Mar 19 2018
Encore Research

Immerse your guests in a cinematic experience with our new LED Wall – Crown Palladium Ballroom has been at the forefront of event technology in Australia for more than 15 years. It was the first Ballroom to use intelligent table pinspots, the first to use Meyer Sound’s award-winning horizontal array loudspeaker system and now features another stunning new innovation. The room now boasts 58m2 of VuePix E series Pro LED Wall permanently deployed by Staging Connection with the express purpose of providing event clients with a truly stunning visual experience thanks to its impressive size, brightness and colour intensity.
The impressive 14.4m wide and 4m high display is mostly in use as a backdrop on the proscenium stage to provide the perfect virtual set for event designers that want to create strong visual impact. Due to the flexibility of the system it can also be safely rigged or ground-stacked* almost anywhere in the space either as one complete wall or as a series of displays. Employing more than half a million individual LEDs with a rated brightness of 3500 nits (a home television is usually around 350 nits) your show content will display brilliantly and will have no issues competing with stage lighting. “Once upon a time corporate Ballrooms used starcloths or cycs as a show backdrop. This new LED Wall takes the creative potential to an amazing new level. Anything is possible,” says Andrew MacColl, Director of Event Technology at Staging Connections Group. Use the new LED Wall to display corporate or club logos and branding, engage audiences with dynamic animated media backdrops, up the ante for band or dance performances with exciting multimedia or even customise the configuration to deliver a unique event that captivates your audience. The sheer size and impressive luminance makes the LED Wall the perfect backdrop for all events. Being a blank digital canvas it lends itself to all types of events such as; Corporate breakfasts, lunches and product kick offs. Charity events and fundraisers Awards nights, gala dinners and sporting events Music concerts Conference plenary sessions Staging Connections’ team of in-house multimedia designers can create custom content, both animated or still imagery, to leverage the power of the LEDs. The LED Wall was used at the Crown Melbourne Christmas Showcase to give the stage a more dynamic environment and allowed the event theme to carry across the stage set. “The Event theme was the 4 seasons of Christmas travelling through different countries. This theme allowed us to cast the room in an array of different colours through spectacular on-screen content, supported by dramatic lighting. The theming of this event came to life through the vision elements with the intensity of the LED Wall giving more impact to the imagery,” says Kristy Richards, Crown Melbourne Venue Sales Executive for Staging Connections.
The LED Wall was the final piece of the puzzle that turned the event into an immersive visual journey for guests.
“The LED Wall was displayed in conjunction with all the other screens in the room. It was the central feature, flanked by two 20ft x 11ft screens and lining either side of the room was two 30ft x 10ft screens.”
Throughout the event, Staging Connections utilised different applications of imagery to demonstrate its versatility and show how well the LEDs work against projection. “We’ve been the in-house AV supplier to Crown Melbourne since it opened in 1997. During this time, we’ve helped the venue maintain its position as one of Australia’s leading event venues and it’s because of our relentless commitment to technological innovation,” says Mr MacColl.
“The LED wall that was used for the Shared Tables Gala Ball in 2015 added that extra sparkle to the room and elevated the entertainment to the next level. A sensational addition to our event by Staging Connections, who have been designing and collaborating with Shared Tables for the past 14 years to ensure we have the best show in Australia for our guests.”
Gerard Doherty, Shared Tables | Crown Melbourne
Staging Connections Melbourne Events Team
Our Melbourne team is proudly led by Haig Walker and comprises some of the most talented design and styling professionals in the industry, offering event excellence across 7 key venues. If you’re looking to host your next corporate event in Melbourne, than we’re the experienced events team you can rely on. We proudly offer Australia’s largest range of event services across audio, lighting, staging, vision and extending to styling, multimedia and digital event solutionslike webcasting, live polling and event social media. Get in touch with us today or call 1800 209 099 to speak with one of our event experts. * Please note there are additional charges for the rigging or moving of the LED Wall from its current position within The Palladium at Crown Melbourne. … Read More

