When you’re preparing an audio visual budget for your event, there’s a lot more to think about than simply how much money to allocate for theming, lights, sound and vision. To ensure you’re getting the most value for money from your event’s AV design, a solid knowledge of the capabilities of both technology and your audio visual company are essential. Here we give you our top 8 audio visual tips for creating a successful event. 1. Look for creativity in your audio visual supplier When shopping for an audio visual provider, you traditionally seek service, price and reliability. All are good measures of a quality audio visual company, but to truly do justice to your event, creativity needs to be a central part of their product offering. Advances in projection and event lighting technology mean that the old business model of simply hiring out and operating gear for a client is no longer an adequate level of service. The main driver of this conceptual shift in the market has been technologies such as projection mapping. Projection mapping is the art of creating multimedia content for projection onto flat surfaces (2D projection mapping) or objects (3D projection mapping) and then using advanced computer and projector technology to bring that imagery to life. It has transformed major events, conferences and theatrical presentations the world over. While the technology is now common place, the creative talent to successfully use it is not. To really ensure peace of mind when selecting an audio visual provider, ask about their history in presenting similar events and their history at the chosen venue. Look at some examples of their work closest in scope to your event. If they have documentation of their work at your chosen venue, even better! 2. Set your event vision and share it Having a clear vision of the aesthetic feel and tone of the event is crucial at this stage of pre-production. Storyboard your event like a movie director, discuss themes and images with your key staff and audio visual team. Don’t get fixated on what you have seen done before or know to be possible; a good audio visual company should be able to take on board any creative idea you have and translate it into a practical suggestion. 3. Remember the importance of sound for your event The event sound system employed to deliver it should match the content. Important things to look for are adequate coverage of the room to ensure all attendees get crystal-clear speech as well as the full impact of any musical material. If you are employing high-energy music or cinematic sound effects ensure the system can replicate the full range of sound. A minimum of two subwoofers need to be in place to maximise the impact of any low-end effects or bass lines. Have a look at our blog post on how to get the best sound at your event for more in-depth understanding of the importance of sound. 4. Think digital Discuss with your Audio visual company about methods to digitally enhance your event. Can they digitally brand your conference with projections and then successfully transform the same space for a gala dinner? Entire ballrooms can be changed into another world, and the walls of an auditorium can ripple at the arrival of a new product. A custom built set design can be transformed into a living, breathing animal. Pretty much anything is possible, and an in-depth conversation with a design professional is invaluable to help direct your thinking in the planning stages. Understand what design and creative support the audio visual company offer and whether the in-house designers have the skills to shepherd you through the concept creation, implementation and delivery of just about anything your imagination can conjure. Creating a multimedia driven event from the ground-up can seem to be a longer process than the traditional method of simply stating a theme and letting the staging company deliver, but the results represent a much better return on investment. Elements of digital branding or presentation content can not only be used at one specific event, but also transported to similar events or venues at no further cost. The same media can also be repackaged as web content where appropriate 5. Get Mobile Almost everyone now carries a video displaying, networked computer a.k.a. ‘Smartphone’ in their pocket. This makes them capable of not only absorbing your content but also interacting with it. An audio visual company should have a lot of fresh ideas on how to make this work for your event, extending your theme and offering greater engagement with your audience. A key technology for presenters are apps to enable snap event polling of audience members and instantly display aggregated results on a main screen. For attendees, important information such as timetables, maps and key messages should be easily accessible from an app or network. 6. Ask your audio visual team the right questions Questions about the technical details are excellent for getting a sense of competence and good organisation. Is the PA suitable for speech reinforcement only or can it deliver loud, exciting music if you need it? What combination and numbers of lighting fixtures do they usually use – LED, moving lights, wash lights? Again, it’s not necessarily the specific information that you need, but the assurance of their confidence in answering. If you’re satisfied with that, then ask them what they recommend, or better yet, what they have always wanted to do given the opportunity. You’ll soon establish whether you’re in good hands. 7. Achieving cut through At Encore Event Technologies we realise that you have a unique opportunity to create an event specific to your audience. It’s worth your time to work together with a creative audio visual company to bring an original vision to life that makes a strong statement about your organisation. Your customers are already enjoying new types of audience engagement in both their professional and personal lives, either driven by large corporate organisations or the entertainment industry. The increase in quality of experience means all content providers have to compete to cut through. Watch this two minute video of an audio visual set up by the Encore Event Technologies team featuring Australia's first 360 degree projection screen, custom designed for the event and venue space to create something guests had never experienced before. 