PLASA Focus Leeds 2016 Welcomes a 9% Increase Over 2015 Visitor NumbersThe eighth edition to PLASA Focus Leeds was once again a hit with the entertainment technology industry, welcoming record numbers of brands and a 9% increase in visitor numbers from 2015. The launch of the new pavilion enabled the sell-out event to attract more new technology products to the show floor and saw the show appeal to even more buyers with the 2016 edition welcoming more than 2,600 attendees. Christopher Toulmin, director of PLASA Events comments: "The feedback from the show so far has been extremely positive, with a large emphasis on the quantity of business achieved. PLASA Focus Leeds had £425million worth of visitor spending power registered to the show, cementing its importance as a must-attend event for the region." This point is reinforced by Bridget Kaur, J&C Joel's UK sales rep for the south, who comments: "The show has been busy, as always. We've had a fantastic couple of days seeing good quality of visitors and receiving lots of good quality of enquiries. Would I recommend exhibiting at PLASA Focus Leeds to anyone else? Definitely -- why aren't you here now?" Bill Jones, sales manager at Robe adds: "We have a lot of customers that visit PLASA Focus Leeds and it is nice to show them our latest products that we wouldn't be able to show them for a couple of months without this show. We also see a lot of venues and customers we would never get to see, so the show is great for us. It is a good value for money show and a great opportunity to showcase a new product." The PLASA Focus Series is renowned for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere facilitating in-depth and technical conversations to take place on the buzzing show floor. This was apparent for many first time exhibitors including Pioneer Pro Audio: "This was our first time exhibiting as Pioneer Pro Audio," said David Ferreira, "It was really good exposure -- we got new interest in our equipment, great sales leads, fantastic networking, and we were really busy. We are definitely coming back next year." The 175+ brands with new product launches was not the only attraction to PLASA Focus Leeds, more than 600 attendees took advantage of free seminars and professional training including sessions from High End Systems HOG4 training, Ambersphere's MA Lighting dot2 consoles training, and the Riggers' Forum. Highlights from the seminar program, which drew in the crowds, also included the ALD discussing diversity in technical theatre; Justin Grealy from Soulsound presenting the interactive session, "A Sound Engineer's Guide to Guitars and Guitarists;" and Steve Jones from d&b audiotechnik on "Why size matters? -- How Loudspeaker Size Affects Its Whole Performance." Toulmin adds: "We are looking forward to following on from this success at the re-focused PLASA Show in London Olympia on September 18 - 20. With the move back in the heart of the West End, the change of dates, and the new interactive offering, PLASA is striving towards positive change and a renewed event." 
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