Unlike indoor events, outdoor events don't have the luxuries of Wi-Fi or air-conditioning and in 2017 these aren't luxuries so-to-speak, they're expectations. Not to mention, outdoor events tend to attract larger crowds from varied backgrounds and ages. The grounds don't offer adequate power supply, shelter, disability access or emergency PA systems. Therefore, proper thought and event planning mastery is needed in order to make your next outdoor event better than the previous. Here are 8 foolproof ideas for planning a spectacular outdoor event that will surprise, delight and cater to all your attendees. 1. Plan to engage the spectators at your outdoor event Engagement is very important if you want your audience to be captivated at an outdoor event. Event ideas are aplenty when it comes to engaging the spectators. You might want to think of gamification, i.e. running competitions through various ways such as social media, on-ground activations or via an event app. But do not stop there. Always remember to incentivise your audience to participate in them by offering some form of rewards. Second, be proactive in using social media. With the widespread use of social media, this is an effective way to engage attendees. It is very easy to use a event social media platform to showcase the posts on screens around the venue after choosing an appropriate hashtag for the event. Spectator spotlights like Kiss Cam and audio messages are yet another great way to infuse the fun element into your event. Finally, a simple outdoor event idea is to make full use of the space on entry and exit. This means that you should ensure these places are filled with engaging activities including music, competitions and promotions. 2. Enhance your outdoor event’s branding – before, during, after the event. Ensure that all touch points, both traditional and new, have been appropriately branded. Outdoor event planning starts before the event: check that all communications, advertising, tone of voice and online community building are properly put in place. During the event, your event services provider should provide digital signage for way-finding and important messages. Other essential items to have include lanyards, tickets, around ground signage and strings etc. Post event, the planning process continues: you might want to consider wrap-up communications, and what touch points you want to use to re-engage attendees and prolong the life of the event. Alternatively, you can begin the pre-communications and marketing for the next event. A great event idea here is to use a hashtag on all signage and branding for enhanced engagement consistent with our first idea. In addition, if you would like, we can also incorporate food trucks or food & beverage outlets in the style, theme or genre of the event by tying in the branding and key messages into these facilities. 3. Give every attendee the same event experience Typically outdoor events comprise of smaller areas or stages with lots of schedule conflicting entertainment acts and presentations. A smart event planner thinks about the experience of each individual attendee and caters to it. For a start, use an AV provider who can meet the demand – cover all audio & vision equipment to ensure adequate coverage of the action. Distribute screens, audio, vision playback around the grounds so all the action can be seen at any location. Given that this is an outdoor event, live coverage of all the action across the event grounds keeps the atmosphere and energy levels high. Additionally, especially if you intend to use social media as a form of engagement, ensure appropriate wi-fi coverage in the area. Lastly, if you are inviting many families, think about creating family-friendly zones. One way of doing so is by putting LED screens so families can watch the action even if not nearby. Another event idea is to put up interactive exhibits to keep children busy during the event and/or create a safe zone for families to still interact whilst away from alcohol. The possibilities are many. 4. Use AV and special effects to give new experiences each year You want to keep making each year’s outdoor event better than the previous one last year. But you are often constrained by a tight budget. No worries. A clever way to surprise and delight guests is by using different audio visual solutions and techniques to create new experiences. Whether you’re bringing objects to life with projection mapping or casting stunning imagery around the grounds and surrounds, there are endless ways to make each year an entirely different and ‘new’ event. You can always count on our experience to offer you innovative event ideas. 5. Allow for all weather conditions Hosting an outdoor event requires you to plan for all weather conditions. Hot weather would require misting tents, shelters, drinking water and shade. Wet weather, on the other hand, calls for electrical safety, stage roof for any entertainment, and ample shelter for your guests. Windy weather presents its own share of problems. All tents/marquees should have appropriate ballast, signage should be wind-rated, structures should be wind and weather rated and there should be emergency plans in place regarding when to dismantle or cancel the event. Having a site wide audio system for emergency messages and communication is crucial. If an outdoor event finishes after sunset, be sure to have area lighting for carparks, exits and surround areas. Finally, consider adding toilet facilities and access for disabled patrons. 6. Build an inviting website Among the simplest yet effective of event ideas is to build an inviting website. The website is the main touchpoint where people will get to know about your outdoor event, therefore make it as exciting and engaging as possible. An inviting user experience here can set the tone for the event and dictate how people will respond to it. Be sure to keep refreshing and updated content that is of interest to your audience to keep them coming back. Also, ensure that the website is mobile-friendly so people can easily interact with it before and during the event. 7. Engage new audiences with a live stream or webcast For a unique event idea, incorporate a live stream or webcast into your whizbang website. It is a simple way to engage new attendees or those who simply couldn’t make it this year. In addition, make sure you save a recording and you have a copy of the event. These come in handy for use in marketing, or future communications. For large outdoor events which come with a host of information and documents, we recommend opting for a webcast over a simple live stream. With webcasting you essentially have access to a platform that contains a live stream of your video, on a hosted site, with the options for downloadable documents, accompanying presentation slides, live chat, social media and audience polling integrations. It's all the bells and whistles for those who want to replicate the outdoor event experience, online. 