Mar 19 2018
Encore Research

Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Talk Back system, or ‘comms’ as they are more commonly know and find why it is essential to the smooth running of an event. Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at Talk Back system and find out why it is essential to the smooth running of an event.
AV Discipline: Show Operation
AV Category: AV Equipment AV Jargon: InterCom, Comms, Head Set
Description: A Talk Back system is a communication network that is used by Show Operators to share vital aspects of an event, ensuring all actions are performed in unison. With Show Operators positioned throughout a function space, you will find them wearing a headset allowing them to listen to the show call and contribute to the flow of information. Go video #3! Stage lights up! Microphone #2 up! These are all examples of the talk back communication. The system comprises of any number of headsets and belt packs, which are allocated to each Show Operator including but not limited to camera, sound and lighting operators. At the heart of the system is the base station, which is typically located at the Control Desk for a central point of access. The Talk Back system is capable of distributing multiple channels which allows for isolated communications. By allocating different channels, this helps to keep the information flow focused and relevant for the Show Operators. For example the audio operator does not need to hear the call for the Camera Operator to pull focus and change their shot. Source: Clear-Com | Tempest 2400
Next week we look at aspect ratios for projection screens. If you have any words, terms or lingo you would like our AV experts to demystify for you please send your suggestions through to info@stagingconnections.com Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor, Staging Connections.
Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor and drives our training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production and Services Program for our new trainees. … Read More

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An elegant awards night and gala dinner for Australian Hotels Association WA

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Staging Connections Perth were engaged by long time client of 17 years, Australian Hotels Association - WA (AHA WA), to deliver their annual NAB WA Hospitality Suppliers Awards and Toxfree gala Dinner for 350 guests. As with every year, the AHA WA look to design a memorable awards night and opted for "an elegant starry night" theme for this year's event. Stage design using Digital Banners and custom multimedia To bring this vision to life, Staging Connections used an array of audio visual, staging and styling solutions including a custom stage stage made from our range of Digital Banners with a circular cut-out in between. This unique design created the perfect stage set, which we projected custom designed awards categories and winner announcement videos onto. Whilst clean and simple in design, constructing the stage set in this way created real impact and became a talking point of the night. Designing the stage set using Digital Banners also gave Staging Connections' in-house multimedia team the chance to custom design a spectacular opening sequence which really set the tone for the event. Below is the video which was projection mapped across the array of Digital Banners. The Staging Connections styling team answered the brief with our range of elegant Eclipse centerpieces, on a black table cloth and paired with black chair covers. Styling the tables in this way complemented the room design and centered the focus to the unique stage design where the winners were being presented. “The AHA has worked with Staging Connections on countless events over the last 17 years. At every event we are blown away by their professionalism, dedication and creativity. The rooms always look spectacular and work synonymous with the audio visual aspect. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the team at Staging Connections for all of their consistent hard work over the years.” Bradley Woods, CEO of AHA WA. Partner with Staging Connections for your event Staging Connections have been delivering spectacular awards nights and gala dinners for local and international companies for since 1986. When it comes to delivering an unforgettable event, we are the events team you can count on. With Asia Pacific's largest range of event services, we have the tools, ideas and people to turn ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. This means we are your one-stop-shop for all event production services from the audio visual, staging and lighting through to styling, multimedia and digital engagement tools. Our work speaks for itself so please view our Recent Events Portfolio to see what amazing experiences we're curating every day around the country. If you're interested in speaking with a Staging Connections representative about your event, give us a call on 1800 209 099 or by sending an online enquiry. ... Read More

