2019 was certainly another exciting year for Encore Event Technologies. Our teams delivered more than 46, 000 events across the Asia Pacific for our clients - from conferences, gala dinners and incentives to sporting events, roadshows and everything in between! We continued our pursuit of the very latest event technologies and pushed the boundaries delivering Australia's largest number of synchronised individual table projections. Our teams also designed new experiences using holographic mesh screens, launched a dedicated live streaming platform and new LED stage set solutions, plus we extended our venue partner network to over 115 venues across the Asia Pacific. Our creative teams also continued to shine, delivering on-trend styling, creative set designs and multimedia content that delivered amazing brand experiences for attendees. Whilst we can’t talk about every event in 2019 – there’s just too many! – We are proud to share with you some of the highlight corporate events we delivered last year. Amway China Leadership Seminar Venue: Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum (AAAM) Why it made the list: With over 6,000 attendees, the Amway China Leadership Seminar was one of, if not the, largest corporate events to hit Australia in 2019. The creative, technical and logistical requirements for delivering the event in a remote location was a great challenge our teams overcame making this a standout and very memorable event on our calendar. Amway China returned to Australia for the sixth time with more than 6,000 guests for their annual 2019 Leadership Seminar, this time held in Cairns. Seven waves of guests attended the 4-day seminar and incentive program between 21 March – 15 April. Designed and organised by Encore, the business sessions and concluding Gala Program treated guests to a spectacular experience including a special blended reality sequence created using layered multimedia, holographic effects and choreographed robotics show with a live performer. The challenge was designing a never-before-seen experience for a well-travelled client whom has seen almost everything. Amway China chose the Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum (AAAM) as the venue to add an unexpected element to the program. As the largest privately owned collection of military vehicles in the Southern Hemisphere, it offered guests a rare tank show experience. At 4,280 square metres, the venue was also large enough to accommodate the production equipment for both the gala and business sessions, catering and other suppliers. The Rainforest to Reef theme allowed Encore to design four distinct experiences: rainforest, beach, reef and river. Each environment was themed using a 270-degree screen that wrapped around the venue walls, customised soundscapes, roaming performers and reef-inspired table styling which incorporated lighting design. A key performance brought each environment to life and were each enhanced with creative technical production. The ‘rainforest’ environment included a thunder and lightning performance by the Million Volt Man, one of the most extreme live performers who uses high-voltage Tesla coil in his stunts. For the ‘river’ component, Encore created a custom ‘Fish Medley’ act which included singing and dancing animated fish on computer-controlled robotic LED screens that moved with the music. The ‘beach’ environment included an artistic Fabric Ballet performance featuring 18 DMX controlled fans with choreographed dancing, while ‘reef’ featured a game simulation of an underwater treasure hunt made possible using a range of AV techniques. The journey saw a live performer participate in the underwater adventure using layered multimedia with a holographic mesh screen, LEDs and choreographed robotics show. The end result was a memorable gala dinner that ended the international incentive on a high. Encore show producer Andrew MacColl said guests were blown away by the 270-degree multimedia projection, holographic projection and synchronised robotics. “The creative event design was matched with cutting-edge use of technology to create an amazing experience for guests,” he said. “Working in such a unique venue had its challenges, but also many benefits in that it allowed our team the opportunity to maximise their creativity to bring to life a blank canvas. Special Event Director, John Schryver, designed a truly unique and immersive experience which will undoubtedly be remembered long after the event. The team bought his design to life and delivered the series of events flawlessly.” See More Photos Virtuoso Symposium Gala Dinner Venue: Palladium at Crown, Crown Melbourne Why it made the list: As one of the largest custom table projection experiences delivered in Australia, the Virtuoso Gala Dinner is a clear standout for 2019. The combination of styling, design and AV technology delivered this truly immersive experience to the imaginative theme of 'Welcome To The Emerald City' and one we're still talking about. Guests were dazzled by beautiful table projections when Encore designed and delivered a never-before-seen showcase event on behalf of Crown Towers for Virtuoso, a luxury tourism company. Themed ‘Welcome to the Emerald City’, a play on Sydney’s nick name, every table had stunning, bespoke projections alternating throughout the evening. This was one of the largest table projection projects in Australia ever completed, with a total of 55 individual table projections and an absolute stand-out of the event that had the guests enthralled. The entire event was meticulously designed to ensure the guests were taken on a full sensory journey using clever event production, from the dancers in genuine ‘Wicked – The Musical’ costumes, to the Palladium Ballroom being drenched in emerald drapery, green and gold lights highlighting the extravagant details, such as iconic ruby red slippers hanging from chandeliers and the projected yellow-brick road that led to the main stage. In the centre of the room four giant LED screens 4.8m x 2.4m, dubbed the ‘Crown Tower’, featured custom animations throughout the evening. As each course unfolded, the food changed theme and the city skylines of Melbourne, Perth and then Sydney, were featured on the Crown Tower LED screen, lights were adjusted to create the ambiance of the city in focus and all 55 tables simultaneously came to life with individualised table projections. The projections contained animated clockwork, infinite emerald jewel clusters and art deco inspired designs - all spinning on each person’s plate. Catrina Bennell, General Manager for Encore Victoria, believes this event is a defining moment for Encore highlighting the capability, expertise and full creative production the team can offer. “This event was perfectly over the top and left everyone in awe with the full sensory experience it offered. Guests were amazed, constantly taking photos and videos of the night with sheer joy on their faces. It is definitely a night to remember and will travel back home with each of the guests,” says Ms Bennell. See More Photos ICMS Australasia Geo Week Venue: National Convention Centre Canberra Why it made the list: Our Canberra team executed a series of events, hosting over 600 delegates as part of ICMS Australasia's Geo Week. Drawing inspiration from Indigenous artwork and culture, our set designers and styling team designed a cohesive and vibrant environment for each of the events making this a highlight event for 2019. Encore were entrusted to transform the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC) to host ministers for Group on Earth Observations Week (GEO Week), demonstrating a spectacular connection to Australian landscape and Indigenous culture. Between 4 – 8 November, over 600 government members, business leaders, heads of international non-profits and passionate experts gathered for GEO Week, to discuss global priorities including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The event included industry exhibitions, track sessions, workshops, meeting spaces, a series of dinners, presentations, an Awards Dinner, and live broadcasts to the global community. Australian Indigenous culture was featured with the logo ‘Earth Dreaming’ - a design representing our world as it appears from space but through an Indigenous lens. Encore’s event styling team incorporated the Indigenous artwork into all aspects. Customised designs were created for a central 3.5m diameter circular screen, plenary panel tables and the main stage, along with the use of red, blue and yellow which connected the room and represented the earth’s elements. Strategic lighting was used to reflect the Australian landscape with a red wash over the audience, creating a warm atmosphere during the day. This atmosphere was carried through to the Awards Dinner, with the use of native plants, natural fabrics, fairy lights and red hue spot lighting. Overall the event was a huge success, providing guests with unique insights into the worlds scientific efforts on earth observations. Queensland Hotels Association Awards Night Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Why it made the list: This event brought out the best in the team from our set builders who designed and built the ball-pit, to our creative vision, lighting and rigging teams who really pushed the limit in event production. The giant LED screen combined with the fun retro styling elements, interactive entertainment made this event one our team will talk about for years to come. We have The Big Pineapple in Nambour, The Big Macadamia Nut on the Sunshine Coast and The Big Bull in Rockhampton, but nothing prepared the 1,300 guests of the Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner for ‘The Big LED Screen’ designed and delivered by Encore. The creative idea behind the event design, The Big Things of Queensland was literally taken to new heights by the Encore team for the pinnacle event in the Queensland hospitality industry, hosted at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 2.4-meter-high circular screen was 7.5 meters in diameter and incorporated 2.5 tonnes of LED. The LED structure was the centrepiece of the event, which also playfully brought to life interactive retro-inspired theming throughout the room such as a ball-pit with a selfie camera, and a functioning ice cream van serving sweet treats. Kelly-Anne Mott, Events and Partnerships Officer, Queensland Hotel Association said the theme was inspired by the uniqueness of Queensland and having fun. “This is the pinnacle event on our calendar and with the best in the business attending, we wanted them to have a fun time, provide optimal chance for networking and celebrate our industry in style. “The brief was to bring to life our fun and quirky theme and the Encore team exceeded all our aspirations with designing their own ‘very big thing’. “The engagement we got from the ball-pit, interactive bar and ice cream van was excellent. These three important design elements were carefully curated to encourage maximum engagement – and they did. “We had people dressed up in black tie gowns lining up to jump in the ball-pit and have fun. The activities were perfect for creating interactive elements. “Creating a space for our people to truly celebrate and unwind was a triumph,” said Ms Mott. Daniel Hazard, General Manager, SEQ Encore, said this event brought out the best in the team from our set builders who designed and built the ball-pit, to our creative vision, lighting and rigging teams who really pushed the limits in event production. “We rigged the giant LED screen from the ceiling of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and created a circular stage below to complement – it was central to the overall design and a focal point of the event. “Combined with the retro styling elements, interactive dancers and the entertainment, this was an event that will be talked about for years to come. “We know the importance of ensuring guests have their expectations exceeded year after year, and this was no exception,” said Mr Hazard. See More Photos Think Brick National Awards Night Venue: Palladium at Crown Melbourne Why it made the list: It's easy to see why this was a highlight event for our Melbourne team in 2019. Taking inspiration from the architectural design submissions, our team created a glamorous galactic experience with this unique spaceship inspired stage set the hero for the evening. The evening demonstrated Encore's ability to weave a concept throughout every element, evening building custom installations for that extra touch. As Australia’s major design awards, the Think Bricks Awards bring together architects and the building design industry to celebrate their achievements in style. Taking inspiration from the architectural design submissions, the brief to Encore was to create the ultimate glamorous galactic experience. The end concept, a galaxy inspired theme, was designed in collaboration by the Encore and Think Brick teams. Encore entwined the theme throughout every element of the event, from the AV and lighting through to set design and styling. Being an awards night with all eyes on the stage, Encore designed an impressive stage set that was both on theme and purposely built to ensure every guest had the same experience. The result was an impressive treble LED screen installation comprising of 12 LEDs in a four-armed configuration, resembling a spaceship-like design. This served as the main screen showcasing the outstanding work of the award nominees and its clever design ensured everyone had perfect view of the awards stage. Throughout the evening, guests were continually immersed in the galactic theme thanks to the custom on-screen content designed and produced by Encore which was all based off the Think Brick Awards 2019 graphics developed by Think Brick. In addition to the three-armed stage set, Encore custom built an amazing a ceiling installation over the bar in the adjoining room for the after party. The light installation featured large numbers of baton lights to resemble lightsabers and illuminated with colours matching the client’s logo. The styling created a luxurious atmosphere with every detail adding to the theme from metallic tablecloths to dark drapery around the room. After the last award, a video played on the big screens to wrap-up the formalities of the event as confetti cannons exploded to celebrate the successful night which was 11 months in the making by the Encore team. To mark the end of the formalities, Encore used a kabuki drop to reveal a full band playing on the main stage in the adjoining room along with the custom lightsaber-lit bar for the after party. Elizabeth McIntyre, Group CEO, Think Brink was delighted with the event, “Our brief to the Encore team was to create an event with WOW-factor. We particularly wanted a super-sized screen to showcase the amazing work of the architects attending. Our guests loved the after party light-up bar with the ceiling installation above. It really brought the theme to life and delivered on need to impress our guests.” See More Photos National Dental Care Gala Dinner Venue: InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort Why it made the list: The creative production involved in designing last year's National Dental Care Gala Dinner cements this event as a