Using colour to create stronger audience engagement at events

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Believe it or not, event marketers are on the same wavelengths as neuroscientists. Have you ever noticed how some event spaces are especially relaxing and calming, while others tend to irritate or perk you up? There’s a good chance the colour arrangements in those environments are playing a big part. Interior designers have long known of the influence of colour on our emotions and state of mind—the same holds true when appealing to the senses of event attendees. When we create a unique brand experience, we aim to produce customized experiences that deliver unique messages and tell stories. The more vivid and authentic an experience is, the more effective and memorable the outcome for event attendees. Leveraging the scientific correlation between colour and emotion can help us engage our audiences in new ways and boost the impact of our brand experiences. Designing with the outcome in mind When harnessing this neuroscience knowledge, it’s important to incorporate it into your event design after thinking through the kind of reactions you want your audience to have. How do you want them to feel? What do you want them to focus on? Designing your event experience with the end in mind is an important component of design thinking, which helps to ensure that every event you create is more effective, and implementing these psychological effects is just a part of that smart approach to design. When you know what emotions you want to evoke, it’s time to find just the right colour to fit the mood. A recent study by the University of British Columbia discovered that red boosts our attention to detail and performance on tasks such as memory retrieval, while blue enhances our ability to think creatively and encourages our ability to think outside the box. Event design techniques you can try Applying the psychology of colour theory to the environment of event design takes things up a notch and helps to ensure that you’ll get the response you’re looking for from your audience. As an example, last year Staging Connections delivered Greencross Limited’s annual gala dinner with a “fire and ice” theme to inspire creative stimulation among participants through the use of red and blue. We designed a modular stage set using their range of digital banners and projection mapped various themed content to match each colour concept – sizzling flames for ‘fire’ and’ frosty blue colour bursts for ‘ice’. Even the table centrepiece styling was specifically designed to reflect one of the two concepts. It’s important to consider what you ultimately want to achieve or evoke from the event to help you determine which colour palette is going to best help you achieve your goals. This guide from Sommer+Sommer, a UK advertising agency that specializes in brain training and neuromarketing, is a good starting primer on what emotions can be tied to colour. Exploring different ways you can utilize colour to engage your audience in a scientific way is a small addition to your design plan that could reap big benefits post-event. Think about your next event design—what colour can you connect with your theme and the way you want your audience to feel? Related Articles Creating an immersive conference to engage your audience Transform your corporate event with creative stage design Keep your audience engaged and entertained with Event Poll This post was originally written by Tony Allen, Director of Business Development, Freeman ... Read More

The new seating style for event planners

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
In 2016 we're shaking things up! Conferences, gala dinners and sales incentives of yesteryear typically seated guests in a formal style. Whether it be banquet rounds, cabaret, theatre or u-shape there was only really one seating option available for the duration of the event. To refresh the formal vibe and encourage networking, event planners are opting to include a new seating arrangement in their mix - introducing the Lounge Zone. The new seating style of 2016: The Lounge Zone Want a stylish and sophisticated event with a relaxing networking environment? Then let's start lounging around. Turn your next event into a formal event with a difference. With some simple styling and soft furnishings event organisers can easily create a lounge zone within the main event room where guests can enjoy the night after all the formalities have concluded. One of the main reasons guests attend events is to meet and network with colleagues and industry members. Whilst traditional seating arrangements provided effective structure for the main event, they often stifled inter-mingling as you were allocated that seat for the entire event. This is a great to way to provide a comfortable area for your guests to enjoy and relax. How to create a lounge zone at your next corporate event: Add sofas, chairs, coffee tables, bar tables and ottomans in clusters to form this creative space. Dress with lots of fresh flowers, candles and even some themed products to add a splash of theatrics to the design. For example add large tassel cushions on the floor for an Arabian Nights theme, or poker and roulette tables for a casino theme. Or introduce colour to the design to compliment a corporate branding colour. Custom branding is also another way to personalise the event. Such branding can include custom decals on bars, plinths, mirror bases or even custom centrepieces. Large non slip floor decals can also be incorporated to the design to create a feature in which a lounge zone can be created around. Branding is a great way to enhance an event. Use large items such as urns of flowers, plinths with centrepieces and custom bars to add height and highlight the area. In smaller venues, the sofas and chairs will naturally create an intimate area, but for the bigger venues and spaces you may like to consider making false spaces with the use of sheer curtains, string or crystal curtains and cut print screens. Such items can be hung from over head rigging, or free standing rigging can be erected for venues without rigging available. For a recent event we produced in Adelaide, we used custom designed Event Backdrops to act as a room divider but also to enhance the 'Spy' theming of the event. Add overhead lighting to enhance the area while adding ambience to the space. Other theatrical lighting such as gobo lighting can be projected onto the area to create texture and style. Boutique style and cocktail weddings are a rising trend – so get creative and combine a lounge area with all the finer details for modern day weddings. Here are some examples of lounge zones we've created for various gala dinners, conferences and sale incentives: Keep lounge zones tight and neat Consider zones being viewed from all angles Add lighting to enhance Pick a solid colour palette and use small amounts of complimentary colours Use texture to add style such as flowers, cushions and candles Add tables for places to sit drinks Use ottomans to add additional seats without using too much space ... Read More

