PLASA 2012 PREDICTIONS

With PLASA now only thirteen days away, it is time to seriously think about what it is going to deliver.

My predictions for the show, apart from all the talk that is going to be devoted to the Olympic Games:

MIXING CONSOLES: Nothing new in the large and medium formats, possibly some new software and more effects. On the smaller scale we will see some development with digital consoles catering specifically to small bands, clubs and houses of worship.

LOUDSPEAKERS: New models, but nothing that is going excite anybody, except fans of the product. Maybe some more steerable speakers.

MICROPHONES: New radio microphones to accommodate the new frequency ranges with more control features. Otherwise some new models, but nothing is going knock anyone’s socks off.

LIGHTING CONTROL: New software with more integration of media software. I don’t expect fireworks here either.

LUMINAIRES: More LEDs, specifically in Profiles, Fresnels, PCs. Overall the focus is going to be on energy efficient sources with LEDs starting to come of age. Going to be some really interesting products to see.

EFFECTS: Bigger and better, but again nothing really new.

MEDIA SERVERS: This is going to be interesting, I reckon more features, easier user interfaces and it is going to continue the trend of integrating with lighting control.

RIGGING: More and better motor control and new shapes in trussing, but the old standards will still be the mainstream.

DIGITAL SIGNAGE: This seems to be a hot topic and I foresee a lot new here with some more crossover between the traditional projection manufacturers to include digital signage – a lot more suppliers on the bandwagon.

LED DISPLAYS: Also going to be worth looking out for – better resolution, smaller pitches and a lot more flexible, both in form and size.

EDUCATION: There is going to be a lot of talk about education in our industry and I foresee some interesting international alliances being formed to standardise training and certification.

We’ll see in two weeks if I got it right, I will report on my accuracy after the show. If you do not want to wait till then, remember I will be Tweeting from the show floor on new and exciting developments, follow me on @Philip_Kruger (you will only get PLASA news, I’m not going give a minute by minute account of my coffee breaks or what beer I’m having).

HEROES or THE ART OF STAYING POSITIVE

With Olympic fever going around and everybody having something to say about it, I thought, why should I be different? No fear, this is not going to be about the opening ceremony or anything remotely connected to my usual subjects – this is much more personal.

The whole world is currently enamoured by Oscar Pistorius and rightly so - he fought for his dream and overcame tremendous odds to be in that semi-final. In my book, he gets the Gold for Spirit and Determination. A worthy role model and someone to think about every time something doesn’t quite go your way.

I have a personal hero, you won’t have heard of her, you probably haven’t noticed her occasional appearance on my facebook page. She lives in Pietermaritzburg, lost the use of her legs in a motorcycle accident at the age of sixteen and she lives her life.

Never have I heard a negative comment from her, the world doesn’t owe her anything, she goes out and gets it for herself.

Every time I feel that life is getting on top of me, you know, those days when you just feel like you are fighting to stay in the same place, but it keeps sliding away under you? When you wonder if it is worth carrying on…why not just give up and let someone else worry about it…

When it gets to that point, I stop and think of that girl in ‘Maritzburg in her wheel chair and I compare my life to hers – shyte, what am I complaining about? I am not living half as much as she is and I am complaining? She is the least disabled person it has been my fortune to know and in her own unique way has taught me that disabilities are purely mental – you are as disabled as you want to be and like Oscar, she has chosen not to be disabled.

Like them, I choose not to be disabled by my own or anyone else’s negativity, I will live my life. Guess what? Somehow, life is suddenly better; the sun is just that little brighter and without fail, there is good news in my Inbox. 

That is my secret to remaining positive and the old cliché of ‘count your blessings’ really works for me. I suggest you do the same before you complain about your life.

Jene’, thank you, you have no idea how much you have meant to me over the past twelve years and you certainly share that Gold medal with Oscar!