Professional Lighting and Sound Association

The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) is a trade association headquartered in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. Its membership is made up of companies involved with the events and entertainments technology sector.

Professional Lighting and Sound Association
AbbreviationPLASA
Formation1976
TypeTrade Association
HeadquartersEastbourne, UK
Membership
1100[1]
CEO
Peter Heath[2]
Staff
33[2]
Websiteplasa.org
Formerly called
British Association of Discotheque Equipment Manufacturers (BADEM)

History

PLASA was originally known as the British Association of Discothèque Equipment Manufacturers (BADEM), a name used between 1976 and 1983.[3]

In 2010 PLASA merged with the Entertainment Services and Technology Association.[4][5] and demerged in 2015. John Simpson, the PLASA Governing Body Chair at the time, said "This has been a difficult period for PLASA but it is also an opportunity for us to refocus. PLASA has a chance to reassess its role in this industry, its relationships and communications with its members, and the future directions of its commercial activities." Also during this time PLASA Show was relocated to Earls Court and CEO Matthew Griffiths left his post.[6]

Peter Heath took the role of CEO in April of 2016. In the same year PLASA Show move back to the West London venue London Olympia. Since then, PLASA Show has steadily regained popularity with the 2018 edition of the show being the “busiest and most vibrant show in recent history”.[7]

Activities

PLASA's activities include lobbying, organising trade show events (including the PLASA Show), publishing both technical and industry news products (such as Lighting & Sound International and Lighting & Sound America), developing industry standards and developing industry certification schemes.[8]

PLASA performed lobbying of Ofcom and other British Government entities in the late 2000s when users of radio microphones and similar devices complained that their equipment would be rendered unusable as a result of proposed plans to auction the radio spectrum utilised by many of such devices as part of the digital television switchover.[9][10]

After merging with ESTA, PLASA took on the role of maintaining the industry standards for DMX512 and RDM.[11] PLASA have also been responsible for the development of a UK National Rigging Certificate, which launched in 2007[12] for individuals working in the entertainments rigging industry.[1][13]

Each year, PLASA hands out PLASA Awards for Innovation and Sustainability Award. The PLASA Awards for Innovation aim to emphasise this focus on true innovation. The procedure ensures that all nominated products are vetted to show that they offer something new to the industry.

PLASA has been a part of the European Ecodesign Coalition which includes prominent industry bodies from across Europe. The purpose of the coalition has been to campaign against Ecodesign lighting regulations and propose exemptions for stage lighting.

In 2018 PLASA collaborated with Hamish Dumbreck of JESE Ltd, Peter Willis of Howard Eaton Lighting and Wayne Howell of Artistic Licence to present Plugfest, a three-day residential event in Gatwick, UK for lighting technicians and developers to test the interoperability of their products. This event returns in 2019 taking place in Lille, France.

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See also

References
  1. "PLASA case study". EAL Website. EAL. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  2. "PLASA Team". PLASA Website. Professional Lighting and Sound Association. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  3. "Multiform Lighting History". Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  4. Low, Andrew (4 Jun 2010). "PLASA and ESTA members approve merger". Audio Pro International. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. Vanderkar, Lauren (18 Jun 2010). "PLASA and ESTA vote to merge". Lighting.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  6. "PLASA Outlines Recent Changes and Future Opportunities". LSiOnline.com. LSi. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  7. https://www.psneurope.com/broadcast/plasa-2018-the-most-vibrant-in-recent-history
  8. "Plasa in Profile". PLASA Website. Professional Lighting and Sound Association. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  9. Barrett, Andy. "BEIRG representatives to meet MPs". Music Instrument Professional. Intent Media. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  10. Austin, Jeremy. "Experts warning of catastrophe in digital switchover". The Stage. The Stage Media Company Ltd. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  11. Huntington, John (2012). Show Networks and Control Systems. John Huntington. pp. 241, 259. ISBN 0615655904.
  12. Greet, Goode, Bonner, Rossington, Parsons, N.J., T, Ron, Ruth, J (2007). PLASA National Rigging Certificate Handbook. Eastbourne: Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA). ISBN 0955703506.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "The PLASA National Rigging Certificate (NRC)". UK Rigging Website. UK Rigging. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
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