Crown Melbourne host an annual Christmas extravaganza as part of its festive calendar of events. In 2017 they welcomed 600 guests to the “Christmas on Broadway” Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch events. As the long-standing in-house audio visual and event services provider at Crown Melbourne, Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) are tasked every year with producing these events, with the aim of making each year bigger and better than the last! Read on to find out how Encore transformed the Palladium at Crown into a Broadway Theatre in celebration of their annual Christmas event series. The theme for 2017 was “Christmas on Broadway” and Encore were asked to transform the Palladium at Crown into a Broadway Theatre. Emphasis was to be placed on supporting the chosen entertainment throughout the event. All visuals were to be based on a classic Broadway musical look and feel, with a seasonal festive touch. A complete event production solution Sharing a decade-long partnership with Crown Melbourne, the Encore team had a unique approach to this event – Crown selected Broadway-themed entertainment and the Encore team designed the event around the entertainment; including themed design, event production, lighting, audio visual, and multimedia elements. The technicalities of this event were distinctive, with an added challenge to execute each production for the lunch and dinner events one week apart. Encore created an incredible stage backdrop for the event using dual 20” screens with curved LED walls and a 14m LED wall in the middle, all controlled using Watchout software. The immersive arrivals space welcomed guests along a 20m red carpet flanked by 20 x 1K lights – creating a tunnel of flashing ‘paparazzi’– leading towards an American skyline media wall with Broadway-themed playbills, search lights and a festoon-style Broadway sign. A second 15m red carpet directed arrivals past classic, floor-to-ceiling red drapery, adorned by 3m tall towers with bright moving headlights. Guests walked into the venue space to see the main stage lit up with the Christmas on Broadway logos projected via gobos. Strobes, lighting, haze, video content, confetti cannons, flutter buckets and Christmas carols all came together to enhance the theme. Guests walked into the Palladium at Crown to see the main stage lit up with the Christmas on Broadway logos projected via gobos. Strobes, lighting, haze, video content, confetti cannons, flutter buckets and Christmas carols all came together to enhance the theme. Entertainment was spaced throughout the event, and exciting giveaways and prizes were drawn. The entertainers were lit dramatically to create an exclusive rock concert feel, with camera crews shooting the live performance like a video clip; guests were up and dancing at their tables for hours! Catrina Bennell, General Manager Victoria, Encore Event Technologies, shared afterwards, “The Crown and Encore teams work fantastically together to deliver these world-class events. We received wonderful feedback from Crown and their guests, who were thrilled with the outcome.” Partner with the leading AV and events company to uncover your event's potential Successful events start with a conversation! If you're starting to plan your event or are looking to try something new, get in touch with our expert team before you lock down a venue and event concept so your event can benefit from our design ideas and production expertise. Encore specialise in the delivery of corporate events and will work with you every step of the way, so you have confidence your event will be the best it can be. Have an obligation-free chat with our team today by sending an online enquiry or by calling us at 1800 209 099. ... Read More

Executing Annual General Meetings (AGMs) both big and small over the years Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) has gained valuable insight into what it takes to organise the perfect event. Here we share our essential guidelines on how deliver a seamless AGM. As the event production company responsible for executing Annual General Meetings (AGMs) both big and small over the years, Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) has gained valuable insight into what it takes to organise the perfect event. Here we share our essential guidelines on how deliver a seamless AGM. Location, Location, Location Face to face is best - Always arrange a site visit in person as the space can look very different online. It comes in threes - Visit up to three different venues and when you’ve engaged one, invite your event management organisation along. Get technical - Assess the technical capabilities of the venue at the site visit – audio, visual, internet connection for video streaming etc. Create a Floor Plan Visualise it - Sketch out a layout or seating plan with the chosen space in mind – this will help you visualise the AGM. Think differently - Think about your chosen space differently to any other event. For an AGM consider working with the venue in say a “landscape” mode – this can often help with maximising the space. Please be seated - Major corporations will require a large board table – typically this head table can span width ways up to 12 metres across depending upon how many board members and delegates are representing the company. The difference is in the little touches - Add drapes behind the stage as a backdrop to enable the board to be easily seen if on camera or when answering questions. Think Tech! Graphs, Stats and Charts - AGM’s will typically require projection and screens to display important charts, graphs and statistics for their business developments. The magic number - Have a minimum of two screens either side of the head table – and place them so they can be viewed by the attending