Are we still in an economic recession? I have asked that question to a number of people within the industry. Answers have been running the spectrum from “Yes” to “What recession?” We can sit here and debate whether or not we are, but the fact is, people are starting to spend money again. Tours and productions are going full tilt and requesting more and more production technology.
Still, gone are the days of money flowing like water. We have to make the right choice at the right price. We are educating ourselves and looking to spend, though in the back of our mind the fact remains; we still need to watch our wallets. Instead of buying the latest with little research, we now find it more important than ever to research and evaluate our options. Everyone is hungry for as much information as possible in order to make the correct decision.
In these pages and online, we strive to provide information about new products, services and news from around the industry. That is our job, to create initial awareness and evaluate products for our readers. However, before anyone makes a buying decision, they understandably want to see what they’re buying; even better, if they can use it to understand it. We all play a role in educating and informing the industry but the proof is in the performance.
When we figure out that whole space-time continuum issue, beaming products through these pages to you will make trying out products a whole lot easier. Until then, in the next few issues of PLSN you’ll see much more of an emphasis on products. We’ll be increasing the number of Road Tests in PLSN. These are real world uses of products and we will report back to you on how these products performed.
There is a wealth of opportunities available to increase your knowledge — discussions with your peers on forums such as ProLightingSpace.com. In your city there could be an open house at a local production company which will include product demos, but not all road shows will becoming to your city and many times everyone’s favorite, trade shows, are hard to get to and you can’t invest the time getting there from your job. So PLSN will be doing its best to help keep you up-to-date with the latest from R&D departments from around the world.
By being an informed production technology consumer, you can increase your opportunity to get out of the red and into the black. Knowledge is power. It may be a silly adage from the 1970s, but it speaks the truth. (Oops, sorry. That was Hobbes from the 17th century in Latin.) Bottom line; take the opportunity to increase your knowledge base whenever you can.
Knowing the latest technologies and developments in the industry makes you a valuable commodity — a thought leader. People will look up to you and value your opinion and resources. Learning of and getting to know key players in the industry helps expand your connections and offers greater opportunity to land more gigs. More gigs equals more money. So, if you’ve been experiencing a “personal recession,” it can be a way of getting out of the rabbit hole and into greener pastures.
Here’s a learning opportunity right around the corner. InfoComm is coming up. It’s a great place to see the convergence of projection and lighting. Another great way to expand your knowledge base if you can make it to Orlando. There is some truth to those Best Buy commercials about what was the latest and greatest yesterday is being replaced today with something even better. Reading PLSN and getting out to industry events keeps you informed and will help ensure that you invest in products wisely.
There is hope that the “Great Recession” is moving its way into the history books. I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Now’s the time to take every opportunity to play a bigger role in the production uptick we hope lies ahead of us. Read, learn and participate = Growth. It will provide you the path to becoming a more informed production technology purchaser.
