BERLIN – More than 7,400 visitors attended Showtech 2013, the international trade show and conference for theatre, film and events at the Berlin Exhibition Center June 19-20. It was a slight increase compared to the previous event two years ago, which drew 7,364 in 2011. Showtech organizers say this year’s show was characterized by “good business and high visitor quality.”
More details from Showtech (www.showtech.de):
“For almost three decades, Showtech has been standing for the international business in stage and event technology. Once again, the trade show gave proof of that this year,” says Hans-Joachim Erbel, CEO of Showtech organizer Reed Exhibitions Deutschland.
There were 311 companies and institutions from 21 countries taking part in Showtech to present high-tech solutions from the fields of stage technology, professional lighting technology, audio and media technology as well as equipment and décor.
This year’s trade show drew in number of decision-makers from theatres, opera houses and concert venues, constructional engineering and event services as well as purchasers from abroad.
As before, Showtech 2013 focused on the stage technology, lighting technology and equipment segments. However, the trade show also scored points with a range of new topics. For filmmakers and television specialists in particular, the event had broadened its range.
The new “Picture Effects in HD” Demonstration Area dedicated to the challenges of HD filming turned out to be the new crowd puller. “With the new demonstration area we give filmmakers the opportunity for experimentation and interdisciplinary cooperation with other fields such as lighting, makeup or costume making,” says Showtech Project Manager Anne Maja Reiniger-Egler.
The accompanying Showtech Conference likewise drew experts from all over the world to Berlin. Presentations on international projects and cultural developments complemented the well-attended technology lectures on the conference program, which was again coordinated by Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft (DTHG) as the institutional patron of the trade show. The conference opened with the international symposium “Theatre and cultural spaces in the 21st century as part of the cultural and creative industries,” organized by, among others, the German Ministry of Economy and Technology (BMWi).
The Costume Makers’ Symposium or the Safety in Action Stage further complemented the trade show with their programs. More and more, Showtech is coming to focus on the issue of event safety. This was once again demonstrated by the success of the Safety in Action Stage.
In spite of the difficult financial situation in parts of the cultural and events sector, the industry demonstrated its willingness to invest at Showtech, the organizers say. Evidence of this is also provided by a representative poll among trade show visitors: one in three visitors came to Showtech with a concrete investment project.
The next Showtech takes place May 19-21 in May 2015 at the Tempelhof Airport.
After 29 years at the Berlin Exhibition Centre, Showtech changes its venue to this popular event location. “On the airport premises, Showtech and its exhibitors enjoy the unique opportunity to prove the industry’s creativity and to provide a concrete experience of event technology,” says Erbel.
