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

Event stage production has progressed in leaps and bounds over the past decade, and while event organizers are constantly looking for new and inventive ways to present their event, it’s all about one thing – engagement. From dynamic new ways to showcase your content on the stage to creative set styling ideas, amplifying your event and its messaging is all about up-to-date and eye-catching execution. Looking to add a little oomph to your next corporate or social event? We’ve asked our event staging experts to shine a spotlight on a handful of new (and re-imagined) set design and set styling products, to inspire your next event's stage design. Here’s our insight into the six products currently trending in the staging and set design arena, and how to make best use of set styling products. Hexagonal panels Pictured: Hexagonal panels used in this custom stage set design for the LNG18 Conference. Amp up your set design with dynamic hexagonal panels Make an impact and craft custom designed stage designs using hexagonal panels as part of your next set or stage design. Measured at approximately 1.6m in the middle and 90cm at the base, these creative display panels are designed to fit a range of venues and can add a spark to any dull stage set-up. Best of all, individual hexagonal panels can be joined together to create unique shaped walls to project onto. You also have the ability to projection map and show different content across individual panels, meaning they’re an incredibly dynamic addition to any stage’s design. Showcase content in a multi-dimensional display Pictured: Projection mapping different content onto individual panels at the MCG Evolution showcase event. Hexagonal panels were a key stage element of the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s Evolution event, a showcase held to demonstrate the capabilities of the MCG and promote its use as a multi-purpose venue. Different content was projected onto individual hexagonal panels – with Event Poll on one panel, while another panel housed a live feed of the presenter. The other panels included the speakers’ presentation content, creating a mural effect – allowing our event experts to present a variety of different content in one well-executed display. Encore Event Technologies can also match your table styling with complementing matching hexagonal terrarium centerpieces, creating a nice touch for themed events or glamorous gala dinners. Scenic Panels Add a touch of elegance to your set dressing with Scenic Panels Pictured: Scenic Panels used to create a 'wave' ceiling installation at the Australian Tourism Exchange on the Gold Coast. Draw eyes to your stage set, add flair to your gala dinner’s ceiling installations or create a lovely entry feature or room divider with the addition of Scenic Panels. These panels are a cost effective and stylish event addition; available as individual panels or screens, meaning they can be incorporated to events of any scale and size. Set the scene and give personality to your event venue With the ability to project different coloured lights across its surface, Scenic Panels are incredibly versatile and can set the scene whether you’re hosting a corporate conference, a stylish product launch or an immaculately styled gala dinner. As a ceiling installation, Scenic Panels can be rigged to the ceiling to create beautiful styling feature, such as a wave effect showcased at the Australian Tourism Exchange. Scenic Panels can also be used as room dividers, entry features, event draping, media walls, and stage backdrops, framing your stage with a unique textural panel display. Pictured: Scenic Panels used as room divider a The Million Dollar Lunch 2015. Pictured: Scenic Panels used as stage backdrop with a branded gobo projection. Pictured: Scenic Panels used as a stage backdrop for a Spy themed gala dinner. Digital Banners Re-imagine your stage design with digital banners Immerse your guests and draw focus to different sections of your stage with the use of digital banners. Digital banners aren’t the new kids on the block however with the increase in projection mapping at corporate events we’re seeing them used more and more. With the unique ability to be hung vertically or horizontally in a row, content and visuals can be projected across or mixture of horizontal and vertical displays. Pictured: Digital banners used in a custom set design for an awards night. Digital banners can also be used in combination with other set design elements, such as the fleur panels, hexagonal panels and other stage set design elements. Their size and versatility make them perfect for a range of venue sizes, from smaller events to large incentive events. Showcase your business’ content in inventive new ways Pictured: Digital banners housing themed content for the 2015 Greencross Ltd annual gala dinner. For Greencross Limited’s annual gala dinner, Encore Event Technologies made great use of digital banners. Our event specialists projected different themed content across each panel, keeping in the theme of ‘Fire & Ice’ and creating an immersive event setting. Pictured: Project animation and moving sequences across an array of digital banners. Digital banners are a cost effective way of set styling, with the unique ability to house different content, or project a series of images across each banner, making it suited to a range of event purposes. Widescreens Pictured: A widescreen makes for a dramatic stage design with projection mapping of the city skyline at a conference. Incorporate a cinematic element to your stage design with widescreens If the