PLASA London 2014 Adds New Sessions To Its Development Programme

PLASA London 2014 has added a host of new sessions to its Professional Development Programme.

The latest additions are spread across the programme's two venues – the Audio and AV Theatre and the Lighting and Stage Theatre – and include contributions from Martin Professional, d&b audiotechnik, Rockart Design, the Association of Sound Designers, Total Training and :entertaining sustainability.
The Professional Development Programme is part of PLASA London 2014, which takes place at ExCeL London from 5 to 8 October. Since launching in 2010, it has welcomed more than 300 speakers and thousands of attendees. The programme's aim is to test theory, inspire debate and showcase expert insight from the different areas of the entertainment technology industry.
Rockart Design's session, 'Making the Eurovision Set Come to Life', will see Nicoline L. Refsing reveal the creative process behind performances from the competition's 37 participating countries.
Nicoline, who founded the company in 2011, was Creative Director and Content Producer for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, which used almost two hours of screen content over four media surfaces, including 3D mapping and an interactive floor. Nicoline specialises in the design and artistic delivery of high-end TV-shows, rock and pop tours, artist performances, festivals and events that have a strong visual identity.
The Association of Sound Designers will address a subject that has arisen from the recent decision by Tony Awards Administration Committee to eliminate the sound design awards from its programme.

'What's the Difference Between a Sound Designer and a Sound Engineer? #TonyCanYouHearUs?' will discuss a perceived ignorance in the wider theatre industry about the work of its sound designers and other members of the sound department. A panel, featuring sound designers and engineers, will talk about what their jobs entail and will invite the audience to share their ideas on how the industry can promote theatre sound and understanding of it.

'The d&b Workflow. Efficiency in Sound System Project Management' will demonstrate the d&b audiotechnik workflow - from system design to implementation through planning, simulation and control of the final result. The session will provide an introduction to the integration of the manufacturer's ArrayCalc simulation software, the R1 Remote control software and its amplifiers – all the way from venue data to operation.

Lighting and Stage Theatre sponsor, Martin Professional, will deliver a session about 'The Use of Intelligent Lighting within TV'. Television lighting director, Bernie Davis, will discuss the development and usage of intelligent lighting within the television industry, looking specifically at the Proms 2014 and the Royal Variety Performance. The lighting manufacturer will also host two further sessions 'Technology of Theatre Lighting' – an insight into the way technology has changed how lighting designers create their shows and 'The History & Evolution of Martin/JEM smoke products in Lighting Design' – how smoke and haze products have evolved over the years to fit the needs of lighting design.

Total Training – part of the Total Solutions Group – will present 'Four Rigging Basics' – a short presentation focussing on what employers, managers and technicians should understand before carrying out rigging work or engaging rigging contractors. The session will cover a number of topics, including minimum legal requirements, the right preparations and arranging the correct paperwork.

Tim Atkinson, Technical Director of :entertaining sustainability, will lead 'What can resource monitoring tell me – apart from how many resources I'm using?'. Monitoring the resources your warehouse, office or venue uses is like taking the blood pressure and heart rate of your operation.
Whether its water, paper, electricity or gas, these insights give you vital clues about the things that are happening within it. Tim will outline the things you can monitor, how to do it simply, and what those things might be telling you.

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(CD/JP)