Well, over 700 catalog designs and a couple thousand custom concepts later we're beginning to find out what a lighting designer could possibly want-more! The creative imagination of the human mind is truly limitless.

GAM Patterns continue to be one of our most important product lines. We have an incredibly long list of pattern designs we 'haven't gotten to' and we have just printed Shadow Play IX which includes 30 new patterns, created in just the past year. We have added six more Holiday patterns that couldn't make it into the catalog but are reprinted here in the newsletter.

Imperfections in pattern design and execution become very apparent because patterns are often enlarged 20 or 30 times when projected. The slightest flaw will become readily apparent when magnified in your spotlight. GAM Patterns hold up to this severe test time and time again. When it comes to service, no one does it faster, no one does it better, no one does it with such accuracy with so few back orders. When you want the best in patterns, reach for your Shadow Play Catalog.

We have often been asked about color in our patterns. There was an interesting exchange on the Stagecraft web site where someone asked about colored glass to 'colorize' their projections. It is interesting to note how many technicians came back with 'colored gobos are a very expensive solution-why not just tape some pieces of gel together in a color frame. You have more choices, it's cheaper and it's every bit as effective.' Good advice from the techies on the Stagecraft web site. The same advice we have been giving our customers for almost 25 years. By the way, GAM does do colored glass slides and there are times when they are necessary.

We have been working with Lighting Designers to create special effects for thousands of shows. We thought we ought to share some of this experience with our many friends and customers. That is why we created the Recipe Book. The GAM Recipe Book catalogs about 140 special effects using Patterns and various effects machines. Laid out in recipe book fashion it is short, sweet and to the point-what you need to do to get each effect. All this is available on our web site with one interesting addition, you can click on videos of the effects and see them in motion.

As we come to a close of one more year, it looks like a record sales year at GAM. The efforts we have made in training seminars for our customers and dealers, the catalogs we make available and aids such as the Recipe Book contribute to this success. Have you taken advantage of GAM's marketing tools and made them available to your customers?