audience and online if you are video streaming. Make the Unseen: Seen - Offer fold-back vision monitors for the head table so directors can follow what is occurring with the presentation without having to turn around 180 degrees. The Power of Auto-Cue – Use auto cue so that all of the essential details of the speeches are outlined beforehand to enable the chairman and directors to relax and engage the audience more effectively. Do you hear what I hear? - To ensure a crisp, clear sound, make sure you have the appropriate number of table and lapel microphones and take the time to test the front of house speaker system from various positions in the room. Light it up – Balance the lighting evenly across the head table using a solution such as Fresnel lighting. Get prepped – make sure you prepare or request a Run Sheet The AGM is not a standard event it could span a couple of hours or up to half a day with Q&A following the main presentations – a run sheet is crucial for everyone involved to know when, where and who is doing what. An AGM run sheet commonly consists of: Meeting called to order, announcements, apologies and previous meeting minutes Order of business Opening speeches (welcome address) Chairman’s address Presentation of accounts Questions and Answers on the accounts Motions, nominations, voting and elections Open discussion of general business – launch of next annual plan Make the most of the compulsory elements Most AGM’s now offer more than just an audio recording for their stakeholders. Video streaming live to the web allows a broader audience access to the AGM, be it your internal team or a range of current and potential shareholders who are unable to attend in person. Learn more about webcasting in our other blog post. Conferencing technology can open up the floor to questions and answers inside and outside of the main space giving a rare opportunity to access the key leaders in the business. The Devil is in the Detail To deliver a successful AGM start planning as early as possible, this can be up to a year in advance for some major corporations. Offer as much detail up front as possible to the event organiser. And Remember – The AGM is one of the most important events on the calendar and can be used to effectively communicate and engage key stakeholders in the business – make your organisations AGM more than just a financial wrap-up. Encore Event Technologies has extensive experience in planning successful AGM's. Have a look at our previous work and see what we could offer your business with a professional and effective Annual General Meeting. ... Read More

Each week we aim to demystify the world of audio visual equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this week’s Techie Tuesday we take a look at the event lighting effect the 'gobo' and the many different shapes, patterns and logo’s they can replicate. The possibilities are endless but first we look at the history of the gobo and what you need to know before creating a customised gobo. Audio Visual Discipline: Lighting for events Audio Visual Event Category: AV Effect AV Jargon: Gobo, Batman Signal What is a Gobo? A “Gobo” is a small stencilled circular disc, and used in lighting fixtures to create a projected image or pattern. The term Gobo is short for “Go Between Optics”, describing the location where it needs to be positioned in the light path of a lighting fixture. Whilst Gobo’s are not a new technology they are still being used on events the world over. In today’s event market they have taken on a more creative role as technology advances allow for more detailed and impressive shapes to be created. Gobo’s come in two main types; steel and glass. Steel gobos are very basic, generally have a short life span and are typically described as “black and white”. Glass gobo’s are more detailed, generally have a long life span and are typically described as “coloured”. There is an emerging third type of Gobo, which is designed specifically for LED fixtures, and is made from plastic. Gobo’s come in many different diameters, ranging from approx 20mm through to approx 150mm. The diameter of a gobo is dictated by the fixture, so it is very important to ensure you know what fixture the gobo needs to be used in prior to manufacture. If used in a static fixture, the projected image will be stationary, however if installed in an intelligent fixture the image can be moved anywhere around the event space. Source: Encore Event Technologies | Learning and Development What events are Gobo's used on? Events such as gala dinners, product launches, award ceremonies use gobo’s to support the event branding and to provide visual interest. A growing trend in weddings is to to use ornate glass Gobo’s featuring the bride and grooms name or initials which is presented as a keep sake from the event. What is needed for a customised Gobo? A few specific items are required for an effective gobo display: Profile Fixture: a profile light which is designed to take a gobo in its light path is required to focus and zoom the gobo. Gobo Holder: a specific accessory that holds the gobo in place is required for insertion into the profile light. Projection Surface: a dedicated surface such as a wall or drape upon which the gobo is projected upon is required. Why use a gobo? A gobo is an effective alternative to banners and signage on corporate events, providing something visually different for the audience to absorb. They can also be used to create patterns, imagery and shapes to support the event theme. Check out some images below of gobo’s of all shapes and sizes. Partner with the Event Lighting Experts Encore Event Technologies (formerly known as Staging Connections) has been designing unforgettable events for over 30 years. As the leading event technology and services company, we are the trusted name for designing and installing stunning lighting for corporate and specials events. Whether you're planning a conference, product launch, gala dinner or incentive event, when you partner with Encore you know you're getting the right ideas for your event from the best in the business. Encore proudly offers the largest range of event lighting and technology solutions for corporate events across the Asia Pacific - so get in touch with our team today to make your event the best it can be. Send an online enquiry or Call 1800 099 209 Related Blog Optimise your event communication with design and production ... Read More