8. Take advantage of a simple event app Outdoor event planning often surfaces logistical issues. Since the event is outdoors, the information desk, maps, schedules etc. are going to be sparse. Finding the way-finding map itself may even require a map. Announcements and updates are even harder to communicate. A brilliant event idea is to use a simple event app so you can communicate with your attendees instantly. Harness the power of convenience of sharing and providing information for all parties in the palm of your hand. Moreover, you get to collect data of your attendees which you can use to better organise the outdoor event. Whilst some event apps available come at a cost, Encore offers a free event app packed with 10 helpful features to help the busy event planner communicate and distribute content to many attendees instantly. Partner with an outdoor event specialist Sporting events, outdoor concerts and festivals, exhibitions, conferences, fundraisers and community events - you name it, we've done it. Each year Encore is involved with delivering some of the biggest outdoor events to hit our shores. Our experience and large range of event services and AV equipment makes us the preferred event services provider for outdoor events. Plus you'll find us in every corner of Australia, in New Zealand and even Fiji! Events start with a conversation, so start your outdoor event planning today by getting in touch and one of our event experts will get right back. ... Read More

Every year in January, cycling enthusiasts from around Australia and the world make the pilgrimage to the rolling hills of Adelaide for the Santos Tour Down Under. For the 19th consecutive year, Encore Event Technologies (previously Staging Connections) has worked collaboratively with Events South Australia, producing spectacular event services over the nine-day cycling event. Producing a mix of events, from gala dinners to street parties, Encore has helped to create an incredible atmosphere for riders, visitors and locals. The Event Brief Encore's Adelaide team was tasked to provide the prestigious event with audio visual services over the nine-days; with outdoor LED screens and audio systems lining various sections of the routes; vision and audio for all start and finish lines and team presentation stages. Delivering exceptional solutions for events such as the opening night concert – Classic Stage Concert, Tour Village in Victoria Square, media rooms and tour parade cars; Encore dazzled all who attended, ensuring that the events were worthy of the world-class event. Our Tailored Audio Visual Solution Technical audio and vision experts supplied both large and small audio systems to accommodate basic commentary, vision systems for TV commercial playback, sponsor recognition, image reinforcement, broadcast of highlights and live footage of the race, and cameras for interviews and commentators, music reinforcement, outdoor concert production, public address systems and information systems. Birds of Tokyo, and DJ Havana Brown who performed for visitors for free over the first two days, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th, were accompanied by a spectacular light show with complimentary audio and lighting special FX executed across the two music concerts. Pictured: Birds of Tokyo playing at Opening Concert of Santos Tour Down Under 2017. Pictured: Australian DJ Havana Brown setting the tone for the adrenaline-fueled Santos Tour Down Under. For an inclusive visitor experience, and to add to the festival atmosphere, one of the large LED Screens in the Tour Village was used to broadcast all social posts from fans, teams and the organisation. Enhancing the Santos Tour Down Under branding, our multimedia team designed and delivered a variety of animated holding slides and sponsor reels to support the official broadcast, which ensured there was a strong brand presence throughout the event. Special Event Touches Encore supported Wednesday’s Stage 2 race leg from Stirling to Paracombe, as the naming rights sponsor. As a special feature, the Stirling Loop provided opportunities for the assembled crowd to view and cheer-on the riders 5 times before they set off to tackle the next challenge of a hill top climb. Pictured: Cyclist signing the Encore (previously Staging Connections) Stage 2 Board A custom made trophy was designed using recycled bicycle chain into a bowl and covered in custom decals and a naming plaque. It was presented to Stage 2 winner Richie Porte from Team BMC who then went on to win the overall classification for the Santos Tour Down Under! A custom LED screen was mounted to the top of a Subaru XV for the Subaru Tour Parade, revving up the crowd lining the race routes 30 minutes prior to the peloton building excitement playing the Tour Down Under anthem “Feel The Rush.” Pictured: Encore (formerly Staging Connections') custom Subaru parade car with LED "Feel the rush" signage. Pictured: Spectator poses in Staging Connections' Instagram frame promoting the event. We collaborated with Presentation Event Manager, Big Fish Events to mix and broadcast all events to spectators via large LED screens and street lined PA systems, custom television commercials for sponsors, as well as highlights and expert commentary from two dedicated commentators at each finish line; ensuring all fans were up-to-date on the coverage, sponsors and announcements. Pictured: Custom Staging Connections Stage 2 trophy presented to cyclist . Uncover your event's potential with the AV experts Planning an event takes a lot of time, experience, creativity, skill and patience. With over 30 years experience delivering world-class events, Encore has mastered event production. Using our unrivaled range of event services, we turn ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. Our creativity lies in turning your vision into a reality and we do this by working with you every step of the way. Discover how Encore can make your event the best it can be by getting in touch with us today. ... Read More

