JOHANNESBURG — The 2014 Ghoema Afrikaans Music Awards, staged at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City here April 13, was the latest in a string of high profile events in South Africa where Robe fixtures played a key role. The show, named for a barrel-shaped drum, was lit by LD Mauritz Jacobs from Dream Sets for a live audience of close to 3,000. The production was also taped for broadcast a week later on Afrikaans channel Kyknet.
LAS VEGAS — The Parnelli Board of Advisors has announced that Benny Collins, production/tour manager for Michael Jackson and Journey, will receive the live event industry’s highest honor, the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award, at the annual gala ceremony in Las Vegas Nov. 22. Collins has also worked with the likes of David Bowie, Rolling Stones, Madonna and U2, among others.
LONDON — American R&B trio, TGT, played London’s iconic Eventim Apollo (formerly the Hammersmith Apollo) on March 27 as part of their “Shirts Off” tour. The rig included Elation’s Platinum Series and other Elation fixtures supplied by English rental company MusicMann. Handling production on the London show was Steve “Shaggy” Wright, lighting, video, and production pro at MusicMann.
LONDON — LD Richard Rhys Thomas of the Royal Albert Hall (RAH) used Clay Paky fixtures for the Mountbatten Military Festival of Music March 13-15. He used 36 Alpha Wash Halo 1200s, 16 Stage Line fixtures and a half-dozen Alpha Wash 1200, Alpha Wash 575, Alpha Spot HPE 575 and Stage Scan fixtures, all supplied by the RAH.
MIAMI — From the Mega Arch to the Mega Structure, products sourced via Inner Circle Distribution were put to use at the 2014 Ultra Music Festival, held here the weekend of March 28-30. The products were provided by Paradigm Lighting, Beachsound & Lighting and AG Light & Sound. The gear included Eurolite STP-10, Eurolite 2x100W COB Blinder, PMC-16 4×4 RGB Matrix, MADRIX Ultimate and Professional and hazebase hazers and foggers.
LOS ANGELES — Concert touring pro Mo Morrison, 61, who had been undergoing treatment for cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center here, succumbed to the disease April 7, 2014. He is pictured here on Nov. 23, 2013, accepting the inaugural Parnelli Hall of Fame lifetime achievement honor.
LAS VEGAS — The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) reported that total registered attendance for the 2014 NAB Show was 98,015, an uptick of more than four percent from 2013. Exhibit space was also up more than seven percent from the previous year, with the event comprising 1,746 exhibiting companies spanning 945,000 net square feet of exhibit space.
FORT WORTH — A group of students tasked with a scenic design that celebrated oddball holidays — in their case, Leap Day — was voted 2014 winner of the Rose Brand / USITT Action Design Competition. The contest was staged at the USITT Expo, held here in late March. In a contest first, these same students also won the individual prizes for top scenic, costume, and lighting designers, as well as technical director. “Team Leap Day” members were honored for their design concept, its development and how the themed environment was lit.
FRANKFURT, Germany — Pasquale Quadri, founder and chairman of Bergamo-based Clay Paky SpA, received the lifetime achievement prize at the MIPA/PIPA awards on March 13 during Prolight + Sound.
ORLANDO, FL — From March 5-7, Absen’s Orlando showroom was turned into a classroom as 26 technicians from 17 rental and staging companies participated in the inaugural Absen Certified Engineer (ACE) Training Program, the first program of its kind in the U.S. sponsored by a Chinese LED manufacturer. A second ACE training program will take place later this year.