After going every LDI from 1990 to 2009 (three part writeup of that 2009 show here), it’s hard for me to believe that it had been 13 years since I had attended, and also four years since I had been in Vegas. But I’m really glad I took a break from my crazy, last burn out semester at CityTech and flew out to Vegas (with a stop in Denver to see David Byrne’s Theater of the Mind, more on that in a separate post). The show is what brings everyone together, but it’s the socializing and running into old friends in the aisles that makes these experiences so special; Herrick Goldman’s Evoke Collaborative dinner is always a highlight of these things too, and I was honored to be invited:

It was a busy show and trade show floor, and after the COVID lockdown, it was like a reunion in a business that’s booming. Every single person I spoke to said they either had just had their best year ever, were having a hard time hiring people, or had a sales backlog. (Click any photo for a larger version).

Networking

Networking (as I have written about here extensively) is now a fully mature technology in our industry, and the offerings on the floor reflected that. Theatrixx had a really nicely packaged switch. TMB was showing some new Proplex switches, and Luminex had their line on display as well. Pathway had their stuff on display as well but I forgot to take a picture, and I got in such a deep conversation with Bernie Broderick at Truth in Audio that I also forgot to take a picture of his pre-release “Transmission Control Module” which is very cool.

Show Control

TMB Code Bridge

TMB was showing a device I need to check out more, the ProPlex “Code Bridge” for SMPTE Time Code. I guess it was a prototype and I wish I had spoken to someone about it because I can’t find anything about it online?

Ben Peoples IO Box

Ben had a really cool device on display that’s in development, that will take contact closures and send out UDP and OSC messages. This is going to be a really useful device for smaller show control and entertainment control systems where people don’t want to customize larger, super complex systems (as I did for the Gravesend Inn)

Lighting

I’m a sound/video/networking guy, but this is a lighting show. And there were, I’m sure, lots of cool new LED moving lights, etc. But the Minuit Une IVL Photon is really innovative—a laser illuminated scanner unit that is really a fascinating design. You really have to see a video of it to get it, they have some linked from their site.

Electric

It’s pretty rare that you see innovation in the connector market, but I think Hubbel has really got something good in their EdgeConnect technology, which they were showing in twistlok plugs. Instead of screws, it uses spring clamps to terminate the wire. Obviously, this saves assembly time, but one thing we see in older cable assemblies is that over time—with heat expansion and contraction—the wires work loose and eventually this means the connector overheats and can melt or even catch fire. This spring clamp idea has been around a long time in control terminals but it’s a pretty brilliant idea to put this in a plug as well.

The Entertainment Association?

Michael Strickland of Bandit lights—who emerged as an important industry leader during the COVID lockdown—is proposing an industry-wide lobbying group called “The Entertainment Association” for the live event industry. I agree with his intent, but I think there’s other organizations where this could already be hosted (like ESTA).

Other Cool Stuff

There’s always so much at these events; here’s some random other things I found interesting.

Looking Forward to the 2023 Show

Even though I’m early-retiring from full time teaching, I love the live entertainment industry and have a lot more I want to do; I’m looking forward to the 2023 show, hope to see you there!

LDI 2022