On 16-17 April PLASA Focus: Leeds 2012 opened its doors for two days of access to new and innovative products for the live entertainment industry.
Visitor numbers reached new high of 2,122 – an increase of 8.5% on 2011. In all, 2,680 people attended the show over the two days with a significant number of exhibitors re-booking on-site for 2013.
As well as the Professional Development Programme, vistors were also treated to a host of UK product debuts.
Chauvet Europe showed its 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 came the new Generation-II Software and the XL48 ‘digi-log’mic preamp; Martin Professional introduced the new Viper family of MAC moving heads; while Studio Spares gave visitors the opportunity to experience the new M1000 studio headphones.
Elsewhere, FBT Audio announced its new Installed Sound division; entertainment lighting specialist White Light showcased solutions from its exclusive product line; Ambersphere brought new products from Clay Paky and MA Lighting; and Sennheiser unveiled the XS Wireless Series.
Leeds also saw the UK premiere of the Yamaha CL Series Digital Consoles, while ETC showed the new Source Four LED, and the LUCAS Nano 300 made its UK debut courtesy of JHS and HK Audio.
Tony Hamer, a retired lecturer from Leeds College of Music, was enthusiastic about the educational benefits of PLASA events as he chatted to representatives from the Backstage Academy: “I’ve been coming to PLASA Leeds and London for as long as I can remember. It is the place where students can see the most bang-up-to-date equipment, talk to the most knowledgeable people and get a real feel for what’s actually going on.”
Exhibitors too, were clear about the benefits of making the trip north. Richard Morgan from JHS was a newcomer to the show: “This is my first visit to Leeds but it has a great vibe.”
As Roland Higham, a consultant in audio and control software, declared: “You can’t overestimate the value of face time.”
PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 will take place at the Royal Armouries Museum and Saviles Hall on Tuesday 30 April and Wednesday 1 May 2013.