content you’re showcasing is extravagant in scale, give it the screen it deserves with a stage widescreen. Perfect for high impact videos, widescreens are best used for presenting a memorable opening sequence, a winners montage, tribute videos, branded product announcements or attention-grabbing hype reels. You can also add interest by combining widescreens with other set design elements, such as digital banners and fleur screens, to give your event stage even more punch. Pictured: Widescreens and Digital Banners used together in a custom set design to house different content and live feeds. Circular Truss Command your guests’ attention with circular trusses If you’re looking to expand your set styling beyond the stage, another great way to promote your brand’s content or add a ceiling installation is through event rigging. Circular trusses can provide a fixture for an impactful ceiling installation and can be rigged around the venue, meaning they’re great for projection mapping when you have a canvas attached. Pictured: Projection mapping content onto a circular truss for the Adelaide Crows Gala Dinner 2016. Pictured: Projection mapping content onto a circular truss for the Queensland Hotels Association Awards 2016 at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Our event experts used hanging chandeliers for a gala dinner fundraising event for the Adelaide Crows; although they can also be used for further set styling. You can attach crystal beaded curtains to trusses to create a dazzling ceiling installation, like showcased at the Auto & General Gala Dinner which leads us to our final set styling trend. Pictured: Circular truss used to rig chandelier curtains at the Auto & General Gala Dinner 2015. Crystal Curtains Include an element of extravagance to your event Provide your guests with a sense of luxury and cast beautiful rays of light around the venue by installing crystal or beaded drop curtains. These stunning backdrops can be used to provide a simple yet elegant backdrop for stages, or can be rigged to create a stunning ceiling installation. Pictured: Chandelier beaded curtains used as a ceiling installation and stage backdrop at the Auto & General Gala Dinner 2015. Pictured: Crystal curtains are a simple yet effective way to create a luxurious feel to your set design. Discover your stage's potential with our set design team Encore Event Technologies has been designing spectacular stage looks for over 30 years. Whether you want to create a city skyline, an iconic landmark, or bring your logo to life we have the people, the ideas and the tech tools to make it happen. That's why renowned brands like Amway, ANZ, Auto & General, NRMA & Westfield chose to partner with Encore Event Technologies to design, build and style their stages. With all eyes on your stage for the entire event, it's important you give it the attention it deserves. Find out more about our Stage Set Design services or get in touch with us to see how we can work together for your event. CALL 1800 209 099 or Send an 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

We have so many events happening everyday that we rarely get time to share the end result! In this monthly blog post we round up some of the events we have worked on in the last month to help inspire and amplify your event know how! We have so many events happening everyday that we rarely get time to share the end result! In this monthly blog post we round up some of the events we have worked on in the last month to help inspire and amplify your event know how! We kick off this post with 'The Hunger Project Fundraiser’ in Sydney for our client - the lovely Emma Isaacs, CEO of Business Chicks. We turned an old run down garage in Sydney (that incidentally was formally owned and used by Frank Lowy to store his classic car collection) into a beautiful dinner venue. Recently our mantra seems to be ‘any event space can be your event space’ and this event just goes to prove what can be achieved with a little imagination (and a lot of lighting!) Next up is some child like fun from a Carnival inspired cocktail dinner. This event was hosted in the Barossa Novotel Resort after a two day corporate conference in the Barossa Valley. We couldn't think of a better way to end a conference than with all these lollies and popcorn! Our talented event stylist Alana turned this amazing look around in just under 2 hours flat which is incredible or maybe it was simply down to the sugar rush! Now if you are looking for some colour theme ideas for your next event then check out this fabulous purple styling. Held at the Crown Plaza Adelaide this cocktail party was themed using purple as the main accent colour for the floral and lighting which was complimented with crystals to create this opulent look. Next we jump to Perth for some poolside action at the newly redeveloped Crown Perth! Together with DG Global, we staged the welcome party for ISPS HANDA Perth International Golf event. It was a challenging brief as we had to be incredibly careful not to damage the newly renovated pool area whilst securing the Perspex stage in place. We also had to be absolutely sure it was a safe platform for the band to perform on. We take safety extremely seriously and this event took a lot of pre planning, all worth it in the end as the area looked incredible with that Perspex stage reflecting lighting and creating the wow factor! We have said it once and will say it again; it just shows that any space can be your event space! In October we were also proud AV sponsors of the Black Horse Foundation dinner held at Australian Technology Park. It’s a great event space which