Big is back for end of year celebrations - Part 2: 12 Days of Christmas

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
This year, immersive themed events are hotly tipped to be the way to give your guests an exciting and memorable celebration and importantly - end the year with a bang! Some event themes are classic and will always inspire, while others trend alongside popular culture. This year Christmas event styling is focusing on creating immersive events that ‘tell a story’ with festive flair. Immersive events are about going above and beyond your typical styling treasure trove to embracing audio visual solutions that transform your venue. We want to give you a taste of what is hot this year in event styling and our top tips for really bringing your theme to life. Part 1: Vintage Circus and Carnival || Part 3: Hollywood Awards || Part 4: Northern Lights 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Undeniably a favourite Christmas carol, we share how to bring the ’12 Days of Christmas’ to life as an immersive event theme. With the application of the latest in digital technology, we are nearly boundless in ways to make a real impact with this theme. Imagine your event room becoming a live countdown to Christmas, where every 15 minutes the entire room transforms to bring to life the day’s theme. Audio visual equipment used to transform the room theme every 15 mins. Through the use of various audio visual techniques, we can literally make it appear as if there were ‘6 Turtle Doves’ flying around the room! Large hanging banners decorating the walls and lining the ceiling can change appearance as graphics are projected onto the fabric. Custom designed gobos can illuminate the floor to coordinate with the countdown and are a great way to brand your event. The full story can be told via digital screens lining the room, all showing content designed to work harmoniously with the other digital elements around the room. The key to being immersive is creating a space where everything works together. Banners which change design every 15mins via image projections When it comes to decorating the tables, don’t detract from the magnificent light show with over-styled centrepieces. Instead go for modern interpretations with traditional colours such as chocolate, bronze and gold with accents of burgundy or dark hunter green. Combine these with some natural Christmas flora such as mistletoe, or tree pine brush to add warmth to the centrepieces. Left: LED candles wrapped in music sheets. Right: Themed menu and table cards. First impressions count and you’ll want to wow your guests from the moment they arrive. Incorporate props, interactive photo booths and entry decorations to tease the theme. A simple and cost effective way to decorate the entry way is with Staging Connections latest product - Event Backdrop. We can create a custom design that integrates your branding, the event name and the theme to create a beautiful illuminated mural to set the scene. Top tips Whilst the AV is working to transform the room, it’s the little details at ground level which tie it all together. Including elements that give a sense of subtle nostalgia interpreted in unexpected ways such as wrapping old Christmas music sheets around tall LED candles turning them into elegant lumieres. Candles create the perfect ambience for a Christmas event. Use vintage Christmas holiday postcards as a novel way to leave personal messages for guests or table naming place cards. Want to see what other predictions we have... Part 1: Vintage Circus and Carnival || Part 3: Hollywood Awards Night || Part 4: Northern Lights ... Read More

Avoiding Risky Business

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
How many people at the moment are talking about having an epiphany? A dinner with friends doesn’t seem to go by without someone talking about their latest intense moment of realisation, deep spiritual experience, light bulb moment or philosophical awakening - just as they tuck into their second bottle of red. How many people at the moment are talking about having an epiphany? A dinner with friends doesn’t seem to go by without someone talking about their latest intense moment of realisation, deep spiritual experience, light bulb moment or philosophical awakening - just as they tuck into their second bottle of red. Then they proceed to tell you about how this sudden bolt of lucidity changed their lives, despite the fact that their lives look remarkably similar to the last time that you saw them. One shouldn’t judge. This stuff is real. A tough, tattooed rigger with a potty mouth once told me that he experienced his epiphany when he dropped a length of truss on his foot. “It hurt like hell,” he said, or words to that effect, “but it got me thinking. This rock n’ roll business is a mug’s game. I’m going to move to corporate!” For those that aren’t in the know, “corporate” is an AV industry term for any show or event that isn’t rock n’ roll. This was a big decision for him - he knew what he was giving up – from now on he’d have to shave before work, remove his nose ring, cover his tattoos with a nicely pressed long sleeve black shirt, not to mention clean up his language. Like everyone who’s worked in rock n roll will tell you “when you cross the River Styx to the world of corporate, there’s no going back.” But corporate is not without risk - you can still drop a length of truss on your foot if you’re clumsy enough. The difference is that when you do drop it, it doesn’t hurt. The cursing and swearing of your days in rock n’ roll have been replaced with a chuckle as the truss rings like a tuning fork. Why? Because it struck your shiny black steel-toe boot. That’s risk management in a nutshell – think about what might go wrong and come up with a solution to manage it. Like a famous New York banker once said, “risk is just a part of life, so make it your friend, or you’ll have a nervous breakdown.” Despite the fact that he’s now serving a jail sentence for getting a little bit too cosy with risk, he was kind of right. Kind of. However, if the possibility of dropping truss on your foot was the only risk in our industry, I wouldn’t have a job. Ninety five percent of Staging Connections’ business is done in the public arena, which brings with it enormous risk and equally enormous levels of responsibility. We do flip chart and projector meetings in Sydney or Perth, right through to major global conferences in Kuala Lumpur or Paris, and everything in between. Our shows must not only be stylish, technically brilliant and commercially savvy, but they also have to be safe. Clients and members of the public who come to our events shouldn’t have to worry about whether that length of truss suspended above their heads is going to stay there. Embedding risk management into your brand takes commitment. This year Staging Connections began implementing its Stagesafe system along with its logo and mantra, “Stagesafe, every show, every event.” Whenever Managing Director Tony Chamberlain speaks to us, he begins with a message on the importance of safety, not just because he wants to, but because he understands that without safety, your brand is nothing. Author: Luke Sullivan Picture: Unless stated are owned by Staging Connections ... Read More