The primacy and importance of sound in everyday life is obvious to everyone, yet the process of creating an aural presence at an event with excellent results is not widely understood outside of technical circles. Sound, both ephemeral and invisible, does not emit from as ethereal sources. The equipment is often ungainly and the event industry goes to great lengths to make its provisions as visibly unobtrusive as possible, leading to the common misconception that sound equipment is not a major component of an event. It may not have the visual spectacular presence of a huge projection screen or complicated lighting show but there is a lot going on that cannot be seen – but is definitely heard. Getting Your Message Heard The Ins For the voice of your speaker to be relayed clearly a number of things have to fall in place: You must use the correct microphone in the right position The presenter must use the microphone appropriately Adjustments need to be made to the signal to compensate for issues inherent in the speakers voice You must adjust to any complications in the room’s acoustics And Outs The signal from the speaker then needs to push out of the loudspeakers at the right volume past your audiences ears. This involves amplification, sending the signal to the right number, size and type of loudspeaker. Obtrusive Visually The balance between acoustic performance, intelligibility and a visually acceptable solution is a delicate compromise. Loudspeaker design and development over many decades has improved their power and aesthetics, but they are still considered an eyesore. Unfortunately the ears are positioned very close to the eyes. Negotiating the ideal blend of practicality and performance takes a skilled and experienced designer. Choosing the Right Music For Your Event Almost everyone has a soundtrack to their lives; the love song that represents a relationship, the album that captured a summer or the music that helps you through a hard time. The correct music choice at an event sets a mood, creates excitement and can be used to create associations between your product or service and a cultural value. Different styles of music can require different types of loudspeakers and amplification. For example, a high-energy sales conference will mostly use up-tempo inspirational music and use volume as a means to animate the crowd. This will require more power and more coverage, quite simply because you need to move more air at a higher energy level. Equipment You will Need No matter how expensive they are all, all loudspeakers and microphones are imperfect replicators of the original sounds they are trying to distribute or convert. You will need to supplement these with extra equipment. Subwoofers One of the biggest physical limitations in any loudspeaker is its ability to reproduce the entirety of the frequency range audible to humans at the same time. When the frequencies get down to the ‘extended low end frequencies’ created by bass instruments and most synthesizer music (‘doof doof’ techno) they’re physically impossible for a normal low-end driver in a loudspeaker to recreate. Specialised loudspeakers, ‘subwoofers’ or sub-speakers, are dedicated to reproducing frequencies from around 120Hz to 20Hz, which is the bottom of the human hearing range. These extended low-end frequencies are very important to human understanding of music. We have a very visceral reaction to low end audio, because we feel it more than hear it. Think about adventure films and dance music – the bass delivers the adrenaline. At your next event ask the sound technician to turn off the subwoofers during a rehearsal of your musical cue. You will most certainty hear and feel the difference. Microphones Microphones perform the opposite function to loudspeakers – they take movements in the air and convert them into electrical signals. There are dozens of designs and types that each perform a specific function and most will do a poor job when used on a source they are not designed for. You will probably be surprised by how many microphones are dedicated to just the drum kit in a jazz ensemble. As each individual drum or cymbal has different frequency, volume and tonal characteristics, each needs its own microphone. Eight to twelve yields the best results. Getting the Best Sound from Your Performers Choosing the right equipment, setting it up and operating it correctly are the benchmarks of performance for any sound operator, but it does not guarantee you will have perfect sound. The best sound operator in the world cannot make a bad band sound good! Luckily individual speakers are easier to converse with and adjust. Scared Speakers Some speakers are afraid of the microphone and will stand too far away from it. Even a great sound technician will not be able to generate enough volume for them to be heard. A quick conversation between presenter and sound technician should remedy this. Active Speakers Similarly some presenters are very energetic and are constantly moving around a static microphone. You just need to keep up communication with the presenter about the specifics of the microphone they are using. The best way to ensure a