has a fantastic industrial feel, great for large scale events! The evening was a huge success with over $80,000 raised for a range of charities including Redkite, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Fareshare and the Beacon Foundation. Check out the boys in black hard at work behind the tech control desk! #weloveourcrew Viva Las Vegas was this year’s theme for the annual United Convenience Buyers Conference held at Jupiter's Gold Coast Hotel. To create this effect we had huge blow out projections directly onto white drapes on the sides of stage and on a cyc backing the stage. Each section was 6 meters high and 20m wide across the entire stage wall of the room. We had to re-edit all of the video content to fit the ratio of the projection area which took a little time but was worth it to create an awesome effect that transported guests right to the Vegas Strip! And finally we teamed up with our venue partner Hyatt Hotel Canberra for an exciting Wedding Experience Day held in the Federation Ballroom at the Hyatt in Canberra. Local brides had the chance to visualise their day with tables and room styling by our talented team from Canberra. They also watched a bridal runway and were treated to some delicious food from the Hyatt’s wonderful chef! Check out the images below, we love the summer centrepieces featuring blossom, willow & roses! October was a great month with some amazing events staged by our teams around Australia. We look forward to a busy November and to share the results with you come December! ... Read More

Australia is a destination like no other. Blessed with breathtaking scenery, rich culture, amazing cuisine and unique flora and fauna – it makes for an unforgettable event theme. Perfect for all types of events, from gala dinners and awards nights to conferences and destination incentives – an Australian event theme can be scaled up or down using event production elements to suit your event size and budget. Whether you want to pay tribute to your stunning sun burnt country, or you aim to give foreign guests the true blue Australian experience, here are 5 creative ways to produce a ripper Australian themed event. 1. Start with a Down Under event location Australia is renowned for its spectacular landscapes so getting outdoors is going to be one of the best ways to create an amazing Aussie feel. Nothing says 'Australia' quite like hosting your event in the vast and beautiful Outback. For a more coastal Australiana vibe, set yourself up on a beautiful white-sand beach or along one of our picturesque harbours. If you don’t have the luxury of hosting the Aussie themed event in such exotic locations, with some clever event production you can recreate these settings in an outdoor location or within a venue. Pictured: (Left to right clockwise) Host your event in the Outback | Recreate a beautiful sandy beach | The Cutaway, at Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour | An event held in a shed in rural Australia. If you want to host your event in a more urban setting, try any one of these iconic Aussie locations, such as the beautiful Sydney Harbour, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval, Alice Springs, or the Gold Coast. Luckily you don’t have to travel far to take advantage of Australia’s beautiful scenery. Hosting the event at a local venue with a breathtaking view will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Organizing your event through a venue can be a great way to save time and take some of the pressure out of event planning. Many venues are equipped for hosting events large and small and you can work with their event services provider to theme and style to your liking. 2. Use creative AV to immerse your guests in an Australian themed event Creative use of audio-visual equipment and event production are very effective ways to simulate natural Australian environments. Clever AV production can be your best friend when it comes to transforming a venue space into a themed event. Depending on the style and location of your event, you can use an audio system to play sounds of the Outback, waves crashing on the shores of a beach, calls of native wildlife, or native Australian music. To immerse the senses further, combine visual creations with the audio playing in the background. Create custom, onscreen content and videos for your theme using traditional Australian scenery, classic characters like Crocodile Dundee, or native flora and fauna. Projection map this content along the walls, across the tables, or on objects to bring them to life and give your guests an amazing 3D experience! Pair your visual images with complimentary event lighting inspired by the colours of the Australian and Australian Aboriginal flags. Use up-lights or wash lighting to spice up venue walls, or use moving pin spot lighting with various shapes and colors to decorate tables. Design your stage set to replicate landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, or simply creating interesting shapes for images to be projected upon, are more great ways to enhance the visual landscape of the Australian themed event. You could also go all-out by creating a cinematic experience with a wide screen and blended projections of Australian vistas. Make the scene come to life with audio cues and sound effects to match, and combine with props of animal and plant life for added effect. Pictured: (Left to right clockwise) Custom set design of Sydney Opera House | Hexagonal panels with projection mapped content | Widescreen stage design with Australiana imagery | Custom set design using Sydney Opera House shapes and widescreens. 