The inaugural PLASA Focus Show in Leeds on April 28-29 beat the headiest expectations and the credit crunch as exhibitors reached for superlatives to describe both the turnout and the organisation.With the show floor in both the Saviles Hall and the Royal Armouries Hall virtually sold out, anticipation had been high since PLASA Events announced its takeover of the show from AC Entertainment Technologies last year.
The team had set out to continue the show’s compact, user-friendly format while opening it up to the entire industry, broadening the marketing and creating new networking opportunities.
A new, expanded seminar programme was among the key highlights, with the Royal Armouries Theatre well-filled with visitors from the opening seminar which explored the BBC’s new Media City in Salford and ended with a lengthy Q&A session.
And the exhibitor party in a large sports bar on the first night proved a big hit and a great opportunity to relax and network.
By the time 1,398 visitors (pre ABC audit) had been registered for the show, and delighted exhibitors declared their intention to return in 2010, the buzz was of success all around.
Philip Norfolk of MA Lighting, which showed its new MA2 control surfaces, commented: “We’ve seen an excellent mix of students as well as serious clients, users and operators – a really broad spectrum of visitors. There have been good visitor numbers, high levels of interest and an excellent environment…and the time to spend with these people. For anyone that’s exhibited in Leeds before it’s an expected mix, but it has altered for the better by being part of PLASA; it’s a forward movement for the show and I’m very happy with that. We’ll be returning – this is a show that’s definitely on the map, both for its visitor quality, for its commercial success and for the excellent atmosphere that’s been created.”
The broad spread of visitors from across the entertainment production world was a theme for many, including Hoist UK’s Paul Jordan, on the company’s first appearance in Leeds. Paul opined: “There’s been a lot of interest in our products, so it’s been really good for us. The show’s very well attended and people find it great, now that there is such a variety of manufacturers and it’s really becoming a very representative show for the entire industry, especially in the northern area of the UK.” He added: “Visitors have come from both theatre and the rock and roll industry – a good, wide spectrum of people. We’ve seen a lot of students as well, which is also good because we want to meet the people who are going to be in the industry in the coming years. So it’s excellent all round. We expect to do it again next year but we might need a bigger stand!”
Tim Chapman of Lab Gruppen, also on the company’s first time at the show, and sharing a stand with Peavey, commented: “Both of us are looking at doing it year after year. The amazing thing to me is the first three people I met at the show this morning were customers of ours who I’d never had the opportunity of meeting before. A regional show like this means you uncover more of your regional end users. So we’re very pleased.”
Clay Paky’s Ashley Lewis, previewing the new Alpha 700 Series, said: “We knew this show was going to be good – quite a number of us had spoken about it and we were all correct. As soon as the doors were open it was busy; it’s been busy all day and it’s been quality people, mostly from the north but visitors from Scotland as well. We’ll be doing the show again and we will strongly support this show."
Erik Larsen of ETC – which held the European launch of its Element desk at the show – said: “Now it’s hosted by PLASA there are more dealers exhibiting here, which is a benefit for the end users. We’re very happy with the way it’s gone.”
Matthew Griffiths, PLASA CEO, said: “I’m thrilled that we’ve managed to establish PLASA Focus as a complementary event to the PLASA show in London. All our objectives of developing a regional event with relevant regional content through the seminars, and being able to access all types of people in the industry from students through to practitioners, from local designers through to local businesses, have been met. And we’ve been able to do it in an inexpensive format, in a very friendly environment. It’s also allowed us to try ideas that we’ve always wanted to such as the visitor catering and the exhibitor party and various other touches.
“Another factor that many exhibitors have commented on is that they have time to talk to the people they want to, which adds another dimension, and we’ve also been able to spend time with exhibitors, to
get a closer understanding of what they want to get out of an event like this, and how we can maximise those opportunities for them.”
Nicola Rowland of PLASA Events comments: “PLASA Events was established to provide different types of events for the industry to generate more business. And we have absolutely reached out to people that don’t normally come to the London show at this event – which was precisely the intention. 70% of those who pre-registered said they would not normally attend the London show, and that has translated into actual visitors at the show.
“The success of this first PLASA Focus has convinced us that the format, whether it’s applied by sector or by region, is fully capable of being extended, because as a trade organisation PLASA is about creating business opportunities for members, and an ideal way of doing that is by providing a reasonably low-cost way of exhibiting to new customers.
“So an important point is our intention to maintain the format and the size of the show as it is; PLASA Focus will not become a large-format show, and nor will any other PLASA Focus events. This will always be a low-cost entry, fixed stand space, highly sociable, very informal, seminar-driven event. The one thing that we absolutely guarantee is that the professional manner in which the show is presented will be what people expect of a PLASA event.”
Adds Matthew Griffiths: “It also ties in with PLASA’s willingness to get involved with other trade bodies and collaborate for the industry’s benefit, such as the recent announcement with ABTT regarding training and qualifications, and in taking the lead on BS8901 for the industry. PLASA Focus is an ideal place to further those aims because we all have a chance to meet and talk on a local level to a great many people. People are thinking, well that’s okay, we’ll buy into that; and gradually other organisations are coming alongside us and we’re all beginning to work together, which is exactly what the industry needs.”
Martin Professional’s UK managing director, Tony Browne told Installation Europe: “The show was a resounding success for Martin Professional. From the minute the doors opened there was a constant stream of high-quality people. The location in Leeds meant that it exposed us to an audience that perhaps would not make the trip to Earls Court. As we were only showcasing new products on our stand, it generated a lot of interest and activity. Well done, PLASA, for a great show.”