The Mantra Garden Bar & Club, an investment of about $7 million, might have racked up an even more impressive cost total if Frank Murray, proprietor of sound and lighting specialist Audiotek, had opted for something besides the PR Lighting fixtures for the double-floor venue.

From AC/DC to U2, Berlin to Yes, Janet Jackson to Tina Turner, Cher to Madonna, Barney to Walking with Dinosaurs, Bob the Builder to the Wiggles, Metallica to the Rolling Stones — tour manager Jake Berry has earned a backstage pass to some of the most successful and biggest acts in the business and to rock ‘n’ roll history itself.

In an economic downturn, maybe “flat” should be considered the new “up.”

Other industries are getting gutted in the current economic climate, but transportation industry leaders in the touring industry are grateful for “business as usual,” which remains (mostly) good. The caveat is that customers want better pricing. And some companies outside of the concert/touring business who happen to have some big trucks are trying to elbow into the market. And if the recorded music industry continues to struggle, its decline is making touring a more important source of income for artists, and that’s good for industry transportation professionals.

If you went to PLASA 2009 at Earl’s Court in London looking for that whiz-bang- hallelujah got-to-have-it life-changing product on the show floor and you didn’t find it, maybe you aren’t looking hard enough. If the Next Big Thing (NBT) didn’t seem to materialize, it’s probably because the last NBT — LEDs, media servers and networking — are still unfolding before our very eyes.

They do the staples of live event industry: fairs, festivals, street parties and sometimes even weddings. They put as much heart, sweat and creative energy into the local event held on the high school playground as that one-off Dave Matthews show or that kinetic jaw-dropping corporate launch. They are the local heroes who, day-in and day-out, do what needs to be done, with little recognition. But the Parnelli Board of Directors and those at PLSN are honored to recognize the achievements of these six diverse companies.