3. Styling ideas to infuse the Australian theme into your event With any event theming task, styling and props will always be your best asset in bringing the theme to life. The event begins the moment a guest arrives; so, wow them from the first moment by creating an aw-inspiring Australian themed entryway. A “red carpet” created from sand, an impactful event backdrop printed with an Australian setting, a corrugated iron archway designed to give a rustic outback feel, vertical gardens hung for touch of greenery, or bouncing kangaroos or life savers positioned to greet the guests, are all excellent ideas to create that “WOW” factor you want from the very beginning. Continue the spectacular scene inside; Warratahs, Poppys, Leucadendron, Wattles, Proteas, Banksia, Gumnuts, and Kangaroo paws are but a small portion of the large variety of native Australian flora available to use in creating unique and beautifully rich floral table centerpieces. Adding candles to a clear glass or a color votive can add warmth to the table, while gold satin or sequin tablecloths can add a bit of decadence to the affair. Crisp white tablecloths, although prone to stains / dirt in the outdoors, are the epitome of sophistication and set a classic and classy scene. Pictured: Top Left; Tapping Dancing Bootmen, Right; Centrepieces using Australian native flora; Bottom Left: Bouncing Kangaroo actors. 4. Entertain the taste buds with an all-Aussie menu Food is central to people relaxing and enjoying themselves at any social gathering. Delicious food options for a scrumptious, Aussie experience include: surf and turf, kangaroo burgers, sausages, meat pies, lamb, and prawns. Intriguing and delectable food options will have your guests saying, “Throw another shrimp on the barbie!” 5. Surprise and delight your guests with Aussie entertainment Make it a day or night to remember by hiring an MC or presenter that is a true-blue Aussie larrikin, such as Shane Jacobson; or, look into having an elite Aussie superstar or celebrity chef come and dine. Australia is home to some of the most unique animals in the world. Hiring a petting zoo can be an intriguing and interactive feature; allow guests to interact with native Australian animals and make them feel as if they are out in the wild. Or, bring a different authentic Australian element to your gathering by hiring an Aboriginal dance group, which is a fantastic way to showcase the rich Australian history and culture. Pictured: (Left to right clockwise) Life Savers on Stilts, Aboriginal Dance and Didgeridoo performances, Petting Zoo featuring native Australian wildlife. Keep your guests entertained with an Australian themed trivia game! Whether you have 10 or 1000 guests, Event Poll is an audience polling platform that guests can use to answer questions from their tables. It’s a great way to test and educate their knowledge with the answers displayed instantly on the screens for all to see. Continue the fun and keep the atmosphere lively by using an event social media platform like Event Feed to capture and share guests’ tweets, instaphotos, and Facebook posts live at the event. Seeing updates gives guests a chance to laugh, create new conversations, and continue enjoying the festive energy of their surroundings. Partner with a leading event services company in Australia! Encore Event Technologies has been the name behind some of the biggest events to hit our shores, so when it comes to pulling off a cracking Aussie themed event - we're the experts you can trust. Whether you're after a total event production solution or simply after audio visual and lighting design, we have Australia's largest range of event services on offer and can tailor our solution to your needs and budget. Events start with a conversation, so get in touch with us today to see how we can make your next event the best one yet. ... Read More

From glamorous red carpet photo opportunities to bold and eye-catching backdrops, media walls or photo walls are essential to any major sponsored event. A well designed media wall can become a great marketing tool – it lets you brand your event, enhance your event’s theme, encourage photo opportunities, and importantly promote the sponsors with ease. And it can do all this without detracting from your event and guests. Sounds simple right? Wrong. From too many logos to unflattering lighting and misplaced designs, Encore Event Technologies has been in the game long enough to know what a good and bad media wall looks like. With the potential for so many eyeballs on the finished photos, it’s essential to your event and your sponsors ROI that you get it right. Our team of event experts has put their heads together to devise a list of Do’s & Don’t's for a winning media wall formula. From printing and set-up right through to design and execution on event day, from glamorous red carpet photo opportunities to bold and eye-catching backdrops, media walls or photo walls are essential to any major sponsored event. A well designed media wall can become a great marketing tool it lets you brand your event, enhance your event's theme, encourage photo opportunities, and importantly promote the sponsors with ease. And it can do all this without detracting from your event and guests. Sounds simple right? Wrong. From too many logos to unflattering lighting and misplaced designs, Encore Event Technologies has been in the game long enough to know what a good and bad media wall looks like. With the potential for so many eyeballs on the finished photos, it’s essential to your event and your sponsors ROI that you get it right. The DO’s Stick to the basics and keep your media wall simple