quality performance from your speakers is to have a speakers prep. Making Sure Your Performers Can Hear Themselves Not just your audience needs to hear your performers but your performers need to hear themselves and each other. The sound mix created for the perfomers is called foldback and can be as simple as a single speaker on the floor of the stage to a complicated map of dozens of separate mixes sent to individual pairs of wireless ear buds. Usually foldback can be handled by the same mixing desk working with the audience sound, but for large musical and vocal ensembles and events with multiple acts, the best option is to have a separate mixing desk and operator just for the stage sound. Listen Up Everyone has a story about bad sound; too loud, plagued by feedback, patchy speakers, too hard to understand what was being said… but how many people talk about an excellent sound experience? Sound technicians often speak of the perfect job as being one where they were not noticed at all. At Encore Event Technologies we pride ourselves on our ability to stand out and be invisible at the same time. Want to stay up to date with industry trends? Browse our range of downloadable Event Insights papers ... Read More

The difference between an ordinary corporate event and an extraordinary event comes down to the details. That’s what an Encore Event Technologies' event is all about. We believe a great stage design is essential for a memorable experience – and is a key element in inspiring the people who attend. What makes a stage come to life? Through our years of experience, we’ve come to know the right formula for a great stage design. Here are the elements we’re always thinking about. 1. Event Space Stage design is about working with specific spaces, often within a limited set of possibilities. But our stage designers thrive on limitation, using space in unique and creative ways – to complement event speakers, boost brand messaging, or bring out the best in a performance or presentation. It’s often a challenge, but one we’ll find a solution for. The harder the space is the more creative you need to be. We have built stages over pools, used modular stages, curved stages and many more. The possibilities really are endless. A great solution to help envisage the end stage design is to view a graphic render of the desired look. This can help you see how the stage will look in relation to the event space and help foresee any design and technical issues. View some of our render to reality examples. 2. Lighting Make the stage come alive with great lighting. When it’s time to make a dramatic change, professional lighting can transform a plain space from a blank canvas into a completely new environment. It can control the mood of a stage, and hype up its energy. And it can create an event atmosphere that’s both eye-catching and unforgettable. 3. Backdrops, stage sets and banners A stage is simply an elevated platform, a blank canvas if you will, that requires design and AV elements to take it from something ordinary to something extraordinary. Corporate events are evolving and event planners are looking for new ways to make their events bigger and better than the last, without breaking the bank. An effective way to do this is investing in interesting stage design. Encore have developed a range a of stage design solutions that add impact to your event. Event Backdrop Event Backdrop is a visually striking and flexible branding solution, perfect for all events. It is a high-tech illuminated frame wrapped in a photographic-quality printed nylon. So simple, yet so effective! It’s a great way of delivering a message, promoting a product, enhancing the theme of an event or building recognition of a brand. Event Backdrop’s also come in a variety of sizes to cater for small meeting rooms all the way to large ballroom size. This has been our most popular event product this year and can been used for a variety of events. Digital Stage Banners and Widescreens If you want to add WOW-factor to your next event, a simple solution is to incorporate digital stage banners and widescreens into your stage design. Traditionally, a stage set consists of the elevated platform underneath a large screen. With digital stage banners you can creatively position them across the stage to present your multimedia content in an interesting and engaging way. Another option is to use Widescreens – which are by name, very wide digital banners used to project multimedia content onto. These are highly effective when you have a large stage to work with and through the use of blend projection can house highly immersive imagery. Why not use both! If you’re interested in exploring new ways to design your stage, speak to your Encore representative or contact us today. 4. Visuals We always pay particular attention to the visual elements of your event. Tools like animation and high-impact video are great ways to capture your audience’s imagination, while 3D projection mapping can transform dull presentations into stimulating visual journeys. The use of LED walls, projection screens and stage backdrops can also engage your audience and help deliver your message – but also enhance your overall branding and create a lasting impression. How it all comes together At Encore, we believe the stage should be as much a feature as what’s happening on it. With the proper use of space, lighting and visuals, it can become its own key part of the experience. This transformation helps to boost your event’s theme, and it adds another dimension to audience engagement. Ultimately? Great stage design can be the difference between a run-of-the-mill presentation, and an enjoyable real-life experience with a sense of ceremony and lasting messages. With more than 30 year experience designing amazing stage sets for event of all shapes and sizes, you can count on Encore to create something extraordinary for yours. Whether your event is a conference, product launch, gala dinner or a small C-level presentation - with all eyes on the stage it's important you get its design right. Get in touch with one of our friendly team members to start discussing your event needs and hear our ideas. Send an online enquiry or give us a call today on 1800 209 099. ... Read More