This week we launch our new blog series Techie Tuesday. Each week we will aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. Up first on the grill is the 'Bio Box'. You may of heard technicians on site when setting up refer to the Bio Box in passing and felt bemused as to its meaning or use. Here we delve in to the history of the Bio Box and how it is used in events today. This week we launch our new blog series Techie Tuesday. Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. Up first on the grill is the 'Bio Box'. You may of heard technicians on site when setting up for an event refer to the Bio Box in passing and felt bemused as to its meaning or use. Here we delve in to the history of the Bio Box and how it is used in events today. AV Discipline: Audio, Vision and Lighting AV Category: Equipment, Cabling and Storage AV Jargon: The Bio and/or The Control Room Description: The Bio Box is a dedicated area or room in an event space, which is traditionally used by Technicians to operate and control audio visual equipment for an event. The name originates from the “Biograph” film projector, which was one of the first film projectors to be produced. As there were no purpose built cinemas at the time, public halls & theatres were converted through the removal of seats and the building of enclosures or boxes to house the noisy film projectors - thus the name Bio Box. As films became more popular, purpose built cinemas were erected, with hidden projection booths. This left the converted halls and theatres with an unused enclosure or box at the rear of the room. With the evolution of sound, vision and lighting technologies, this disused space was utilised by Technicians for operating audio visual equipment, due to its isolation and centre position to stage. In today’s event market, the Bio Box is more often used for the patching of AV signals and equipment storage, due to their cramped spaces, restricted sight lines, and obscure access. Technicians typically prefer to control the AV elements from an area of the venue where they can experience the event from an audience’s point of view, delivering better outcomes for all stakeholders. In next weeks Techie Tuesday blog we talk Graphic Equalisers and why exactly you need one for your event. In the meantime if you have any words, terms or lingo you would like our AV expert to demystify for you please send your suggestions through to our contact form. Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor, Encore Event Technologies. Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor and drives our training programs at Encore Event Technologies, including our Certificate III in Live Production and Services Program for our new trainees. ... Read More

Each year event organisers start the search of explore new ways of making your events more engaging, more exciting and with a greater ROI than ever before. But with so many ‘must-have’ products and technologies available, where do you start? To help you navigate through the noise, here are five essentials for delivering events that leave a lasting impression in 2017. 1. Personalise your event It’s the little things. Personal touches are vital to making the client, or guests really feel like they are special. This could be a small token or gift, unique decorations or customised event multimedia. Our in-house events team at ivy Sydney recently produced a unique setting for the Dom Pérignon Sydney Lumiére dinner with personalised gobos to project the guest’s names onto the table. 2. Shine a light and make it bright Lighting is key to establishing the right mood and wow factor in a venue, creating ambience and directing emotion. Be creative and make your event memorable; think about projecting light onto other surfaces such as tables and walls, or consider creating a canvas from a 3D object. 3. Bring the virtual to life with event technology Make your event unforgettable by using ground-breaking projection techniques. From 2D and 3D projection mapping to the latest in motion tracking technology, Encore Event Technologies' range of event solutions push boundaries and expectations, making the unreal real, and bringing your vision to life to truly captivate your audiences. 4. Don't forget the fifth sense Touchable technology creates a connection. 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, with Touch Kiosk technology. Use touch screens for challenges or quizzes, encouraging your guests to participate and get actively involved in your event. If you don’t have touchscreen technology, don’t despair. Textured decorative panels can easily be installed to dress your venue’s walls and create stunning features. 5. All events are social events The one thing you want from your event is talkability. Use appropriate social media channels to boost the impact of your event; use Twitter for live commentary, Facebook and Instagram for eye-catching photos and ask guests to share their photos with hashtags. Use of social media should be seamless yet visible using integration technology like Event Feed, capturing your audience’s tweets, posts and photos to be displayed on screens for all to see. Clever social media integration can allow your audience to generate their own content and steer the positive viral tone of the event. A perfect example was a recent TEDx event, where organisers created an app that placed the word ‘Perfect’ over attendee’s photos shared on social media – newsfeeds exploded as attendees friends and family wanted to know what the ‘Perfect’ photos were about. Partner with leaders in event technology Make this year your best event year yet by following simple principles and incorporating smart technology that surprises, delights and engages your audience. At Encore Event Technologies we may have an expert team with a passion for creating unforgettable events, but with the right techniques and tips, so can you. Get in touch with us today to see how we can make your event go from good to great! ... Read More

