Plasa
Encyclopedia
The Professional Lighting And Sound Association or PLASA is a UK-based trade organisation representing over 500 members worldwide.
In addition to providing members with expert advice
on a wide range of business
and technical
issues, PLASA also monitors legislative developments, alerting members to forthcoming UK, EU and international laws and regulations that may affect the way they manage their business.
PLASA is developing qualifications
for the industry
in the UK. It became a QCA
approved awarding body in April 2008 when it launched its qualification scheme for rigging in the entertainments industry.
In a wider role, PLASA also offers guidance on careers and professional development
opportunities in the sector, underlining its aim to ensure that the skills needs of the industry are fully addressed.
The Association also recognises the need for close liaison with Government
and other partners to develop a greater understanding of the needs of the industry. The Association's work in this area - in particular lobbying
campaigns and its research
activities - is helping to build better recognition for the industry.
An increasingly multi-faceted organisation, the Association also runs media and events arms, responsible for two of the industry-leading magazines Lighting&Sound International
and Lighting&Sound America
and one of the main European exhibitions for the sector, the PLASA Show
in London
's Earls Court
.
PLASA is also a member of the World Entertainment Technology Federation (World-ETF) - an alliance of international entertainment technology
associations. Together they create an international forum for the discussion of common issues including technical standards, trading methods, training and education and industry growth worldwide.
The other members of the World-ETF are:
From 1976 to 1983 PLASA was known as the British Association of Discothèque Equipment Manufacturers (BADEM). In 1983 it was decided, in order to reflect the broader business activities of member companies and also the wider entertainment, leisure and presentation markets that member companies were servicing, that a change of name was necessary.
In 1987, PLASA's new headquarters were opened in Eastbourne
, and in addition to the PLASA secretariat, the association's own magazine Lighting&Sound International also operated from the same offices.
At the beginning of 2007, PLASA relocated to new headquarters within Eastbourne.
In addition to providing members with expert advice
Advice (opinion)
Advice is a form of relating personal or institutional opinions, belief systems, values, recommendations or guidance about certain situations relayed in some context to another person, group or party often offered as a guide to action and/or conduct...
on a wide range of business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
issues, PLASA also monitors legislative developments, alerting members to forthcoming UK, EU and international laws and regulations that may affect the way they manage their business.
PLASA is developing qualifications
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
for the industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
in the UK. It became a QCA
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
approved awarding body in April 2008 when it launched its qualification scheme for rigging in the entertainments industry.
In a wider role, PLASA also offers guidance on careers and professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
opportunities in the sector, underlining its aim to ensure that the skills needs of the industry are fully addressed.
The Association also recognises the need for close liaison with Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and other partners to develop a greater understanding of the needs of the industry. The Association's work in this area - in particular lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
campaigns and its research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
activities - is helping to build better recognition for the industry.
An increasingly multi-faceted organisation, the Association also runs media and events arms, responsible for two of the industry-leading magazines Lighting&Sound International
Lighting&Sound International
Lighting&Sound International is a monthly entertainment technology magazine published in Eastbourne by PLASA Media Ltd, a commercial arm of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association and is distributed around the world in English...
and Lighting&Sound America
Lighting&Sound America
Lighting & Sound America is an American entertainment technology magazine published in New York by PLASA Media Inc, a commercial arm of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association...
and one of the main European exhibitions for the sector, the PLASA Show
PLASA Show
The PLASA Show is an annual, London based trade show hosted at Earls Court Exhibition Centre and organised by the Professional Lighting and Sound Association...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Earls Court
Earls Court
Earls Court is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It is an inner-city district centred on Earl's Court Road and surrounding streets, located 3.1 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It borders the sub-districts of South Kensington to the East, West...
.
PLASA is also a member of the World Entertainment Technology Federation (World-ETF) - an alliance of international entertainment technology
Entertainment technology
Entertainment technology is the discipline of using manufactured or created components to enhance or make possible any sort of entertainment experience. Because entertainment categories are so broad, and because entertainment models the world in many ways, the types of implemented technology are...
associations. Together they create an international forum for the discussion of common issues including technical standards, trading methods, training and education and industry growth worldwide.
The other members of the World-ETF are:
- The Professional Lighting and Sound Association of GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(VPLT) - The US-based Entertainment Services and Technology AssociationEntertainment Services and Technology AssociationThe Entertainment Services and Technology Association is a live entertainment industry organization. From their website:"ESTA is a non-profit trade association representing the entertainment technology industry dedicated to a core mission of Building the Business of Show Business...
(ESTA) - The Association of ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Manufacturers for the Entertainment Industry (APIAS) - The JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Association of Safety Staging Technology (JASST) - The Electronics and Information Technology Exporters Association of SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(SECARTYS)
History
PLASA was formed over 27 years ago when a fledgling industry began to develop from the pioneering work of the talented individuals who first explored new concepts in sound, lighting, projection and staging.From 1976 to 1983 PLASA was known as the British Association of Discothèque Equipment Manufacturers (BADEM). In 1983 it was decided, in order to reflect the broader business activities of member companies and also the wider entertainment, leisure and presentation markets that member companies were servicing, that a change of name was necessary.
In 1987, PLASA's new headquarters were opened in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, and in addition to the PLASA secretariat, the association's own magazine Lighting&Sound International also operated from the same offices.
At the beginning of 2007, PLASA relocated to new headquarters within Eastbourne.