The Shopping List for planning your wedding lighting

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Great lighting is the foundation of a truly spectacular event. When it comes to creating the right atmosphere for your wedding ceremony and reception, using the right lighting features and techniques is crucial. But with so many options and ways to light an event, how do you know what the right lighting solution is? When planning your wedding, stress levels are already piqued so our experienced Technical Event Director, Rocco Anzellotti has developed a list of only 6 things to think about when planning your wedding lighting. Weddings don't come cheap. As we try to recreate the beautiful scenes from our favourite romance movies, we have to be realistic on what's achievable for the everyday couple without multimillion dollar production companies behind them. Earlier this year the Herald Sun reported the average cost of a wedding for Australian couples is now $65, 482. And that's not taking into consideration the recent wedding blow-out of the year by Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehaje which has estimated to come in at around $200,000 - conservatively speaking. The Shopping Trolley - Setting your wedding budget Before even going down the path of deciding what lighting to use, you and your partner will need to set a wedding budget you're comfortable with. The next step is to then break that budget down and allocate amounts to the main areas - catering, venue, lighting, AV, dress etc. This will help manage your expectations as you'll need to be realistic in what you want and what you can afford. Of course, we're not expecting you to know this straight up so it's important that you keep an open mind about how your wedding will look and let the event experts come up with the best lighting solution that fits your budget. A good way to approach this is to think of it as a shopping trolley, "I'll have a bit of this and a bit of that". What's in the shopping trolley? - Lighting Ideas for Weddings Now that your wedding lighting budget is set, the second thing to think about is deciding what you want to light. Making a pool of all the possible elements at your wedding that will need lighting will help define and prioritise the best lighting solution. 1. The Bridal Table The first thing to light is the bridal table as that’s why everyone is here. The Bride and Groom and the remaining wedding party are a major focus point. This should be listed as a priority. Throughout the wedding reception, all eyes are on the happy couple trying to catch their reactions to speeches or see the Best Man or Father of the Bride deliver their toast. That's why it's important you consider the most flattering lighting design for this table and don't rely on house lighting to make sure they are lit. Quite often people like to have a white drape behind the wedding table as a clean backdrop to the the table as the wall might not be very favourable to your wedding. So why not add some colour to those drapes. This can be done in a various way either colouring the whole drape or doing some uplighting which will have the look of beams of light going up the drape but with gaps between the colour. 2. The Wedding Cake The Wedding Cake is another hero feature that requires its own lighting. The cutting of the bridal cake is ritual at most weddings so it's imperative that you have enough lighting so no matter where your guests are seated or placed, they can clearly see what is happening. Not to mention the wedding cake is more of a form of art than baking item with the average cost coming in at around $500 according to the Bridal Guide. If you're investing this amount into the cake's design, you need to do it and it's creator, the justice in designing lighting that makes the cake stand out. 3. Decorating the Walls So thinking about uplighting now we have set the bridal table, cake and bridal table drape lighting, what about the room look? It can look quite nice to have some uplights around the room. This gives a nice ambience to the space. It also makes the people sitting in the room feel like its also part of the celebration. 4. Lighting for Wedding Toasts and Speeches Now a small one is the speeches, this can be done from the bridal table but if your planning not to then a light would be needed to highlight the person speaking. You don’t want the wedding video to have the brides father in the blotchy lighting and you don’t want the videographers light on the whole time 5. Introducing the newly weds! The walk-in. Depending on your location or wedding style, the walk-in can be a major part of a wedding. It's the first time you are introduced as a married couple in front of all your guests. In recent years, we've seen the walk-in extended to the entire wedding party - bridesmaids, parents with the bride and groom the last to enter. More often than not, they're supported by some backing music and moving lighting to give them the dramatic entrance they wanted and build excitement around the room - after all it is a joyous occasion! Lighting design is very scalable and can be tailored to suit your wedding venue and compliment the walk-in path. Why not get lights that can do the walk-in as well as light up the dance floor? 6. Lighting the dance floor Now that you have considered lighting for the formal parts of the wedding reception, the final element is the dance floor. If you've invested money into a decent live band or DJ you want to make sure you get a good crowd going. You can create a decent dance floor vibe with the use of some moving spot lights, gobos, coloured, lighting projections or even romantic festoon lighting for the more relaxed wedding. Good lighting for the dance floor delivers the same impact as you get in nights clubs by enhancing the music and overall atmosphere of the wedding. Last but not least is the wedding dance, or the bridal waltz for the more traditional weddings. This is your time to shine literally! Wouldn’t it be nice to have a moving spot light (called a Followspot) to follow you and your partner as your glide around the dance floor? By dimming all the other lights, this creates an immense impact as all of the wedding guest are focused on the couple. Another option here is to have custom gobo's made displaying the newly-wed's initials on the dance floor. The thing to remember is all of this is scalable. By having moving lights that can pan and tilt around the room you are able to tick off some of the above ideas with the same lights. What if the room you hired doesn't have enough power to run all of these lights? No problem! We currently run a lot of our wedding lighting in LED which is a low cost - low power run inventory. Weddings by Staging Connections Staging Connections provides creative lighting design and installation, venue styling, audio visual supply and management, staging and theme development and much more to give you complete confidence your wedding experience will run smoothly and leave a lasting impression on you and your guests. Related Lighting Articles 4 Lighting Ideas for Events 7 Lighting Tips for your event What is a Gobo? Written by Rocco Anzellotti, Technical Event Director, Staging Connections. ... Read More