Encore Event Technologies (previously Staging Connections) was tasked with working seamlessly in three locations across New Zealand – SKYCITY Convention Centre, SKYCITY Theatre and Crown Plaza – for the country’s largest annual technology conference, Microsoft Ignite. Themed ‘Art of the Impossible’, Encore was briefed to provide advanced AV for the duration of the four day event, which attracts the countries best technology engineers and IT gurus to learn about the latest and greatest software and hardware coming to Microsoft. With this audience of New Zealand’s brightest minds in attendance, it was immensely important that the Encore technicians executed the event flawlessly. Pictured: Encore partners with Microsoft New Zealand to deliver the country's largest technology conference - Microsoft Ignite. Providing a Tailored Audio Visual Solution Encore provided seamless audio visual solutions across all locations over the course of the four day event. Equipment provided by Encore included projection screens, plasma screens, data projectors, monitors, data switches, LCD monitors, laser pointers, timers, lecterns and lapel microphones, cabling, multi-boxes, data interfaces, power-boards, power converters, sound systems and multi-plugs; all of which were installed successfully across several session rooms, the main sponsor hall and the promenade space between session rooms. A custom designed set was developed for the key note sessions, comprising two extra-large 16ft screens on the outside, five small square screens leading to the middle of the room and a single, large, seamless screen in the middle – celebrating the ‘Art of the Impossible’ through different technologies and unusual screen placements. Encore collaborated closely with Make all Media, ETS and Big Picture, to guarantee a high tech digital conference worthy of the country’s best and brightest in technology. Special Touches The team provided a smooth live stream between SKYCITY Convention Centre and SKYCITY Theatre, allowing all delegates an unobstructed view of the important Key Note sessions. To ensure continuous interaction and real-time movement across the two locations, the Encore team provided: Online Audience Polling: the Master of Ceremonies used Encore’s live audience polling software, Event Poll to ensure interaction between the two rooms flowed seamlessly and that guests felt engaged and part of the action. Live Streaming: Encore's Event Stream product enabled the keynote sessions of Microsoft Ignite to reach a wider audience land ensured all delegates – whether in attendance in person or remotely – could participate. Encore produced a seamless and successful four day conference that exceeded the high expectations demanded of it by its technologically-savvy audience. The client was impressed by the Encore team’s professionalism, state-of-the-art equipment, and high level of knowledge and service; faultlessly delivering on all AV aspects of the event, to result in a successful conference. “Having worked with Encore (previously Staging Connections) as our AV suppliers for Microsoft Ignite 2016, I can recommend them as competent providers of configured audio visual equipment... and their availability for rehearsals pre-event across SKYCITY and Crowne Plaza for our 2,500-person event during October 25-28 and in the seven month lead up to the event. We were satisfied with the service and communications we received during our eight-month engagement as well as on-site during the event.” Kylie Williams, Senior Audience Evangelism Manager, Microsoft New Zealand SEE EVENT GALLERY ... Read More

The venue you choose for your event sets the mood and tone before your audience even steps inside. Its geographical location and reputation convey meaning to your invited guests before they RSVP. The process of getting there is shaping your attendee’s experience before they’ve experienced your message. Then there’s the myriad of practical considerations such as seating capacity, economic factors like equipment inclusions, and intangibles such as quality of service from its administration. With so much to take into account, where do you start? Your event venue location The first is location, where are your audience and what is going to work best for them? Bear in mind that closer isn’t always better – you might want to take them far from their usual places of work or residence to set your experience apart. Remote locations Remote locations such as holiday resorts are great if you have the budget and would like everyone’s attention completely to yourself for a few days, but these kind of events are only practical with large budgets, and are generally used to reward loyal customers or excellent sales staff. Metropolitan areas Back in the metropolitan areas, there’s a huge variety of traditional and non-traditional spaces to consider. For meetings, conferencing and staff training, the hotel function rooms and other dedicated event spaces have a solid offering that you’re probably already familiar with. Packages are standard, they understand the corporate market and they’ll provide a reliable service. Space Is The Place Will the venue you’re considering accommodate the number of guests you expect? Seated or standing, attentively listening or actively networking, you need to realistically assess if your audience will be too tightly packed, look lost in a cavernous space, or fit comfortably. If you're unsure about how you would set up the room then check our article on "how choosing the best seating style for our audience?" Think of their physical comfort as well Is the venue adequately heated or cooled, depending on season? And what’s their physical experience of accessing the venue going to be like? Are there any likely bottlenecks in parking, pedestrian access, doors or lifts? Is there a disabled access? Your event venue should match your message Each venue, whether convention centre meeting room or abandoned warehouse, has its own character and meaning inherent in its architecture and utilisation. The meaning and purpose of your event are best known to you, so choose a venue that can enhance that. Are you trying to get a workforce or group of consumers excited about something new? Then take them somewhere new. This can also work if you’re trying to get them to reappraise an existing product or idea; put it in a new context. If you are going to present material or processes that could be difficult, like how the company is about to be restructured, a familiar and conservative environment is advisable. A proximity thing When considering events with a large amount of attendees, like a major industry conference or exhibition, centrality, access and a well-serviced locale are essential. The venue must be reasonable to commute to from the nearest airport, accessible by multiple modes of public transport and close to multiple hospitality options, including bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels. This enables both exhibitors, sponsors and attendees alike to get the most from their investment of time and money. There are also downsides to well-serviced central venues. They can attract attendees who are there for curiosity only, diluting the value to serious participants. Their proximity to many of your audience’s places of work can also make it more likely for them to either be called away on urgent business or not make it at all