BUSINESS
Who: Brian Friborg, President, Martin Professional, Inc. (U.S. division)
What: Manufactures automated lighting, effects lighting, LEDs, fog machines and controllers which are used in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Martin also has a line of architectural luminaires for architectural lighting applications.
Who: Tommy Stephenson, customer development for TMB.
What: Distributor of entertainment production supplies.
Where: HQ is in Pacoima, Calif. (Los Angeles area). Offices in New York, Toronto, London, and Beijing.
Nick Freed, president, Inner Circle Distribution
Who: Nick Freed, president; Noel Duncan, vice president; and Gary Mass, vice president of business development.
What: A full-service distributor of entertainment lighting products for professionals.
Where: Sunrise, Florida
BUSINESS
Who: Michael Cannon, CEO, 4Wall Entertainment Lighting
What: Rentals, sales, installation and design of entertainment lighting
When: Founded in 1999 with partner Bill Lairamore
Where: HQ in Las Vegas with locations in New York and Phoenix
Who: Robert “Bob” Belanger, vice president sales & rental, Show Distribution Group Inc.
What: Sales and rentals of the ChainMaster variable- and fixed-speed hoists, as well as Prolyte roof, truss and stage systems.
Where: Leon-Harmel, Quebec, Canada
When: Founded in 1999.
The Company: LightParts Inc.
(www.lightparts.com)
Who: Don Pugh and Robert Mokry (owners)
What: The “first company” solely dedicated to providing replacement parts and component-level repairs for automated lights and consoles: no rentals, no system sales, just serv-ice.
Where: Austin, Texas
When: 2003
Employees: 11
Who: Dennis Mirabella, marketing manager arts & entertainment business unit
What: Manufacturer and converter of pressure-sensitive tapes
Where: Edison, New Jersey
One of the more fortunate circumstances in our industry is that it is still young enough that many of the pioneers are still around. This month, we had the opportunity to speak with a lighting designer who was present at the birth of the industry in the United States, who helped define the craft, and who had a hand in some of the innovations in modern concert lighting, including the automated lighting fixture and color changer. Today, Stefan Graf owns two successful companies, yet still found the time to speak with PLSN.
Who: Dana Roun, Program Director, Show Production & Touring Associates Degree Program
What: An entertainment media college
Where: Winter Park, Florida
Who: Matt Clouser, president/owner
What: Full-service production company specializing in audio/visual installations and live productions
Where: Atlanta, GA.
Founded: 1993
First gig: “Setting up the lights (PAR cans) for a local club. I was paid $25 dollars a night.”
Latest gig: “We recently had a successful show with the Caribbean Diplomatic Community in D.C.”
THE COMPANY
Who: City Theatrical, Inc.
What: Manufacturers of lighting accessories for the entertainment industry
Where: Carlstadt, New Jersey
When: Founded in 1986
Full-time employees: 35
Who:
Precise Corporate Staging, LLC