 October, featuring the ever-popular Professional Development Programme and a range of other sessions, conferences and debates.
The Professional Development Programme takes place over the four days and will offer free sessions to give visitors a glimpse of the new and emerging technologies powering some of the world's most talked-about live shows, events and venues.
All sessions in the audio streams are presented by leading experts in audio technology, with separate programmes on Live Sound and Installed Sound in the new AudioLab Theatre, including: 'Touring Live Sound Meets Broadcast Audio', 'Bringing Together AV, IT and Audio' and 'How to Soundcheck!'
In the midst of the show, the PLASA Rigging Conference will take place from 7-8 October, featuring discussions and session topics such as control system design, truss design criteria and structural collapse. This year's Riggers Forum will include a presentation about climbing on trusses, an issue currently under scrutiny by the HSE, followed by an open forum for questions and points of concern.
In tribute to the National Theatre, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, PLASA London has also announced two sessions to commemorate the world-renowned institution.
‘Theatre Versus Architecture and Technology’ will take the form of an after-hours discussion between Richard Eyre, the NT's former Artistic Director, and theatre consultant Richard Pilbrow.
They will look at the design process behind the three stages and the innovative technical installations, while ‘Changing Theatres 1963-2013 (In Loving Memory Of Mark Fisher)’ features a group of colleagues, led by Richard Pilbrow, discussing the “revolutionary times” that they have lived through at the NT, and speculating on what is to come.
A series of DJ sessions supported by the National Association of Disc Jockeys (NADJ) will form part of the Professional Development Programme and will feature a series of free educational seminars.
Paul Arnett, National Chairman for the NADJ, said: "PLASA London is a great opportunity to meet up with like-minded professional DJs from across the country. We feel that, through attending events such as this, we can better equip our current and future members with the tools and resources they'll need to help build and develop their businesses. Our professional seminar speakers will have sage advice and guidance on marketing, presentation, DJing skills and so much more."
PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths concludes: "Last year, PLASA's free Professional Development sessions reached over 6500 people worldwide, 4000 of those at the London show alone. Free education and training supports the worldwide industry and PLASA London 2013 will see a significant development in terms of our educational offering, including the chance for visitors to go behind the scenes at some of London's most iconic entertainment venues."
www.plasashow.com
(IT/CD)