Showlight 2009

Showlight 2009 will take place in Glasgow, Scotland from 17th to 19th May 2009 (registration and reception on Saturday 16th) at the newly opened BBC Television Studios. This will be the eighth Showlight and follows the extremely successful events at the Prinzregententheater in Munich during May 2005 and at four yearly intervals prior to that at venues in Edinburgh, Ghent, Bradford, Amsterdam, New York and London.

We remind you that amongst a crowded calendar of entertainment technology conventions and trade shows, Showlight is both unique and special because:

• Showlight is a "not-for-profit" colloquium organised by lighting professionals for lighting professionals.
• Showlight encompasses the disciplines of theatre, television, film, concert, event and architectural lighting. The attendees include not only some of lighting's most famous names, but also several high profile theatre consultants and significant numbers of full-time lighting students - the next generation of our profession. We anticipate that lighting practitioners from some 20 countries will attend.
• Showlight offers the ideal opportunity for lighting designers and directors to present their work and ideas to their peers. There will be about 25 speakers, including some prominent international personalities from our industries. All presentations will be in the English language.
• Showlight has an unrivalled programme of social events, including buffet lunches, receptions and dinners, together with a half-day programme of visits to notable local performing arts, broadcast and production venues. With a total attendance of 300-350, everyone gets time to meet old friends and to initiate important new contacts and friendships.
• The exhibition stands facilitate much closer personal contact with entertainment lighting users and specifiers than is possible at any of the large-scale trade shows. The stands are closed during conference sessions and visits, enabling exhibitors' personnel to participate in these events.
• All exhibitors, irrespective of size have 6sq.m stands and receive equal treatment at Showlight - so, there's no space for truckloads of equipment and no need for a large budget. Most exhibitors bring along a few sample products from their range - our rule of thumb is that the display material should fit into the back of an estate car!
• The exhibition is strictly limited to just 40 companies.

Showlight cannot take place without the support and participation of the entertainment lighting industry. We are therefore pleased to invite your company to become a Showlight 2009 exhibitor by taking up a package consisting of:

• A shell stand of nominally 6sq.m in the exhibition area. Stands will be open for more than seven hours quality time during the event, and in addition company delegates will participate in all the other events, giving ample opportunity for networking with attendees.
• Delegate participation for two nominated members of your company at all Showlight events, including the Gala Dinner on the Monday evening. Additional members of your company will be welcome to attend by enrolling as delegates at the standard delegate fee.
• Sponsorship of one entertainment lighting student delegate at all Showlight events. The student would be selected by Showlight from applicants who have expressed a particular interest in your company. Alternatively, you may prefer to propose your own sponsored student; in this case, please discuss with Derek Gilbert (contact details at foot of letter) at the earliest opportunity. A portion of your exhibitor fee will be passed on to the selected student via Showlight as a contribution towards his or her travel and accommodation costs. The amount will be £175.00 apart from students living within 30 miles of Glasgow for whom a rate of £100.00 will apply. Students will be expected to assist their sponsoring company in fit-up and break-down of the company's stand, and to act as a general helper throughout the event.
• The opportunity to sponsor other Showlight elements, details of which will be made available in due course.

The Sunday evening (May 17th) of Showlight is assigned to the traditional Company Dinners at which exhibitors are asked to host a table at one of several pre-selected restaurants in Glasgow. All full conference delegates are invited, the host will cover the cost of food and drink! Typically there will be 3 to 5 host companies in each of the restaurants. Allocation of guests will be made by Showlight, with guests being delegates who have expressed a special interest in your company. Table sizes can be in the range of 6 to 16 - or greater! This number includes the company's own delegates and their sponsored student. In past years, the Company Dinners event has been supported by almost all of our exhibitors.

The cost of exhibitor participation in Showlight 2009 is £2,400.00 plus VAT

This includes the cost of the stand, two delegates attending the Saturday evening reception, three day conference, lunches, site visits, usually by coach and the Gala Conference Dinner on the Monday evening.

(It does not include the Company Dinners event Sunday evening, staff travel and accommodation) and is payable as follows:-

- 50% deposit within 30 days of booking

- 50% balance by January 31st 2009

Exhibitors' initial contributions provide the 'seed money' that enables our volunteer committee to plan and organise Showlight. In the extremely unlikely event of Showlight 2009 having to be cancelled (and we haven't had to cancel one yet), then the initial contributions would be refunded in part after deduction of any expenses that had been incurred. Any cancellation on the part of the exhibitor would mean the first payment, which acts as a deposit, would be non-refundable.

We greatly hope that your company will support Showlight 2009 by participating as a trade exhibitor. We anticipate that demand for stands will exceed supply, so please respond promptly! Your booking should be completed on the downloadable form and posted or faxed to Jane Cockburn at PLASA Media Ltd.

If you require any further information please contact either of the following exhibition coordinators:

• Derek Gilbert (Henley Theatre Services Ltd) + 44 (0) 1491 412347
  Email derek@henleytheatre.com
• Jane Cockburn (PLASA Media): +44 (0)1323 524136
  Email jane@plasa.org