The Two Biggest Talking Points at LDI 2018 with Chris Prosio & Alison Maxson of Absen

 

2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the Live Design International conference in Las Vegas, the premiere Pro AV show for the best in innovations in the live audience experience, from concerts, to theme parks to houses of worship. Live venue manufacturors have always been a key group for innovation in Pro AV; by always looking to bring the best experience for the audience, an experience that consistently feels unique, those professionals have to search for changes in design, technology or implementation.

This year, two main issues are going to be the buzz at LDI: rigging weight and labor time. As LED tiles get bigger, crisper and in effect heavier, how can manufacturors cut down on the bulkiness? How can they maximize set-up and tear-down time? How do you maintain safety and attention to detail with these pushes for efficiency? Here to give their thoughts on these important industry questions and what they’re most excited about at LDI are Chris Prosio, Director of Sales for Rental & Staging, and Alison Maxson, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications at Absen.

“One of the big factors from an ROI is how quickly the teams, the riggers, the AV technicians out there unloading and loading, how quickly can they get them up, how quickly can they can get them down,” Maxson said. “The faster they can move, the faster they can turn through from one show to another, is going to ultimately lead to being able to book more shows which is more money in their pocket.”

This year, Absen is showcasing a new product that looks to bring solutions to these industry growing pains: ALTAIR, an LED display designed for touring. A lighter framework, fast installation, safe-guards for load in and load out, and brighter more efficient performance make it an exciting contender at LDI. Absen hopes to show off not only its aesthetics but practical capabailities by putting it to work for their entire booth setup; more than 60% of the booth will be ALTAIR LED tiles. At the end of the day, Absen represents a perfect example of how manufacturers are looking to stay ahead of their user’s needs. “You’re dealing with numbers of tiles, right? So each tile is built up of a structures. In the past, that structure has been aluminum or maybe steel,” Prosio said. “One of the ways we’re addressing this is changing how that structure is built. We’ve been using magnesium, which is a lighter metal.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Pro AV Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @ProAVMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

career
What to Do When Your Career Feels Stuck: Invest in Yourself, Stay Intentional, and Build the Right Network
April 29, 2026

Work doesn’t feel the way it used to. Between new tech, changing expectations, and the constant pressure to keep up, a lot of people—even those who look successful on paper—are quietly wondering what’s next. In fact, recent workforce studies suggest a large share of employees feel disengaged or uncertain about their next move, despite…

Read More
Rural School
How Rural Schools Are Redefining School Safety Through Relationships and Proactive Systems
April 28, 2026

On Principles of Change, a podcast by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Miguel Salazar, principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, Texas, to explore how one rural district is redefining school safety through culture, systems, and human connection. Together, they unpack how proactive frameworks, community values, and intentional relationship-building can…

Read More
StudentSafe
Understanding Raptor StudentSafe
April 28, 2026

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Chris Noell, Chief Product Officer at Raptor Technologies, and Will Durgin, Director of Student Well-Being, about the vision behind StudentSafe and how it helps schools move from reactive responses to proactive student support. Together, they emphasize that safer schools depend on giving staff…

Read More
school safety
Going Slow to Go Fast in School Safety Leadership
April 28, 2026

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Tim Dykes, Assistant Principal for Culture and Climate at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conversation highlights how strong relationships, student voice, and steady long-term leadership can help schools build environments where people feel…

Read More