Media walls should be designed to create a great first impression, but there’s no need for them to steal the show from your awards night, gala dinner or branded event. The key purpose of any media backdrop or photo wall is to brand your event and provide exposure to your event’s sponsors. Avoid over-complicating your media wall’s design with too many logos or repetitions, and steer clear of busy visuals or distracting graphics. Less is definitely more! At its most basic design, a solid white background with fewer than 4 brand / sponsor logos repeated is usually best for a media wall. Pictured: A simple media wall design with few logos repeated is best. Use media backdrops to put the spotlight on your brand and sponsors When you’re printing brand logos onto your media wall, double-check you’re providing the correct file size and format for your media wall’s dimensions. JPEGs aren’t always the best solution, and the higher file size resolution, the better. Be sure to check that yours and your sponsor’s logos are current too, it only takes an email or phone call. If you’re using this to draw attention to your brands, make sure you get it right. Location, location, location! Be sure to install the media wall either at the entrance or in a spot that receives a lot of foot traffic to ensure you capture everyone as they enter, or have a spare minute. Photo walls or media backdrops work well with a red carpet and bollards to direct your audience where to go. Your media backdrop can also be a great centerpiece to signal the entrance of your gala dinner or awards night. Position your media backdrop carefully If you’re not using an internally lit Event Backdrop, make sure there’s adequate light in addition to the photographer’s flash. Your media wall’s life will extend much longer than the event itself through photography - so make it count! If your media wall is being positioned against a wall, be sure to consider proper backing. It’s important that every feature of your event is installed correctly and has all the safety enhancements and fixture needed. If your media wall is self-standing, such as an Event Backdrop, don’t forget to leave sand bags on the floor for safety and stability. Pictured: A styled media wall created using fleur panels with truss uplights along the bottom with additional soft white light stands. Go the extra mile for your event with a styled media wall for your gala dinner or awards night If you’re looking for a media wall that leaves a lasting impression, enhance your theming with a styled media wall. Consider using textural elements such as fake grass, vertical gardens, corrugated iron for an industrial / outback look or fleur screens. If you're heading down this route be sure to liaise with your audio visual company to devise an alternate solution, such as lighting, to display your brand logos. Pictured: An Event Backdrop fully covered in fake plants to enhance the 'Vanity Fair' theme of the gala dinner. Get prop happy! If it suits the purpose of your event, such as a gala dinner or awards night, try adding some fun props too. This can help camera-shy people get in character and makes for a unique photo op. People will also be more likely to share photos on social media if they are in character, which amplifies your brand’s exposure online. Pictured: A 'Hogwarts' themed media / photo wall area complete with styled props. Make your media backdrop social media friendly If you’re looking to maximise the reach of your event and engagement in the room, try using an event social media wall like Event Feed, which pulls all public social posts using your event hashtag and displays them live on screen after moderation. It’s a great way to get people engaged, start conversation and encourage photo taking and social uploading, extending the longevity of your event and brand messaging. Get the most out of your media wall / photo wall and use a cameraman who has the technology to post straight to Instagram. THE DONT’s Avoid unflattering lighting Event lighting is often just as important as your media wall. Don’t project blue light onto your media wall as it’s very unflattering and can distort faces in photos. We recommend using a soft white light instead – it’s the safe option and clearly captures the talent. It’s also a good idea to avoid using down lights, as they cast unflattering shadows over people’s faces. Consider using truss uplights along the bottom of your media wall, which casts a nice light on your event’s logos making them stand out. For best lighting results, we recommend using Event Backdrop – a digitally printed backdrop available in a range of sizes and can be internally lit, which makes for maximum impact on your branding. Pictured: A themed Event Backdrop with internal lighting making it the perfect solution for a branded media wall. Limit unwanted photobombs with careful design consideration Consider the placement of any printed people, animal or objects onto your photo walls too as these can turn up in unexpected places when looking at the pictures, and often make for embarrassing (or hilarious) photobombs. You wouldn’t want this happening to the company CEO. Don’t leave your media wall until the last minute If it’s being printed, provide your supplier with the multimedia files at least 4 weeks before the event so you can see the mock up, approve a print test, and go through print and delivery with enough time to spare for changes in between. Be prepared for the unexpected Your media wall may also be set up in a different spot to what you planned, so consider possible power points, lighting, styling and anything else you may need for an alternate location. This may mean it needs to be installed at a different time, so ensure the set up is included in your run sheet. Any reputable AV company should be prepared for instances like this, but it's always safe to have the 'what if' conversation to make sure all bases are covered. Pictured: A simple media wall design on pull-up banners with purple velvet draping. Partner with experienced events specialists you can count on Looking for further ideas for your media wall or how to style your next awards night or gala dinner? Encore Event Technologies are audio visual production and events experts. 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. ... Read More

