From an Idea to Reality – Year Two of the Platform

A few years ago during a trip to the excellent USITT (US Institute of Theatre Technology) Trade Show, I saw their ‘Innovations Gallery’ in operation and fell in love with the concept:

“An informal introduction service between independent creative innovators and the commercially minded developers behind our leading brands, products and services.”

Every year, the USITT staged an ‘Innovations Gallery’ at the Trade Fair with ideas farmed from all of the collegiate universities and drama educational establishments – with the ‘top 10’ put on display at the annual show.

All of the USITT members and visitors go through the gallery, making network connections and occasionally recruiting or arranging internships with the bright sparks showing their creativity. US staging engineering and lighting CEO’s sift through the output and some of the ideas even make it into production as actual catalogue products or find funding for commercial development.

As a marketing guy looking for smart ideas I could develop, it seemed a highly fertile ground for meeting creative and inventive people who got a kick out of solving techie problems with neat ‘stage fixes’. I was damn sure the UK would have equally talented technicians looking for a step up and some support… and the ABTT “Industry Support Group” members [of which I was one] would be ideally placed to benefit from some extra R&D Innovations.

Later, over a cocktail or two, I discussed the idea with a contact from Guildhall School of Music & Drama about creating a UK version – and he agreed it was an exciting idea and ‘had legs’. One of his recent graduates had come up with a clever solution to an LX rigging problem at Guildhall School, which he thought would be an ideal illustration of how it might work – it did, it was developed, manufactured and installed.

On our return to the UK, we set up a meeting with the ABTT – and they thought it was a great idea too. Time went by while the idea fermented….  until The Platform was launched in the online format you see today.

Over to you – and “welcome” to the Platform…