Meeting the needs of the next generation of event planners

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Generation Y and Millennials have more decision making power than ever before and it’s not just the generation that’s changing; it’s the way they consume technology that’s prompting the events industry to change. It's time to get up to speed. You might think they’re asking too much, that they have ‘big’ ideas or maybe you just get annoyed that they don’t answer their landlines, but don’t underestimate what they’re capable of. It’s time to get in touch with the next generation of event buyers. Generation Y and Millennials have more decision making power than ever before and it’s not just the generation that’s changing; it’s the way they consume technology that’s prompting the events industry to change. The opportunity is here. Adapt or die. The next generation are demanding, they do have ‘big’ ideas and they don’t like taking your sales calls. Get to know them, their priorities and their love for all things tech, and you’ll be way ahead of the rest. In the first ever Australia Asia Pacific survey conducted by the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC), Generation Y and Millennials, those aged 18 to 32, placed more importance on the technology capabilities of a venue than any other generation. Why? Because technology isn’t an add-on for them. It’s not even a ‘part’ of their life, it is them, it is their life. There’s an opportunity here for venues and event suppliers. When the future of meetings and events lies in the successful communication and collaboration of buyer and seller, all parties must understand the needs and wants of the other. For venues, attracting event buyers lies in communicating their unique technical facilities and strength of their team. For event suppliers, attracting buyers lies in the technology they offer and success of past events delivered. We’re in house at 70 venues across Australia and New Zealand, and as the only supplier to hold this accolade, we feel privileged to be able to offer innovative technical solutions; through the people with the know-how and the boundary-pushing products and services that we’ve tailored to each of our venues. Our technology includes the latest webcasting and live streaming technology, Event Feed – our real-time social media platform to boost event engagement, Event Poll which allows live voting, contests and question submission at events like conference and of course event apps. Plus we have the latest and greatest multimedia 3D mapping programs which project onto any 3D surface, offering phenomenal impact and uber-widescreen technologies to truly transform events. We’re seeing that generation Y event buyers are more interested in these technologies. Priorities of the decision maker have changed. Baby Boomers and Generation X had top priorities like quality, dedicated service teams and a superior food and beverage offering. Generation Y and Millennials are placing greater importance on location, technology and experiential learning aspects like team building. Each of these priorities open the door for venues and suppliers to be more innovative. Together, we’re set to see more and more creative and high-tech events, what better way to get that immensely satisfying wow-factor for you audience?! We’ve invested in all sorts of engaging solutions, ones that integrate technology into the heart of events. Engagement for us is not just a buzzword, it’s a critical event component that can allow you to transform attendees into a community of brand ambassadors. With society in general placing greater importance on digital communications and technologies, it’s no surprise that it’s a key desire for Generation Y and Millennial event buyers. This generation has grown up with limitless information literally at their fingertips, wherever they are, whenever they need it. Google, Facebook, Snapchat are all instant technologies that give the user exactly what they want. This generation is not waiting for the best sales call, they’re actively searching for thumb-stopping digital content, and they’re integrating it into their events at the speed of light! Recognising the pace at which technology changes, we’ve got a dedicated team whose sole purpose is the discovery of the latest technology from across the globe. It’s these technologies that can transform events and make them stand out from the crowd. We’re onto it. This article was written by Tim Morgan, General Manager of Venues for Staging Connections. Want to know more about event trends? Download our range of free White Papers today. ... Read More