Now event planners can easily take their event from onsite to onscreen with Cumulus. The event app gives you and your attendees the convenience of accessing all event information at any time, everywhere they go. In an industry first Encore is offering the app for free when clients use them for their AV and event services. Available on any internet connected device, Cumulus puts valuable event information in the hands of attendees in real time. Event organisers load and manage all event-specific content to the easy to use content management system. Tony Chamberlain, Managing Director, Encore commented on the launch of Cumulus. “Creating this new tool and providing it free of charge to our clients is another way Encore is working to make events more convenient, effective and engaging. “The event app enables our clients to manage their own content, avoiding the need to use expensive third party app solutions or the need to print conference programs. The event organiser is in complete control of the content, making live changes at any time,” said Mr Chamberlain. Used recently at Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Victoria Damiani, Director of Business Development, commented on the benefits the app can bring event organisers. “We’re delighted to be able to offer a free event app to our customers who host their event at our hotel. We’ve found that people increasingly expect to be able to use their smart phones at events to obtain key information, and to be able to offer this service free of charge will be a real advantage to event planners who are looking for new cost effective ways to collaborate with their attendees,” said Ms Damiani. Every event planners must-have event app Cumulus is a must-have app designed specifically for meetings and events. It is easily accessible on the go so all you need is an internet-enable device such as a Smartphone or tablet. On top of its simplicity is the design flexibility. Cumulus can be designed to mirror your own branding, whilst also deciding which 10 features and integrations you’d like included such as venue details, agendas/session details, speaker bios, external links, downloadable documents, attendee lists, bulletins/updates, transport information, Find out more about Cumulus Note: At time of releasing this story, Cumulus was known as Event Briefcase. Since the rebranding of Staging Connections in 2018, Event Briefcase is now referred to as Cumulus. ... Read More

Encore delivered a spectacular Hollywood Night theme for the Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts annual Hotel of the Year Awards gala dinner held in their ballroom, complete with elegant décor and lavish surroundings. The lobby welcomed guests, and prepared them for the excitement that lay ahead with two curved black lampstand chandeliers dripping with black crystals, the focal point upon entry. Adding Hollywood glamour with event styling and centerpieces Exuding luxury, elegance and style, the Ballroom was decked out in black and gold soft furnishings to achieve maximum impact. Oval tables were laden with plush finishes; black table cloths, gold satin tie-back chair covers and a tall and short wrought iron gold candleholder sat as the centrepiece on each table, filled with flowering red orchids. Decorative panels sat on either side of the ballroom, and these were lit up in bright lights to further emphasise the ‘tinsel town’ event theme. Designing a simple, yet impactful Hollywood awards stage With the award winners the real heroes of the event, the stage design needed to draw the attendees’ eyes from their luxury surroundings to the front of the room. To do this and create real impact, the Encore styling and design team used one of their most versatile products, an illuminated Event Backdrop with a customised graphic print, alongside two gold Hollywood Showbiz statues. It's not a Hollywood event without social media buzz! Wanting to get maximum engagement from the audience, and spread the messages of the event further, Event Feed was utilised to enable attendees post photos to Instagram and tweets on Twitter using the event hashtag. These were displayed in real time across the large screens around the ballroom. Of the 250 attendees, 50 photos were posted to Instagram and the tweets reached a further potential audience of 183. The Encore AV team went to work producing double projection graphics and moving lights shaped with gobos. The room was illuminated with Colourblaze, a high-performance linear LED fixture for washing large areas with far reaching, rich, saturated colours added to the theming. Clear audio for the band up on stage was managed seamlessly, ensuring everyone got into the swing of things. What did the client say? Guests enjoyed being transported to tinsel town for their night in the spotlight. Encore received lots of praise for their creative yet seamless operation: “The Encore team were wonderful to work with. They were professional and courteous making me very confident that the event was going to be a success. The team were attentive and creative making our awards night better than we could have ever imagined!” “The Event was a resounding success! Encore has done it again and how! From the perfect re-creation of a Black Tie Awards themed event to the expertly directed lights, sounds and display production. Thank you so