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

telecom
Predictive Networks: How Baron Weather and GIS are Strengthening Telecom Operations
February 12, 2026

Severe weather is no longer an occasional disruption for telecom providers—it’s becoming part of the operating environment. During Hurricane Ida in 2021, the Federal Communications Commission reported that nearly 1,000 cell sites across Louisiana and Mississippi went offline. In 2024, Hurricane Milton left more than 12% of cell sites in impacted areas of Florida…

Read More
The DAISY Foundation: Impacting Nurse Careers Through Recognition
The DAISY Foundation: Impacting Nurse Careers Through Recognition
February 12, 2026

Recognition is often described as a “nice to have” in healthcare, but on this episode of Care Anywhere, it’s framed as something far more essential. Host Lea Sims sits down with Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer of The DAISY Foundation, and Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, co-founder of the organization, to explore…

Read More
Revpar Media
The Origin of Revpar Media: Host Calvin Tilokee’s Journey from Revenue Management to Performance Storytelling
February 11, 2026

Something has shifted in hotel marketing, and you can feel it. In a landscape where every property can publish polished visuals, aesthetics alone are no longer enough to stand out—or to convert attention into bookings. Research increasingly shows that social media now plays a meaningful role in how travelers choose destinations and plan trips,…

Read More
spiral growth
Spiral Growth: The Career Strategy That Builds Real Leaders
February 11, 2026

Leadership pipelines are under pressure. Companies are moving faster, roles are becoming more cross-functional, and high-potential talent is expected to deliver beyond narrow job descriptions earlier in their careers. At the same time, the World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of workers’ core skills will need to evolve by 2030 to keep pace with…

Read More