highlight for 2019. Our team turned every inch of InterContinental Sanctuary Cove's ballroom into an 'Enchanted Garden' - including a custom built 4.5m tall tree that was placed in the middle of the room. Guests were transported to a whimsical, fantasy land with every corner of the MacArthur’s Ballroom transformed into an ‘Enchanted Garden’, enhanced by interactive elements creating a truly immersive experience. The creative challenge to Encore was to deliver something extra special that stood apart from the previous six events and made guests feel part of an exciting story from the moment they arrived. Guests arrived at what used to be the Fountain Terrace, but which now was a magical garden decorated with fairy lights scattered in trees, giant orbs floating on cascading fountains, foliage-printed balloons with vine strings floating around the space all hinting to the evening that lay ahead. Stilt-walkers dressed as woodland creatures greeted guests and led them down a magnificent winding path to the ballroom entrance, elegantly lined with twisted willow trees lining the staircase and cascading foliage and florals draping down the balustrades. The hero design feature in the room was the 4.5m tall artificial tree placed in the centre of the ballroom with branches covered in soft green leaves reaching over the tables with special gobo lights casting tree-like shadows around the room. The teal hue lighting continued the enchanted garden atmosphere and also a clever nod to National Dental Care’s brand colour. The entertainment was a huge part of this unique event, from fairies pouring champagne to woodland creatures roaming the room. There was even a fortune teller whispering good fortune amongst the three-metre tall trees in a special feature area of the room. Lush green AstroTurf covered the floor creating a designated game space with giant Jenga, chess pieces and mini golf. A giant floral wall sat on one side the room providing the perfect backdrop for guests to take pictures. Katie Jackson, Head of Marketing, National Dental Care said they really wanted to transport the guests to another world, and then Encore delivered on that. “It was an incredible event, our attendees were blown away. The event certainly transported our guests to an enchanted kingdom and everywhere you looked there was a new wonder to be seen.” said Ms Jackson. Tony Chamberlain, Managing Director, Encore, congratulated the team in South East Queensland for delivering a spectacular event themed to perfection. “This event hit the nail on the head with not only the physical appearance of the event but the atmosphere that was created with the high level of attention to detail. We were asked to deliver an immersive party atmosphere and the team certainly delivered on that we did,” said Mr Chamberlain. See More Photos Hyatt Australia 'Living Grand' Dinner Venue: Grand Hyatt Melbourne Why it made the list: The clever extension of the menu using custom table projection mapping, turned this intimate event into a unique culinary journey filled with multi-sensory stimulation. Held on Thursday 19 February, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne Living Grand Dinner brought the four elements to life in a unique sensory experience. Combining audio visual theatrics, custom lighting and creative styling, Encore delivered a unique culinary and visual journey with multi-sensory stimulation. Table Projections for Living Grand 2019 at Grand Hyatt Melbourne from Encore Event Technologies APAC on Vimeo. 48 VIPs were led down a dark tunnel into a dimly lit room, surrounded by black drapes with ambient music playing in the background. The room was sparse, with minimal styling and theming building intrigue as to what was to follow. Once guests were seated, the journey began, completely immersing them in the sounds and visuals, complementing the menu course by course. The entree took guests underwater with sounds of the ocean filling the room and swimming fish flawlessly projection mapped onto the tables and drapes. Then when the sorbet was served, it was accompanied by images and sounds of ice breaking and shattering throughout the room. The main course was themed fire and smoke. Diners were blindfolded before the sounds of burning wood and fire floated through the air. The Encore team then projection mapped fire onto the table while mains were served. Along with the sizzling of food on the grill, the room was filled with low fog slowly rising from the floor as the guests took off their blindfolds. The final course was an ode to Willy Wonka with the room lighting up with the colours of liquorice Allsorts, a chocolate river flowing down the tables and the infamous theme song of the Oompah Loompas playing. For this night to be a success, the timing of the projection and audio had to be perfect. Grand Hyatt Melbourne General Manger, Ilan Weill was thrilled with the work Encore produced. “We of course appreciated your innovation and hard work to meet the deadlines and listen to us. However, the special thank you I would like to convey is for your partnership and amazing spirit working and having fun with us on what was a last-minute idea and turned out to be a fully produced wow type of night. Your patience, great attitude, talent and how you joined forces with us on the night was felt by everyone involved and we really appreciated working together as one team,” said Mr Weill. “We are delighted to call you our partners – Thank you again!” See More Photos Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit Venue: Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Why it made the list: The impressive 48m wide custom built stage set propelled the 2019 Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit into our highlight list for last year. Encore was set the challenge to create a memorable high-end audio-visual feast communicating the ‘Iconic’ theme for the Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit 2019. The event welcomed over 800 delegates in two streams from across the Volkswagen dealer network at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane on 19-21 February 2019. Conceived and convened by Volkswagen Australia Director of Customer Experience and Marketing Jason Bradshaw, more than 800 Volkswagen Group Australia staff and delegates from the nationwide dealership network attended what is believed to be the biggest customer training exercise held by an auto importer in this country. The commanding stage set delivered a massive impact. Encore’s technical team created a mammoth screen consisting of 5 custom borderless screens combined to form one large canvas of 48m wide, this included two curved screens at either end to frame the 28m custom black acrylic stage. Over 150 pixel mapped LED neon tubes encased the top and bottom of the screens creating a futuristic feel and complementing video content. Two circular stages made of black reflective acrylic built either side of the screens created a platform for two of the latest Volkswagen vehicles launched at the event. This impressive event delivered a series of captivating on-screen animated experiences on the huge projection surface which flowed thru to the pixel mapped lighting effects adding an extra level of excitement and drama. The central screen was also recessed to enable the speakers to make a dramatic entrance from behind the stage set. By day the impressive stage was beautifully lit with red and blue with spotlights shining on the cars and reflective stage. During the conference the dramatic staging hosted Omar Johnson VP of Marketing for Apple, followed by presentations by a number of guest speakers and dealers. During the gala event in the evening the premium dealer awards were presented. The lighting show was ramped up to the maximum, plus pyrotechnics, the release of thousands of streamers and CO2 canon blasts to celebrate the major awards. Michael Magafa, National Sales Director for Encore was delighted with the impact created by the giant stage set and the overall seamless delivery of the event. “The brief was to create a big impression, so we delivered a huge solution! The stage encased the entire room and the team designed an impressive lighting and projection solution to captivate the guests. I am very proud of the team’s flawless delivery for our client.” See More Photos The Million Dollar Lunch Venue: Palladium at Crown, Crown Melbourne Why it made the list: We love a creative concept that links beautifully with the event's message and the 2019 The Million Dollar Lunch was a prime example. The creative concept In Full Bloom, stemmed from the event's message 'Where Successful Outcomes Bloom' lead our team to deliver a spectacular floral feast. The immersive experience was created by treating every surface in the room with a mixed media approach, seamlessly blending large paper flowers with projection mapping, with scale and colour at its core. This year’s The Million Dollar Lunch set new benchmarks for event design, raising over $2.1 million for The Children’s Cancer Foundation at Crown Melbourne. The fundraising event was a visual splendour with Encore’s in-house team transforming Palladium at Crown under the playful theme In Full Bloom. The exclusive VIP guest list are veterans on the event circuit, so every year it’s crucial the team continue to raise the bar and deliver a new experience. Encore delivered a fully immersive experience by treating every surface in the room with a mixed media approach, seamlessly blending large paper flowers with projection mapping, with scale and colour at its core. Guests were welcomed into a beautiful but strategically simple pre-function area to ensure the full impact of the main room was achieved. The floor was covered with green carpet representing grass, succulents and foliage positioned around the room - all a subtle hint of what was to come. There was a 3x6m illuminated Event Backdrop as the media wall where guests were photographed on arrival. When the guests entered The Palladium, they stopped in awe at the grand scale of the room elegantly decorated to reflect a garden. Their eyes were immediately drawn to the central stage with four 4.5m high daisy shaped LED screens, angled to tower over the guests. Over 140 custom made paper flowers with a diameter of up to 2m, built on-site, were clustered around the screens in each corner of the room and around the centre stage. Table projections were used to create dramatic impact and carry the floral theme with custom animations including blooming flowers, creeping vines, rippling water and fluttering butterflies to tie in with the giant paper flowers. This element was creatively used to enhance the auction, with each of the 11 auction items being projected and moving around the table so each guest could see what was on offer. Projectors were a major visual element of the event, with 70 being used in total. Ten were used for the wall projections made up of two different loops, blooming flowers and cascading flowers displayed during meals. With every corner of the room styled boldly guests were wowed by visual bursts of colour, unique design and the creative use of AV technology to bring the theme together. Catrina Bennell, General Manager Encore Victoria, believes this event is a defining moment for Encore highlighting the capability to bring unique custom designs to every event. “We were absolutely delighted to work on this inspiring event with such a beautiful cause at its core. The team delivered on a massive scale with big flowers, big effects, bold colour and big fun uniquely delivering the unexpected,” says Ms Bennell. See More Photos Top Secret Dinner Venue: National Convention Centre Canberra Why it made the list: Each year for the Top Secret event Encore is tasked with showcasing the technical and creative event production capabilities at the National Convention Centre Canberra. In 2019 the hero feature was a holographic mesh screen which the team innovatively used in several ways - including using it to make it appear as though the venue General Manager was interviewing himself on stage as if there were two of him. Encore served up an incredible holographic-like experience for some of Australia’s leading event industry professionals, at the “Love and Desire” themed Top Secret 2019 Dinner on Friday 22 March. Hosted by the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC), as part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), this dinner was part of a 3-day program run by the Canberra Convention Bureau (CCB). The program consists of a series of individualised experiences for an exclusive group of national meeting planners. Showcasing business event products and services, the program allows Canberra’s events community to demonstrate the calibre of events in our nation’s capital. The hero of the night was Encore’s expert use of a holographic mesh screen, highlighting the venue as a premium event space and showcasing the technology available when holding an event at the NCCC in conjunction with Encore. Using the holographic mesh screen, Encore created animated content such as a hot air balloon that appear as though it was floating through the air. Our team wanted to push the boundaries for this year's Top Secret 2019 Dinner, bringing Stephen Wood, General Manager of the National Convention Centre Canberra into the room through a hologram. Guests were able to watch Mr Wood standing onstage, interviewing himself as if there were actually two of him. The use of holographic mesh screens is usually only seen at big budget events such as Eurovision and the Grammys, or on television. However, Encore were able to demonstrate to event managers how this technology is possible at their events with the right team and the right venue. Mr Wood commented, “We love working with Encore, they always manage to outdo themselves with their innovation and creativity, and this event was no exception.” The theme for the 3 day familiarisation was 'Love and Desire', based on the current exhibition on display at the National Gallery of Australia. On each table were large 2D Scenic Panels on custom frames, designed to look like garden lattices in the shape of hearts as a nod to pre-Raphaelite theme of the 'Love and Desire' exhibition. Directly above the tables were 20 LED Kinetic Lights, programmed to move with the music and change colour throughout the night, creating a truly spectacular lighting display. Also taking inspiration from the 'Love and Desire' theme was the night’s entertainment. During the event, two actors from the Shakespeare by the Lake performance rose up after being hidden as guests and began to perform a selection of the Bard’s most famous sonnets. Continuing the surprises, instead of using one main screen, Encore set up four 60inch televisions across one truss structure on the main stage. They displayed the animated logos of Encore, NCCC, CCB and IHG in front of scrolling panoramic shots of Canberra spread across the 4 screens as a single wide screen image, showcasing the beauty of the city. “This was a truly sophisticated and memorable event. The National Convention Centre Canberra and guests were delighted with the outcome, and we can’t thank Encore enough,” said Mr Wood. See More Photos The Wonderful Company Conference Venue: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa