PLASA 2010 Unveils Most Comprehensive Free Education & Learning Programme Yet…

The first details of this year’s extended PLASA 2010 Education & Learning Programme have been unveiled by organisers PLASA Events. The acclaimed programme of free seminars and masterclasses includes top international speakers on industry projects and technologies, sustainability, AV and systems integration and much more.

The Gottelier Masterclass will be presented, as is now established tradition, by last year’s Gottelier Award winner – Alex Cooper from Midas Klark Teknik. Entitled ‘Don’t Just measure: Listen’, the Masterclass will be an appreciation of the power of human perception and spatial awareness, and how they relate to audio – in particular, the fact that just because a piece of audio gear measures correctly does not necessarily mean it sounds good.

InfoComm International will host a seminar theatre dedicated to AV & Systems Integration. Topics over the dedicated two day programme include lighting for video in the large meeting environment, project management for stage labour, audio techniques for corporate AV events, a primer on audio equalisation, AV Mathematics and moving signals for presentation covering interfacing between HDMI, DVI and SDI, and the evolution of presentation networks.

A suite of seminars aimed at demystifying EN54 take place on Monday 13 September. ISCE will host a seminar for acoustic consultants, architects, specifiers and facilities managers on EN54 and how it affects the industry, followed by a further seminar hosted by AMS Acoustics / Intertek, another with renowned acoustician Peter Mapp, and closing with a presentation from The Institute of Acoustics.

Technologies for Worship has extended its three-day programme by popular demand, opening with a talk by Wigwam president Mike Spratt on how UK houses of worship are using technology, from an integration standpoint, as well as creatively. See how the use of modern technology is making the house of worship community one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Other Technologies For Worship guest speakers and topics include Stephen Ellison, lighting designer at Nimbus Design & Production, whose two seminars cover tasteful lighting design on a budget and different lighting fixture types and their environmental impact. Other sessions in the programme include; the problem of stage volume in churches and how to deal with its effects on worship; multisite and broadcast solutions; bridging the communication gap between techs and pastoral staff; and de-mystifying audio techniques.

Roland Hemming, RH Consulting, presents ‘Millennium Dome 10 Years On’ – a candid account of the project and lessons that can be learned from other large projects. The Millennium Dome was a unique event that set a number of challenges both technically and for those involved with managing the project. Roland Hemming was Head of Sound for the project and will take you through the events of being there for nearly three years and provide an insider’s view on how and why things turned out the way they did.

Ben Darrington of Wireless Solutions presents a basic introduction to wireless lighting controls, with more advance “cellplanning” of antennas and co-existence with other wireless networks.

Tuesday will see a series of seminars addressing Sustainability. The Theatres Trust and other contributors will share knowledge and best practice during a full day of specialist sustainable seminars, starting with a seminar on Display Energy Certificates for Performing Arts Venues, examining the impacts of Display Energy Certificates on performing arts venues in the UK, and looking at their scope, relevance, benchmarking, legal implications and long-term future.

Julie’s Bicycle will address Sustainable Building Audits and Sustainable Touring, whilst another Theatres Trust session will be a round-up of its Ecovenue project, a European Regional Development Fund-backed programme working to improve the environmental performance of London’s smaller theatres.

A further sustainable issue will be addressed in a White Light / Arcola / BOC panel discussing ‘Hydrogen – an alternative fuel source’. During 2010 a joint venture between these three resulted in the first of a range of hydrogen-powered fuel cells suitable for use in the entertainment industry. These fuel cells have already been used at the Natural History Museum, Latitude Festival and London Bubble Theatre. They provide virtually silent power suitable for use for lighting in remote locations with no emissions. This seminar will explain the technology behind the system.

Harnessing Social Media without Fear is the topic of a session on Tuesday by Claire Adams and Jonathan Ross of Social Fuel, aimed at company owners, managing directors, marketing specialists and product managers. The Internet is a social medium, bringing together millions of users in an environment with few rules or structures – it’s a staggering opportunity for businesses, but one that can also be a bit frightening in its fundamental lack of control. This session will provide a valuable insight into how companies can harness social media by starting and owning debates rather than attempting to change them. The discussion will discuss what social media is, how to get started and examples of best practice and future trends.