Why did Tony the Chicken cross the road?

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
...To raise much needed funds for the Children's Cancer Institute! This year our fearless leader took part in the Dare the Boss fundraiser in support of the Children’s’ Cancer Institute. The Staging Connections team set a challenging target of raising $2,000 in 4 short weeks. We are proud to announce we blew this target out of the water, raising a staggering $6,427.38. The reward for our efforts was seeing our Managing Director, Tony Chamberlain, don the magnificent ‘Chicken Suit’ and giving an impromptu performance of the Chicken Dance. Pictured: Managing Director of Staging Connections, Tony Chamberlain, with President of Freeman AV, Ken Sanders, (right) We would like to extend a huge thank-you to all who donated, including staff, clients and friends of the Staging Connections Group. A special mention to Freeman – our new owners – for courageously committing to matching whatever amount we raised. Without your support we would not have achieved such an impressive amount nor witness a performance that will stick in our minds forever. Dare the Boss is a unique fundraising opportunity for companies to raise vital funds for childhood cancer research while having some fun with their Boss during International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September). It was a fantastic experience and we highly recommend all companies to get on board and band together to help the Children’s Cancer Institute end childhood cancer. The Children’s Cancer Institute is the only independent medical research institute in Australia wholly dedicated to putting an end to childhood cancer. Sadly, every year more than 950 children and adolescents in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer. Every week nearly three Australian children will die of cancer. These are facts you can’t ignore. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to next year’s challenge! ... 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