Get the most from Social Media at your next event

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Social Media has revolutionised event marketing and as such has found a solid place in most event communication plans. Used as a key promotional tool it is driving awareness ahead of the event and helping improve attendee numbers, but is it helping improve the event experience and boost engagement during the event? Social Media has revolutionised event marketing and as such has found a solid place in most event communication plans. Used as a key promotional tool it is driving awareness ahead of the event and helping improve attendee numbers, but is it helping improve the event experience and boost engagement during the event? Many event professionals are still failing to capitalise on the huge benefit social media interaction can have ‘during’ the event. Whether it is a one day exhibition or a three day convention it’s more than establishing a hash tag. The challenge is integrating social into the overall event design, being responsive and broadening participation beyond the confines of the event space. It can be problematic as the person who manages social media is not always included in discussions around event production, especially the technical side of things like vision, multimedia and webcasting. But social interaction is key to the success and longevity of event as engagement improves loyalty. So how can you make sure you integrate social media into your event design to engage attendees and broaden participation? Let’s talk tech – Engaging Attendees Do a walk-through in your mind and make a list of what the attendee will see, hear, touch or feel from start to finish at the event. At each audience touch-point from the entrance, to the table setting, to the stage, think about how you can engage the audience in social media participation. Twitter is a powerful way to encourage real time interaction and instantly gives you more visibility. Make sure you discuss with your technical team how you can include Twitter into the different areas of your event. Display your key social profiles on strategically placed plasmas and projected onto screens/ walls and prefacing any presentations. If you have speakers encourage them to engage the audience, asking them to tweet questions using the event hash tag. You could use a Twitter scroll on the bottom of your event presentations and/ or on all your holding screens. As another option consider a Twitter Walls, they are a unique visualisation of live updates and will instantly capture attention. With any of these tools you need to understand the technicalities and discuss any concerns with your production team. You want to get the most out of your investment so ensuring these additions are branded and integrated into the same look and feel as the rest of the event is essential. Moderation is so important when talking about live feeds. They can be populated two ways, automatically or operator controlled. With the latter you have more control as to what is seen but whichever you choose it is important your technical team are fully briefed. Equip them with knowledge of your social profile details, hash tags and key messages and so they can moderate the feeds for you and remove anything that may be off topic or potentially offensive. Beyond the venue – Broaden your participation If you are successfully engaging with attendees at your event, it is the perfect opportunity to broaden participation by being responsive. Assign a dedicated team to manage your social media channels as this is the time you are likely to see more activity than usual. Having a dedicated team at the event means you can not only respond to attendees at the conference but also broadcast sound bites to engage those that may not be there in person. Pay special attention to providing insight into what is happening at the event and highlight why it is beneficial to attend in person. You can go one step further and invite those who could not attend the event to join in via webcast. Webcasting has come a long way from the days of dial up and has evolved as technology infrastructures have improved as well as production capabilities. Webcasting is now a fully interactive social tool as your recording can be live streamed through YouTube or your Google+ Hangout. Twitter feeds can be integrated into the design to allow the speaker to engage in direct questions and gain valuable feedback in real time. Discussing the logistical challenges with your production team will allow you to understand how best to utilise this technology. In conclusion, Social Media offers much more than a promotional platform for your event. Utilised to its full capacity, you can take your event to the next level and broadcast to multiple locations extending your reach and allowing the experience to live on long after the event has finished. The real challenge is integrating it seamlessly into your overall event design. To do this you need to discuss your key social media objectives ahead of the event with your production team. They will be able to suggest the technical solutions available and how best to utilise the technology to ensure social success at your event. Written by Katie McDonald, Digital Brand Manager - Staging Connections Katie McDonald is the resident Brit at Staging Connections. Armed with post-graduate qualifications in Marketing and specialist skills in Digital Strategy, she is passionate about management, execution, and measurement of all digital efforts that enhance and humanize brands online. ... Read More