The final day of the show will see seminars focusing on Skills & Qualifications in the industry and Best Practice. The National Skills Academy will run a couple of sessions, as well as WISE on women in stage entertainment and a Production Managers’ Forum with a panel of experts, entitled ‘Is the new TMA/BECTU Code of Practice for Get-Ins, Fit-Ups and Get-Outs working?’

Further updates to the full Education & Learning Programme will be added to the PLASA 2010 website in the run-up to the show.

All these seminars are in addition to the co-location of two brand new industry conferences – the ‘PLASA International Rigging Conference’ will run on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 September, and Pro Sound News Europe & Installation Europe are presenting the ‘AVNetworks 2010′ one day conference on Wednesday 15 September.

PLASA 2010 show director Nicola Rowland comments: “The diversity of seminars and the quality of presenters continues to grow and we are seeing many more sessions that have been created by sheer demand. We fully expect even more to be over-subscribed than last year and urge visitors to register both for the show and for their desired seminars as soon as possible. In addition to which we are delighted with the two conferences co-locating alongside PLASA 2010 – providing even more reasons to attend than ever before.”

www.plasashow.com

www.plasariggingconference.com

www.avnetworks2010.com

Pioneer announce new CDJ-850

The CDJ-2000s are quickly replacing the CDJ-1000Mk3 as the industry standard player in the world’s biggest clubs, while the CDJ-900 takes root in regular clubs. For semi-pro bedroom DJs and bars and completing the rekordbox™ enabled CDJ line-up, Pioneer today announce the new CDJ-850, available from August 2010 (suggested retail price: £799).

Main features

• Retains most of the principal functions from the industry club-standard CDJ-2000, such as the 206mm jog dial and large screen for visual information.
• Able to play all types of digital files, such as WAV, AIFF, MP3 etc.
• Incorporates rekordbox, allowing the creation and editing of playlists pre-gig, and recalling cue and loop settings for more inventive DJing.
• On-screen display allows for quick and easy music selection, and the wave display allows greater grasp of the dynamics of a track.
• By connecting via the CDJ-850’s special interface (USB HID), more complex DJ software can be used without using a control disk.
• Tag list allows registering and itemising of tracks at the touch of a button.
• Auto beat loop function, tempo variation, CD ‘resume’ function and vibration-resistance are just some of the other additional features.

Expect to see this unit at a SEDA ShowNight in the near future, for more info, visit the Pioneer website or djsounds.com

BPM 2010 Tickets Now On Sale!

Tickets for BPM 2010, Europe’s largest event dedicated to DJing, are now on sale. Following a tremendously successful show in 2009, which attracted close to 4000 visitors, BPM 2010 will return to the Birmingham NEC later this year from Saturday 2nd to Monday 4th October – an extra day due to last year’s popularity. [Read more]

Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser dies at 92

It has been announced that Fritz Sennheiser, the founder of Sennheiser has passed away at the ripe age of 98 a couple of days ago.  Sennheiser is a family firm which is well respected in the DJ community for producing some of the very best microphones and headphones.  For a fascinating insight into Prof. Dr Sennheisers’ achievements, visit his biography on the Sennheiser website.

Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time.

ShowNight Success

So here I am fresh for a nice stay at the Village Hotel.  It’s the day after the night before and what a totally amazing ShowNight it was last night!  We had another fantastic attendance from our Membership who came along to see RSD, Denon, Mastermix, Glosticks, TopLite and more!  We congratulated long-standing SEDA Member Robbie Earl on his new appointment as Secretary of the NADJ and we also congratulated our own Chairman, Paul Forsyth for becoming a Grandad for the third time that very afternoon!

Richard from Mastermix drove all the way from Rotherham with a car-full of CD’s at incredibly cheap prices so we thank Richard for his commitment and look forward to seeing him again soon.

