Simplified Looks for Big-Time Tour

LONDON — Le Mark, maker of the Dirty Rigger glove collection, announced that 10 percent of proceeds from the sale of their Ladies XS range of gloves for the coming year would go towards the U.K.-based Breast Cancer Care Program. WiSE (Women in Stage Entertainment) is joining the effort by raising attention among its nearly 600 female members and their supporters.

LEEDS, UK – PLASA Focus: Leeds 2012 drew in a record-breaking attendance of 2122 visitors – an increase of 8.5 percent over 2011. The event at the Royal Armouries  April 17-18 offered attendees two days of access to the newest and most innovative products in the live entertainment industry. The seminars and exhibit areas were such a hit that PLASA reports an “unprecedented” number of exhibitors have already reserved space for next year.

LONDON – Chris Bushell, LD for Florence + the Machine, designed his lighting scheme to complement the theme of 1920’s Baroque fashions and architecture. To achieve this effect as well as make use of an esoteric color palette, he chose to use VL3500 Wash and VL3000 Spot luminaires from Philips Vari-Lite for the band’s world tour.

AMIENS, France – The Cirque Arlette Gruss is touring France with four DMX-controlled Robert Juliat 1800W MSR FLO followspots to highlight its fast moving acts. LD Arthur Oudin needed a followspot to follow trapeze artists, clowns, magicians, motorbikes and animals with accuracy. It also needed to withstand the rigors of the road on their six-month tour.

LONDON – LD Al Gurdon designed this year’s Brit Awards at London’s O2 Arena with close to 200 Clay Paky Sharpys in the rig. Performances featured Adele, Rihanna, Blur, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs and Florence and the Machine. Gurdon says he’s been using the Sharpys for about six months now, and the fixture’s flexibility gave him a number of different looks for each artist.