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SBES Celebrates its 30th Year
Preparations are already well under way for the 30th Sound Broadcast Equipment Show, to be held at its usual Birmingham venue in November. Organisers, Point Promotions, are planning some special celebrations to mark the anniversary with what promises to be another sell-out show. Already, over 70% of planned exhibition space has been booked, allocated and confirmed, despite the fact that the show dates are still some 10 months away.
The success of last year’s event, in terms of both demand for exhibition space and high approval ratings by visitors, has already led show organisers to expand available floor space by some 10% over the size of the 2004 event. There seems little doubt that after something of a down-turn a couple of years back, the broadcast sound industry is on the way up again. 2005 looks set to continue the upward trend especially now that the hiatus in the licensing of new UK commercial radio services has come to an end, and new Community Radio services are being licensed for the first time.
Until 31st December, exhibitors from 2004 had priority booking rights, however, since that time space has been available to everyone. According to Show Organiser, Dave McVittie: "Each year there are always several companies that leave booking space too late! We never like saying no to companies, but space is inevitably finite, so booking as early as possible is the only way to ensure your company has a presence at the UK's only specialist sound broadcast equipment exhibition. Last year several companies missed out, this is why we have added more space for 2005."
The move back to Birmingham last year proved very popular with exhibitors and the level of early bookings for this year simply confirms that view. However, visitors were also impressed by the improved facilities last November, and this years show will take place at exactly the same location, the Pavilion Suite of the National Exhibition Centre. With its separate entrance, ease of access for set-up and break-down, not to mention the better parking facilities and shorter walking distance to Birmingham International Rail Station, this venue is an ideal venue for SBES away from the main concourse crowds.
A new feature which proved very popular last year was the introduction of Micro Stands. These one metre square shell-scheme stands, complete with power, lighting and a counter-top display area, attracted a number of new exhibitors in 2004. As a result of their popularity, organisers are providing an increased number of such stands for 2005. More generally, in addition to space only allocations, for 2005 there will be a wider range of shell scheme stand sizes to choose from making SBES even more flexible for exhibitors.
Among the more than fifty companies that have already booked for 2005, major industry names include: Audionics; Broadcast Warehouse; Canford Audio; Chiltern Broadcast; Clyde Broadcast Products; HHB; The Oxford Sound Company; Preco; P-Squared; Radica Broadcast Systems Limited; Raycom; RCS; Sennheiser; Sonifex; Soundcraft/Studer; and Wood & Douglas. Many of the above companies have been regular attendees at SBES over many years. However two new exhibitors have already booked space (MI Broadcast and West Country Broadcast) and two first time exhibitors last year (Saras Technology and CTP Systems) have booked again for this year.
As usual, for the 2005 SBES, show organisers will be putting together a full-colour A4 Show Guide, featuring details of every exhibitor including contact and product information. There are promotional opportunities both within the show guide and more generally at the exhibition itself.
One of the big advantages of the Pavilion Suite location is the space for vehicles as exhibits to be parked outside the hall. Popular with visitors, outdoor opportunities are, like stand space, limited, so once again the exhibitors are advised to book early booking!
The 30th Sound Broadcast Equipment Show takes place at the Pavilion Suite of the NEC Birmingham between 10.00 and 18.00 on Wednesday and Thursday the 16th and 17th of November 2005.
For more details, including a down-loadable floor plan detailing current exhibitors and remaining available spaces, visit the SBES web-site at: http://www.sbes.com.
7th March 2005
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