due to last-minute time pressures. Create a checklist for your event Comparing your options with location, capacity and character being equal, it’s time to look at what each venue can do for you in terms of included in-house equipment and service. This can be a very long list of little things that can add up to a lot of time and effort of they’re not already on-site; tables, chairs, screens, projectors, lights, sound, whiteboards, flipcharts, paper, pens, urns, plates, cups, cutlery – the list is almost endless. Make a checklist of everything you expect or anticipate your guests will need to do while at your event and go through it with the venue to ensure that everything you need is either included, or quoted as an extra. It’s all in the budgeting Catering staff and costs are fairly easy to anticipate and understand. With a given number of people to serve and a set menu, any quote should be straightforward. Make sure you are aware, though, for the staffing aspects of the event that might not be so clear. Do you need dedicated AV, staging and lighting staff? Don’t assume that a technical aspect of your event is ‘set and forget’ and won’t require labour outside of set-up and pack-down. Talk to the in-house or your external technical provider to be absolutely clear about what and who is necessary for a good show. If you want more information about audio visual equipment you could check our blog post about our 8 audio visual tips to create a successful event. Get clear on venue access If your event includes a stage , set, lecterns, projection screens, flat-panel displays, props or other physical elements, find out how much of it the venue can provide and if their stock is adequate. For anything custom-built or hired for the event, check that it can physically fit in the venue. This doesn’t just mean whether its dimensions can be accommodated in the room you’re using, but also if the venue’s rigging points can handle the weight and that it can fit through the door or in the lift in the first place. It seems ridiculous, but some venues on floors above ground level are serviced only by very small lifts, severely restricting the size and type of equipment that can be (easily) bought into the space. Weighty Issues It’s factors like these that can have an unexpected impact on the cost of your event. Difficulties in the physical access to the venue mean longer call times for any staff employed to load in or out. On large events with a lot of crew, an extra hour or two of time equates to many thousands of dollars in costs. If your event requires a truck’s worth or more of external equipment to be delivered to the venue, find out what the loading dock access and process to get to your specific space is like. House staff and any contractor that has serviced the venue will be able to give you a fair assessment and adjust their quotes accordingly. Understand the rigging capacity Another area to make sure that you have received expert advice is the rigging capacity of the venue. In-house equipment such as lights, sound and screens will already be safely hung, but if you’re bringing in extra gear, make sure that its weight isn’t going to exceed safe capacity once added. Similarly, if you’re coming into a ‘bare walls’ venue, ensure that it not only has the capacity to hold the weight of your equipment, but also has the basic infrastructure to rig from in the first place.Clear your sight-line Related to the issue of rigging is sight-lines – anything you hang has the capacity to interrupt your audience’s view. Where you hang could well be determined by what is practical and safe, and not by what is convenient for your audience. All of these issues are best discussed with in-house staff and your external provider well before committing to a contract. Don’t overlook the power A final and often overlooked element is the amount of electrical power available in the venue. This is most often an issue in older buildings, but it can arise as a problem if you’re bringing in a lot of lighting, audio and video equipment to a venue that doesn’t usually host events of that type. Power requirements are something that can only be determined and checked by specialists. The in-house staff and any external equipment provider will need to put their heads together in order to ensure that everything that needs to run, can. Particularly heavy users of power include large LED screens, lots of large moving lights and PA systems designed to cover 1000 or more people. Add to this a requirement for extra heating and you may have to look at hiring in generators in order for the event to function. Get a head start At Encore Event Technologies we acknowledge that there is a lot to consider when finding the perfect venue for your event. To help get you started, we have developed Venue Locator, a clean, easy-to-use web tool. Simply choose your location, event type and amount of guests, and Venue Locator will return results tailored to your requirements! Want to stay up to date with industry trends? Browse our range of downloadable Event Insights papers ... Read More

In our latest blog Senior Event Stylist, Georgia Strachan, shares her secrets to creating a 'Mad Hatters Tea Party' themed event and discusses how she brought the event alive with digital styling. In our latest blog Senior Event Stylist, Georgia Strachan, shares her secrets to creating a 'Mad Hatters Tea Party' themed event and discusses how she brought the event alive with digital styling. Georgia brings to her role 20 years of experience in design for film, television and creative theme park attractions. Her varied professional background provides a fresh take on conceiving unique event experiences for clients. Georgia injects a fresh and innovative flair for event concepts both locally, nationally and globally. In order to set the scene for my clients Mad Hatter themed dinner party I collaborated with our technical services team to bring together creative styling with audio, vision and lighting technology. Through digital styling we created exciting integrated visual content that transported guests “down the rabbit hole” from the minute they stepped inside the room through a rear projected entry portal. From there the guests enjoyed pre-dinner ‘teapot cocktails’ at the custom made Astroturf hedge bar and played highly contested games of croquet on a purpose built mini Astroturf croquet course. We also covered plinths and cubes with Astroturf to make quirky cocktail furniture and decorated this area with topiary trees and hundreds of red and white artificial roses in Victorian urns. The lighting