Why it made the list: The scope and production management involved with delivering this event over several days for 200 guests made it a standout for our team in Fiji. From delivering high-end dinners on a golf tee to importing classic cars whilst coordinating nine external suppliers for bump-in during a golf tournament. It was a fantastic event to be part of and one our team are proud to have executed seamlessly. Encore in Fiji were engaged by leading US health food company, The Wonderful Company, to deliver their annual sales conference for 200 high-performing team members in tropical Fiji. Held between 3 - 7 June 2019 at the InterContinental Fiji Golf & Spa Resort, as the in-house AV and event services partner, Encore collaborated with Rosie Hollidays who provided all the styling, decor and creative concept for the event. The event program comprised a Welcome Dinner at Kama beachfront, followed by two full days of conference sessions, and a white dress dinner on evening before a final day of conference sessions. The event vision was clear from the outset and the client’s prior production experience helped make the process run smoothly. The final concept was significantly larger than what was initially proposed as The Wonderful Company grew more excited about the event and more confident in Encore’s capabilities. The Welcome Dinner held on the foreshore of the resort was all about setting the tone for the event to come. There was lots of vibrant, colourful lighting to echo the tropical surroundings with guests even treated to a special ‘welcome drink’ in a kava ceremony - a traditional Fijian welcoming ritual. The tropical vibes continued into the design of the main conference in the Ballroom; the stage was dressed with a cane matting, the bright palm-tree imagery on the large 20ft x 11ft rear projector screen, as well as the suspended hollow wooden hearts which were used as a branding device. Across all of the events, The Wonderful Company's heart-shaped logo was incorporated in various ways from a gobo projected onto the roof at the Welcome Dinner, the suspended wooden hearts in the conference design and a special custom-made 5m flaming heart for the closing White Party. The scope and production management involved with delivering this event on the 4th tee of the golf course presented many challenges for the Encore team to overcome. There was actually a pro golf tournament happening at the time, which meant Encore had to coordinate the bump-in to occur at a specific time and work around their schedule. An event of this scale meant we were coordinating nine external suppliers, with a tight turnaround on a remote location. However the event went off without a hitch – even the ‘59 Chevelle car used for as a photo prop made it through Fijian customs just in time. Lighting was key to the event. We started the night with a blue wash, cloaking the event and which made the all-white guests and décor stand out. Then as the night progressed we continued to change the lighting colours and effects using our wirelessly controlled uplighting to suit the mood and energy as the event continued into the early hours. As the big finale guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks display. A wonderful ending to The Wonderful Company’s sales conference. See More Photos Start planning your 2020 events With 2020 already well underway, now is the perfect time to speak to your event production and technology partner to start discussing ideas and requirements for your event. As the trusted event production partner with over 30 years experience, you can count on our teams to help you design an unforgettable and successful event. It's what we do, and we have the awards to prove it. Get in touch with us today by calling 1800 209 099 or send an online enquiry and one of our helpful team members will respond as soon as possible. ... Read More

Hologram technology is now well within reach for creative even planners looking to make an impact at their next meeting, event, or brand experience. The ways to use holograms are only limited by the imagination. Here are some favourite examples of the holographic mesh screen in action which our technical teams have created. Holographics used for Presentations Add excitement to a presentation with both 3D illusions and interactivity. At the recent Top Secret Dinner at Canberra’s National Convention Centre Canberra (part of the InterContinental Hotels Group), Encore used a holographic mesh screen to create the illusion of a hot air balloon, synonymous with Canberra’s Enlighten Festival, hanging above the stage. Later in the evening, the presenter interviewed himself as a hologram. These illusions perfectly showcased the NCCC as a destination for events and conferences with state-of-the-art technical capabilities. You can use this technique to bring a speaker onto the stage who can’t attend in person and have them present as a hologram, how cool is that?! It also has the added advantage of not paying for transport and accommodation for the speaker, plus they only have to be available for the time it takes for their presentation. Holographics can be used to enhance any presentation; add a hologram of the product being released, project videos by guest speakers, showcase projects, or animate simulations. Even data and graphs could be made engaging with 3D computer animation! Performances enhanced with holographic technology As recent concert tours and AV shows attests, holographic technology is perfect for an amazing performance. One of Encore’s most impressive uses of the technology used a combination of holographic mesh, real-time motion tracking, projection, and dance. At the Australian Hotels Association annual awards, a dancer performed a duo with herself creating an amazing effect. Her movements were captured on camera and motion tracked, with a computer turning her outline into a 3D animated graphic in real-time, which was then projected onto the holographic mesh. Set Design using holographics 3D animations and images can be incorporated into any set design. Deploying at almost any size, anywhere, you’re only restricted by lighting and background. Encore have created custom set designs using holograms for companies such as Moutai China, who were treated to the illusion of a giant bottle of Moutai spirit hovering in mid-air on a 20m x 5m holographic screen. The technique can also be used for events like product launches or trade shows where oversized holograms would be ideal so that it can create a larger-than-life effect of the product being promoted. Speak to the event design experts about a holographic experience Holograms open up a huge range of creative possibilities to amaze your event attendees. You can use it to bring your brand to life, entertain, enhance stage performances and bring remote presenters on stage in an amazing visual way. Advances in technology and manufacturing mean that holographics are not just for big budget events - they’re with the reach of nearly any event producer’s reach. Encore have adopted the most flexible, creative mode of holographic tech available in the event market; send us an online enquiry to find out more or talk to your Encore representative today about how to get your event into the Third Dimension! ... Read More

Face-to-face meetings can be the most effective way to get your point across, but the corporate world has to move with the times. Overcoming growing distance, cost and time issues, businesses now demand solutions for video conferencing. As a result, venues, speakers, event planners and employees must be prepared and confident to host these types of online meetings. More solutions enter the market each year. That’s a good thing. Contrary to opinion, a variety of solutions should not confuse, but rather provide a video conferencing solution that is tailored to the needs of the user and runs seamlessly. From basic free applications such as Skype to professional cloud-based video and audio conference platforms, like Encore Connect, event planners and businesses are spoilt for choice. Whether you're arranging an online meeting or remote presenters for your event, here are some helpful tips from video conferencing experts to ensure you’re maximising the technology. 1. Select a reliable video conferencing platform When it comes to technology, it’s best practice to choose a well known provider that is reliable, has a support team and a robust offering that can meet your needs. This is especially true with video conferencing platforms. When you use a trusted provider, you get the peace of mind and confidence your meeting or event is in the best hands and will run seamlessly. Encore offers a first-of-its-kind rehearsal feature with our video conferencing solution, Encore Connect, where a technician will on-board you and your presenters to ensure they’re comfortable presenting remotely and know how to use the platform. It’s this kind of concierge service you won’t get when using a free platform. 2. Choose a suitable venue room There are a few things to consider here which can all be resolved by doing a site visit or at least seeing images of the room prior to the event. Ensure the room has adequate lighting and seating for all parties to the meeting. Natural light has its advantages but can have its own set of issues. Be aware of areas of shade and any potential distractions that open windows bring, like passers-by or pigeons pacing up and down the windowsill. A general rule of thumb is consistency and uniformity. No dark spots in the room and no powerful bulbs which leave people seeing spots. What about microphones or the acoustics in the room? Can the presenter’s voice project? Is the room noisy? Does it suffer from thin-wall syndrome? All of these points can be addressed by a simple site visit or talk with your on-site events team. Encore proudly offers Encore Connect in all our venue partners – that’s over 100 world-class venue options around Asia Pacific for you to choose from. So you’re spoilt for choice. 3. Clear Audio There’s nothing more frustrating when video conferencing has poor audio quality. The aim is to have people hear you clearly, without crackling and dropouts. Look for good quality headsets and microphones which help reduce noise and disruptive echoes. When in doubt, run your set up by your audio visual provider to test. For multi-party conferences, mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to avoid adding any additional background noise. If you are hosting, make sure everyone is on the same page. Check your participants and lead the way. For a larger event, your audio visual partner will test the audio levels of the room and work with the presenters prior to ensure both the audio input and output are set for optimal quality. Wherever possible have a practice run. The best video and audio conferencing partners will do exactly that. 4. Test your set up to find the perfect angle Obscure camera angles might work for Tarantino, but in a meeting environment they can be very distracting. Webcams should be at eye level and if for some reason you need to move around the room, ensure it is steady as she goes. This is particularly important if you are using a mobile device for your video calls. To avoid unflattering or distracting angles, we recommend using self-view mode to test the angle of your camera prior to the video conference. 5. Time Zone Awareness One of the great benefits of video conferencing is the ability to overcome distance or time zone barriers. With this in mind, it is important to consider your attendees and/or remote presenters time zone when arranging it. But what about the delays you didn’t anticipate, such as plane delays and cancellations, a last minute commitment? Offering remote presenters the option to video conference in means your event will continue to run as planned. 6. Remove Potential Distractions Distraction is the number one killer of concentration and engagement. Clear lines of sight without interference are essential for attendees and presenters. Similarly so are unwanted sounds – so remember to switch your phone to silent and in multi-party meetings ask attendees to do the same. Cameras pointed in the direction of anything that has the potential to distract will render it a focal point and eventually, if human nature serves me right, be more popular than a viral cat video. 7. Proper meeting etiquette for video conferencing Just like a meeting face-to-face, there is a certain way of hosting and presenting online. It’s called meeting etiquette. If you’re recording the meeting, it’s polite to let everyone know ahead of time you are recording and remind again when it commences. This will also help keep it professional and on-track with personal conversations saved until afterwards. Possibly the most important feature of any conference is the ability for everyone to hear and be heard. Ask everyone to introduce themselves at the beginning, and if on audio only, ask them to state their name before they speak so everyone knows who is talking. A popular tactic for ensuring the meeting stays on track and avoiding everyone from speaking over one another is for the host to hold comments or questions until the end. And again, avoid distractions by kindly reminding attendees or remote presenters to turn mobile phones to silent mode or switch them off. 8. Dress Appropriately Dressing appropriately is particularly important if you’re presenting online. With all eyes on you, you’ll want to avoid wearing an inappropriate or distracting outfit that will become more memorable than your presentation. Avoid clothing that may flare on camera such as tiny stripes, sequins or glittery clothing. Similarly, don’t wear loose tops or shirts that gape and it goes without saying, wear professional pants. We’ve heard all too often of instances where a presenter or meeting attendee stands up to get a drink of water only to reveal they’re still in their pyjamas! Sometimes the simple things are often overlooked. 9. Stay on track with a well structured agenda A well-structured agenda can be your best friend. Not only can it set a tone, but a well-written agenda prepares invitees for what's in store. Ensure you include the item “All other business” as the last point on the agenda, followed by a decent amount of time for Q and A. Keeping everyone on track with an appropriate and well-worded agenda greatly assists with maintaining conference timeframes and actionable points. 10. Rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse again This seems like a no-brainer but like any technology, testing and rehearsing will provide your best chance for success when presenting remotely or hosting a meeting via video conference. Take advantage of the exclusive rehearse feature offered by Encore Connect, which unlike free or basic platforms, gives you dedicated time with a technician to test your set up and ask any questions. Knowing your video conference is in expert hands means you can get on with the business of organising the event or meeting itself. Speak to the Video Conferencing Experts An increasing number of organisations and event planners are enjoying the benefits of video conferencing. Encore has developed our own solution to accommodate the rising demand for video conferencing in small meetings and large events for remote presenters. Encore Connect is powered by Zoom, one of the most well-known and trusted platforms in the market and you can find it across our entire venue network. If you are interested in finding out more about our video conferencing solutions get in touch by calling 1800 209 099 or sending an online enquiry and one of our friendly team members will get right back. ... Read More

