The Score Magazine - Archive July 2016 issue! | Page 36

moves on from strength to strength
Breaks attendance records as numbers swell by 20%; Reflects vibrant
growth and expansion of the Indian pro sound and light market
It says a lot about the PALM expo Mumbai, when visitors swamp the
registration halls on the opening day itself and the exhibitors are not
amazed anymore. Record breaking attendance at PALM seems like a
given now. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the 16th edition of
the expo, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), Mumbai on 26-27-28
May 2016, was the biggest till date, in terms of attendance, with visitor
count climbing up to an official figure of 22,366 unique PALM visitors.
There was a 20% growth in the number of visitors and delegates who
walked through the doors of the PALM expo this year, as compared to
2015. A substantial rise in the online pre-registration figures highlights
the fact that the expo over the years has evolved into a much-awaited
pivotal event.
The show drew in thousands of visitors from throughout the country.
The importance of the Mumbai show is also underscored by the
attendance of a substantial number of international delegates who
made their way to the expo, from countries like USA, UK, UAE,
Australia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Oman, etc.
This year the organisers instituted a paid on-site entry process. The
aim was to filter and ensure that only quality industry professionals
registered for the expo. This move by the organisers certainly paid off,
as the expo succeeded in attracting a more professional audience of
consultants, integrators and rental & event management companies.
“The PALM show was great! We've had a wonderful response to our
products, a lot of foot traffic. The exposure, networking and quality
of visitors was very good for Pro Audio,” says Mr. Vibhore Khanna
National Sales Manager, Pro Division, Bose Corporation India.
“This year PALM has really got some quality crowd and I hope to
generate business from the great leads that we got here,” reiterates
Saahil Kumar of Sennheisher India.
Every single exhibitor had only praise to offer in terms of visitor
profile. Words such as “perfect” and “amazing” were in abundance on
the expo floors.
Swift escalation in size and scale
The PALM has undergone a dramatic growth through the years making
it India’s only and undisputed trade show for pro audio, stage sound
& light, AV install and music production. 183 direct exhibitors who
included top manufacturers, brands, distributors and dealers, covered
24,336 Sq.m. of space at the BEC.
“We are here from the first PALM Show, and each year it is growing
bigger and better,” said BV Nagpal, Founder of Sontone.
That international brands are finally taking concrete steps to affirm
their commitment to the Indian market by exhibiting directly, was
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reinforced by the participation of more International brands. The
2016 edition boasted of 74 new exhibitors, bringing the total number
of brands on display to 500+, representing a clear growth year-on-year.
“The show was beautifully organized, very professional and OHM has
generated amazing amounts of new and interesting contacts which will
undoubtedly convert into business. We are looking forward to next
year!” said Mr. Gareth Coleman, Director – International Sales, OHM
UK.
The numerous audio, video, lighting and install solutions embraced
within the expo, reiterated the fact that the Indian pro sound and light
industry is integrating with world class companies, which in turn has
resulted in PALM moving in tandem with other global expos in Europe
and US for displaying the latest products launched.
Mr. Ramesh Chetwani, the Exhibition Director for PALM states: “Year
after year we keep striving to add more exhibitors and brands on the
floor to showcase new line of products that are entering the market.
This year, PALM recorded the highest number of new exhibitors,
which proves that the market is maturing and is ready for more top of
the range products and technology. The only way is up. “
One of the gauges to the success of an expo is probably the amount
of time it takes to walk the aisles of the expo. New products and
technologies were in plentiful supply, making the PALM a long-walk
and a fascinating spectacle.
“PALM India, ensures a great platform for all leading AV brands to
showcase their technologies and solutions. MUSIC Group derives a
great mileage from this show by demonstrating it state of art solution
though its renowned brands TANNOY, LAB GRUPPEN, LAKE, MIDAS,
TURBOSOUND, TC ELECTRONIC and TC HELICON,” enthused Mr.
Karan Kathuria, Director, Touchpoint MUSIC
The growth of PALM has been such, that it is today a mega event spread
across three exhibit halls, two exhibit Demo Qubes and other special
events spaces such as the Soundscape Hall and the Open Grounds at
the BEC.
Defined exhibit areas for both pro-audio
and lighting
In Hall 1, the focus was on audio and sound - studio, recording, concert,
installed, PA, production, broadcast and media.
Hall 5 offered lighting for stage, studio and theatre, stages, trussing and
rigging. The show also had display, projection, video and LED.
“The PALM 2016 achieved its key objective in allocating defined
exhibit areas for both pro-audio and lighting. Independent Halls for