was very bold and directional to add to the surreal, artificial nature of this concept. For the main dining experience we built a ‘room within a room’ using floor to ceiling rear projection screens to give our guests the impression that they were really in another world. With full control over the environment we had the ability to transform the entire space throughout the evening as each course arrived at the table. We also wanted to change the proportion and perspective of the room at various times making the guests feel small one minute and giant the next and we achieved this by altering the content. It was a very dramatic effect and kept the guests guessing all night. All of our 35 guests were seated at one huge table and I wanted each place setting to have its own sense of style and character so we used a selection of beautiful antique timber chairs, leather wing backed armchairs and upholstered love seats sourced from all over the venue. For the table decor I used piles of old books and stacked them with collections of clocks, feathers and flowers and table cloths were layered with colours and textures to suggest the Mad Hatters workshop. Chef created spectacular cupcakes which we placed on lovely tiered cake stands to become edible centre pieces and we used dozens of vintage porcelain teacups as votive holders to bathe the table with flickering light. Check out the pictures below and let me know what you're ideas are for the ultimate Mad Hatter's Tea Party! Author: Georgia Strachan, Senior Event Stylist, Staging Connections. Image Credits: Unless stated otherwise, all images are owned by us ... Read More

As event planners, marketers and brand champions, we understand content is King. But the trick to really engaging your audience is how the content is presented – as they say it’s not what you say but how you say it that counts. When everyone is sticking to the tried and true approach of death by PowerPoint, how does your presentation stand out? Integrating new technology into your presentation can seem daunting, expensive, and risky. However, brands and presenters who push the boundaries to create new experiences are those which deliver more memorable messages and positive experiences, and ultimately give your attendees a reason to keep coming back. Here’s our top 7 ways brands are using the latest event technology to guarantee cut-through when presenting their content. Reveal content with Gesture Control Technology Imagine being able to control and interact with your content simply using gestures. Gesture Control and Motion Sensor technology are the latest innovations to hit the event technology circuit – and it’s got us very excited. Gesture control works by pre-mapping your movements with motion tracking technology to sync your movements with the presentation content. This event technology provide endless possibilities for live interaction, entertainment and education by letting the presenter orchestrate projections, animations, video and sound. Stunning 'Reveals' Using Gesture Control Tasked with delivering a new, never-seen-before experience, Encore Event Technologies recently used gesture control and motion sensor technology in a conference for a major paint company. The company President demonstrated the success of a project by waving a paint brush over the ‘before’ photos to reveal the ‘after’ photos. The theatrics of pretending to paint the buildings to reveal the new artworks in real-time conveyed the message with dramatic effect. It’s easy to imagine the potential for engagement and cut-through when comparing this to simply clicking ‘Next Slide’ in PowerPoint. Interactive technology for presentations bursting with many types of content When you have a lot of content in a multitude of formats, a standard PowerPoint presentation won’t suffice. More and more brands are turning to interactive presentations where all of your content can be stored and accessed seamlessly within the one presentation. The latest innovations in interactive presentation software, like Inteli-Touch, mean everything from 3D product demonstrations, embedded videos, websites, registration forms and more can be housed in one convenient place. This allows presenters to take audiences on a visual journey and communicate an amazing experience like never before. Integrating interactive technology into your presentation is an efficient way to increase engagement, interest and deliver a more informative and streamlined presentation. How a residential company could use interactive software for their sales conference Inteli-Touch allows the presenters to provide a sophisticated, seamless and content-rich presentation with the touch of a button. For example, a residential building company could utilise Inteli-Touch, our interactive presentation software, to great effect for a conference. The technology enables several presenters, each with a variety of content formats to deliver a combined presentation with everything accessible from one presentation to deliver a seamless experience. Everything from playing the company showreel, displaying animated graphics and stats, through to exploring 3D drawings of new home designs and clickable imagery to showing sales figures. It even allows presenters to embed websites into the presentation to show to the franchisees. Touch Screen Technology Touch Screen technology isn’t new – in fact it’s been around since the 1970s. We’ve found one of the biggest deterrents for integrating technology into events is the risk of people not knowing how to use it. The beauty of using Touch Screen technology to present your content is you can bet the majority, if not all, of your attendees will know how to interact with it considering 44% of the world’s population use it on a daily basis – does that noisy little device in your pocket ring any bells?! Touch screen content provides an exciting alternative to PowerPoint slides displayed on a projector screen. Touch screens help us operate any device faster, let you display multiple content types, requires no skill or previous experience to use and let the attendee navigate to find which information they want to know. Touch Screens used to promote local tourism The 2017 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is an opportune time to promote local tourism. Encore Event Technologies worked with local tourism bodies by positioning several Touch Kiosks - large touch screens similar to the way-finding devices found in shopping centres - around the race finishing area and invited spectators to interact with and learn from the content shared. Participants