much to everyone at Encore for an unforgettable evening.” Robert Belicena, Director of Events Management, Shangri-La Sydney Partner with leading event services company for your awards night There's a lot that goes into creating an unforgettable awards night. As all of your most important stakeholders are in the room and with so many individual elements, you’ll need an experienced AV and event company specialised in delivering awards nights and gala dinners. Encore has been the name behind some of the largest and most technically demanding live events to hit Australian soil. Having been in the events business for over 30 years, our experienced team of technicians and event directors understand what it takes to deliver to this scale and profile. We only use brands we trust; we take a tailored approach to every brief using everything from the latest in AV, lighting and staging through to event styling and engaging digital and social services for events; and we work with you every step of the way so there’s no surprises. If you’re interesting in finding out what Encore can do for your event, get in touch with us today by calling 1800 209 099 or by completing our event enquiry form. ... Read More

Showcasing our new partnership with venue partner Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and in-house hospitality provider Epicure, we delivered a unique event that demonstrated the evolution of the latest audio visual and technical services for events. On 8 July 2016, 150 event managers gathered at the Olympic Room at the MCG, for a fittingly-themed Olympic celebration of technology and its place in events. Encore contrasted the 1956 Olympics, which was staged at the MCG, against the 2016 Rio Olympics using projection, staging and multimedia techniques to delight attendees, showcasing how digital technology has evolved to engage and even interact with guests. Rob Meek, Project Manager – Melbourne, Encore Even Technologies, outlined the range of techniques his team used to achieve the special production. “We used projection mapping and staging techniques to highlight some of the key images and memorable moments from the 1956 games, which were illustrated by black and white images projected onto a kabuki screen and frosted window surfaces. When the kabuki reveal took place and the screen fell to the floor, it dramatically unveiled the colour, liveliness and style of the 2016 Rio Olympics with beautiful city vistas projected onto a large panoramic screen made up of hexagonal screens. This was the first time we had ever used hexagonal screen surfaces on the east coast of Australia. “Our objective was to showcase how far technology has come, and feature the endless opportunities the evolution of audio visual and technology brings to events. In addition, we installed a new rigging system and projected custom designed animations onto the arena windows with a glass adhesive frosted surface that certainly wowed the crowd!” said Mr Meek. Décor and styling supplied by Encore included centrepieces of single silver candlesticks similar to the original 1956 torch contrasted with copper geometric frames featuring colourful florals on hexagonal bases, reflective of the Rio games. Tim Chapman, General Manager – Digital demonstrated how event organisers could use Event Poll and Event Feed (pictured left) to gain audience engagement. Guests were encouraged to use the hashtag #MCGShowcase and via Event Feed their posts were sent live to the MCG scoreboard and multiple screens around the room. Rebecca Harvey, ‎Executive Manager Hospitality at Melbourne Cricket Club was proud to demonstrate the potential for events at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “It was incredible to see how digital event services can bring an event to life. The colourful projections onto the hexagonal screens were simply stunning and combined with the bright lighting, floral centrepieces and delicious cuisine by Epicure, made for a great night. The MCG is such a versatile venue for a range of events and it is exciting with Encore as our new in-house partner to be able to create stunning events that combine elite technology with a range of other world-class services at the home of sporting history, the MCG,” said Ms Harvey. Discover our Event Services See our recent work Find a Encore office near you If you are interested in finding out what Encore can do for your next event, please get in touch by either calling 1800 209 099 or sending an online enquiry. ... Read More

It goes without saying that lighting is a crucial element of most events. Whether it’s on a grand scale, like the projections we see at Sydney’s Vivid festival, or a smaller-scale event with lighting illuminations in a foyer, it’s an artful practice – and when done well, can really take your event to the next level. Light can immediately change the space it’s used in. An everyday location can be transformed into an attention-grabbing canvas that helps deliver your message. As a medium, light can be affordable and flexible enough to use for all events. Lighting equipment can be as simple as battery driven, wirelessly controlled fixtures that project the colour of your brand, or as complex as the incredibly powerful computer-controlled projectors that map video onto any conceivable surface, making it look 3D. Lighting design starts with you When we encounter something that surprises us, we’re instantly engaged – and we react. We might react by discussing what we saw with the nearest person, taking pictures to share on social media, and asking questions. Imagine what that can mean for your customers, staff, friends or family? Evoking such a reaction in an audience is a great emotional experience for your event. Colours, shapes, symbols, movement, images and video are all tools that can be used