IF FURTHER proof were needed of Ireland’s importance as one of the hubs of the international music industry, it comes in the form of ISLEX ’94 – the first Irish Sound Lighting and Entertainment Exhibition to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday 18th & 19th October ’94, in Dublin’s Green Isle Hotel – chosen no doubt for both its convenience of location and reputation as one of the friendliest hostelries around.

The assembly and organisation of such an event must be something of a logistical nightmare, but it’s all grist to the mill of Tony Andrew, MD of KMS, the exhibition organisers. In a recent conversation, he outlined the background to the upcoming event.

“My company, KMS, operates as an exhibition organiser. We organise approximately 25 exhibitions each year in Italy, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Singapore, China, Argentina and now in Ireland. The shows we are involved in cover a wide range of trade sectors but we do organise and promote the following lighting, sound and special effects/entertainment shows:

SIB – Rimini, Italy; Pro Audio and Light Asia – Singapore; Pro Audio, Light & Music – China, Beijing; Welcome – Istanbul; and now of course, ISLEX – Dublin.

“I have been looking for over two years to put on a lighting and sound exhibition in Ireland. The aim is to bring together a show which covers the whole of Ireland and initially it has been targeted at the following sectors.

“For exhibitors we have included companies who manufacture, distribute, hire and install equipment for sound, lighting and video, as well as special effects equipment for use in dance halls, discos, hotels, recording studios, concert, festival and live performance venues, radio, television and associated industries.

“Visitors targeted include the owners and managers of discos, clubs, dance halls, hotels, night clubs and festivals, as well as DJs, national and local radio, television, video promotion and event organisers and local authorities.”

Given the proliferation of such exhibitions internationally, many of them duplicating the others work and being brand or logo-driven, what was the thinking behind locating such an exhibition in Ireland?

“The logic behind this exhibition is simply that although this sector is vibrant and growing, there is not, in Ireland, a show specifically dedicated to these types of product. The aim is not to produce a show which will be perceived as being ‘all things for all men’ but to have one which is very specific in its targeting of both exhibitors and visitors. This will give the opportunity for the Irish industry both to show their products and to see the full range of products on display in an environment which is conducive.

“With regard to the development of the show, our track record shows that we’re looking in the long-term to have the ‘complete’ Irish exhibition. We’re not interested in being involved with a one-off event. We are firmly of the opinion that an Irish exhibition in this sector is long overdue and that we have the opportunity to produce an event which will grow not only in size and quality but also in reputation and stature.”

And what, so far, has the response been like from exhibitors?

“The response from exhibitors has been encouraging. I believe that we will have in the show all of the major Irish companies, both North and South. In addition I am encouraged at the response from some of the smaller companies who will exhibit. We will have a number of companies from the UK exhibiting in their own right and it looks very much at this stage as if all of the major products will be on display. Certainly this applies to UK and Irish products, and most certainly products from Europe and the USA will also be represented.

“We have promoted the show in the International trade press and in Hot Press. This will be complemented with advertisements in selected national newspapers and national and local radio stations prior to the show, in addition to a direct mailing campaign using our own personalised data base.”

A cursory scan through the supplied list of exhibitors reveals the presence of a plethora of top names. I could go on but I don’t want to do all the work for you! Suffice to say that those who don’t show will be missing out on what promises to be a unique occasion. There is an entry charge for visitors. On the day it’s a mere £5, but production of the ad from this magazine will get you in for two quid. Go on, admit it, it’s a steal. See you there.