accessed a variety of fun and informative content such as: Information about the race Live boat progress tracker Village map Information on local tourist attractions Quizzes about boats and local tourism Option to capture a Hobart race branded selfie and email to yourself Links to sponsors It was a simple, yet highly engaging approach to present the content far beyond anything a printed brochure could do. In addition to presenting content – touch screen technology lets you embed websites or forms to capture information about your attendees. At the world’s largest liquefied natural gas conference – exhibitors used Touch Kiosk to secure bookings for next year. They displayed the conference layout on screen and allowed attendees to book and registered their details for next year. Aside from the bookings, the data captured provided valuable information about their attendees to bolster business and marketing operations. Virtual Reality is the future of presentations Since its invention back in 1994, virtual reality technology is getting more sophisticated and accessible by the day with the pace of demand to match. Virtual reality is the future – this technology creates an entirely life-like digital experience that is immersive and provides an opportunity for unique interaction and gamification on a new level of engagement. If you are looking for an exciting way to inform and entertain your attendees at a conference, exhibition, gala or seminar - a VR experience can do just that. So how are brands using virtual reality technology to present their content? Brands are using VR to help consumers interact with products virtually, visit travel destinations or environments they’ve never been to, and experience concerts or sporting events first-hand, all whilst never leaving your event. The exciting thing is, we’ve only just scratched the surface of VR’s potential with new applications and improvements entering the market every day. If your brand wants to be perceived as an innovative leader - this is the technology for you. Present your content on any object or surface with projection mapping Projection technology now lets you present your content beyond regular 16:9 screens, onto any object or surface - even water. The object or space to project upon can be virtually anything - from complex industrial landscapes, such as buildings, to smaller indoor objects, walls and stages. The applications for projection mapping vary from immersive product launches using 3D projection mapping, to creating personalised table settings for VIP gala dinners using 2D projection, to underwater scenes and wildlife – the stage became a moving part of the presentation. Projection mapping can even be used to digitally style or transform your stage look to match the presentation content. A large real estate company used projection mapping to bring their stage set to life for their annual conference. When presenting on various locations and cities, we projected both animated and static content onto the stage designs to reflect iconic imagery associated with the location they were talking about. From buzzing skylines, to tennis balls, underwater scenes and wildlife – the stage became a moving part of the presentation. Dom Perignon uses Projection Mapping for personalised table settings Project mapping is a great way to propel your gala dinner or function to the next level – your table can be your projection canvas. For a Dom Perignon VIP event we streamed custom video animations right in front of guests’ eyes to deliver a brand message in a beautiful and mesmerising way. Then to make the experience unique to each guest, we projected their name where physical name cards would have once sat. We’ve even included business logos for the VIP guests, which was great for breaking the ice at networking events! There’s so much you can do with a table; the only limit is your imagination. Shape your presentation You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to develop new ways of presenting content – just realign it. Projection mapping technology has made it possible to project onto any surface, object or shape. This allows brands to get creative with their set design. A lot of leading brands are making cut-through by incorporating shapes into their set design – from impressive curved screens reaching up to 30m wide, custom designs representing iconic landmarks, to interesting configurations using rectangular digital banners. Hexagonal panels are the newest shape trending in the event world. It’s a simple yet highly effective solution for presenting content in a new way. The size and shape of the panels, lets you project your content onto individual panels, or project your content across several or all your connected hexagons. Hex Panels used at MCG launch event To announce Encore Event Technologies partnership with the Melbourne Cricket Ground, we hosted a special showcase to highlight the venue’s capabilities under this new relationship. As we wanted to present several pieces of content simultaneously, we created our set design using a combination of hex panels and standard 16:9 screens. This allowed us to projection map content from our Event Poll and Event Feed platforms onto specific hex panels, with the main presentation content displayed on the standard 16:9 screens. The effect was an immersive and highly engaging environment that continuously presented attendees with new and interesting content. Get more from your audience participation One of the most important elements of a presentation is the Q&A session. They’re not only important for driving audience participation; they’re a vital source of information about your attendees. Event planners can gain insight as to what attendees actually want to know, valuable improvement feedback, and they provide the perfect forum for speakers to interact with guests and build rapport. Therefore, it’s crucial to consider how you’ll maximise your Q&A session to drive participation and transfer information with attendees. Brands who are tapping into innovative ways to spice up Q&A sessions are reaping the benefits. How Event Poll facilitated 75 questions for Masterclass Q&A Encore Event Technologies delivered a Masterclass for event professionals and the Q&A session was an absolute highlight! With over 150 attendees we knew the old-fashioned roving microphone wouldn’t suffice. Instead, we opted to use Event Poll - an online event polling platform which lets audiences ask and respond to questions in real-time with answers displayed on screen. We received 75 questions from attendees; far too many to respond