The PLASA Show is returning to Olympia London to showcase live entertainment technology on September 3-5 (2023), with an expanded format including more than 230 brands, over 110 educational sessions, and thousands of industry professionals.
Pro audio professionals can connect with brands such as Allen & Heath, AED Audio, BishopSound, d&b audiotechnik, DiGiCo, EM Acoustics, FBT Audio, Glensound, KV2 Audio, JBL, L-Acoustics, Midas, Nexo, Omega Pro Audio, OutBoard TiMax, Peavey, RCF, Sennheiser, Shure, Tannoy, and Yamaha. Audio-Visual brands in attendance include Canford Audio, Clear-Com, Epson, Green Hippo, Luminex, PSCo, Rigging Services, Rosco, and Tight AV.
The seminar program, sponsored by Vectorworks, includes Eurovision with Tim Routledge; the Olympics with Durham Marenghi; Women in Lighting on the role of lighting in storytelling; and technical deep-dives with ETC, Avolites, Cast and Vectorworks. Audio content will come courtesy of Innovate Audio and their panLab spatial audio processor; London’s Frameless art gallery in association with LSi; the ASD on wireless microphone fitting; Sandy Brown on acoustically challenging spaces; and OutBoard’s investigation into “What’s Immersive?” AV is also covered with sessions on Green-Go with Canford; advanced video technologies with Frame:work; intercoms with Clear-Com, RFID with Rentman; and IPMX with Avixa.
Business is to be a focus as well withsessions on redefining leadership with Production Futures; parenthood with Women in Live Music; neurodiversity with Backup; the future with award-winning author Mark Stevenson; sustainability with the ALPD; and Brexit with PLASA.
Attendees will be able to access presentations on technical achievements, including TAIT reporting on the Soundstorm festival; Electric Airshows on lighting drones; Unusual Rigging on the West End’s Mrs Doubtfire; and James Simpson on his LSi column, Future Tech. And visitors can go deeper into health & safety with Tom Goode; BS7909 with James Eade; EN17206 with TAIT; Technical Standards with the ABTT; and theatrical experimentation with PEARL.
The PLASA Show will also see several hands-on training and immersive demonstrations. Visitors can take advantage of Dante Certification across levels 1, 2, and 3, as well as an additional elective course – anyone interested in attending is advised to sign up on the website in advance to these sessions to secure a space. Elsewhere, ChamSys will offer three days of practical training sessions, covering MagicQ, QuickQ, guest lighting designer sessions, and end of day Q&A.
Audio professionals can explore live demonstrations from KV2 Audio, JBL, and RCF, with plenty of new products on show. Plus, the d&b Soundscape theatre returns to run various sessions and demonstrations throughout the show. And for lighting professionals, Minuit Une will demonstrate their impressive award-winning IVL Photon luminaire.
Following its debut last year, CH Vintage Audio will return to the show in tandem with LSi’s Classic Gear Live. Together they will showcase vintage audio and lighting products used in concerts, albums and shows, including Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon sound system, The Beatles’ Abbey Road monitors, and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust tour equipment from 50 years ago.
The PLASA Awards for Innovation will be at the show, celebrating this year’s latest technology developments, presented in association with LSi and sponsored by Medialease and Yutree. Visitors can see the nominees on the Innovation Gallery during the show and see who wins during a ceremony at 6pm on Monday in seminar theatre 1. Futher, both exhibitors and visitors are invited to the show bar afterwards for the official #WeMakeEvents afterparty.
Spaces for socialising and support
Introduced at PLASA Focus Leeds earlier this year, the EventWell Hub will debut at PLASA Show, offering a quiet space with professional support. Elsewhere, Women in Lighting will host a networking session in partnership with Ambersphere and Ayrton. Find them at the bar from 3:30 pm on Monday. Also at the bar, visitors can enjoy quality music courtesy of Martin Audio and The Bug Club, a professional DJ booth in a converted VW camper van, kitted out with Martin Audio.
Sophie Atkinson, PLASA’s head of events, says, “This year’s show has really grown, with a significantly bigger show floor plus exciting new features and friendly get-togethers. With the industry keen to safeguard against future challenges, we have made sure that the show’s content is both valuable for businesses and accessible for new entrants. I invite you to take advantage of all there is to offer and join the conversation at the forefront of the live sector.”
Find out more and register for the show here.