Can you feel it? It’s the most magical time of the year! For event planners, filling a room with merriment and seasonal goodwill at Christmas is one of the best gifts you can give your guests. So how do you create a Christmas event to remember? Start with a theme. Recognisable and evoking emotion on the first glimpse, a Christmas event done well not only brings the beginning of the holiday season but a chance to relax, breathe in and celebrate the year past. With a little foresight, your event can be more than just another party. Santa is definitely coming to town with these 3 event styling trends for the 2019 Christmas season. Winter Wonderland Many of us will not have experienced the freshness and invigorating snowy Christmas. The cool and crisp shimmery brilliance of Mother Nature in one her finest moments. With the right lighting, sound vision and styling, your event can be transformed patrons another world they might never want to leave. Styling Nothing says winter wonderland like an Ice Sculpture If it's within the budget an Ice sculpture creates an exquisite talking piece. Let it snow. Scenic themed backdrops with glittering stars set the mood. Couple with white linens and gleaming silverware to create a magical aesthetic. Colour and Palate Silver, white and light blues for their icicle portrayal matched with glass and acrylic tabletop adornments all add a wintery influence. Add artificial twisted twigs covered, painted or frosted accordingly. Rose gold adds a sense of luxe and matched with pinks and champagnes Sensory Enhancement A combination of warm lighting with accents of brightness, this winter Christmas scene will conjure child-like reaction. If you're thinking luxe with a shimmery edge, think Winter Wonderland. Don't forget the music. The icing on the cake are sounds reminiscent of ice skating, the jingle of sleigh bells in the distance and snowball filled days and the obligatory seasonal carol. Back to Nature Natural is the keyword with this warm and inviting theme. Styling Hessian, ropes and wooden baubles create a natural theme with a sense of immediate comfort. Throw in some authentic forest pieces and it'll be a magical woodland Christmas. Pair the woods with soft materials, red berries and aged metals such as copper to create that warm feeling of Christmas. Think Scandi with a touch of forest, or farmhouse with open fire backdrops. A real pine tree will add to the effect of a nature-themed Christmas. Colour and Palate Neutrals, beige and rope ornaments create warmth. Touches of red and green elements enhance a natural, wooded environment. Decorate with natural and rustic tree decorations with red berry and pine table centrepieces. It's all about re-creating a woodland look. Sensory Enhancement Give the impression of scampering woodland animals with sound effects or fit for purpose playlists. Candles scented with pine, or cinnamon will have guests ensconced in aromatic heaven. Apple cider aperitifs make a nice start as an ideal pre-dinner treat. Martini's and Mistletoe Cocktail events bring smiles to a lot of faces and a Christmas themed party gives people more reason to celebrate. Red velvets and shimmering metallics matched with golden baubles, you can create an event offering some serious decadence. Inspired by the grandeur of old, this theme is a warm-hearted nod to the traditional Christmas, with a touch of glamour thrown in. Cocktails for Christmas is always a winner. Styling Red velvet backdrops and shimmering metallic décor and table settings. Glimmering golden baubles and red berries to enhance seating areas. Colours and Palate Go for black, gold and red decorations for that luxurious feel. Think formal event colourings, and table settings. Artificial flowers can offer an inviting element where real arrangements are not a seasonal option. Sensory Enhancement The perfect cocktail, and chilled relaxation music. Playlists which are modern with elements of jazz or blues help with creating a mood. Create a sophisticated adult black-tie vibe, with a bit of cheeky thrown in, if you dare. With many of us heading to seasonal parties and corporate events what better way to wow your audience than with a themed Christmas celebration. It's easy to keep the Christmas spirit alive and well. Need help? We can assist with all styling expertise and audio-visual needs for your Christmas event. Contact us today. Let's make some memories. ... Read More

Designing transformative experiences using Virtual Reality at corporate events Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the most hyped technologies of the last decade. Global giants Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook have all invested billions in building the hardware, creating software, and developing applications. Event professionals are jumping on the trend and realising the potential of VR in transforming their events. The short; VR in the event space is here to stay and its the ideal environment to utilise the technology’s potential. We’re seeing VR restaurants pop up, car manufacturers turning mundane road trips into action-packed theme-parks, sensorial VR tours of breweries and some confronting education on road safety thanks to VR experiences. VR totally takes over your guests’ senses. It is about completely commanding your audience’s attention. It offers unparalleled engagement and concentration when compared to a video or spoken presentation. If you’re seeking to entertain, connect and delight, it enables total freedom of imagination. There are several off-the-shelf VR experiences such as real-world simulations of climbing Everest, diving on the Great Barrier Reef and the like. If they fit with the theme of your gala dinner or topic of your conference, they’re a great ice-breaker and novelty to get your guests talking. This is as tangible as you get in a virtual world. Experiencing touch, excitement fear and curiosity. How can events benefit from using Virtual Reality While consumer adoption of VR for gaming and entertainment at home has been much slower than expected, savvy operators in the event space and enterprise have been the quickest to realise its potential. VR applications for Conferences and meetings Virtual reality can be an excellent vehicle for team building exercises and business activities aimed at strengthening goals and creating a strategic focus. A shared VR activity is a perfect icebreaker for attendees that haven’t met. There are many off-the-shelf VR puzzles and games that get people working in teams and are perfect for this. More businesses want to show their audience instead of just addressing them through words or endless PowerPoint slides. During a keynote address, instead of just talking about a subject, why not immerse the audience? The presenter asks the crowd to put on the headsets and continues to address them as they explore a simulation of the content under discussion. The CEO of Intel, Brian Krzanich, kicked off the CES 2017 conference with an incredible VR experience cementing themselves as heavyweights in the area. Intel placed 260 VR units in chairs for all press attending the event where they embarked on an incredible journey starting with a wingsuit flight over Moab, Utah where they then landed on the desert floor. Shortly after, the flyers were shuttled to Vietnam to take in the sights of Ban Goic waterfall. After experiencing more spectacular scenery the VR tour ended with court side seats at an NCAA basketball game. Once they removed their virtual reality helmets, they found themselves sitting back in the audience at the event in Las Vegas. This example shows Krzanich and other industry leaders use virtual reality at events to completely change the way attendees experience exhibitions. VR technology has also enables connectivity for conference attendees spread interstate and internationally. It enables virtual attendance for those who can’t be there to experience the presenters and multimedia live while wearing headsets at home. VR lets people from around the world meet in the same place at the same time simply by putting on a headset. Meetings and breakouts can also be run using VR conferencing tools like Facebook Spaces. VR for Fairs, Exhbitions or Trade Shows Get visitors to your stand or display excited about engaging with your brand via a VR experience. Give them an exciting branded challenge or demonstration that gets their adrenaline pumping; it’s a great way to stand out and be remembered. One insurance provider used VR to promote its products in a rather unusual way. NRMA Insurance designed a car crash simulator to show how car safety features have improved over three decades. “Victims” put on a VR headset, climb behind the wheel of a showroom car, then (virtually) crash into a barrier at the same speed that actual crash tests are conducted. The user then goes through the same simulation, only behind the wheel of an older car with fewer safety features. Users have firsthand experience of being in a major car accident and walk away unscathed at the end, but left with a lasting impact. A large U.S. home improvement company, Lowe’s, helped customers bring to life their design vision with Holoroom. Customers can design their kitchen or bathroom and view it in VR using Oculus Rift in-stores, and take-home a free Google Cardboard viewer to enjoy their room design whenever and wherever they choose. This application of VR could be applied for various products and services to help generate sale and new leads at exhibitions and trade fairs. They say doing is far better for learning than just seeing or hearing. And when you can’t physically demonstrate the new product, service or solution VR is the next best thing. VR is an excellent training platform because it’s cost effective and the closest you’ll get to doing it in real life. Any simulations feel real to the user. Users can make a decision that feels impactful, but it can still be changed or reset entirely. This is particularly useful for the medical industry where a wrong action can result in death. VR provides an effective vehicle for learning new applications, technologies or sales training on new products such as a latest car model. The possibilities are endless. Since 2018, German logistics company Deutsche Bahn uses VR for immersivetraining experiences using an application called Engaging Virtual Reality. Recruiting Talent at a careers fair Like with any media, using the right technology to appeal to your target market will make your campaign more effective. It’s no secret that VR is more popular among younger users. 50% of users between the age groups of 20-29 and 30-39 are veryinterested in virtual reality, with only 6% expressing no interest at all. So when German railway company Deutsche Bahn wanted to recruit young talent they turned to VR experiences at a careers fair. Candidates could experience first-hand the lives of train conductors, electricians, and construction workers. The recruiting team found that exposing candidates to this experience resulted in higher-quality applications and candidates who were interested in the positions. “The idea is to give people a really good insight of the jobs at Deutsche Bahn. We want applicants to get a close look over the shoulder of an electrician or a train driver. That is something that makes the application process very tangible and very satisfying. We can show how fascinating jobs are in the real world,” says Kerstin Wagner, head of talentacquisition at Deutsche Bahn Mobility Logistics. VR for Charity Events Show your donors the actual impact of their contribution in a way they can almost touch and feel. Guide them through a ‘before and after’ experience that illustrates exactly what you can achieve together. A VR campaign does something many cause-driven organizations all over the world struggle to achieve. Virtual Reality can show donors exactly where their money is going and the outcome it achieves. Toms: Virtual Giving Trip. Toms, a popular shoe company, is well known for donating one pair of shoes to a child in need every time a customer buys their own pair. The charity found a new way to inspire its customers to give by taking them on a journey while wearing a VR headset. The Toms Virtual Giving Trip is narrated by Blake Mycoskie, the founder and Chief Shoe Giver of Toms, and one of his colleagues. As they describe the story of Toms’ founding, their VR experience takes viewers on a trip through Peru, where Blake and the shoe-giving team visit a school of children who are about to receive the shoes they need for the first time. VR for Sales Events and Launches From a virtual factory tour to product experience, VR can amp up a sales force and help them truly understand the product and your objectives. Beyond the event, a portable VR version of the content can be used to inspire their customers! Some companies aren’t limiting themselves to brining just products to their tradeshow, instead they’re using VR technology to bring the entire building with them. What better way to immerse customers into your brand. In 2016, Anheuser-Busch gave SXSW attendees a VR tour of their Budweiser St. Louisbrewery that involved seeing, hearing, and even smelling different parts of the facility. Users wore VR headsets and were led on a tour of different rooms to learn about the brew. When they toured near the hops that went into the beer, brewery employees held actual hops under the attendees’ noses. And of course, attendees got to taste the beer afterwards. Have you considered VR for your event Create an immersive experience that’s more engaging, interactive and persuasive than mere video. It’s more interesting and better at holding attention than simply presenting in the traditional form. VR is a perfect platform to take your audience deep into where you want their minds to be. The most important factors to consider in using VR at your event is what purpose does it serve, what story does it tell, and how are you going to obtain, customise, or create it? Avoid using VR purely as a gimmick. Instead, provide real value to attendees and stakeholders. The most important part of adopting any technology is the impact it will have on your strategic goals. Ask yourself what the goals of your event are first and then see how you can leverage VR to help get you there. Here’s some questions to think about when considering VR: Will utilising VR equipment help you attract and meet more contacts at your trade show booth? Do you want something to set you apart from other exhibitors? Would VR take your attendees to a location you are talking about, transport them into a building that is being proposed? Do you need to provide your audience with a more immersive way to experience your videos, photos, or games? Would your employees gain a deeper understanding of their training? Will VR show your donors how their investment can transform someone’s life. The goal is to make the experience more useful, impactful or memorable than what has been done previously, no matter what your event. The gear and the content VR can be experienced with something as simple as a cardboard holder for a smartphone paired with VR apps, or a high-tech immersive helmet and hand sensors wired up to a supercharged PC. The biggest emerging category of hardware in VR is stand-alone glasses, where the computer, vision, and sound are all contained in one battery powered lightweight device with wireless capability. A leading example of this is the Oculus Go, which is the model that Encore Event Technologies deploy on our events. Keep in mind the realities of the space required if you’re using VR for a competitive team challenge. If attendees are expected to swing, duck and dodge you’ll need to allocate enough room to avoid any ‘real-world’ injuries! Find out more about using VR in your events Many industries are now awash with great examples of VR and although it’s a little too soon to call it mainstream, it appears that we are reaching the tipping point. The technology is becoming cheaper and the number of companies producing these experiences is growing, which can only mean we will see it more not only at events but for a widening number of applications. Business investment will likely be a strong driver with demand to create virtual meetings in a time-poor world. There are already products coming to market that enable meeting attendees to dial into a boardroom and see, hear and interact with each other as if they were present. The question now is not if, but when and how you will be using VR in your events. At Encore we love finding ground-breaking event applications for new tools like VR. We’ve already produced experiences for many event types and purposes and are thrilled at the possibilities it presents. This is event planning on a new level. The ability to put your event ahead of the game offers memorable occasions not soon forgotten. Contact us to explore how we can take your next event to virtual new heights. ... Read More

