My suggestions for people to meet, companies to check out and booths to visit at the IAAPA Attractions Expo Nov 16-19 in Orlando
ShowSys – This Orlando-based company, providing tech design and tech management, audio system customization and some ingenious, proprietary control software, counts SeaWorld, Six Flags, US Space & Rocket Center, Princess Cruises and Sam’s Town among its clients. ShowSys recently became part of the FUNA International group – it is still headed by Scott Arnold and Jason Pontius but now backed by all the considerable resources at FUNA’s command. They aren’t exhibiting but look for Scott Arnold on the floor – he’ll probably be with Brian Paiva of FUNA business development.
Jumana Brodersen – Former creative executive with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment gone independent with The J Co LLC, based in St Louis, and now a master planner and consultant for Tivoli, while also serving on the Eastern Division Board of the Themed Entertainment Association. Latest big success: the opening of Klump Island, a new, branded children’s play area at Tivoli. Ask her how she likes commuting to Copenhagen, and stop by InPark Magazine (booth #970) for a copy of the latest issue which includes an interview with Brodersen.
Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) booth # 1268 – If your time is limited at the show, plant yourself here - most everyone you need to see will make a stop at the TEA booth. Now heading into its 20th year, the Themed Entertainment Association has made its booth the nucleus of the “high-tech” area of the show – a welcoming place to meet and shmooze, get your tickets to the Wed night TEA party (no political affiliation!) and learn more about the association and its activities. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 2011 TEA Annual & Directory, hot off the presses. Want to be one of the first to learn what projects have been named for TEA’s 17th Annual Thea Awards? Be at the TEA booth on Tues Nov 16 at 2 pm when the announcement will be made live. Want to see Rick Rothschild formalized as new TEA president as outgoing prez Steve Thorburn passes the gavel? Be at the annual TEA members' meeting at 8:30 am on Wed Nov 17.
Wildfire (booth #671) is the market leader in UV (ultraviolet, aka “black light”) effects for theater, themed entertainment and special events, offering a range of light fixtures and special paint products. Recent clients include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the MTV Video Music Awards and Santa Monica’s Glow festival. They’re exhibiting together with Modern Masters, which markets Wildfire fluorescent paints. Stop by and say hello to Wildfire president John Berardi.
Mindi Lipschultz, digital media producer, fulfilled two of her biggest career dreams this year: to work on a world’s fair exhibit, and to work with Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Arts. She did so by playing a vital role in media production for the Information & Communications Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010 – an award winning pavilion that has been highly praised for its “mass customized” interactive experience using handhelds and big screens in concert. Look for Mindi interacting in the high-tech exhibitor area.
LSA - Copies of Lighting & Sound America magazine will be available free in the TEA booth (#1268). LSA is published by PLASA (Professional Lighting & Sound Association, based in the UK) which is in the process of merging with ESTA (Entertainment Services & Technology Association). This excellent and beautifully designed monthly magazine celebrates great lighting, sound, AV and technical design in touring shows and concerts, Broadway shows, performing arts centers, special events, museum exhibitions, theme park attractions and more. Publisher: Jackie Tien. Editor: David Barbour. Subscriptions are free to industry members: sign up at the LSA website.
IPM (booth #970) – InPark Magazine, an independent publication out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin published and edited by Martin Palicki, will be distributing its current issue (#34), with a cover story on the late Harrison “Buzz” Price. Inside there are interviews with master planner Jumana Brodersen of The J Co, ultraviolet scenic specialist Richard Green of UVFX and the outgoing/incoming TEA presidents, respectively Steve Thorburn of Thorburn Associates and Rick Rothschild of Far Out! Creative. There’s also a profile of 4D media entrepreneur Markus Beyr of Kraftwerk, an analysis of the special venue film market by Janine Baker of nWave Pictures and a look at technology trends by Maris Ensing of Mad Systems. A selection of IPM back issues will also be on hand. Subscribe free to the digital edition via the IPM website.
Markus Beyr – the head of Kraftwerk Living Technologies GmbH is the international go-to guy for 4D attractions. Recent projects include Marvel Superheroes 4D at Madame Tussauds London, Dragons Treasure at City of Dreams in Macau and Arthur at Futuroscope Park in Poitiers, France. Beyr is bringing the motion base back into the equation (and calling it 5D) and is now offering a 4D theater package specifically for waterparks (in association with Polin). Kraftwerk partners with 3D movie distributor nWave Pictures – nWave’s content will be running on Kraftwerk’s systems at the nWave booth (#5159), and that and the Polin booth (#4440) will be home bases for Markus Beyr during the show.
Gordon Linden is a world’s fair consultant and co-author of The Expo Book, which garnered such a good response to its initial appearances in print and online (its first publication was chapter by chapter, in successive issues of InPark Magazine) that it is now available in book form (can be purchased at lulu.com). Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Arts (booth # 668), designer of two highly acclaimed pavilions at Shanghai Expo 2010, also contributed to The Expo Book. With the successful Shanghai expo having stimulated a resurgence of global awareness and interest in world’s fairs, Linden and Rogers have been promoting The Expo Book together and can be expected to do so at IAAPA. A limited number of copies will be for sale during the show at the IAAPA bookstore.
Judith Rubin - a top editor, journalist and publicist for the themed attractions industry. You will likely find Judy shmoozing around the TEA and IPM booths.