to in a single session. Rather than let attendees leave disappointed, Event Poll let us capture their questions to respond to in our follow-up presentation emailed to all attendees. It gave us great insight into the products and services that interested them and gave them information about the items that most interested them. Sometimes embracing our inner child is all it takes to create a new, engaging experience. You might have started to notice soft cubes being thrown around during Q&A sessions. This is the latest craze sweeping through corporate events and we’re all for it. Everyone loves a compelling, accessible way to participate - encouraging engagement and the sharing of ideas, whilst elevating the mood and excitement of the whole room. Inspire your audience to speak out and they will continue to be inspired long after the event is over. SpeakUp is a technical innovation designed to inject energy into Q&A sessions, breaking down barriers and inspiring audiences to get involved in a lively and fun discussion. It’s a soft, cube-shaped wireless microphone you can throw to audiences and them to one another. It might sound gimmicky but the audio quality is astounding. The cordless microphone is muted when the cube is thrown to avoid any feedback or noise, and turns on again when held upright and still. Find out new ways and technologies to make a memorable presentation at your event High-performing presentations using these technologies allow the audience to fully engage and interact with the content, creating a dynamic and memorable experience to increase impact, education and recall of information. Try incorporating any of these technologies to take your presentation to the next level and ensure its remembered way after the event. With over 30 years in the industry, Encore Event Technologies is a leading event services company, renowned for delivering world-class corporate events. Discover new ideas and technologies for getting ultimate cut-through when presenting at your next event by sending an online enquiry or by calling 1800 209 099 - successful events all start with a conversation. ... Read More

What does a “money can’t buy experience” look like in 2017? When this brief hit the desk Encore Event Technologies’ Sydney team went into action to provide a turn-key event solution for Honda Motorcycles India’s Dealer Incentive. -- Earlier this year, Honda Motorcycles India hosted an action-packed Dealer Incentive for over 1000 employees and dealers at the iconic Sydney Showground on February 14. The extravaganza included a cocktail function, business session and concluded with a lavish gala dinner where guests were invited to network and dine on a scrumptious buffet while celebrating their annual dealer awards. Engaged by Encompass to deliver the entire event, Encore (previously Staging Connections) was tasked with delivering an event which upheld Honda’s company values and spoke to the theme of RAW 6.0 (Reach, Acquire & Win). A key component of the Dealer Incentive event was to showcase the new range of Honda motorcycles as capable of transitioning easily from city to outback. The Encore team worked tirelessly in the two weeks from confirmation to show-day and provided all event services from AV and lighting to entertainment and production, to give guests a money can’t buy experience, proving Honda to be a world class company. In order to engage with the theme and the diverse range of guests present from around the Asia-Pacific, the team made sure each phase of the event - from the pre-function to the gala dinner - had clearly defined styles while still adhering to the RAW 6.0 theme. Pictured: Custom built stage set designed in line with RAW6.0 theme. The end look of the event was developed taking a literal approach to the ‘Raw’ theme. The event was centered around a huge 48m x20m ‘V’ shaped stage which split the room into two distinct landscapes – city and outback – two key components of theme. Decorating the stage with bushland and a city skyline provided the perfect setting on which to display the the motorcycles. The stage was framed by a stunning illuminated backdrop spanning 55mx3m, casting a silhouette resembling the Australian outback and city. Pictured: Entire event production delivered by Encore. The impressive stage was further emphasised by five giant screens ranging in sizes which were positioned on different angles to maximise the audience’s engagement and impact throughout the event. The carefully constructed silhouette transitioning from outback Australia to city skyline, along with the road carpeted stage, lighting and props, made the feature of the room a stunning interpretation of Honda’s values. The evening’s entertainment was provided by Japanese drummers Taikoz featuring Nupur Dance Group Junkyard Beats, an innovative and original percussion group combining rhythm with movement, using unique and original instruments. Karaoke was incorporated into the evening’s entertainment to ensure the client and delegates were excited and actively participating in the dealer incentives programs. Pictured: Japanese drummers Taikoz featuring Nupur Dance Group Junkyard Beats What did the client say? This was the first time that Encore was asked to work on this event. The team provided a truly memorable experience and delivered a successful event with only a short lead time. The team handled all aspects, from the cocktail pre-function to the gala buffet dinner and entertainment, creating an exciting, new and diverse atmosphere for all employees and dealers, to get involved in the new products being showcased. “Thank you and your wonderful team for all the help and support at our Honda event. The production was great, the set looked amazing and the welcome arch was my personal favorite. A big shout to all the guys from your team who worked so hard to put up a fantastic show for us and for keeping up with all our last-minute requests. We look forward to collaborating again.”Randeep Singh, Encompass Partner with the leading events company for your next incentive event Encore has delivered countless large destination incentives across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji for over 35 years. We specialise in creating an engaging incentive event environment through the latest AV solutions, event technologies, 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 for your guests. We pride ourselves on our commitment to exceptional 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 touchwith us today to see how we can make your event vision a reality. VIEW EVENT GALLERY - ... Read More