PLASA Focus: Stamford -- A Show to Remember

PLASA Focus' latest addition to the North American regional event series landed in Stamford, Connecticut last week, impressing attendees with a wealth of new product launches, crowded seminars, and a bustling show floor.

Over 600 visitors, dealers, distributors, and manufacturers gathered on the show floor and in the seminars and saw over 50 exhibitors and 100 new products making their regional debut at Focus: Stamford including Clay Paky's new Sharpy Wash 330, A.Leda Wash K20, A.Leda Wash K10, A.Leda Wash K5; Elation's new Energy Saving DMX moving heads; Look Solution's TINY S Fog generator; and Robert Juliat's latest LED profiles TIBO and ZEP, to name but a few. A full report will appear in the November edition of Lighting&Sound America.

The Professional Development Program was a big hit, packing out rooms that included such diverse sessions as "Architecture and The Art of Theatre Design" a keynote seminar by lighting designer and theatre consultant, Richard Pilbrow; "Is Video Killing Theatre" presented by award winning projection designer, Wendall Harrington; "What is a Network and Why Should I Care?" presented by John Huntington, professor of entertainment technology at City Tech, and author of Show Networks and Control Systems; and "Lighting Design: The Past, Present, and Future" presented by lighting designer, Don Holder.

CEO of PLASA Matthew Griffiths, commented: "This event, as with the other Focus shows, really delivered in terms of attracting visitors who wouldn't ordinarily travel to the larger national or international US trade shows, giving our exhibitors direct access to their end users. This region is where it's at in terms of entertainment technology and we're thrilled to be able to bring its talented, and hardworking, residents together to talk and do business under one roof. It's been a wonderful occasion."

Blaine Engle, of Elation Lighting added: "This has been a great show, just like the other two PLASA events have been in the United States, I think this is going to set the tone for things to come. And while we like the bigger shows, these smaller shows give us more time to get more familiar with the local environment, and give the people that couldn't afford to go to the bigger shows an opportunity to come here and see our products."

Chad Tiller, of Rosco, also shared: "I love it. It's great to feel the local community come together at an event like this, and being able to socialize and do business at the same time."

Visitor and lighting designer Marcia Madeira, noted: "I'm really glad to have a show in my neighborhood for a change. I think it's great, and I'm very excited to see manufactures and vendors that I know from years of working with them, and to meet the people on the other end of the phone. This is good!"

Lighting designer and guest speaker Don Holder concluded: "I think with the smaller format there's more opportunity to talk to the manufactures and representatives and get hands on with the gear, which is what we all want to do. It is one thing to go to a website or a catalog but to be able to see it and use it is really important. And it seems very well attended; it was very exciting to have so many people at the lecture!"

Organizers PLASA Events can confirm that a substantial number of exhibitors have already signed up for the next PLASA Focus, taking place in Orlando, Florida on May 15 - 16, 2013, as well as two subsequent shows to be held in Austin, Texas on September 10 - 11, 2013 and Nashville, Tennessee on February 5 - 6, 2014.

PLASA members, Focus series exhibitors, and regional dealers can all benefit from substantial discounts at the shows. Free registration opens soon for Orlando at www.plasafocus.com.