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 Techie Tuesday we look at the product launch favourite, the 'Kabuki Drop'. Audio Visual Discipline: Staging Audio Visual Event Category: AV Effect AV Jargon: Kabuki, Reveal What is a Kabuki Drop? A Kabuki Drop describes a swift and sudden reveal, using drapes or curtains that drop to the floor, exposing hidden elements for the audience to see on stage. What events are Kabuki Drop used on? Events such as product launches and live performances commonly use a kabuki drop to provide the audience with mystery, surprise, excitement and a focus. The drop is set up by suspending drapes/curtains on hooks or magnetic clamps that can be released via a remote control positioned off stage. The kabuki can hide any element of an event such as a new product, a live band or even a celebrity presenter. When other elements are combined such as a evocative sound, moving lights, video projection (2D or 3D), and smoke effects, they build to a dramatic finish resulting in the dropping of the kabuki. Check out this video which features a kabuki drop in action at the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar launch. For this event, the car was positioned on a stage, hidden behind a white circular kabuki, which was also used as the canvas for a projected video presentation. The kabuki played a major role in creating focus and generating audience excitement around the product. What is needed to create a Kabuki drop? A few specific items are required for an effective kabuki drop: Rigging: overhead rigging is required above stage to attach the kabuki hardware. Hardware: remote controlled hardware is required to release the kabuki on cue. Kabuki: a material, cloth, drape, or curtain is required to provide a barrier that can drop. Up next week... Next week we shine a light on gobo’s and how they can shape your next event. In the meantime if you have any AV terms or words you would like our AV experts to tackle leave a comment on the blog post below or join in the conversation on Twitter @EncoreAPAC #TechieTuesday. Image source: Gerriets | Kabuki G2 Drop System Related Event Blog Post Optimise your event communication with design and production Love learning the latest lighting and AV techniques? Download our range of free White Papers today. ... Read More

It was a decadent black and gold affair for this year’s annual gala dinner for Morris Corp. The mining and construction asset management service provider hosted the annual leadership conference and gala dinner at QT Hotel on the Gold Coast and engaged Encore Event Technologies (previously Staging Connections) to bring the event vision to life through set design and styling for 165 guests. Keeping in line with the black and gold theme, the stage set was custom designed using an array of hexagonal shaped panels arranged in a honeycomb configuration and rigged from the ceiling. A combination of rigged Mac lights and uplighting by fusion bars installed below the stage set stage panels really made the hexagonal panels pop and made a superb backdrop for the gala dinner formalities. The table styling and centrepieces were a brilliant showcase of the local Encore team’s ability to create a beautiful table look in line with a specific theme. The tables were cloaked in a black table cloth, and upon this lived elegant centrepieces created using gold and silver hexagonal mirrors, underneath geometrical hurricanes in a mixture of silver, gold and copper. These wire hurricanes were then filled with tiny copper bud lights which cast beautiful reflections off the mirrored bases. The black and gold theme was continued through gold charger plates , black table napkins and gold chair sashes. Partner with the leading events company for your next conference or gala dinner Encore has delivered countless conferences and gala dinners across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji for over 35 years. We specialise in creating an engaging conference environment through the latest AV solutions and event technologies, which then get transformed into stylish gala dinners with imaginative styling and theming solutions. Operating both within our venue partners and at various locations around the Asia Pacific, we are the trusted event services provider you can count on to deliver an unforgettable experience. We pride ourselves on our commitment to customer service so you can expect a seamless, stress-free experience when you partner with us. If you have an event to plan, we have ideas to share! Get in touch with us today to see how we can make your event vision a reality. ... Read More

