Abbreviation PLASA Type Trade Association Membership 1100 | Formation 1976 Headquarters Eastbourne, UK CEO Matthew Griffiths | |
The Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) is a trade association based in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. Its membership is made up of companies involved with the events and entertainments technology sector.
Contents
History
PLASA was originally known as the British Association of Discothèque Equipment Manufacturers (BADEM), a name used between 1976 and 1983.
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.
In 2010 it merged with the Entertainment Services and Technology Association. In 2015 PLASA Governing Body chairman John Simpson announced that the organisation had been facing "critical cash-flow problems", precipitating the sale of its Eastbourne office, staff reductions, business restructuring and a reduction in services provided to members. In addition, the de-merger of the American arm of the organisation into a separate body (similar to the ESTA association that preceded the merger deal in 2010) and relocation of the PLASA Show to West London at a smaller venue were announced. Chris Toulmin, the organisation's Director of Events, stated that much of the difficulties faced by the organisation stemmed from the reducing profitability of the PLASA Show in London. In the same release, it was stated that the long-serving CEO Matthew Griffiths would be leaving his post and the Finance Director Shane McGreevy would take up a part-time role.
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.
After merging with ESTA, PLASA took on the role of maintaining the industry standards for DMX512 and RDM. PLASA have also been responsible for the development of a UK National Rigging Certificate, which launched in 2007 for individuals working in the entertainments rigging industry.
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.