The Next Frontier: Immersive Conferences

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
For this year's annual conference, Capital S.M.A.R.T raised the benchmark when it comes to corporate events. Partnering with Staging Connections and other event specialists, they immersed their leadership team in a themed conference experience over two days, making a lasting impression and setting the bar high for conferences to come. Clever theming transforms a conference into an immersive event; delivering key messages in a dramatic and memorable way. Event Brief Staging Connections partnered with Capital S.M.A.R.T to assist with delivering their annual conference in 2015 for 120 members of their leadership team. The brief was simple, to support the Capital S.M.A.R.T event team produce an amazing conference experience by providing outstanding audio visual, staging and event design services. The conference objectives included: To recognise Capital S.M.A.R.T’s recent success and future plans, and To share the company direction and vision as they enter their 7th year of operation. Whilst it’s important to deliver an engaging experience for attendees, it is vital these key messages are communicated effectively and the best way to ensure this is by transforming a conference into an immersive event. An immersive event differs from a typical styled event, as the event theme is woven into every touch point, and not just the event day itself - from the invite, to the entrance way, the room environment, catering and post event communications. Event Solution Staging Connections worked alongside Capital S.M.A.R.T and several specialised event service providers to craft and deliver an immersive two day event. When these event services are used harmoniously, they truly transform your event into a memorable branded experience. As the objective underpinning the conference was to recognise the company’s achievements of celebrating entering their 7th year of operation and communicating the direction for 2017, Staging Connections worked with Capital S.M.A.R.T to bring their ‘007 Bond’ theme to life. This theme was integrated throughout every aspect and acted as the creative ‘glue’ tying everything together in one cohesive message across the multi-venue event. The Welcome Reception and concluding awards night were hosted at Park Hyatt Sydney and The ivy, venue partners of Staging Connections. As the main conference demanded more space to cater for the days’ activities, it was held at Fox Studios’ Stage 7 – specifically chosen in keeping with the 007 theme. Working in conjunction with the event partners, the ‘007 Bond’ theme was woven into every aspect of the event and it was Staging Connections’ role to enhance this theme via first-class audio visual solutions, staging services and event design. Right from the Welcome Reception at Park Hyatt Sydney, attendees were treated to a teaser of the 007 Bond theming with eye-catching creative banners and on-screen graphics created in-house by Capital S.M.A.R.T. It was during the main conference at Fox Studios where the Staging Connections team truly shone. Numerous audio visual, digital, staging, and design elements were employed to create the captivating event environment. The end result of the collaboration was a truly immersive conference where the audience was enveloped in the theme, the brand and its vision, ensuring the event’s talkability for months to come. Features of the event included: Famous James Bond quotes hung on easels lining the red carpet entrance. A dramatic lighting sequence grabbed the audience’s attention and revealed silhouettes of James Bond and his three Bond girls. A kabuki drop, which on queue to the Bond music, swiftly revealed the main meeting space, which also housed a dramatically-lit Aston Martin DB9 Vantage hero car with licence plate “007MI6” . Intelligent moving lights gave the conference a Hollywood film ambience. Custom-designed furniture in the brands colours were surrounded by black drapes, evoking an intimate feel to the space. New company branding was revealed with logos projected through gobos. The main presentation screen was flanked by two 4m x 2.4m internally-illuminated Event Backdrops – which are high-resolution images printed onto large canvas screens. Guests revelled in the continuation of the themed experience at the Awards Night at The ivy, with James Bond movie highlights projected along the entrance hallway. Staging Connections designed custom martini centrepieces overflowing with crystals highlighted with table pinspots to reflect the theme’s bold colours. To maximise the return on investment and ensure the attendees’ journey was completely themed, Staging Connections’ cost-efficient Event Backdrops were utilised at the conference sessions, and as the stage background and entry foyer feature at the awards night. Guests had their photographs taken in front of the striking 007 Bond themed Event Backdrops, with many sharing their photos on social media, lifting the brand’s engagement and social media penetration. Staging Connections integrated a variety of sensory elements into the conference, focusing the attendees’ attention away from everyday life and transporting them to an immersive, memorable environment. By weaving a uniting theme through all parts of the conference, the key messages were reinforced at every stage, delivering a stronger brand experience for everyone involved. What did the client say? “The event was a fantastic experience for our leadership team, and provided a clear message on the future direction of S.M.A.R.T. The development and execution of the weekend with Staging Connections was a collaborative and efficient process. They were able to turn our vision into a reality with cutting edge technology and industry leading knowledge. The entire team at staging connections were fantastic to work with.” Evan Camilleri, COO – Capital S.M.A.R.T “First class service from the whole The Stagging Connections team, the smallest of detail made a real difference. We were amazed to see how quickly Fox Studio’s Stage 7 was transformed from concept to reality so quickly!” Carmel Cannizzaro, Program (Event) Manager - Capital S.M.A.R.T Organising a corporate event or conference? Contact Staging Connections today to see how we can transform your event into an extraordinary experience. ... Read More

