Summer festivals have never really been in a thing in the UAE for obvious reasons. However, if ever a festival was perfect for a scorching Dubai summer, WATERBOMB is it. Starring some of the biggest names in K-pop as well as a packed roster of international acts, the unique water-based concept saw water cannon-wielding artists and super soaker-equipped audience members beat the heat by drenching each other throughout the weekend. Launched in 2015 in Seoul, South Korea, WATERBOMB took place for the first time ever outside East Asia on 7 and 8 June at Dubai Festival City Waterfront. Tasked with…
Author: Peter Iantorno
‘Running away to join the circus’ is a fantasy that has crossed the mind of many a world-weary worker who wishes for a life on the road, free from the constraints of the mundane where thrills and spills are the norm, and every day presents a new potentially perilous challenge to be overcome. While in years gone by the circus was the very antithesis of a long-term, stable career, nowadays, with major international groups such as the world-famous Cirque du Soleil putting on increasingly sophisticated productions, when it comes to personnel – both on stage and behind the scenes –…
Returning to the same gig year after year is never a straightforward task. While the temptation might be to rip up the blueprint and start afresh every year to appease the external demands for constant innovation, often a more prudent and logical approach is to build on the foundations that were laid in previous years. This was certainly view of People CEO, Tim Elliott, whose company was recently invited back to produce the Opening Ceremony of the UAE President’s Cup for the second year in a row. “We started this project last year knowing that the story of the President’s…
The Unilumin Utile EA series is specifically designed for large-scale LED rental scenarios, perfectly fitting both indoor and outdoor stage construction needs. This product boasts several highlights, including 16-bit colour processing depth for perfect video source reproduction and 7680Hz high refresh rate for detailed dynamic displays. The Utile EA series is committed to optimizing user experience in installation and maintenance. Each unit weighs only 7kg, allowing a single engineer to install it easily, reducing labour costs. The product also features retractable positioning pins, enabling engineers to complete the installation with a gentle push. Additionally, anti-misalignment latches on both sides prevent…
NMK Electronics and MILOS have announced a new partnership, which will see NMK distribute the Czech manufacturer’s trussing and structural support solutions throughout the GCC. The decision to partner with MILOS was driven by NMK’s strategic goal to enhance its structural support offerings. “In our quest to provide comprehensive solutions to our clients, we identified a gap in our portfolio for trussing and structural support systems,” said Nicolas Cox, Managing Director at NMK Electronics. “MILOS’ reputation for quality, coupled with their attractive pricing and adherence to European standards, made them the ideal partner for us.” The partnership will cover the…
Unilumin is set to host an open day at its Middle East subsidiary show room in JLT, Dubai. Taking place from 24 June to 29 June, this event aims to foster deeper connections with the manufacturer’s valued clientele. Marking a departure from traditional events, the open day will offer an intimate setting where clients can experience the company’s latest LED rental products firsthand. “Beyond a mere product showcase, this event embodies a warm invitation to our showroom, complete with refreshments,” the company stated. “Unilumin is eager to hear genuine feedback and ideas from the clients, underscoring the commitment to customer-centric…
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2024 (PLSG) concluded on 26 May in Areas A and B of the China Import and Export Fair Complex. The 22nd edition saw an expanded exhibition area spanning 200,000 sq m (57.7% increase from 2023’s edition), encompassing 21 halls and Y-channel exhibition areas. An impressive 2,136 exhibitors from across the globe unveiled their latest innovations, representing a 52.2% growth. With overseas buyer numbers almost triple that of the previous edition, the show welcomed a total of 107,692 industry visitors, while over 100 enlightening concurrent events, forums and seminars were held during the fair. Ms Judy Cheung,…
Beginning his career in 2008 with a regional equipment rental business as a supervisor, Stephen Lynch has navigated his fair share of challenging and hectic days in the industry, gaining invaluable insights into how events are orchestrated, not just from an equipment standpoint but also from operational and production perspectives. From 2013 to 2023, he worked with FLOW in the UAE as a Senior Account Manager, before freelancing on high-profile projects such as FIFA World Cup Qatar and Rugby World Cup in France, before being offered the position of Head of Commercial with FLOW KSA. “Knowing this role didn’t exist…
Consider this: every single piece of plastic ever made still exists today. In fact, each of us is likely ingesting a credit card’s worth of plastic each week, because plastic pollution is everywhere – in our water, our soil, our air, and our food. The facts are stark. We are awash in plastic – 8 million tonnes enter our oceans each year; only 9% of plastic is recycled, and most is downcycled into products of lesser quality that are less likely to be recycled again. Recycling is still important, as it reduces plastic pollution and reminds us all to consider…
What do event staffing and recruitment agencies do? Well, aside from the obvious in finding freelancers for projects, the role of a staffing agency is to add value to the entire recruitment process. According to JAM Event Services’ Managing Director James Mistry, this is something the staffing arm of his company, JAM People, does in a variety of ways. “The whole process is based around collaboration between a staffing agency, event freelancer and the end client. It’s about all three parties working together towards the end goal of a solid project delivery,” he began. “As far as we’re concerned, it’s…
At the start of the creative process for any tour, the early conversations between show designer and band are critical. So, when Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr briefed Lighting Designer and Lead Creative Mark Wynn-Edwards ahead of the band’s Global Tour 2024, it’s safe to say that the LD was pleased with the room for creativity that he was afforded. “Jim’s main criteria was that the show needed to look massive – the show was going into some big spaces, and we needed to fill every inch,” he smiled. “That was handy because it happens to match by ethos perfectly.…
Taking place on 9 March, just before Ramadan got underway, the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix saw hordes of excited racing fans descend on Jeddah Corniche Circuit to witness Champion Max Verstappen continue his title defence with another dominant victory, before filtering down the road to the nearby purpose-built concert site and partying the night away. Earlier in the day before the race got underway, TPiMEA was on site at the concert venue to catch up with some of the key players behind the production, with MDLBEAST’s Production Director Andy Head generously sparing a few minutes from his busy…