Distance, varying time zones and the cost of accommodating travellers has led event managers and meeting planners to rethink how they bring people together. If a business is to stay connected, forging new paths is essential for retaining and maximising relationships without the need for a traditional face-to-face. It can be done. Video conferencing offers a solution. It’s the next best thing to being there, without the stress or expense. For events large or small, we've got you connected. Venues are recognising the need to accommodate this rising demand in video conferencing and as such all of Encore’s venue partners now have the capability to offer dedicated video conferencing platforms both for meetings and large events such as conferences. What is Video Conferencing? Video conferencing is the technology that allows you to hold online meetings with several participants who are located in different places while seeing and talking to them in real-time. It is different from simple video calling, which is normally one-to-one video communication. It can also be used for remote presenters at events to present to the audience from another location. What does it mean for you? If you’re are an EA or the one in charge of meeting arrangements, we’ve got news for you and it’s all good. Meetings can now be pre-planned over months or be instant and on-demand. For the large event organisers, this means you can overcome travel expenses or unexpected delays for your presenters by using video conferencing for them to present via. Here are our top reasons to embrace the business-minded benefits of video conferencing. Benefits of Video Conferencing for Events We’re busier than ever and more spread apart, but the need to stay connected has never been stronger. With more keynote speakers doing the international circuit event planners need a solution to overcome conflicting schedules and travel costs incurred with getting them to your conference or corporate event. The best video conferencing solutions strive for and deliver that sense of connectivity, conveniently and support you to ensure a professional, stress-free connection. Encore Connect can beam in your presenter in full screen from any location at a fraction of the cost it takes to bring them in from interstate or from all over the world. Your panel of experts need not even leave their desks for a truly collaborative experience. Use a professional service to take travel problems away. The unforeseen doesn’t have to ruin your event. The reality is people miss planes, get delayed both interstate and overseas. The expense can be a huge burden. Having to accommodate people in hotels, reschedule flights and make further travel arrangements need not be a concern any longer. What makes presenters the most nervous? The great unknown. Unfamiliar platforms or high-tech equipment can have people distracted from their purpose. Remove the anxiety with a video conferencing partner that understands you need your presenter to be focused and the audience to see and hear them perfectly. Take advantage of Encore’s exclusive first-of-its-kind rehearsal and on-boarding service with one of our expert technicians. This means you or your remote presenter can ensure you’re set up correctly, solve any vision or audio problems and confidently use the platform. You can’t ask for more peace of mind than that. Benefits of Video Conferencing for Small Meetings Today’s work environments have undergone some of the most progressive thinking since the invention of the humble office chair. With global companies offering workers varied locations and working arrangements, the need to communicate effectively and instantly no matter what the geographical location is essential. Smaller meetings can also benefit from video conferencing. No longer is it necessary for a business to go to the expense of bringing people in for a one-off conference, meeting or a one-day workshop. Diary conflicts? No problem. EAs and event planners don’t need to spend hours finding a future date that suits all parties which can often push important decision-making meetings out by weeks. Now all parties can run the meeting online from wherever they are, exactly as they would have done face-to-face. Small meetings aren’t exempt from the same complications of organising large ones. You may still need to overcome travel expenses, or deal with unexpected delays. You may need to organise the meeting instantly for those important decisions… all of which can be facilitated seamlessly with video conferencing. The convenience and quality of live video conferencing technology for small meetings means workplaces can be more productive and move faster. With Encore Connect, you and your colleagues can share ideas while seeing each other in HD quality. And with nearly 100 locations across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, finding a venue with Encore Connect is easy. Why Choose Encore Connect It’s no longer a matter of if you will use video conferencing software, but when. With the help of an experienced conferencing company, presenters are beamed in from any location, in real-time and fully versed in the technology they are using Thankfully businesses are not alone with conferencing venues recognising the demand to accommodate changing needs. Encore’s venue partners have the capability and the know-how to offer dedicated video conferencing service for any event. An all-in solution with no sacrifices. Sound good? Contact Encore Event Technologies for the best video conferencing service for your business. Our venue partners have the capability and on-site Encore team to offer a dedicated video conferencing service. Large or small, interstate or international, we've got you connected. Send an online enquiry or speak to us right away on 1800 209 099. ... Read More

Having a theme in mind is one thing. Bringing it all together to create a memorable event is something quite different. One of our favourite event concepts is creating an enchanted garden. The theme gives our event designers the creative freedom to design a magical setting across all elements of the room. And who doesn't love magic?! An enchanted garden or forest is a popular theme because it taps into fond childhood memories where our imagination ran wild. And the goal here is to replicate these warm feelings of nostalgia with subtle triggers thanks to creative event production techniques. Our expert event styling and design team have put together these helpful ideas and inspirational tips to make your enchanted garden or forest themed event something to be remembered. So, where’s a good place to start? Try the entry door. A Portal to Paradise – An enchanting entry feature The doors leading into the venue can be just as much a part of the experience as what’s behind them. Inviting entrances are key to creating a sense of initial excitement and setting the tone for what’s to come. More traditional forest themes would see vines creeping up the doors along with foliage real and artificial coupled with lighting to evoke mystery. For something a bit different you may want to go with the not so obvious. Think Narnia. The wardrobe was the entrance to another domain. Take inspiration from any of these kinds of fictional stories to create any entryway seemingly unassumingly. Your guests’ interest is piqued from the start. Who knows? Behind those doors may be another world. An enchanting entry way featuring lots of lush foliage, ornate mirrors, golden urns and a red carpet. Sound and Vision – Creating a magical event atmosphere Bring everything together as one. Designing an event that feels cohesive and seamless is the ultimate goal of an event designer and can be done with some thought and incorporation of great audio visual solutions like the following. Lighting Use warm colours to accentuate the magical feel of an enchanted forest. Fairy lights are your best friend, as are star covered cloths. The use of gobos will add movement and create layers of texture and ambience. Chandeliers add extravagance and enhance the sense of a setting being something quite opulent. Candles or tea lights always work well to soften and create a mood and add warmth to your table styling. Fairy lights and chandeliers offer warm and elegant lighting options for enchanted themed events. Green,amber and gold lighting and decorative gobos are clever ways to fill the room with a magical atmosphere. Ceiling Installations The appearance of lowered ceiling height will create a sense of intimacy. A warmer more magical feel can be created using draped fabrics, low hanging vines, florals and even tiny twinkling lights. Real foliage, ferns and leaves will add authenticity. Floral installations are a great way to create depth and make the space feel intimate. This garden ceiling installation was created using a mixture of real and fake foliage, green fabric and crystal beading. The Use of Backdrops Any stage can be transformed into a raised clearing on the edge of your enchanted forest with beautifully designed event backdrops. Walls of plants used purposefully with other greenery props and golden ornamental mirrors. Giant screens depicting forest creatures, or scenic imagery with cameras panning from the tops of trees to the forest ground. Dressing the stage with greenery, mirrors, chandeliers and gold decor creates a an elegant, enchanted look. Purposeful Sound FX This is where you can transform your guests. We are all visual but our sense of hearing can be our most powerful sense so combining your event audio and sound FX with your visual elements will complete the picture for your guests. Whistled breezes, animal sounds both sweet and alarming, or rain beating on leaves will have your guest stop and listen and transport them to your magical world. Table Styling Think about your guests when considering your centrepiece design. Obscured vision can be an oversight and dramatically affect a guest's experience. Decorate with a purpose to have the seating blend in with the rest of the room. Branches, ferns and vines can all create the right feeling. Let’s not forget about the scent of the forest. Tea lights and scented candles are an option where individual table adornment is preferred. Incorporate natural materials like woods, and twisted willow branches and avoid potent fragrances. Subtle works much better. Green foliage for table centrepieces are a go-to for an enchanted garden look. Remember line of sight is key for guests so consider tall vases or structures to hold the greenery. Twisted willow trees decorated in glass ornaments are another great centerpiece option for an enchanted garden theme. Performance Matters - Performance ideas for events For an enchanted forest setting, roaming entertainers play a large part in creating the right atmosphere. Wolves, deer, fairies, real and even mystical creatures can set the event apart. A successful theme will show them to be in their natural habitat. Remember the performers should flow and be unobtrusive. This is another world your guests have entered. Allow them to be in a place where they are free to leave reality at the door. The types of performances you choose is limited only by your imagination. From roaming acts, to magicians, aerialists to choirs and ballet acts. Anything goes. Design a visual story Connect with your guests from the very beginning. Set the stage and create a start that will be remembered well past the event date. What you can’t create in the room, you can on-screen. Design a presentation that carries the theme and continues the story. Imagine a huge screen backdrop with a pack of wolves running through the forest or gigantic treetops filled with twinkling fairy-like creatures. These powerful visuals can pull the event together and keep your audience’s attention on stage all night. Encore boats an incredible in-house team of multimedia designers who can turn your presentation slides into dynamic visual stories. With this immersive mindset, you have the capability to transport people somewhere far away, to affect their senses and create an unforgettable experience. It’s the subtle art of connection through ambience and tone. That’s a very powerful thing. Partner with the creative story tellers Transforming a blank canvas into a magical world takes creativity, the tools and a lot of skill. An experienced event production and technology company, with the knowledge and talent, will take your ideas and bring them to life. Encore Event Technologies have had the pleasure of transforming spaces into enchanted forests, kingdoms and gardens for clients around the Asia Pacific. It’s one of those event concepts that you can never get tired of. If you are looking to transport your guests to a magical world, we have the ideas, the production solutions and the experts to make your event the success you imagined. Make your enchanted garden event a reality with the help of an experienced audio visual and event production company. Get in touch with us today so we can start discussing your event requirements and share ideas on how to bring it to life - Send us an online enquiry and one of our team members will be back shortly. ... Read More

