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Diversity and Inclusion in AV – it’s our responsibility
DIVERSITY Diversity and Inclusion in AV – it’s our responsibility by Toni McAllister. “It’s not that we don’t want to employ women, it’s just that none are applying.” “If you know of any women, send them our way.” “We love having women on our crew, it really balances things out.” I’ve spent…
Read MoreTrending in Production Lighting – Weatherproof Fixtures
TECH TALK Trending in Production Lighting – Weatherproof Fixtures by ULA Group’s Simon Pentz. While IP65 rated fixtures are nothing new, they have usually only been used in Architectural lighting applications. But over the last few years, the live production industry has started to adopt the use of IP65 fixtures as the…
Read MoreBlood, Sweat & Ears
LISTEN HERE by Andy Stewart. In every respect, music is a form of communication: a human expression, a sonic art. As a science it’s more about the transfer of energy across the medium of air (and occasionally water), or voltage through an electrical circuit. To others it’s the conversion of ideas and feelings into vibrations…
Read MoreRiedel Bolero & Bolero S: DECT-Based Comms
COMMUNICATIONS Riedel’s Bolero & Bolero S: DECT-Based Comms in Stadia and Multi-Purpose Arenas presented by Riedel. Riedel’s widely acclaimed Bolero wireless intercom system is being adopted by sports teams, leagues, and venues from New York to Tokyo. What drives the success of this DECT-based device? DECT is a highly versatile and common standard for wireless…
Read MoreThe Next Generation of Full Duplex Wireless Comms
COMMUNICATIONS The Next Generation of Full Duplex Wireless Comms by Chris Dodds, Managing Director, The P.A. People. Back in the early 2000s, a group of intercom engineers in the UK began experimenting with a technology called DECT to see if they could improve the current state of play in wireless intercom. DECT had its basis…
Read MoreScienceworks Planetarium
INSTALLATION Scienceworks Planetarium by John O’Brien. For over a generation, visitors to Melbourne and science buffs alike have been entertained by the imaginative facilities and exhibits at Scienceworks Museum in Spotswood. One of the most impressive features is the Planetarium and in March 2019, a $1.2 million upgrade debuted new projection and lighting systems. Originally…
Read MoreThe NBN – Not to Blame, Necessarily
COMMUNICATIONS The NBN – Not to Blame, Necessarily by Simon Byrne. We constantly hear of poor internet delivered over the NBN, however the blame does not automatically sit with the NBN Co. There is a lot going on. NBN Co are in an invidious position. Under significant financial pressure from the government, they are the…
Read MoreHow to win a Cisco hackathon
TECH TALK How to win a Cisco hackathon by Landell Archer. Recently, Kim Burgess, an ACAEngine developer from Australia, was part of a team that won the ‘Smart Spaces’ category at the Cisco hackathon in Dallas. Here’s how you do it: Identify an interesting problem Emergencies are an unfortunate reality. Think about it in terms…
Read MoreUndercutting. You aren’t really helping yourself!
OPINION An open letter for those entering the industry. by Alex Hughes. The Australian touring and events market is in a bit of a mess currently and, in my experience, it has been in steady decline over the last ten years. In a recent Facebook post/rant I expressed my frustrations with the overall touring market…
Read MoreTwo Way Radios
COMMUNICATIONS by Jason Owen, Managing Director D2N – Technology Solutions. Since the early 20th century, two-way radio technology has been a key enabler in how we communicate over large distances. From local government, to police, the military, freight operations, marine, aviation and much more, two-way radios have not only evolved but also delivered us smarter…
Read MoreSo What is Event Communications?
COMMUNICATIONS by Chris Dodds, Managing Director, The P.A. People. So who are The P.A. People and what is Event Communications? A common response from our crew is ‘Don’t be fooled by the name on the shirt’, particularly at some of the larger international events that we work on. Whilst domestically The P.A. People are reasonably…
Read MoreCrewCare launches: Important new charity helping crew
Around six years ago a collective of 70s and 80s road crew had a reunion at St Kilda Bowls Club. Afterwards a spreadsheet of present and missing crew was created and with a lot of input from the 200 crew at the reunion, an eventual 400 names represented all known working crew from the 1970s.…
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