Star studded, Men in Black Charity Event a Hit in WA

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Celebrities unite in support for men’s mental health at the Men in Black Ball. Staging Connections pulled out all the stops to deliver an impactful backdrop to the Men In Black Ball in support of men’s mental health and fight against depression with the Momentum Forum Events Australia charity. The signature black tie event included testimonial speakers, live bands and entertainment, a 3-course gourmet dinner. MCs for the night were Tim Gossage and Chiara Zaffino from Network 10. Staging Connections installed their latest design products, Event Backdrop at the event – a striking 6m x 3m illuminated screen with VIPs photographed in front. Guests were invited to ‘get social’ with Event Tweet – a platform for social media integration onto large format screens. Plus there was Staging Connections’ usual array of class-leading technology AV and design and produce the stand-out event at the Pan Pacific in Perth, 12 June 2015. Event Tweet kept audiences entertained and engaged throughout the night and extended the event into the social sphere. Glamorous celebrity guests and socialites were in attendance and bought the event and the charity into the spotlight. Carly Melderis, Staging Connections Pan Pacific Perth commented on the stunning event backdrop and the audience engagement throughout the night, “The impressive Event Backdrop could be seen from every angle and had a huge presence in the room. The team used moving and LED lights to compliment the backdrop and create a dynamic atmosphere. “The client wanted to increase the events presence on social media so our Event Tweet platform worked wonders. Once the guests saw their photo’s and posts appearing on screen everyone was getting involved, posting their photos and comments which was great to see. Event Backdrop was used as a spectacular branding solution on stage. Barbara McNaught, CEO and Founder of Momentum Forum Events Australia was delighted with the result and commented on how the team contributed their event, “The Men in Black Ball hosted 420 guests and had a five star quality and delivery. The service and food were excellent. The challenging amount of guests were handled very professionally by the team. We keep receiving very positive feedback from the guests. Great acknowledgement for Staging Connections for their contribution to the layout of the room as well as sound and visual.” Guests were treated to a fantastic performance by a Blues Bros. cover band. Table settings were clean and sophisticated with a touch of glitz and glamour added with the crystal ball centrepiece. ... Read More

Yellow Buildings Spotted in Tasmania

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
Yellow buildings have been spotted in Tasmania! If you happened to be driving at night around some of Tasmania’s major cities you may have noticed some prominent buildings glowing a brilliant yellow. This stunt was all in the name of raising awareness for road safety in Tasmania – a campaign we were thrilled to play part in. National Road Safety Week ran from May 3 – 8 this year, with the aim of increasing awareness about the need for all road users to be safe and courteous on the roads. Last year, 36 people died in road crashes in Tasmania and 260 were injured. The road safety week was filled with activities thanks to the joint effort of the Road Safety Advisory Council, Tasmania Police, the RACT and Southern Cross Television. Staging Connections Area Manager for Tasmania, Fletcher Austin, says they were excited to be part of the campaign and to do what they can to shine a light on road safety. “We lit up several key buildings across Devenport, Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie. We used 9 x 500watt HUI Cyclonic’s with a yellow gel cover as well as LED flood lights situated in strategic positions to cast an elegant wash over the buildings,” he says. One of the buildings was Launceston Town Hall which became a beacon for the city. Launceston Town Hall during Road Safety Awareness Week Tasmania Header Image courtesy of Chris Lazarri referenced from Sarah Group ... Read More