The clever scientists at Yale University told us deliberately engaging all five senses at events has the ability to grasp attention, increase recall, and inspire conversation thus creating a truly memorable experience. This is particularly important at conferences or meetings where it can be challenging to keep your delegates' attention throughout the entire event. Similarly, at exhibitions, mass product launch events or buying roadshows, you need your product or service to cut through all the noise and stand-out against competitors. Here are ways smart event planners are tapping into sensory experiences to deliver effective events. Sight: Use captivating visual content to stimulate the sense of sight Lighting can transform a plain stage into a dynamic environment. It can control the mood of a room, hype up its energy, add drama to a keynote speaker coming on stage and create an event-atmosphere that’s both striking and unforgettable. Use visual content to stimulate the sense of sight. Start your gala dinner with a stunning multimedia presentation to ensure everyone remembers why they’re in the room and primed for what’s coming. For example, a charity fundraiser presenting videos of people who have really benefitted from donations or an awards night with highlights of sporting achievements from the past year. Themed events can use projection onto walls and surfaces to set the scene and immerse attendees. Set up the perfect environment for taking photos at your event using an event backdrop communicating your brand or message and then encourage them to post on social media and display on screens in the room. Sound: Create a memorable atmosphere with clever music and sound effects We all have songs that take us back to a memory, emotion or time and place. Nothing is more pleasant than having the right kind of sounds or music at an event. You want to create the perfect mood for your attendees – not irritate them, make them yell or struggle to hear. Whether it’s creating an atmosphere, delivering a polished onstage interview, or a professional multimedia presentation, perfectly balanced audio is vital for a successful event. Imagine if the winner of your award couldn’t hear they’d won or if microphone feedback made your keynote speaker inaudible! Taste: Tantalise attendees' taste buds with strategic catering How do we leave a pleasurable taste in the mouth of our attendees (literally and figuratively)? We all remember a really fantastic meal, or a really terrible one. The food you present can be just as much a part of your event theme as all the other elements. Think modern Australian for an international sales incentive; French delicacies for a burlesque theme; ribs and burgers are perfect for a taste of the Wild West and noodles and Asian delights for a Chinese New Year theme. More practically, many attendees have a dietary preference, and making sure they are well taken care of shows you really care. Attendees remember that. Smell: Don't underestimate the power of smell at events Smell is not to be sniffed at, it is an important and often overlooked element. The smell of chlorine reminds you of childhood summers by the pool. A familiar perfume. A new car smell...! Smells at your event venue can be the one thing that makes or breaks it. Imagine if you stepped into a conference where the venue had just been refurbished and you were overcome by the smell or paint or carpet glue. That would be a sensory overload and not a good thing for an attendee to experience. Scientists tell us our brains react to smell before anything else. Good retailers understand this fact. It improves our perception of a product’s quality and encourages customers to linger a little bit longer, thereby increasing interactions with the product. Scent can really enhance and event, think Arabian Nights, the scent of pine and wood for an enchanted forest, delicious spices for Bollywood or the smell of salty sea air for an Underwater theme. Touch: Textures, interactivity, activities at events Of course there are many ways you can introduce a sense of touch, such as tactile styling elements, textured decorative panels, interactive technologies or even physical activities. Think about how the visual aspects of the props, decor, furniture and other physical objects at your event and how they will make it memorable. Touching something creates a real connection. And that’s where touchable technology comes in. First made available in smartphones, the trend for ultra-responsive surfaces has accelerated and can now be incorporated into events. Encore offer services that allow for interaction during your exhibition or event like touch screens and Touch Kiosk technology. You can use these touch screens for presentations or quizzes, encouraging your guests to participate and get actively involved. The sense of touch is particularly important for attendees which are Kinesthetic learners - who actually need to physically do or touch the activity to learn it. From textural styling elements to the latest in interactive technology - there are a myriad of ways to engage your attendees' sense of touch at events. Use an expert AV & event services company Successful events turn attendees to advocates. Studies show engaging all five senses creates a deeper connection and makes the experience memorable. The hardest part is continually coming up with new ways to engage the senses at events, whilst also keeping up with event trends. This is where an experienced AV and event services company comes in. From the latest AV techniques, total event design, theming, content and event technology - Encore is the one provider you can count on to continually deliver impactful events year after year. Our passion and commitment to the events industry motivates our teams to keep pushing creative and technological boundaries to make our events unforgettable. Let's not waste another precious planning minute, speak to an Encore representative today by sending an online enquiry. ... Read More