PLASA turns to membership in wake of cost-cutting
Published: WORLD
WORLD: Following a number of deep cost-cutting measures intended to reverse ‘diminishing profit’ and a ‘critical cash-flow problem’, the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) has requested feedback from its members regarding its future direction. The appeal was made by John Simpson, PLASA Governing Body chairman and chairman of the White Light Group of companies, during a speech in which he outlined the cuts already made.
Primarily a UK-based organisation, PLASA has nevertheless attracted international attention thanks to its annual London-based exhibition, which for many years drew large numbers to Earls Court but has more recently suffered a decline at the less central Excel. It also merged with a counterpart US organisation, ESTA, in 2010, subsequently renaming it PLASA North America. The demerger of the two organisations is among the cost-cutting measures outlined by Mr Simpson.
‘We have taken action in implementing cost-cutting measures across many parts of PLASA, including a reduction in staff, putting the Eastbourne office up for sale and a substantial restructure of the organisation,’ Mr Simpson explained. ‘We have overcome the immediate cash flow problems for 2015, but will be limited in services we can provide during 2016 - which is why our members’ feedback is so important as we look forward.’
He later described the association’s troubles as ‘a difficult period for PLASA but it is also an opportunity for us to refocus. PLASA has a chance to reassess its role in this industry, its relationships and communications with its members, and the future directions of its commercial activities. As we go forward, PLASA members can expect an association that is more nimble and responsive, more visible and in touch with its members’ day-to-day challenges and concerns, and as we return to profitability, better positioned to reinvest in the industry and provide the help and support our members need to boost their business activities.'
Of the demerger with the US organisation, Mr Simpson explained that the two associations will ‘retain the assets they had prior to the merger, which in the case of PLASA will be all the event and media assets not including Protocol magazine, the property in Eastbourne, various programmes, the Technical Resources Office and our skills-based qualifications such as the National Rigging Certificate. Negotiations are now in progress to allow an orderly separation of operations that are jointly owned and settlement of outstanding financial matters’.
Elaborating on the association’s future plans, Mr Simpson outlined five core services: market research; skills development; the Technical Resource Office; political representation and networking events. Additional services may also be provided at a premium including IP support and protection; trade missions and representation on technical standards groups and committees.
Meanwhile the 2016 PLASA show will return to a more central London location, namely West Kensington’s Olympia, from September 18th to 20th, boasting a stripped-back approach similar to the regional PLASA Focus Leeds event, and with an accompanying education programme.
‘A catalyst for our financial problems has been the changing landscape around the PLASA Show in London,’ said Mr Simpson. ‘Over the past 37 years or so, the show has served the association incredibly well, but the increased costs of Excel plus the desire of our exhibitors to move back to Olympia has made it essential that we have a major overhaul of what we are offering, where and to whom.’
Other changes include the departure of PLASA’s CEO, Matthew Griffiths, after 17 years in the role, with changes to the association’s management structure currently under review.