8. More than numbers Your audio visual budget now has the potential to deliver results way beyond the date of the event itself. All of your customers, employees and/or delegates are broadcasters, sharing their impressions, images and videos across their networks. Devoting time and creativity at the outset of your event planning can now pay off almost in perpetuity. Get to the heart of your message, envision the best possible shape it could take, and invest in bringing it to life in the most effective way. Written by Robert Meek, Event Project Manager With over 20 years’ experience in the meetings and events industry Rob has a wealth of corporate audio visual event experience that he brings to the delivery of the diverse range of corporate and association events he has managed. Related Blogs 5 top event tips for 2014 What benefit does vision fold back provide in your audio visual solution? Optimise your event communication with event design and technical production ... Read More

It was a sensory overload at Encore Event Technologies' (then Staging Connections) latest ‘Event Masterclass’, hosted by the South East Queensland events team at Hilton Brisbane. The exclusive Masterclass was attended by 150 event professionals and industry elite, and showcased the latest event trends, and new products and technologies designed to engage all five senses. WATCH VIDEO Studies have proven attendees have greater brand recall and a more memorable experience when all five senses are engaged. So, the theme behind the Masterclass was “Multi-Sensory Experiences”. The presentations demonstrated how powerful it is to engage all senses and the many different techniques and products that can be used to achieve this to make events more memorable and messages more effective. Covering all angles, the presentations were divided into three main sections: Next Gen Technology; Digital Engagement, and Styling and Design. Each section was jam-packed with new products and practical ideas for engaging the senses which event planners could walk away with and action tomorrow. Showcasing everything from the latest in projection mapping, motion graphics and set rendering software through to motion control, virtual reality, interactive presentations and cutting-edge digital engagement, the Masterclass gave attendees an invaluable insight into the latest trends and techniques. Whilst the Masterclass was rich in content, it was also rich in design. The Hilton Ballroom was divided in two, providing tailored settings for each half of the event. For the presentations, a unique stage set was created to deliver a sensational visual feast. A custom stage set was constructed using a combination of seven of our latest hex panels, flanked either side by two large screens. The end result was a beautifully interconnected projection canvas. Custom-designed multimedia content, visually representing the five senses theme and designed by Encore’s in-house motion graphics designer, was projected seamlessly across all 9 surfaces. Sound was a key component of the Masterclass to ensure the sense of hearing was tantalised. All audio was delivered with impact via the custom designed sound system we recently installed the Hilton. Giving attendees a first-hand experience at our new products, the team opted for our new Catch Box microphone and Event Poll to spice up the Q&A session, in lieu of the traditional handheld microphones. Decorative Scenic Panels, up-lit with new battery-powered LED lights, were installed as a unique textural room divider separating the main presentation area from the styled networking zone. Following the presentations, attendees were invited to stay and talk to the Encore team in the networking zone. The styling and design team presented a beautiful Tuscan-style vineyard, using a cellar door design illuminated 3D Event Backdrop, complete with wine barrel cocktail tables lit with lanterns and draped in ivy. The extra long central table was beautifully themed with Italian linen, log-based candelabras, twisted willow, lanterns, and real grapes. More faux grapes and foliage cascaded down from a vine suspended above the table to ensure the theme was all-encompassing. As a final touch, Hilton Brisbane served a delicious selection of canapés, charcuterie and cheese boards to tantalise the sense of taste. The attendees not only walked away with some great ideas and techniques, but some also walked away winners, with lucky door prizes kindly provided by local suppliers and partners of Staging Connections. Tim Chapman, General Manager, Digital - Encore was excited to showcase the latest technologies and digital innovations in event production. “The Masterclass showcased everything that is hot and new from Encore and our parent company Freeman. It is a great way to engage with top event professionals and demonstrate how these products and technologies, like gesture control and the latest examples of projection mapping could be integrated into their future events. Everyone loved our new Scenic Panels product too. “The team are always on the lookout for the latest and most innovative products and technologies globally, and this annual event enables us to share our findings and insights and provide our clients with the knowledge and tools to deliver world-class events,” said Mr Chapman. Chris Partridge, General Manager, Hilton Brisbane, commented on the success of the event and the opportunity to work with the exclusive guest list. “Working with Encore is always easy; the team are seasoned professionals who know how to deliver above and beyond expectation. Being able to showcase our newly renovated function rooms to an exclusive group of event organisers was a great opportunity,” said Mr Partridge. The Masterclass enabled Encore to give back to the events industry by sharing their insights and knowledge into current and future trends and showcase one of their valued venue partners, Hilton Brisbane. Built on the success of our Backstage Event, Event Masterclass is aimed at more senior event professionals and is designed to go deeper into the technology and more sophisticated trends hitting the market. With another highly successful Event Masterclass all wrapped up, we’ll be looking to take it on the road to other major Encore locations. See more recent event work Get more event ideas and insights from our Event Blog ... Read More

