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The Story of Jack Genner and Suzy Ciffic

I have two suppositious friends in this business. They are Jack Genner and Suzy Ciffic. I respect both of them equally for their exemplary work ethic. They are both able to hold down a family life and great jobs. They are both educated and easy to get along with. Their stories have been spread through the cement floors of our industry in many ways. Both Jack and Suzy have chosen separate and distinct paths to their own comfort level in our fine industry. I would like to take time to tell you both of their stories in an effort to let you decide which path you most identify with.

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High End Systems SolaFrame 750

Automated framing shutters on moving lights were once not as common as they are today. The most popular framing-shutter fixture in existence is probably the venerable ellipsoidal reflector spotlight, but motorized framing shutters remained a somewhat uncommon feature on automated lights for many years. This month, I’m looking at the newest member of the High End Systems SolaFrame family, the SolaFrame 750, to see how its feature set stacks up in the world of framing shutter moving lights.

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My Friend, Audio

I have this weird friend named Audio. We’ve worked very closely together for a while now. When we’re dialed in, life is great. Everything just sort of clicks, you know? Usually everyone is really cool when we get along. If I just disappear, most people can still say that they weren’t totally dissatisfied. At least they can say they heard something. But if Audio goes away while I’m on, people flip out. They flip out more when we are both there, but out of sync. We’re still friends, and that’s all that matters, really.

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Oregon Symphony’s Music for the Eyes

Millennials, now the largest single demographic in the world, have not gravitated en masse to the concert halls frequented by their parents and grandparents. But the Oregon Symphony — the oldest continually operating symphony in the western U.S. — is not just any orchestra. With its optimistic slogan, “Moving Music Forward,” the symphony has embraced the goal of attracting new audience members with innovative visual presentations integrated with music.

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Touchdown in Times Square

Part themed attraction, part museum exhibit, “The NFL Experience,” located in New York City’s Times Square, is a new permanent interactive football experience for both the die-hard and casual fans of the game. The NFL, working with the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, have created a multi-floor experience where visitors come in as if they were a new player in the league.

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Hand Tools

Having the ultimate set of hand tools can make you the most popular tech on a tour. It also means you will constantly be updating your kit with newer models as you replace the tools that were permanently borrowed, as well as all the expendables (screws, rivets, tape) exhausted. PLSN reached out to several online forums to ask what tool was their most indispensable.

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NAMM Gets a Video Assist

At the 2018 NAMM Show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center Jan. 25-28, one of the main attractions for the 115,085 attendees was the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage. Mega Systems provided providing screen panels and processing units for the stage, which featured performances from Andy Grammer, OK Go and Michael McDonald to Lindsey Stirling, Butch Walker and Sam Moore.

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Behind the Scenes at the Junior Theater Festival

The Junior Theater Festival (JTF) is the world’s biggest and best celebration of young people performing musical theater. The event is now produced by Timothy Allen McDonald and iTheatrics. Under the educational and artistic supervision of iTheatrics, JTF brings students, teachers and Broadway professionals from all over the world together for a weekend to celebrate outstanding student musical theater productions.

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