Protocol

Protocol is the quarterly journal of ESTA, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association. www.esta.org

Protocol is a quarterly publication featuring columns and articles of interest to professionals in the entertainment technology industry on business and technical topics, current standards issues, certification developments, and trade shows.

11/17/2025

ESTA President Todd Spencer discusses the importance of strategic partnerships and how they can help drive business development. Find out how your company can grow smarter, not just bigger.

Directions BY TODD SPENCER The power of strategic partnerships: Growing your company IN THE LIVE EVENT INDUSTRY, growth is often equated with acquisitions. Consoli-dation headlines dominate, and mid-market companies sometimes feel that if they aren’t buying or being bought, they risk being left be...

11/14/2025

Thank you to Creative Conners, Inc. for advertising in Protocol! Their commitment to advancing stage automation is clear with the launch of Spikemark 6 and the redesigned console—bringing intuitive control and powerful new features to scenic motion. We’re grateful for their support and excited to see how they continue to shape the future of live performance technology.

Spikemark 6 & Console Transform your next show with stunning motion driven by the most innovative and intuitive stage automation software and control surface. LEARN MORE TODAY! WORK & RUN-OF SHOW LIGHTING IN A SINGLE LINEAR FIXTURE 1-800-292-7490 | RAILITE 4 TH WALL STAGE EDGE SAFETY LIGHTING FIND U...

11/13/2025

📅 Mark your calendars! Check out the latest issue of Protocol to find out what’s coming up in entertainment and live events.

Looking Ahead Upcoming industry events Cine Gear ATL Expo www.cinegearexpo.com Oct 3 – 4 | Fayetteville, GA Cine Gear ATL Expo October 3 -4, 2025 | Fayetteville, GA Head to Georgia for two exciting days of cutting-edge exhibits and premier seminars at Cine Gear Expo Atlanta 2025—where the indust...

11/12/2025

Big cheers to MDG Fog Generators for supporting Protocol, and a huge congratulations on 45 years of excellence! 🎉 From world-class fog to flawless haze, MDG has been setting the standard for atmospheric effects on stages and sets around the globe.

Here’s to 45 years of innovation, artistry, and unforgettable moments. Can’t wait to see what’s next! 🙌

MDG is proud to support the creativity of lighting designers for more than 45 years . Grand Final -Eurovision Song Contest Malmö 2024 set & EBU | Photo by Ralph Larmann MDGFOG.COM

11/11/2025

🎓 Tomorrow’s pros need today’s codes. Rich Dionne of Purdue University's Fusion Studio tells us why standards belong in the classroom and how events like the Symposium on Entertainment and Engineering in Education is the perfect place to make that connection.

Incorporating codes and standards in educational practice BY RICH DIONNE THIS PAST JULY, Purdue University’s Fusion Studio for Entertain-ment and Engineering (http://centers.purdue.edu/fusion-studio) presented the fifth Symposium on Education in Entertainment and Engineering, held (nearly) annuall...

11/08/2025

📚This issue's technical book review is of "Inside Live Events: Your Playbook for Mastering the Experience." Read Karl Ruling's insightful Protocol article to understand how to make Bob Priest-Heck and Carrie Freeman Parsons's book apply to your particular brand of live event.

Inside Live Events: Your Playbook for Mastering the Experience REVIEWED BY KARL G. RULING IF YOU ARE READING THIS REVIEW in Protocol , you are probably in the “live events” business. “Live Events” is not defined in Inside Live Events , but people in the industry have an idea of what it is—...

11/07/2025

Thank you to the Academy of Production Technology for advertising in Protocol!

APT provides essential training in electrics, networking, and production technology for today’s entertainment professionals. With a focus on safety, standards, and practical knowledge, Richard’s work helps ensure our industry stays sharp, safe, and future-ready.

We’re grateful for their continued support!

From compliance to compassion For many, safety has long been associated with compliance, with checking boxes, not sparking ideas. When you reframe safety as an enabler of excellence, as a design partner rather than a constraint, something powerful happens. Risk mitigation becomes proactive. Training...

11/06/2025

🌍 From Frankfurt to the world, see what Prolight + Sound 2025 delivered. Technical Standards Manager and Johnny American Richard Nix takes us through the highlights of this German tradeshow.

Codes and creativity: How standards empower safer, more innovative entertainment BY BRYAN HUNEYCUTT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, creativity is our cur-rency. From awe-inspiring fireworks to intricately timed theatrical scene shifts, the magic we create stems from bold visions, tireless dedication,...

11/05/2025

Shining a spotlight on MEGA-LITE ✨💡 Thanks for supporting Protocol!

Their BVW150 is small but mighty—packing bright output, energy efficiency, and serious versatility into one sleek fixture. Whether it’s bold beams or soft washes, this light’s got you covered. 🙌

The Entertainment Services and Technology Association is a non-profit trade association for the entertainment technology industries. Our members are the industry's leading dealers, manufacturers, production companies, rental companies and professional service companies. ESTA's members are responsibl...

11/04/2025

As technology evolves, rigging becomes more and more complicated. One thing is clear: weight matters. In the latest issue of Protocol, ESTA Rental Company Director Carlos Ortega takes us through the new complexities of rigging for the most ambitious projects.

So, how heavy is that? BY CARLOS ORTEGA THINK ABOUT THE LAST TIME you were part of a show that truly pushed the limits. Maybe it was a massive LED wall load-in, a complex automation sequence, or a performer being flown high above the audience. These moments don’t just happen. They’re the result ...

11/03/2025

Thank you to ARRI for advertising in Protocol! 🎥 The ALEXA 35 Xtreme pushes the boundaries of cinematic imaging with incredible dynamic range, rugged design, and the versatility to handle the most demanding productions. We’re proud to have ARRI’s continued support and innovation featured in Protocol!

MOTION MEETS EMOTION The ALEXA 35 Xtreme is a major revision of the industry’s trusted workhorse—ALEXA 35, known for its superior image quality, ease of use, and reliable operation. Building on its predecessor’s solid foundation, ALEXA 35 Xtreme introduces powerful new hardware, higher speeds ...

11/02/2025

Thank you to Barbizon Lighting Company for advertising in Protocol! With decades of experience and a deep commitment to the entertainment industry, Barbizon provides lighting and rigging solutions for theatres, television studios, and architecture projects around the world. We're grateful for their continued support of the industry and the work we do at Protocol.

Systems, Products, and Services for Entertainment and Architecture Publisher, Editor Katie Jang +1 240 203 8002 [email protected] Publishing Consultant Jacqueline Tien +1 212 244 1505 ext. 716 [email protected] Technical Editor Karl G. Ruling [email protected] Contributing Editor Richard...

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