to help you do just that. Effective lighting can be the simplest A technically simple lighting activation can be as straightforward as illuminating a space or building in a single or multiple colours. And it can still make an impact, or tell a story. Our Tasmanian team has been involved in many indoor and outdoor activations of this kind, including lighting the exterior of government buildings yellow for Road Safety Awareness Week (pictured top left), and performance venues in red to reflect the theme and spirit of the Dark Mofo winter arts festival (pictured middle left). To pay our respect in the wake of the Paris Attacks, our Canberra team worked with the Australian Government to illuminate Australia's Parliament House in red, white and blue, to reflect the French flag (pictured bottom left). How do you illuminate buildings? Using the Tasmanian Road Safety Awareness Week as an example of lighting buildings, we used nine high-powered 500watt HUI Cyclonic flood light with a yellow gel cover to illuminate Launceston Town Hall. Physically, they’re long rectangular bars, which sit on the ground and project up. These usually contain many light sources, such as dozens of high-powered LEDs. Did you know...These specialised lighting fixtures for outdoor events or architectural lighting are weatherproofed, and are given an industry standard IP (International Protection) rating that defines the conditions they can safely operate in. An IP rating of IP65 is the most common for safe outdoor use, where the ‘6’ means the fixture is completely protected, and ‘5’ means it’s so well protected from water that water jets can be projected at it with no damage. We can program outdoor building illuminations on an electrical timer to turn on and off as needed, saving costs on technical staff as they don’t need to be there. For ‘one-night-only’ events, a lot of the smaller fixtures we use are battery powered and can be controlled wirelessly, meaning we avoid time consuming and tricky cable runs. If illuminations are set to run over multiple dates, we’ll discuss a number of technical matters with venue and lighting staff – and these include safe access to and provision of adequate power, security for fixtures when there’s no staff present, and safe public access in and around the fixture’s location. Putting your brand in the spotlight: Gobos The next tool in a creative lighting designer’s kit is the Gobo. The name is basically short for ‘Goes Between’ or ‘Goes Before Optics’, and it’s essentially any object that is placed in a lighting fixture between the light source and its optical path to change the output you see in a projection. Gobos are great for communicating your brand or event message in an eye-catching way. Depending on their design they can also be used to help theme an event. What you need to know about Gobos The first Gobos were actually just perforated pieces of metal that technicians would use to create ‘break up’ or dappled light effects. These days, after a century of evolution, Gobos are now mostly made as glass discs. They generally come in lights with a few interesting textures – but importantly, they can be custom made for specific jobs. Personalised Gobos tend to be the most popular, since it can be used to project logos, images, or text. Custom made Gobos are quite affordable, which means an organisation can get great value from having their logo, message or related images etched on them to use at multiple events. We find that the most common way people use a Gobo is to project their logo. There are many ways to do this, whether it’s to stay static on walls or objects, move across a surface in a repeating pattern, or to blow up to a huge proportion on stage. Gobos can be used in a wide range of lighting fixtures, from tiny portable Gobo projectors that can project a static image, right up to extremely powerful moving head fixtures that can be used to animate, change colours and use multiple Gobos on the fly. How to use a gobo for your event: Gobos go big for Adelaide Football Club As the official audio visual partner to the Adelaide Football Club, Staging Connections has helped them create highly impactful match-day experiences utilising cutting-edge AV in a creative way. As the ultimate call-to-arms, we projected the Adelaide Crows’ logo and their tagline ‘We Fly As One’, across iconic Adelaide buildings, the Adelaide Oval and it's surrounding footpath and even trees. We took up several positions in and around Adelaide Oval. The lighting team got to work assembling a combination of extremely bright Clay Paky Mythos, Martin MAC Viper and Martin MAC Quantum Profile LED source moving head fixtures. The iconic facade of the Adelaide Festival Centre was transformed by a giant Adelaide Crows logo, projected from over 400-metres away by the Clay Paky Mythos. We also had permission from the neighbouring InterContinental Hotel to use their building as a projection site. For the 2016 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round in May, the Club wanted to celebrate by providing a unique and special pre-game segment using projections of current Indigenous players onto the roof of the Adelaide Oval grandstands. In what was a first for the Adelaide Football Club, the stadium lights were switched off before the game which allowed the player projections to shine whilst a Welcome to Country and other entertainment celebrated the Indigenous Round. Using gobo lighting projection was the simplest and safest way to ensure a great outcome but also working in with the logistics on ground prior to an important AFL match. Each light was protected from the weather in inflatable domes on individual trolleys to ensure a speedy exit prior to kick off. The full-colour images of the players projected onto the Oval’s grandstand roofs were