Techie Tuesday: What is a Graphic Equaliser

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Graphic Equaliser and find out why it's so important to your event. Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Graphic Equaliser and find out why it's so important to your event. AV Discipline: Audio, Sound AV Category: AV Equipment AV Jargon: EQ, GEQ, Equaliser, or Graphic Description: The Graphic Equaliser is a signal processing device that is primarily used to “equalise” or “tune” the acoustic response of an audio system. If you have any number of microphones on your event, chances are there will be a graphic equaliser processing the signal to ensure it sounds clean and balanced. It is most commonly positioned at the AV Technician’s control desk for ease of access and connectivity with other audio equipment. The Graphic Equaliser typically features 31 filters that are able to cut or boost selected frequencies. The filters are adjusted by the AV technician according to the acoustic response of the event space. Maybe you have heard “Test test 1-2” coming over the audio system, that’s the AV Technician listening to the effect of the graphic equaliser on their voice. Too much of one frequency can sound harsh and cause irritating feedback. Too little of one frequency can sound hollow and cause intelligibility issues! It requires a good ear to get it sounding right. Whilst graphic equalisers are rarely requested, all good AV technicians will ensure one is specified, due to the critical role they play in sound reinforcement. Next time you hire an audio system for your event, ask the AV Technician if a Graphic Equaliser is being used! Source: Klark Technik | DN360 In next weeks Techie Tuesday blog we discuss Talk Back systems and the integral role they play in seamless event delivery. In the meantime if you have any words, terms or lingo you would like our AV experts to demystify for you please send your suggestions through to info@stagingconnections.com Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor, Staging Connections. Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor and drives our training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production and Services Program for our new trainees. ... Read More

A fitting tribute to outgoing Chairman for Scentre Group AGM

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Staging Connections delivered the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Scentre Group in early May 2016, as Mr Frank Lowy (AC) performed his final duties as Chairman of the company that he began 57 years ago, in front of 250 attendees at Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall. Mr Lowy’s farewell received a standing ovation from the audience, as the Staging Connections lighting team doused the enormous event space in the Scentre Group’s brand colours. Media, shareholders and Scentre Group staff attended the formal AGM which featured audio visual and lighting services to professionally highlight and support the communication from board members on stage to the audience. A themed board table with individual visual displays for each of the 11 board members and a mega screen set above the stage ensured clear communication throughout proceedings. Communicating widely with shareholders across the world, the entire event was live webcast by Staging Connections and will be available for Scentre Group shareholders on demand for many months. Chris Lewis, Event Director, Staging Connections commented on the professionalism and technical expertise required by AGMs and other events of this magnitude. “It was an absolute pleasure to deliver this engaging production. AGMs require absolute technical know-how and there is no room for error, this is where Staging Connections’ experience in delivering these sorts of events comes into play. Our team delivered this AGM, highlighting a true hero of the corporate world in style and with the utmost professionalism. We are proud that this was another successful AGM delivered for the Scentre Group, and look forward to delivering many more,” said Mr Lewis. Partner with Staging Connections for your Annual General Meeting Staging Connections has been the name behind some of the largest Annual General Meetings held in Australia and New Zealand for over 30 years. With Australia's largest range of audio visual equipment and event services, you can trust Staging Connections to deliver a truly engaging event experience for your shareholders. Speak to a Staging Connections representative today to discuss your AGM needs by calling 1800 209 099 or by sending an online enquiry. Recommended: Visit our Event Insights page to download the latest whitepaper and discover 4 key elements every event planner should consider adopting if they want to maximise attendance at the Annual General Meeting, year after year. Join the AGM Revolution ... Read More