Sea World Resort Conference Centre opens its doors

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
We are thrilled to forge our new partnership with Sea World Resort's Conference Centre and invest in the latest technology for events in this new conference centre on the Gold Coast, and all existing function spaces at Sea World Resort and the Paradise Room at Sea World Theme Park. Sea World Resort Conference Centre recently hosted VIP corporate event planners for their inaugural event, and we look forward to an ongoing commitment to providing unique and outstanding events with our wonderful venue partner. The Event Brief The Staging Connections team were engaged to design, create and deliver the farewell lunch for the Day 3 famil program for Gold Coast Tourism Corporation - setting for 80 VIP guests in the new Conference Centre at Sea World Resort. Caroline Duveau-Clayton, Sales Manager Conference and Events at Sea World Resort, wanted to create the essence of Sea World Resort, basing the theme on ‘Ocean’ elements and also integrating ‘fun’ elements to the lunch to encompass Village Roadshow Theme Parks, the parent company. The Audio Visual Solution VIP guests had a memorable welcome at the entrance by various characters from the Village Roadshow theme parks; magnificent horses and cattle dogs from Australian Outback Spectacular, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Sea World Water Park plus Marilyn, Austin from Warner Bros Movie World with some farm animals from Paradise Country also making an appearance. A red carpet marked the grand entry, and this newly constructed building was officially opening its doors for their first corporate event! To add a touch of theatrics to this memorable event, the entrance and spacious pre-function area was lined with black and yellow hazard tape, bright orange witches-hats and workmen who hi-jacked the stage during the welcome speech. With this the workman, started a percussive dance utilising various work tools, culminating in a short tap routine which finished with them announcing the centre is now open for business, tearing off the hazard tape and opening the glass doors. Entrance hall set-up with plasma screens The room was filled with subtle blue lighting, based on underwater colours and patterns. The tables featured a blue crisp and white stripe runner and a cylindrical vase filled with coral, beautiful shells and star-fish filled with water and placed on an illuminate light box. 'Ocean' themed table centerpeices with blue wash lighting to enhance theme. An underwater ocean scene was projected into all screens and overlayed with the Sea World Resort logo, creating a beautiful ambience whist guests wined and dined. Theme of the night was 'Ocean' with abundance of seafood on offer for guests. Entertainment included a History of Music routine by “Those Tap Guys” and an impromptu dance routine by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles filled the room with high-energy, leaving guests laughing, clapping and dancing. Left: Those Tap Guys performing on stage. Right: VIP guests treated to buffet experience prepared by world-class chefs. If you are interested in hosting your next event at Sea World Resort Conference Centre please visit Venue Locator. ... Read More

The Adelaide Crows soar at this year's Annual Club Gala dinner

Mar 19 2018
Encore Research
This year's annual gala dinner for the Adelaide Football Club was nothing short of a flying success. As a proud sponsor of the Crows, our Staging Connections Adelaide team pulled out all stops to make this year's event the best yet. On top of our stunning AV design, the night was MC'd by Nova's Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and with two performances by The Superjesus the guests were treated to a truly enthralling evening. *Author's Note: After publishing this blog post, the much-loved and respected Adelaide Crows Coach, Phil Walsh, sadly passed away. As a proud sponsor of Adelaide Football Club, Staging Connections send our thoughts and well-wishes to the family and friends of Phil Walsh, as well as the staff, players and wider Crows family. #WeFlyAsOne A spectacular Gala Dinner to celebrate the 25th Season of the Adelaide Football Club. The Brief The Arena floor of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre was the perfect venue for this event. The sheer size of the venue made it possible to design, create and deliver a stunning Gala Dinner setting for 800 VIPs and guests. One of the challenges we often face is displaying various multimedia content and live camera feeds simultaneously on stage. Staging Connections team were engaged to design, create and deliver a Gala Dinner setting for 800 VIPs and guests on the Arena floor of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. We were required to celebrate their 25th season by using predominantly silver colouring whilst also highlighting the club's colours of red, yellow and blue. Being one of the club's major fundraising events for the year, we were also tasked with delivering a high impact stage look with practical vision systems to display silent auction progress and engage the audience in the evening’s events. The Solution Th high impact stage set using five projection screen surfaces suspended in a staggered array allowed for mapping of projection over the entire set or individual screens. Together with the 3 standard projection screens around the room, this allowed for video playback, sponsor acknowledgement, silent auction real time updates, Event Tweet and live to screen camera images. To incorporate the silver of 25 years, we utilised aluminium trussing around the screens, in the air and around the circular ceiling feature that featured an 8m wide projection of the AFC’s 25 year logo. LED lighting enabled all truss to be lit in a dramatic silver colour and allowed the room to be washed in changing colours depending on the events during the night. Event Tweet was used in both landscape and portrait formats on screens around the room to engage the audience with the evening’s proceedings. An alias twitter account (@AFC_Gala Insider) was created and curated by Staging Connections during the evening. Images of certain auction items were tweeted during the night as well as announcing major auction items as they were auctioned. These tweets together with tweets from attendees were moderated and then displayed on the room screens using Event Tweet. All of this combined for a fitting setting for The Superjesus to kick off the night, the auctioneers to auction the major items, a fun filled panel-type quiz game hosted by popular radio station, Nova FM's, Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and a party band to finish off the night. The 25th year of the Adelaide Football Club was certainly celebrated in style. Love looking at beautiful events? Check out some of our recent work and get your daily dose of event inspiration by following us on Instagram! ... Read More