made possible by a newer Gobo manufacturing technique that uses patented ‘thin film’ technology. This means any photographic image can be transferred onto the glass, and any lighting fixture that can take a custom Gobo and produce white light can project a full colour image. Until recently, this sort of full colour effect was only possible with video projectors, which are more costly to deploy and operate. Did you know...Outdoor activations of this scale and brightness require multiple control positions with lighting desks and operators, coordination with property owners, and custom creation of media, as well as the basic issues of security, weatherproofing, power and access. It’s not just a matter of pointing lights in the right direction and hoping for the best - specialist knowledge and consultation is especially important when using high-powered lighting fixtures outside. As an example of the level of detail and planning that went into this project, the Crows activation used a ‘Bat Signal’- like logo projection onto the cityscape and into the air. To do this, we needed approval from CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to make sure that light wouldn’t affect any flights. Now, that’s a big scale lighting project. Lighting projections as an artform: Projection mapping If you have a creative vision for your event that goes beyond colour and static image, your lighting activation will move into the intricate world of projection mapping. We’re all familiar with it, again thanks to Sydney’s Vivid and other international festivals, as well as countless viral videos and larger budget events. Any kind of video can be created and projected onto any surface. It could be as simple as a screen, or as complex as a moving vehicle. There are no limits to what is possible creatively with projection mapping. The only limits you have are time, budget, and practical considerations like rigging and power access. We can provide full-service projection mapping – from creative consultation, to content creation, right through to delivery. We had the chance to show this off at the Amway Taiwan Leadership Gala Dinner in Sydney’s newest (and largest) event space, The Cutaway at Barangaroo Headland Park. The Cutaway is named for the vast sandstone wall that flanks the enormous underground space, standing over three stories tall. Amway chose the venue specifically because of this feature, and wanted to project video onto as much of it as possible. Using creative lighting for a gala dinner: Amway Taiwan Staging Connections’ in-house multimedia team created all of the content for the projections, matching the visuals to the themes of the live entertainment. Australian Aboriginal art and iconic Australian themes such as desert and beach, the red of the earth, and the white of the surf were all incorporated into spectacular video that covered 53 horizontal and 13 vertical metres of the sandstone. We used ten 26K Barco projectors to cover the wall, coordinated by Dataton’s Watchout software to create one connected image. And 18 more projectors helped cover the opposite concrete wall, with an additional two at each end of the venue, to completely immerse the venue in video. 3D Projection mapping for a product launch The Staging Connections Melbourne team embarked on a path to take members of the audience on a journey from the alien planet to our own, through digital mediums, projection, pyrotechnics, actors and lighting. This event required the collaboration between the client's 3D animation content with our 3D projection design, 3D mapping and reform. The design was precisely plotted in 3D software and 11 projectors were driven by 14 Watchout PCs onto a set space that canvassed a 22m-wide screen, full-size caravan model and floor space surrounding the area. Together with the 3D animated projection map and surround sound, time code generated cues for both stunt actors and pyrotechnics completed a theatrical experience. Event Profile: 3D Projection Mapping from Staging Connections on Vimeo. Lighting that moves: Kinetic lighting Event lighting doesn't always have to be fixed. Our Melbourne team developed a unique moving lighting installation for the 2015 Million Dollar Lunch fundraising event. It is one of the most star-studded charity events in the Australian calendar and each year the Children's Cancer Foundation look to make it bigger and better. To fit in with the overarching theme of kaleidoscope illuminated glowing spheres were flown off several trusses through the Palladium Ballroom and positioned in an arrangement near the entrance that boasted colour, vibrance and lent itself to the ideologies of a kaleidoscope. This piece was used to change the colour scheme and add drama to the event. The glowing Yo-Yo LED balls moved on a vertical axis via motorised controllers programmed via our primary control system from our GrandMA desk to align the internal LED’s with a sequencing colour changing that created a kinetic chandelier piece unlike anything else. The movement of each LED sphere was converted from “Movement in Metres” to DMX values and sent back to the GrandMA which allowed for isolated control of speed and direction and where it was then merged with the colours being triggered from the GrandMA and aligned with the onscreen vision content. Watch the Million Dollar Lunch Event Video below. Use creative lighting for your event Any live event in any venue, indoor or outdoor, can inspire, delight and inform your audience through the well-thought out and creative application of light. Get in touch with us by calling 1800 209 099 or by sending an event enquiry to explore how we can take your event further with spectacular lighting and projection that works with your budget and message. The possibilities are illuminating. ... Read More