With Return of Lighting Design Competition Sponsored by Electrosonic SA  

May 2017

Electrosonic SA has opened up the call for entries into the 2017 Lighting Designer Contest which is proudly hosted together with Martin Professional (Denmark), Lighthouse Holland and Mediatech Africa. An opportunity for contestants to express their skill and creativity, hopefuls competing for the 2017 title are invited to design the ultimate lighting show and this year, the decision has been taken to open up the contest to all brands of lighting consoles.

According to Electrosonic SA Lighting Director Bruce Schwartz contestants may use any brand of lighting console such as MA, Avolites, Chamsys and Hogs.  “We will also have the Martin M-Series consoles available for the many M Series users. We believe this decision will open up the scope to a far wider pool of contestants and provide for even more electrifying designs.”

Showcasing incredible talent and the trends in illumination in the live event industry, the competition is a real highlight of the biennial Mediatech trade show this year being staged from 19 – 21 July. With almost 200 attendees at the inaugural lighting competition two years ago, the 2017 demonstration promises to be even more of a spectacle; more impressive and even more widely supported.

Adding further gravitas to the event, the judging panel this year includes an esteemed group of independent professionals, including previous LDC winner Gary Sam, Mediatech exhibition director Simon Robinson, and Peter Dahlin from Martin Professional Denmark. The scoring of each entry is assessed on creativity; variation; timing; use of a range of functions on the Martin fixtures; and audience reaction.

To enter, contestants must download the contest pack and they have the opportunity to submit their lighting design shows using Martin Show Designer software prior to Mediatech. A MSD 6 Video Rendering of the show with pre-selected music and the entry must be submitted by 20 June for pre-judging, with five finalists announced 10 days later on 30 June 2017. Finalists will present their show during the much anticipated finals event which is scheduled for 5pm on 20 July 2017 at Mediatech in a specially constructed contest area which will be packed with Martin Professional Fixtures; the contest structure lighting will be used by contestants as per the 3D render in the competition pack. Although the audience will be participating in the voting process, the results announced by the Judges will be final.

A pre-designed lighting rig, designed in the Martin Showdesigner 6 software with 60 x Martin fixtures on a structure and grid will be included in the contestant’s pack. This exact rig will be setup at Mediatech. Contestants will then install a demo version of the MSD 6 software on their own computers; an internet connection is needed to access the show file. The entrants will then connect a desk of their choice and programme their entry. A pre-prepared music compilation no longer than four minutes long (supplied with the competition pack), will be played, and their show file must be run to this track. (No time coding will be allowed.) Those who don’t own a control desk will have access to the free M-PC software to create their show - which is provided in the competition packs.

With incredible prizes valued at R80 000 up for grabs the organisers are expecting even more interest than in 2015. The prize line-up includes an all-expenses paid trip to Martin Professional’s headquarters in Denmark for the winner, with a Martin M-DMX, JBL Xtreme Portable Speaker and a one-year Martin ShowDesigner license gong to the first runner up. The second runner up will walk away with a Martin M-DMX and a one-year Martin ShowDesigner license.  Prizes are not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

Mediatech exhibition director Simon Robinson says the initiative aims to engender an improvement in industry standards, while also providing a platform to promote up-and-coming, as well as established designers. “Not only that, the massive entertainment value of the finals event is quite awe-inspiring and really gets your blood pumping.  We are really excited to see the evolution of creativity and we are particularly interested in what the fresh talent will deliver.” 

Adding to this, Schwartz says, “We eagerly anticipate the finals to see who will be awarded the title of 2017 Electrosonic Lighting Designer Contest winner. It’s encouraging to see the industry interest in the competition and we expect like the previous event, that the uptake will be far greater in this the second year of the contest.”

Almost the full range of Martin Fixtures such as the workhorse MAC Viper range, the MAC Quantum Range and the versatile RUSH MH7 fixtures, will be showcased and can be experienced at Mediatech. “On this note, perhaps the most exciting product point to be mentioned is the integration of the Martin Creative Video Products like the VDO Sceptron and P3 Processor, which will highlight the integration of lighting and video in a live show environment,” concludes Schwartz.

Full competition terms and conditions are online and the competition pack with all the required software and competition information can be downloaded at no cost here:  http://electrosonic.co.za/entertainment-lighting/lighting-designer-contest

Follow the competition on social media using #LDC2017SA.

The competition is open to all entrants who reside on the African Continent. There is no age limit or a cost to enter this contest. 

Mediatech Africa is an engaging biennial trade show that brings creative thought to life within six verticals: Broadcast - TV & Radio; Film & Video Production; Digital Media; Pro Audio – Lighting – Staging; Audio Visual Integration; and Studio - Recording – DJ. An unmatched platform for networking, education and entertainment, this high energy – high impact event is all about the seamless integration of technology and creativity. It’s about making the impossible possible. It’s about innovation and bringing ideas to life using the latest tech. The three day event attracts global and local brands who are at the forefront of their industries. Thought leaders, decision makers and the highest calibre influencers who are shaping tech trends and the very industry itself - attend the showcase. By design, Mediatech Africa is an experience which visitors immerse themselves in, leaving invigorated and inspired by the possibility of opportunity and a fast forward glimpse into the future. 

#imagination #innovation #techtrends

Drafted and distributed by SIMONSAYS communications on behalf of Mediatech Africa. For further information please contact
Melanie Stevens
011 465 9815
083 303 9667
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Julia Christison
011 465 9815
082 552 1188
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