Check out the latest highlight events our team have delivered across the regions. From our largest show to delivered this year delivered up in Far North Queensland for Amway China, across to a vibrant 3 day conference held in tropical Fiji, down to a gorgeous vintage theatre themed awards night and an enchanting forest in Adelaide. Our teams have been super busy flexing our creative muscles and pushing the boundaries with innovative event technology to design the unforgettable. Below you’ll see a snapshot of some the amazing work our teams produce to help inspire your next events! If you have any questions about the events or our solutions please get in touch with our National Sales Director, Michael Magafa . QUEENSLAND Amway China Seminar and Incentive Program Venue: Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum (AAAM) Encore produced a spectacular nature inspired leadership seminar for 6,000 guests, who arrived in 7 waves, in Cairns for Amway China. . Amway China returned to Australia for the sixth time with more than 6,000 guests for their annual 2019 Leadership Seminar, this time held in Cairns. Seven waves of guests attended the 4-day seminar and incentive program between 21 March – 15 April. Designed and organised by Encore Event Technologies, the business sessions and concluding Gala Program treated guests to a spectacular experience including a special blended reality sequence created using layered multimedia, holographics and choreographed robotics show with a live performer. The 'Rainforest to Reef' themed Gala Program was a highlight for the destination incentive, allowing Encore to design four totally bespoke immersive experiences - Rainforest, Beach, Reef and River - using creative technical production. Each environment was themed using a gigantic 270-degree screen that wrapped around the inside of the venue, table-styling which incorporated lighting design, customised soundscapes and roaming performers. Within each of the four environments was a key performance sequence that brought it to life. The opening 'Rainforest' environment concluded with a spectacular thunder and lightning performance by the edgy Million Volt Man - one of the most extreme live performances that involves stunts using a high-voltage Tesla coil. This then transitioned beautifully into the second environment 'Beach' which included an artistic Fabric Ballet performance featuring 18 DMX controlled fans with beautifully choreographed dancing and costuming designed by the talented Katie Kermond. The third sequence 'Reef' featured an entertaining game simulation of an underwater treasure hunt made possible using a range of AV techniques, collectively referred to as blended reality. The journey saw a live performer participate in the underwater adventure using layered multimedia with a holographic mesh screen, LEDs, and choreographed robotics show. A major highlight of the Gala was the performance in the 'River' sequence - the final environment for the evening's journey. The ‘Fish Medley’ act included a singing and dancing animated multimedia fish on computer controlled Robotic LED screens that moved with the music. Custom designed tropical reef inspired centrepieces decorated each table, each individually lit with both intelligent pin-spotting and wireless DMX battery powered lighting for every table. In addition, at the completion of the four performance segments, delegates were treated to an amazing high energy performance by The Voice China star Uni Yeh performing with a live band and a team of local dancers. Encore also supplied delegates with fun, luminous head dresses so they could feel part of the theming for the event. “The guests were blown away by the 270-degree multimedia projection, holographic projection and synchronized robotics. The creative event design was matched with cutting-edge use of technology to create an amazing experience for guests,” said Encore’s Show Producer, Andrew MacColl. Amway chose to enhance the attendee experience by selecting a new and unusual venue for the event and the newly constructed wing of the Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum (AAAM) was perfect for both the Gala Dinner and Business Sessions. The venue is the largest military vehicle museum on the southern hemisphere. The delegates were treated to a specially created Tank Show in the parklands behind the museum featuring some of the best of these rare and historical vehicles, including dramatic gun blasts and explosions created with pyrotechnics. However, this unique venue presented major challenges as an event venue; it came without rated rigging points, three-phase power, guest Wi-Fi facilities nor air-conditioning. “Working in such a unique venue had its challenges, but also many benefits in that it allowed our team the opportunity to maximise their creativity to bring to life a blank canvas. Special Event Director, John Schryver designed a truly unique and immersive experience which will undoubtedly be remembered long after the event. The team bought his design to life and delivered the series of events flawlessly,” said Mr MacColl. Tony Chamberlain, Managing Director, Encore, said it was an honour to work with Amway China again especially in such an iconic and unique Australian location. “The team have been engaged in meticulous planning for months after winning the bid to manage this event. On-site we managed 20 days of install and rehearsals. Then the team delivered both Business Sessions and the Gala Dinner for each of the seven waves. “Our goal was to create an event that showcased the beauty of Far North Queensland while also demonstrating what is possible for a creative business event. Our talented team achieved all this and more, in a challenging venue. This event will go down in Encore history as one of the best,” said Mr Chamberlain. VICTORIA Tourism Australia Accommodation Awards (VIC) Venue: Grand Hyatt Melbourne Encore designs a fresh take on "A Night at the Theatre" For nearly a decade, Encore have had the pleasure of working with Tourism Accommodation Australia (VIC) to deliver their annual awards. As with every year, the brief is to deliver a totally new and immersive experience, and this year's theme gave Encore the permission to deliver just that. The TAA (VIC) Awards for Excellence recognises Victoria’s finest accommodation hotels and venue staff and celebrates dedication and achievement in the hospitality industry. Nearly 500 esteemed guests, nominees and representatives from Victoria's finest accommodation hotels attended the awards night at Grand Hyatt Melbourne in late June. Driven by the night's entertainment Encore were engaged to design an evening to emulate the experience of attending the theatre. Guests were treated with an array of beverages upon arrival. As they entered the room they were transported into a 1920’s theatre. Gold draping and all the elements of the front and “back of house” in a functioning theatre were strategically placed around the Savoy Ballroom by the Encore Design team. Key elements for the evening was the digital banner and the interactive stage set. The intention behind the digital banner was to create maximum impact on entry by incorporating 3 6mW x 1.2m H projection surfaces that emulated the exterior of the theatre with in-house multimedia loop that featured a ‘NOW SHOWING’ animated banner with the name of the event. Taking a fresh approach to a 'theatre' themed stage set, Encore chose to incorporate both the back and front of house of a theatre as a homage to those in the room. Looking not only at the glitz and glamour, but all the hard working people behind the scenes. The 'front of house' half of the stage was beautifully draped in gold with a sparkling chandelier the “Stage” also housed surprise tab track reveal for opera singers, mid way through the event. Whilst the remaining 'back of house' section took on a darker, more industrial look dressed with truss, lighting bars, ropes and hessian bags to mimic the workings of backstage. The black pressed metal bar acted not only as a make up station for the actors, but the lectern itself. A light haze filled the room with sophisticated lighting design and thoughtfully positioned pin spotting to accentuate the lush, green herbaceous edible centrepieces created by both Executive head chef Dane Clouston and Encore. The creation of animated presentations for all award nominees and winners followed the theatre theme throughout the evening. Guests marvelled in the creative flair displayed by the Encore Multimedia team. All multimedia for the event was thematically considered and painstakingly developed to enhance the theatre experience and celebrate those in the room – both finalists and winners. Our Multimedia team was responsible for the delivery of all on screen content for the evening. Walk in animated feature on the projection marquee 16:9 Animated Holding slide Sponsors loop Opening package featuring their hotels and nominated accommodation staff All finalists packages All winners packages Working in conjunction with Grand Hyatt Melbourne’s leading chef, we seamlessly incorporated a level theatre glamour onto the tables, with our Smokey Mirror cubes giving sparkle amongst a table bursting with potted herbs, which set the scene for the fresh and local menu for the evening. A refined menu of share plates was presented to the tables for both entree and mains, allowing for interaction between guests and conversation about how good the dining experience actually was! After the formal proceedings had concluded and many a glass of chardonnay consumed, guests made their way back to the PFA where they were treated with a creative array of desserts. Post sweet sensations, anyone who was up for cutting some shapes, or to socialise and network, made their way to the Grand Hyatt Residence space where Encore provided some stylish lighting to accompany the DJ who was playing all the bangers! As 1am rolled around the last of the true hospitality party animals respectively made their way to the taxi rank or we lucky enough to be retiring to a suite upstairs. All in all guests experienced a truly enjoyable and encompassing night of sleek production, food, wine and entertainment. From the client, "I want to extend a big thank you to Encore for all your help and dedication on our TAA (Vic) Awards. Your flexibility with last minute changes, and an ever changing event brief, all the video content – I know it was a lot to ask, and you really made the whole process so easy and flawless come the event night. Thank you. We look forward to next year!" SOUTH AUSTRALIA Adelaide Crows Annual Gala Venue: Adelaide Entertainment Centre Every year the Crows host a fundraising event in support of the Adelaide Crows Children's Foundation. The event is one of the Club’s largest events of the year. This year was a visual extravaganza with a croquet theme, a fun play-on-word on the Club’s name, the Adelaide Crows. As the club’s official audio visual partner, Encore was thrilled to be delivering the event at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for another year. The brief was to design an elegant gala event with a croquet club, garden party theme for 1,000 guests. Here is what we delivered. The size and height of the venue made it possible to design and create an amazing ceiling installation which was created via two giant circular truss hung from the roof. An 8m circle of 50 Scenic Panels framed the installation and encased an inner 6m circle of beautiful foliage. Below this hung beautiful crystal balls which twinkled in the lights. The ceiling feature extended throughout the room with 600m of festoon lighting and 400m of bunting. The stage comprised of three 16ft tall portrait style screens interspersed with 8 x 7m totem formation of up-lit Scenic Panels matching the ceiling installation and flanked by two giant screens at either side. The stage continued the croquet theme with white picket fencing, green grass carpeting and a lectern complete with croquet hammers and foliage. The team delivered a complete event production solution, encompassing all audio, vision, lighting, staging, multimedia creation, styling and production management. The event theme was brought to life as soon as guests arrived at the venue. An entrance feature and photo opportunity was created comprising light up letters spelling AFC. The area was encased with picket fencing and decorated with on-theme props including a grass carpet, croquet hammers and plants. MC for the evening was Ryan Fitzgerald (Fitzy), players and past coaches accompanied him on stage and were supported by Nathan Casserly and Alex Ouwens from OC Real Estate as the Auctioneers. Entertainment for the night was provided by Brian Ruiz plus band. Around the room were silent auction areas framed with additional festoon lighting and count-down screens. A Toyota RAV 4 was the lucky door price for the evening and finalists were invited to come on stage for a croquet challenge, with the winner of the car generously donating the prize back to the charity. The annual Crows Gala Auction is a hotly anticipated event for the Encore Adelaide team. The event gives us the opportunity to create truly immersive experiences and we love jumping through hoops to deliver something completely different each year and look forward to next year’s creative brief! From the Adelaide Football Club, "The Events team here at the Adelaide Football Club look forward to this Annual Event as much as Encore. We have an extremely strong working relationship with Encore which allows us to deliver events such as this. When we met with Encore the theme was decided and we discussed all elements of the event from styling, multimedia requirements and production. "With so many elements involved including a vehicle on stage, MC, a multitude of performers including a five piece band and two Auctioneers, it was smooth sailing from bump in to bump out. Encore handled last minutes run sheet changes during the event without a hitch. "The feedback from our guests and Executive has been overwhelming in relation to the entrance and the room. We believe this set the scene for the night and contributed to our overall result." FIJI Annual Sales Conference Venue: InterContinental Fiji Gold & Spa Resort A wonderful setting in Fiji for The Wonderful Company's year's sale conference Encore in Fiji were engaged by leading US health food company, The Wonderful Company, to deliver their annual sales conference for 200 high-performing team members in tropical Fiji. Held between 3 - 7 June 2019 at the InterContinental Fiji Golf & Spa Resort, as the in-house AV and event services partner, Encore collaborated with Rosie Hollidays who provided all the styling, decor and concept for the event. The event program comprised a Welcome Dinner at Kama beachfront, followed by two full days of conference sessions, a White party dinner on Thursday before a final day of conference sessions before flying home. The event vision was clear from the outset and the client’s prior production experience helped make the process run smoothly. The final concept was significantly larger than what was initially proposed as The Wonderful Company grew more excited about the event and more confident in Encore’s capabilities. The Welcome Dinner held on the foreshore of the resort was all about setting the tone for the event to come. There was lots of vibrant, colourful lighting to echo the tropical surroundings with guests even treated to a special ‘welcome drink’ in a kava ceremony - a traditional Fijian welcoming ritual. The tropical vibes continued into the design of the main conference in the Ballroom; the stage was dressed with a cane matting, the bright palm-tree imagery on the large 20ft x 11ft rear projector screen, as well as the suspended hollow wooden hearts which were used as a branding device. Across all of the events, The Wonderful Company's heart-shaped logo was incorporated in various ways from a gobo projected onto the roof at the Welcome Dinner, the suspended wooden hearts in the conference design and a special custom-made 5m flaming heart for the closing White Party. The scope and production management involved with delivering this event on the 4th tee of the golf course presented many challenges for the Encore team to overcome. There was actually a pro golf tournament happening at the time, which meant Encore had to coordinate the bump-in to occur at a specific time and work around their schedule. An event of this scale meant we were coordinating 9 external suppliers, with a tight turnaround on a remote location, definitely presented many challenges. However the event went off without a hitch – even the ‘59 Chevelle car used for as a photo prop made it through Fijian customs just in time. Lighting was key to the event. We started the night with a blue wash, cloaking the event and which made the all-white guests and décor stand out. Then as the night progressed we continued to changed the lighting colours and effects using our wirelessly controlled uplighting to suit the mood and energy as the event continued into the wee hours. As the big finale guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks display. A wonderful ending to The Wonderful Company’s sales conference. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Red Ball (SA) 2019 Venue: InterContinental Adelaide Encore transformed the Ballroom at InterContinental Adelaide into a lush Enchanted Forest for the Fight Cancer Foundation's fourth annual Red Ball Adelaide held on Saturday 1 June. The gala gave Encore's styling & design team in Adelaide a chance to flex their creative muscles, not leaving a stone in the ballroom unstyled, so to speak. After guests journeyed down the red carpet they were greeted with a beautiful fern-covered archway with decadent gold plinths and spiral topiary plants either side. This was the first clue as to the kind of evening they had instore. Once they entered what used to be a room, the guests were dazzled by the glowing fairy lights, chandelier-filled ceiling and lush greenery all around the room. The stage backdrop was styled beautifully using an array or mirrors, chandeliers and gold mirror frames floating against a tall planter wall. Tables were styled with alternate centrepieces; a mixture of gold twisted willow trees decorated with glass ornaments and tangled in fairy lights with the other being styled a large arrangement of fresh ferns by Botanic Poetry with red beads at the bottom of each vase to incorporate the Fight Cancer Foundation's colour red. Encore projected the night's content onto two 13ft screens flanking either side of the main stage and used the InterContinental Adelaide's Mh5 Moving Head pin spots to cast beautiful coloured lights and patterns around the room. The enchanted evening was hosted by Adam Giles and included a special performance from Glenn Shorrock. The gala was a huge success, raising more than $116,000 to support South Australian children living with cancer! "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Encore again….. particularly this year and would have no hesitation in working with you again if circumstances permit and to recommend you both. I have had so many wonderful comments about the event….so thank you again for working with me to make it such a success." Jennifer Carnell, Fundraising Coordinator South Australia, Fight Cancer Foundation AUCKLAND Barfoot & Thompson Annual Awards 2019 Venue: SKYCITY Convention Centre Auckland Our Encore team in Auckland partnered with leading real estate brand, Barfoot & Thompson, to deliver their annual awards night in recognizing high performing staff and offices. Held in the Ballroom at SKYCITY Convention Centre Auckland, we delivered a very grand, decadent awards setting for 520 guests. Providing an end-to-end solution for this long-term client, we designed a big Hollywood awards style evening – big custom stage set, with custom on-screen content, red carpet, lots of gold and warm tones. Encore provided a total production solution from initial concept through to execution and management on show night. Upon arrival guests were ushered down a glamorous red carpet posing in front of the 4m media wall to have their 'paparazzi' shot taken. Being an awards night, the hero of the event design was the bespoke stage set comprising of 2 x 15m wide screens, 8 hexagonal panels and a large 15m x 4.5m low res LED screen - the entire design spanning a total of 32m wide! A challenge in the production process was finding projector fabric large enough for the screens, leaving our team to import it from the UK as there is no seamless fabric tat large in New Zealand. Leading up to this impressive stage set, our team built a custom grand staircase in a hexagonal shape to complement the hexagonal screen panels and the gold wire hexagonal table centrepieces. We collaborated closely with B&Ts marketing agency who was responsible for producing their on-screen content. It was important we met week in the lead up to the event to review the content and provide technical feedback to make sure it was feasible and provide creative insight as to what could be possible. Our production team brought this content to life on stage using our Watchout media server and some of the largest projectors in the country - 4 x 30K projectors - which included some projection mapping prowess to line up the single image across the entire set including the hexagonal panels. Lighting design comprised of static, amber-coloured pin spots lighting each onto each table, 8 profile lights rigged to the ceiling with 16 from the floor, casting beams of light around the room with gobo beams breaking them up. During each award a ballyhoo lighting effect was used giving it that Hollywood awards feel “similar to a lighting drumroll effect”. We created a beautiful canopy effect on the ceiling using luxurious gold draping interspersed with warm fairy lights with black draping to dress the venue walls. Guest were treated to a mesmerising performance by a trio with the Grand Piano as we all as a special performance from popular New Zealand singer-songwriter Lizzie Marvelly. The choice of gold tones, warm lighting, a flashy dramatic stage set with big, orchestral music all worked beautifully together to create one memorable awards night. -- Partner with the production specialists for your next event At Encore, we believe in turning ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. With Australia's largest range of event production solutions at our fingertips, we have the creativity and technology to bring your event vision to life. From conferences, galas and exhibitions to sale incentives, product launches and touring roadshows; we have the network, experience and equipment to deliver your event seamlessly. Get in touch with us today to start discussing the requirements for your upcoming events. ... Read More

Do you think you’ve seen it all before? Think again. Performances at events are common place. From dance troupes, magicians, quick-change acts to aerialists, bands and more. It can be a challenge finding the right entertainment to re-energise and captivate your guests. And thanks to social media, the challenge of discovering a new experience is only amplified as anything worth sharing is shared; to hundreds, thousands and millions of people in an instant. So what’s the answer? Creative technical production to cast a new light on these performances, elevating them from something you’ve seen before to something never experienced. Are you ready? The Point of Engagement So, why does your event need enhanced performances? If you’ve held events before, you’ve figured out putting on a great display goes beyond a disco ball and a spotlight. The connection between an on stage performance and what’s going on in the background has the powerful ability to build excitement in the audience and confidence in the performer. When it’s done right, performers will thrive on what’s happening around them, while the guests are left with an experience they won’t expect. Any venue can become a part of your presenter’s performance, not just simply accommodation for a captive audience. Below are some ideas on how event producers are building this connection between performers and the event environment using a combination of audio visual greatness and a healthy dose of creativity. The Fine Art of Light and Sound In terms of event planning, delivering something unexpected for guests has become increasingly difficult as each year passes. The good news is new technologies and the latest in crowd-pleasing AV techniques give us a vast number of ways to deliver something extraordinary. Lighting design with flair Lighting creates mood. Actually, it has the ability to alter mood, which is a very powerful thing, when you think about it. When it comes to performances, the effect of lighting goes far beyond simply shining a light on them. Clever lighting design can shape a performance. There are a myriad of lighting equipment and techniques to set the tone of a performance such as static and moving pinspots, ballyhoo, uplights, hazy smoke effects and more. Combining light and colour can alter a room’s ambience, synchronising seamlessly with the performance for dramatic impact. And sometimes, no lighting at all at the right time during a performance can have the biggest effect of them all. They all have their place. Enhance the atmosphere with sounds Music and sound also have the ability to transform. There’s not too many of us who don’t have memories attached to certain sounds, music or a particular song. The right combination can create the perfect atmosphere to complement any performance and take guests on the journey. Set the Stage and the Performer Imagine a room where you can be transported into the eye of a storm, a sea filled with jellyfish, or even a rainforest. The same room can take your guests back in time with large scale imagery of days gone by. Your set design can give your performances the backdrop they need to elevate their impact. We’ve created wide vistas of jungles for rope artist performance, of the Italian coastline for a Bond themed dance and custom designed a set to replicate a large ship for a dance performance as part of an HMAS themed gala. Lighting that moves Kinetic lighting is new addition to our lighting arsenal. By using a combination of mechanics and lighting, movement prevails, synchronised and relevant to your events theme or your soundtrack. Kinetic Lights are a lighting system that is rigged to the ceiling and turns any vast space into a dazzling light display. The lights are programmed to change colour, flicker, glow and can be choreographed to move up and down in sync with a performance. We’ve used them to enhance an aerialists performance, a band and even to amp up the crowd for high-energy opening act of a gala dinner. Wall to floor imagery If large screen TV’s are your thing, then you’ll love the latest in wall to floor LED screens allowing for an incredible 3D experience. Latest LED screens allow content to seamlessly extend from the wall down to the floor creating an immersive 3D effect. This is the perfect backdrop to transport your performers to distant places, back in time or underwater – any setting is possible with our team of in-house designers. But wait, there’s more. Mind-bending illusions with projection mapping and holographic technology Want to change the appearance of the performer’s outfit to blend in with the background? You can, thanks to projection mapping. Depending on the type of performance, projection mapping 2D and 3D content onto the stage set or another object they interact with, is another way to enhance the performance and tell the story. Our team in Sydney used projection mapping to change the outfit of an aerialist for a gala in Sydney. We’ve turned a static stage set into a moving alien world for performers to interact with at the launch of a new video game. We’ve even used projection mapping to change the backdrop behind performers, continually transporting them to different spaces as the performance transpired. What about creating a holographic-like experience to have a performer appear to be swimming in underwater? For a large destination incentive, our team created an entertaining game simulation of an underwater treasure hunt made possible using a range of AV techniques, collectively referred to as blended reality. The journey saw a live performer participate in the underwater adventure using layered multimedia with a holographic mesh screen, LEDs, and choreographed robotics show. Holographic mesh screen & Holograms enhance the event by offering the once thought impossible. In Canberra we used the holographic mesh screen to make the presenter appear on stage interviewing himself as if there were actually two of him. This holographic effect can even be used for dance performances. Dancers projected onto a backdrop, with the help of sensors, can interact and even mimic what’s happening on stage, making it appear as though their shadow was dancing. Immerse your audience in the performance by combining these innovative solutions with creative lighting design and sound FX. So how is it done? Smartly. Creatively. Intuitively. Leave Everyone Wanting More This is not about distracting your guests from what’s happening on stage, but rather soaking them in the entire atmosphere and transporting them to another world, even if it’s only for a few hours. A performance supported by the right creative production goes beyond something you witness to something you experience. And that’s where unforgettable moments resonate. From a return on investment point of view, if you’re spending big dollars on getting the big names to perform at your event, give them the experience that even they’ll never forget with creative production. See for Yourself: Speak to the AV experts for your next event At Encore, we understand how long it takes to plan and organise the type of events that become the talk of the town. You want the lighting to be perfect, the visual messaging to be strong, the audio to be mesmerizing, and the live performances to truly shine. There's no room for half measures, especially when your audience is comprised of individuals who've been bombarded by all kinds of media and have likely seen it all. The only way to impress them is with an all-encompassing solution that consists of the most cutting edge AV technology and techniques available. Bringing the right solutions to your brief requires expertise. That’s exactly what Encore Event Technologies has in abundance. Contact us to have your ordinary event transform into an extraordinary experience. ... Read More

