It’s September Show Time Again

I recently spent two days at the PLASA show in Earls Court 1 and 2, London. Billed as the premier worldwide professional sound and lighting exhibition, it is claimed that there were over 300 exhibitors this year.

I’ve been to this event every year since 1975 and seen an enormous change in the style of the show over that time. This year, I felt that the show had lost its ‘sparkle’ and ‘fizz’. This was starting to happen in 2008 but was certainly evident a year later.

Whilst there were certainly some impressive stands from the ‘big players’, there was a notable absence of many of the industry leaders including at least three of the world’s top brand loudspeaker manufacturers. I also noted that the mobile DJ suppliers had all but evaporated with only a handful of suppliers making the effort to exhibit. Broad based UK distributors were also very few in number. ‘Word on the street’ was that a lot of this was down to the extortionate prices the organisers – PLASA Events – are now demanding for stand space and ancillary services. Many companies just couldn’t quantify the enormous investment to be there.

In terms of visitor attendance, it seemed a lot quieter in this aspect too. There was no frenetic energy or buzz. The whole thing just seems very steady and unremarkable.

If PLASA (the Professional Light and Sound Association) wants to ensure that their show remains as the self-proclaimed premier industry exhibition, they certainly need to entice a wider range and quantity of manufactures back to the show who offer the most relevant products in order to provide us, the trade customers, with an event which truly reflects all aspects and levels of our diverse industry.

David