As a SEDA first, we auctioned off some speakers that had been in Paul Forsyth’s van for waaaaay too long.  The (unfortunate) winner was David Wimble from Allied Entertainments who no doubt will use them as furniture or as part of a future magic trick or something.  It’s just s shame our Chairman couldn’t make them disappear out of the back of his van!

Anyway, enough ramble, take a look at the piccies!

Pop Rocks The Charts

Acts like Lady GaGa, Cheryl Cole and the X Factor have helped Pop overthrow Rock’s domination of the UK Charts.

According to the figures 33.5% of singles sold in 2009 were classed as Pop by the Official Charts Company (OCC

A further 18.9% were RnB, including JLS, Beyonce, Dizzee Rascal under the OCC’s guidelines.

Almost 9% came from hip-hop acts like the Black Eyed Peas.

But Rock’s share slumped from 31% to 24.5% – led by Anti X-Factor fuled No. 1 from Rage Against the Machine, Kings of Leon and Kasabian.

However it was the Black Eyed Peas and Lady GaGa who were really the main acts of 2009.

The Black Eyed Peas, who have not looked back since Fergie joined their ranks in 2001, are currently playing four nights at the 02.  A far cry from the days when they played the Jazz Café in London.  They may have been accused of ’selling out’ to the like of Dr Pepper but the british single buying public don’t seem to care.  With a blend of pop, electro and hip hop Will I Am seems to have found just the right formula for chart success.

24 year old Lady GaGa, real name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
(no wonder she changed it!), burst onto the scene in ‘98 with her outrageous act and the club and chart hit Just Dance.  She has gone from extreme to outrageous extreme since.  Her notority was not harmed by her own dolop of paparazi fever when her sexuality was called into question recently.  However, it’s her music most notably Bad Romance that really prove that she has what it takes to be a long running pop success and not just a naughties phenomenom.

TOP UK SINGLES OF 2009

1. Lady GaGa (above) – Poker Face (Genre: pop)
2. Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling (hip-hop)
3. Lady GaGa – Just Dance (pop)
4. Cheryl Cole – Fight For This Love (pop)
5. Joe McElderry – The Climb (pop)
6. La Roux – In For The Kill (pop)
7. Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow (hip-hop)
8. Rage Against The Machine – Killing in the Name (rock)
9. Alexandra Burke ft Flo Rida – Bad Boys (pop)
10. Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway (hip-hop)

Source: BPI/Official Charts Company

SEDA DMX Seminar Presented at the NADJ Tradeshow and AGM

On Sunday 25th April the National Association of DJs held their annual Tradeshow and AGM which was held at the Barn Function Centre, Berkshire. SEDA contributed to the show by providing a shortened version of our popular DMX seminar as presented by myself.

The 30 minute seminar included all the basics of DMX including set-ups, system options, DMX addressing and some more of the technical information that’s always useful to know. To download the presentation and notes taken from the seminar, see below.

If you found the seminar useful, or have any questions following my seminar at the NADJ Tradeshow, please drop me an email: dev@seda.org.uk. Watch this space for future, full length, SEDA DMX seminars and workshops!

Download the DMX Seminar Presentation and Notes (Adobe PDF)

NADJ AGM & Trade Show 2010

The National Association of Disc Jockeys annual knees up is THIS SUNDAY and instead of being at it’s usual motorcycle museum location they’ve shifted it top Gloucestershire which has the added benefit of being next to a country theme park which is great for the kiddies.  What this means for you is that whilst you’re being geeky and nerdy with your NADJ buddies, your Wife and kids in tow can “have it large” in the theme park – everyone’s a winner, Yeehaa!

The best news of all is that SEDA members get in for absolutely free, all you need to do is present your membership card on the day and they will open up the barrier for you.

So, I guess you want to know what’s there?  As well as the formality of the AGM there will be chance for you to mix and mingle with a pretty amazing cacophony of retailers and manufacturers all looking to milk you of the very last coppers you have left over from the thousands you earned over Christmas.  It’s not all that bad though, there are some pretty amazing products out there right now (including the ShowTec Acrobat LED moving head video we’ve now added to the website on the homepage!) and loads of reasons to drive over to Gloucester.