See how we used custom table projection mapping to create an extraordinary dining experience for this year's Living Grand dinner at Grand Hyatt Melbourne; delivered a holographic-like experience for the Top Secret 2019 Dinner in Canberra, built a 48m wide custom stage set for Volkswagen and so much more. Below you’ll see a snapshot of some the amazing work our teams produce to help inspire your next events! If you have any questions about the events or our solutions please get in touch with our National Sales Director, Michael Magafa . VICTORIA Living Grand Client Appreciation Venue: Grand Hyatt Melbourne Encore had the pleasure of partnering with Hyatt Australia to deliver a unique culinary and visual journey for its VIP clients as part of the annual Living Grand event. Hosted at Grand Hyatt Melbourne in February, Encore created the immersive experience by combining audio visual theatrics, lighting design and creative styling with the world-class custom projection mapping to stimulate sight, sounds, taste, small and touch. Watch the video below to re-live the Living Grand Dinner 2019 48 VIPs were led down a dark tunnel into a dimly lit room, surrounded by black drapes with ambient music playing in the background. The room was sparse, with minimal styling and theming building intrigue as to what was to follow. Once guests were seated, the journey began, completely immersing them in the sounds and visuals, complimenting the menu course by course. The entree took guests underwater with sounds of the ocean filling the room and swimming fish flawlessly projection mapped onto the tables and drapes. Then when the sorbet was served, it was accompanied by images and sounds of ice breaking and shattering throughout the room. The main course was themed fire and smoke. Diners were blindfolded before the sounds of burning wood and fire floated through the air. The Encore team then projection mapped fire onto the table while mains were served. Along with the sizzling of food on the grill, the room was filled with low fog slowly rising from the floor as the guests took off their blindfolds. The final course was an ode to Willy Wonka with the room lighting up with the colours of liquorice Allsorts, a chocolate river flowing down the tables and the infamous theme song of the Oompah Loompas playing. For this night to be a success, the timing of the projection and audio had to be perfect. Grand Hyatt Melbourne General Manger, Ilan Weill was thrilled with the work Encore produced. “We of course appreciated your innovation and hard work to meet the deadlines and listen to us. However, the special thank you I would like to convey is for your partnership and amazing spirit working and having fun with us on what was a last-minute idea and turned out to be a fully produced wow type of night. Your patience, great attitude, talent and how you joined forces with us on the night was felt by everyone involved and we really appreciated working together as one team,” said Mr Weill. “We are delighted to call you our partners – Thank you again!” QUEENSLAND Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit 2019 Venue: Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Delivering a big stage solution for Volkswagen Encore was set the challenge to create a memorable high-end audio-visual feast communicating the ‘Iconic’ theme for the Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit 2019. The event welcomed over 800 delegates in two streams from across the Volkswagen dealer network at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane on 19-21 February 2019. Conceived and convened by Volkswagen Australia Director of Customer Experience and Marketing Jason Bradshaw, more than 800 Volkswagen Group Australia staff and delegates from the nationwide dealership network have attended what is believed to be the biggest customer training exercise held by an auto importer in this country. The commanding stage set delivered a massive impact. Encore’s technical team created a mammoth screen consisting of 5 custom borderless screens combined to form one large canvas of 48m wide, this included two curved screens at either end to frame the 28m custom black acrylic stage. Over 150 pixel mapped LED neon tubes encased the top and bottom of the screens creating a futuristic feel and complementing video content. Two circular stages made of black reflective acrylic built either side of the screens created a platform for two of the latest Volkswagen vehicles launched at the event. This impressive event delivered a series of captivating on-screen animated experiences on the huge projection surface which flowed thru to the pixel mapped lighting effects adding an extra level of excitement and drama. The central screen was also recessed to enable the speakers to make a dramatic entrance from behind the stage set. By day the impressive stage was beautifully lit with red and blue with spotlights shining on the cars and reflective stage. During the conference the dramatic staging hosted Omar Johnson VP of Marketing for Apple, followed by presentations by a number of guest speakers and dealers. During the gala event in the evening the premium dealer awards were presented. The lighting show was ramped up to the maximum, plus pyrotechnics, the release of thousands of streamers and CO2 canon blasts to celebrate the major awards. Michael Magafa, National Sales Director for Encore was delighted with the impact created by the giant stage set and the overall seamless delivery of the event. “The brief was to create a big impression, so we delivered a huge solution! The stage encased the entire room and the team designed an impressive lighting and projection solution to captivate the guests. I am very proud of the team’s flawless delivery for our client.” AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Top Secret 2019 Dinner Venue: National Convention Centre Canberra Encore Event Technologies (Encore) served up an incredible holographic-like experience for some of Australia’s leading event industry professionals, at the “Love and Desire” themed Top Secret 2019 Dinner on Friday 22 March. Hosted by the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC), as part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), this dinner was part of a 3-day program run by the Canberra Convention Bureau (CCB). The program consists of a series of individualised experiences for an exclusive group of national meeting planners. Showcasing business event product and services, the program allows Canberra’s events community to demonstrate the calibre of events in our nation’s capital. The hero of the night was Encore’s expert use of a holographic mesh screen, highlighting the venue as a premium event space and showcasing the technology available when holding an event at the NCCC in conjunction with Encore. Using the holographic mesh screen, Encore created animated content such as a hot air balloon that appear as though it was floating through the air. Known for their innovation, Encore really broke the mould for the Top Secret 2019 Dinner bringing Stephen Wood, General Manager of the National Convention Centre Canberra into the room through a hologram. Guests were able to watch Mr Wood standing onstage, interviewing himself as if there were actually two of him. The use of holographic mesh screens is usually only seen at big budget events such as Eurovision and the Grammys, or on television. However, Encore were able to demonstrate to event managers how this technology is possible at their events with the right team and the right venue. Mr Wood commented, “We love working with Encore, they always manage to outdo themselves with their innovation and creativity, and this event was no exception.” The theme for the 3 day familiarisation was “Love and Desire”, based on the current exhibition on display at the National Gallery of Australia. On each table were large 2D Scenic Panels on custom frames, designed to look like garden lattices in the shape of hearts as a nod to pre-Raphaelite theme of the “Love and Desire” exhibition. Directly above the tables were 20 LED Kinetic Lights, programmed to move with the music and change colour throughout the night, creating a truly spectacular lighting display. Also taking inspiration from the “Love and Desire” theme was the night’s entertainment. During the event, two actors from the Shakespeare by the Lake performance rose up after being hidden as guests and began to perform some of the Bard’s most famous sonnets. Continuing the surprises, instead of using one main screen, Encore set up four 60in televisions across one truss structure on the main stage. They displayed the animated logos of Encore, NCCC, CCB and IHG in front of scrolling panoramic shots of Canberra spread across the 4 screens as a single wide screen image, showcasing the beauty of the city. “This was a truly sophisticated and memorable event. The National Convention Centre Canberra and guests were delighted with the outcome, and we can’t thank Encore enough,” said Mr Wood. VICTORIA Lunar New Year Venue: Crown Melbourne New technology for New Year Celebrations at Crown Melbourne VIP guests from China celebrated the Lunar New Year in style at Crown Melbourne on Friday 22 February. Encore created an atmosphere of opulence and splendour with their stunning table projection, multimedia, audio visual services and styling. The highlight of the evening was the spectacular custom table projections that greeted guests as they entered the River Room and found their seats. The content projected onto each individual table was the perfect blend of Chinese tradition, opulence and technical innovation. On each table, cranes flew around the circular table, fish swam between glasses and flowers grew from plates as the different animated looks circled each table and even individual plates. On top of the Lazy Susan, the menu for the night was projected in both English and Chinese, rotating, so all guests could read it. Then as food arrived, Encore masked the projection on the Lazy Susan and plates, so the colour didn’t affect the look of the food while the areas surrounding each continued with projected with animation. As well as the projection mapping, Encore created a beautiful light show adding excitement to the entertainment while enabling the projection show to shine. Encore’s beautiful styling enhanced the theme. Red was chosen as the main colour as it symbolises luck, happiness and joy in Chinese culture. The team used varying shades of red in the lighting, stage set and table projections, while also laying red carpet to cover the entire floor and hanging red swagged drapes to create a seamless look. Two large screens framed either side of the stage with a sign displaying a custom designed Year of the Pig insignia in the middle of the stage. Also outlining the stage was an intricate stage set that was Laser cut to look like lattice in a traditional Chinese garden interwoven with cherry blossom branches. During the night, guests were entertained by a high energy violinist, lion dancer, and magician. Each entertainment act had their own animated table projection to complement their performance – a sparkling display of glitter for the violinist, a small animated dragon for the lion dancer and the magician’s logo for his performance. AUCKLAND New Years Eve Venue: SKYCITY Convention Centre Auckland Encore Event Technologies (Encore) treated guests at the SKYCITY NYE Party 2018 to a showstopping, Las Vegas-themed audio visual spectacular at SKYCITY Convention Centre, Auckland. The talented team at Encore were entrusted with the event, designed to enthral the most valuable of VIP’s on the biggest party night of the year – and they didn’t disappoint! Capturing the unique and glamorous atmosphere of a Las Vegas show, guests were transported to one of the world’s most famous districts with a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement. Encore created the stunning aesthetic with bold and colourful lighting choices, innovative stage styling and carefully crafted audio to support the entertainment that immersed the audience in the Las Vegas theme. The hero of the night was Encore’s lighting solutions. With over 100 LX Fixtures around the room and moving LX fixtures attached to truss droppers and totems on the stage, Encore turned the back wall into a lighting backdrop. To keep guests entertained, the stage was framed on either side by two 20ft screens and two 16ft screens, all displaying multimedia content created by Encore. This custom content was projected onto the screens using four 7K laser projectors and a Barco S3. Guests danced the night away with back-to-back entertainment such as illusionists, dancers, singers and an 8-piece band. During these acts, the lighting became part of the show, working seamlessly into the performances on stage. SKYCITY were once again thrilled with Encore’s work and the creativity and efficiency they demonstrated in producing an unforgettable night. Encore have been creating mesmerising events at SKYCITY for 15 years, managing to outdo themselves each time. QUEENSLAND Cairns Taipans Season Celebration Venue: Pullman Cairns International The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans celebrated their 20th anniversary year and the 2018-19 NBL season on Friday 22 February at the Pullman Cairns International. It was a celebratory night for the Taipans, marking 20 year history as well as acknowledging they are the only local sports team competing at a national level, so club officials wanted to give their players, local supporters and sponsors an unforgettable night. As the in-house event services provider, Encore was tasked with delivering an experiences befitting of the occasion. Inside the Grand Ballroom, Encore created the stage set using interlocked 2D and 3D Scenic Panels. When lit, the intricate patterns of the Scenic Panels cast beautiful shapes and shadows turning the backdrop into a feature piece. In the centre, the team engineered a 3D Scenic Panel formation in a diamond shape which became the frame for the 20th Anniversary logo. Each element of the stage set was spaced one metre back from the next creating visual depth and an innovative 3D effect. Lighting design was key to the overall event concept using a variety of equipment from moving lights, uplights and washes, profiles and more. The creative lighting choices were set to a theme of orange, navy and purple – the Taipans team colours. Centrepieces were designed using the team’s basketballs placed on top of glass vases – a simple, yet very fitting design for the event and its guests. Following the main awards ceremony, it was time for the party to begin. With the DJ playing through the flawless sound system and Encore’s lighting operator putting on a show with unique lighting effects, guests had a great time dancing and celebrating. -- Partner with the production specialists for your next event At Encore, we believe in turning ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. With Australia's largest range of event production solutions at our fingertips, we have the creativity and technology to bring your event vision to life. From conferences, galas and exhibitions to sale incentives, product launches and touring roadshows; we have the network, experience and equipment to deliver your event seamlessly. Get in touch with us today to start discussing the requirements for your 2019 events. ... Read More