5 Hottest Trends from InfoComm 2015

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
This week we're bringing you the five hottest trends you need to know from InfoComm 2015. We sent our talented Director of Event Technology, Andrew MacColl to be our roving reporter and he's come back with a treasure chest full of cool new gadgets and ideas. Here's what you need to know. With over 38,000 visitors and almost 1,000 exhibitors, InfoComm held in Orlando, Florida this year was massive – it’s where AV geeks from around the world congregate to indulge in the latest and greatest tech. The West Concourse at the Orange County Convention centre is full with every kind of audiovisual toy imaginable, and more than a few that challenge the status quo. To give you some idea of just how big the floor area for the main hall is, it’s approximately the size of 17 football fields and it’s so full that the show overflows onto other levels. The marketing tag for this year’s show is ‘WOW’ and that word somehow seemed to fall from the lips of attendees over and over throughout the day. This is one slick show, with every aspect of the attendee experience considered and executed to the highest professional standard. But enough about the stats and boring stuff. Let’s talk tech! 1. Ultra High Definition The really big thing from the display device exhibitors is 4K resolution. Every single panel, projector or display manufacturer has moved on from 2K (High Definition, Full HD or 1080P) and has embraced Ultra High Definition, or 4K. With eye popping sharpness, clarity and colour reproduction the image quality is breathtaking. It seems like it has reached a tipping point where the previously high cost of producing 4K panels has come down to a point where 2K is no longer the norm, and the industry may as well just concentrate on producing the higher resolution products. I, for one, admit to remaining sceptical and feel that with little content available, this is a change driven by manufacturers obsessed with outdoing each other. One stand from a very large Korean manufacturer has signs up throughout the exhibition space banning photographs. Call me crazy but I rather feel they have missed the point of exhibiting. 2. 3D Pixel Mapping The other technology that has really matured this year is 3D pixel mapping. Whilst the previous best known use of transforming a large public building into a mythological enchanted forest or an undersea adventure park complete with scary sharks has been great fun, it’s not really been very accessible or affordable for the average event designer. It was great to see some really high quality smaller scale applications emerge from companies like Panasonic and Barco that will filter through and find uses on shows where the budget does not exceed the GDP of a small third world country. Some of these applications such as the spinning glove and pixel mapped car on the Panasonic stand will even scale down to eye-catching POS activations for retail. 3. Mirror surface LEDs The mirror surface LED from Samsung is definitely going to have a place in events, especially for product launches. The glass of the panel is a very clear mirrored surface, just perfect for cosmetics and fashion displays. 4. 3D LED displays minus the glasses Say goodbye to those tacky black-rimmed 3D glasses, the high quality 3D LED displays don’t need glasses to enjoy the full immersive experience. 5. Architectural software/hardware display solutions A range of architectural software/hardware solutions were on show that allow striking video walls to be a hero piece in all sorts of different sizes, and orientations. As you can see InfoComm 2015 did not disappoint. Exciting times ahead for us at Staging Connections as we soon welcome some of these cool new gadgets to our ever-expanding portfolio of event technology and audio visual solutions. With over 30 years experience in the industry, Andrew MacColl is one of the most senior technical practitioners out there. We have been fortunate enough to have Andrew part of our Staging Connections team for 18 years now as he continues to set the direction for all our purchases and deployment of all show technology. ... Read More