About the Association
PLASA is the lead international membership body for those who supply technologies and services to the event, entertainment and installation industries.
The association, which operates from offices in Europe and North America, acts as the worldwide voice for the industry, providing a wide range of business resources, technical support and commercial benefits to its members.
At the start of 2011, PLASA and ESTA - the leading trade association representing the North American entertainment technology industry - merged under the PLASA name, to create a strengthened organization with a worldwide membership of over 1100 companies and individuals.
Members can join the association in the following categories:
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Business - open to companies working with the technologies or providing services associated with them, together with venues and producing organizations.
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Organizational - Government-accredited educational providers, unions and non-profits.
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Individual - Individuals, who work with, specify or provide services linked to the technologies.
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Service Providers - Companies offering business to business support services to the industry.
The activities of PLASA are overseen by a Governing Body working through two Regional Boards in North America and Europe.
PLASA offers a comprehensive range of services to its members, including support and advice from specialist advisers, technical updates, a range of research projects, business and technical seminars, and specially negotiated rates on a range of business products and services.
In addition to these, PLASA also runs a number of wider industry initiatives.
PLASA is actively involved in the development of standards and directives worldwide. In North America, PLASA leads the ANSI accredited Technical Standards Program (created by ESTA) which is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices that facilitate the use of new and existing equipment and promote safe working conditions in the industry. Under the TSP, PLASA facilitates a number of industry-led working groups focusing on camera cranes, control protocols, electrical power, fog and smoke, followspot position, performance floors, photometrics, rigging and stage lifts.
In Europe, the organization works closely with the BSI in the UK and CENELEC in Europe to support the development of standards for the industry. At a worldwide level, PLASA is a key contributor to the development of ISO international standards and has numerous representatives sitting on standards-making bodies.
The association also actively monitors the work of other relevant regulatory agencies throughout the world, providing members with advice on compliance, as well as guidance on wider technical developments and routes to best practice.
On the skills and certification front, the association is actively leading the development of qualifications across the industry, providing recognition for existing skills, improving levels of safety and defining the benchmark for best practice.
To ensure the association meets the needs of the regional markets, its skills delivery has followed two paths.
In North America, the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (developed originally by ESTA) delivers rigorous assessments for professional technicians, awarding certifications to entertainment electricians, arena riggers and theatre riggers. Over 1100 certifications have been issued.
In Europe, riggers take the National Rigging Certificate (NRC) - a qualification that allows riggers to demonstrate they've attained a professional standard within their chosen rigging discipline. The qualification meets rigorous Government standards, and to date, over 600 riggers have registered for the NRC.
In the UK, PLASA is accredited as an Awarding Organization by the UK Government's qualification regulator OFQUAL, giving the association equivalent status to organizations such as City & Guilds, and allowing it to drive the development of nationally recognized qualifications tailored to employers' needs.
Both systems are supported by the industry and are endorsed by a range of influential organizations and venues.
PLASA is also an effective lobbyist on a range of issues, working in partnership with the industry to campaign against government and regulatory decisions that negatively impact on the sector. In many of its campaigns and consultations it has achieved real change and created greater awareness and understanding of the industry.
In recent months, PLASA's sustainability and green initiatives have strengthened and the organization is working in partnership with a range of international organizations to raise awareness of the issues and to encourage sustainable practices across the industry.
A core part of PLASA's strategy is the development of a strong commercial model, so the association operates a number of industry-focused commercial divisions: working from offices in London and New York, PLASA Events is the exhibition and events arm of PLASA, producing a portfolio of events for the entertainment, events and installation industries, including the internationally respected PLASA Show, which takes place annually at Earls Court, and a series of regional events under the PLASA Focus banner.
PLASA Media, which also operates from European and US offices, publishes the industry-leading magazines Lighting&Sound International and Lighting&Sound America, together with the quarterly journal Protocol.