We could list them all here but it would take forever to do that so instead, why not meander over to the NADJ AGM & Trade Show website to get the full story!

SEDA ShowNight 16th May 2010

Following on from amazing ShowNight and AGM on 21st March 2010 where we elected the new committee, John Kidd has left the committee having served as chairman and vice chairman. John had the vision and drive to rejuvenate an ailing association with dwindling membership, and with the help of the committee and the support of the members of the association set about rebuilding SEDA into the thriving community it is now. It is therefore fitting that SEDA marks this achievement and departure with a bit of a celebration.

As many know, John’s day job is as a bus driver for Arriba. Therefore in order to pay tribute to John for his immense contribution, and as a one off we are holding the next SEDA ShowNight on the 104 bus which John will be driving from Maidstone to Faversham at the slightly earlier time of 19:20 on the 16th May. The committee has worked very hard on this, and has the backing and support of all the suppliers for that ShowNight, as well as the members show which is being provided by our newest member Richard Mills of Award Entertainment with his minimal and discreet show which he can set up in 2 minutes (thankfully Richard is not bringing vinyl on this occasion!).

The plan is for all to get on the bus where all the usual ShowNight regulars will happen. Should you miss the 19:17 at Maidstone, here is the list of stops and times for route 104, so you can join in at the most convenient stop for you:

Maidstone, Chequers Bus Stn, Stop H3 19:17
Vinters Park, Emsworth Grove 19:26
Detling, School 19:31
Detling Hill, Jade’s Crossing 19:36
Detling, Kent County Showground 19:38
Three Squirrels 19:42
Key St, Pearce & Batt Garage 19:48
Chalkwell, Kings Head 19:52
Sittingbourne, Rail Stn, Globe & Eng, Stop L 19:56
Sittingbourne, St. Michael’s Rd, Crown Quay Ln 19:57
Snipeshill, Rectory Road 20:01
Swanstree Ave, opp. Sitt. Comm College 20:02
Bapchild, Fox & Goose 20:03
Teynham, opp. Swan 20:08
Ospringe, Post Office 20:15
Faversham, Forbes Road (for Rail Stn), Stop J 20:20
Faversham, Crescent Rd, Tesco’s, Stop C arr. 20:22
Faversham, Crescent Rd, Tesco’s, Stop C dep. 20:29

Obviously, for this to be a complete success, it is important that no one breathes a word about this in John’s shell-like Also worth noting, those who wish to bring equipment for sale on the bus should ensure that they can carry it onboard easily as they arrive, and it is therefore suggested that these item should be small.

Full details of the ShowNight exhibitors will be here in the near future.

April fool team

SEDA SHOWNIGHT 21st March 2010

March ShowNight and AGM is Sunday 21st March 2010!

It has been moved from it’s second Sunday spot, as Sunday 14th is Mothering Sunday.  I hope to see as many of you as possible, since as well as having a blinding line-up for you, it is also our AGM, and it would be really good to have a strong membership turn out for this one!!!

Exhibitors: Denon, RNID, SpeakerPlans, Matrix, PCDJ, Microphome and James and the team at Advanced Event Designs who will exhibiting the much anticipated Micro Deckstand Booth.

Retailer: CRS1

Regular Features: Member Show – Paul Bouzan, SEDAshop, The Essential Selection, Second Hand Table

Other Features: SEDA – AGM, Barney Grossman – Report on Mobile Beat Las Vegas, RNID – Cheque Presentation

I think that covers most of it, of course we’ll be holding the legendary raffle with half the funds given as first prize the other half going to RNID.

Look forward to seeing you all there, doors open 19.30 prompt, venue:

The Village Hotel
Castle View, Forstal Road, Sandling,  Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AQ. Just off the M20 J6

DO NOT USE THE ABOVE POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV – IT WILL TAKE YOU MILES AWAY!!! For programming satellite navigations systems please use postcode ME14 3AS.

Paul Forsyth
SEDA – Chairman / Events

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