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Name Your Top Five Tools

What's in YOUR tool box?

Name Your Top Five Tools

This column marks my 30th story for PLSN … or maybe it’s the 31st. (Senior moments can sneak up to you at any point in time, so I might be off by a bit.) Way back in 2007, I penned a lengthy story about a remarkable concert by The Who in Dallas, and the editor at t he time invited me on board as a contributor. Thirty columns later, video is still causing smiles, gasps and major headaches all across the industry, and there’s no shortage of topics to write about.

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» From left, Christian Engsted, president, Martin Professional; Blake Augsburger, president, Harman Professional; Jens Bjerg Sorensen, president/CEO, Aktieselskabet Schouw & Co. (Martin Professional’s former parent company).

Mr. Harman, Meet Mr. Martin

Harman International announced its purchase of lighting and video vendor Martin Professional literally a week before Christmas, as though it were gift that couldn’t wait to go under the tree for Harman Professional, for which the larger company is, apparently, a good and well-heeled parent. And like many of the complex gadgets that were opened on Christmas morning, it’ll take some time to find out how good it fits with everything else.

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Under the Gun

Productions come in all different sizes and budgets, and often not enough time is set aside for the lighting programming. Sometimes the programming of the lighting is put off for bigger priorities such as building the rig and/or stage. Automated lighting programmers can find themselves in various time crunch situations as they try to meet the production demands. In many cases, this can lead to little to no programming time before an event. A true professional must be prepared for these circumstances and know how to make the best of the situation.

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JD’s music returns to the stage in John Denver: A Rocky Mountain High Concert.

A John Denver Tribute; Imagining Dragons; A Rose in the Hall of Fame

For the first time in 15 years, John Denver returns to the concert stage. Not in physical form, but in an evening of music and memories in John Denver: A Rocky Mountain High Concert. The John Denver estate has created a touring tribute to the late singer/songwriter, performing in U.S. theaters Feb. 1-23. The basic idea is that archival video footage of Denver will accompany live performances by his former band members.

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Illustration by Andy Au

The Prima Donna

I work with a vast array of people in our business. I get along with everyone regardless of color, religion or sexual preference. I like to think that every project needs teamwork to get it done. I firmly believe that if my crew likes me, my show will be better. I may be a production designer, but I value everyone’s input. The lowest guy on the totem pole may sometimes have a great idea that I will incorporate into my show, so I listen. I try my best to avoid being a prima donna, and I believe I have succeeded in that.

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Greg Russell

Greg Russell Joins AC Lighting

PHOENIX – A.C. Lighting Inc. has appointed Greg Russell as Southwestern US regional sales manager, based in Phoenix. Russell has been working in the production entertainment industry for more than 25 years providing lighting, sound, rigging, design, installation and production management to a range of high profile artists, venues and television shows.

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AVnu Alliance Opens Bridge Certification; Adds 50th Member

BEAVERTON, OR — The AVnu Alliance, which certifies Audio Video Bridging (AVB) products for interoperability, has launched certification testing for AVB-enabled networking bridges at its appointed testing house, the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL). AVnu Certification is available to Alliance member companies. The AVnu Alliance also recently added its 50th member, Palo Alto-based Symphony Teleca Corporation (STC).

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Clear-Com Relocates U.K. Headquarters

CAMBRIDGE, UK – Clear-Com relocated its U.K. headquarters. The new office is at 2000 Beach Drive, Cambridge, just down the road from the company’s previous U.K. headquarters. The company said the new facility will enable Clear-Com to continue its expansion in the region, while expanding resources available to its staff members.

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Epic Production Technologies logo

Epic Production Technologies Scales Back

WINNIPEG — Epic Production Technologies, once a major North American provider of concert and theatrical lighting and staging for Billy Joel, Elton John, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Green Day, The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera, appears to have sharply scaled back its operations. Press reports noted layoffs at company locations in Winnipeg and Burnaby Canada and in Oxnard, CA. Senior executives including Marc Raymond, Ted Fowler and Brian Konechny are also reportedly no longer working for the company.

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