Audio-visual (AV) itself is a powerful tool, but creative AV is even more powerful. It goes beyond purely communicating a message to creating meaning to the message and its context. In this way, imaginative audio visual solutions can become an event professionals’ strongest weapon in their arsenal, greatly improving the marketability of a product or service. Below, we highlight how creative AV was used successfully in a recent event to sell not a product or service, but even a destination – Australia’s capital, Canberra. See how the iconic National Convention Centre partners with Encore Event Technologies (previously Staging Connections) to showcase the venue as the leading destination for business events in Canberra. From 2 to 4 March 2017, Canberra hosted Top Secret, a leading initiative which attempts to sell Canberra as a popular destination for world-class business events through its vibrant events community. Encore was tasked by the Canberra Convention Bureau (CCB) and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), to create a dazzling and memorable lunch on Friday 3 March at the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC), in the middle of the event for over 40 special guests. Encore took up the challenge. First, we decided to incorporate things Canberra is renowned for – the Enlighten Hot Air Balloon Festival and the beautiful Autumnal colours of red, orange and yellow. These colours also represent the brand colours of the NCC and the InterContinental Hotels Group, whom shared hosting responsibilities over the 3 day event. Guests of the lunch were greeted by a creative theatrical multimedia display. Deciding to opt for a more novel approach other than traditional event screens and event productions, and inspired by the hot air balloons that have become synonymous with Canberra’s Enlighten Festival, Encore utilised a 3m inflatable sphere to create a mid-air floating screen. Beautiful imagery and multimedia was projection mapped onto the sphere turning the lifeless object into a stunning 3D artwork. Coloured LED wash lights cast beautiful shades of Autumn’s orange, amber and gold around the lunch room, which perfectly complemented the lunch menu. NCC’s Executive Chef’s, Nikhil Jain’s, treated guests to a seasonal inspired menu and classic dish, Duck à l'orange, which was paired with Shaw Vineyard Estate wines to ensure every sense was indulged and payed homage to the local produce. Further captivating guests and adding a unique touch to the dining experience was the high definition projection mapping and multimedia on the table, curved walls, archways and beams, all themed to highlight the light, colour and movement of the Enlighten Festival held annually in Canberra. Tables came alive with colourful animations which changed with each meal, perfecting and highlighting the theme accompanying the menu. Individual dinner plates were also circled with white projection spots highlighting the food while guests’ names were projected onto their seats, offering a unique personal touch and making networking easy. All in all, Encore created a truly enthralling and memorable event for the guests, with the NCC and guests extremely delighted with the outcome. The above successful use of creative AV only serves to prove the point that its use can sell practically anything – from a product or service to even a destination. Its power lies in the ability to (i) accentuate unique features of something or synonymous with something and (b) provide a personalised experience, one that is memorable and takes the audience’s breath away. Partner with the leading AV and event services company for your next event Ensuring our events are a success is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you want to motivate, educate, inspire or reward; Encore has over 35 years experience delivering successful and engaging event experiences. With the largest range of event production services across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji we have the range and reach to deliver seamless events where ever you are. When you partner with Encore you're partnering with an expert team who specialise in audio visual production, event styling and theming, multimedia and content production and event technology like webcasting, online polling, event apps and more. A great event takes careful planning and the right resources, so don't waste another minute - get in touch with us today to see how we can take your event from good to great! SEE EVENT GALLERY ... Read More

Audiences are no longer spectators, they expect more – to be a part of the action. Immersive marketing techniques will allow you to engage them in every element of the event. Not every event has the Hollywood movie budget to allow a completely theatrical and immersive experience, however there are three easy tools that can be deployed that will boost the audience’s engagement at events. Today, most brands recognise event marketing as an integral part of their integrated marketing portfolio; deepening relationships that have been built in person, online, on devices and through interactive media. And the proven result is that brand awareness skyrockets! Branding an event is about keeping your key messages clear, and in the mind of your attendees. You want them to remember the call to action and the company or product name long after they’ve left, so you can get the best return on your investment. That’s why it’s vital that any logo or naming is prominent throughout the event experience – prior to arrival, through the event itself, and at any other additional events such as dinner or awards presentations. Your options have increased from the standard vinyl banners and signs, to now an almost unlimited palette of tools, so take advantage of the latest physical, social and digital opportunities to engage your audience. 1. Digital immersion Immersive marketing is about creating an experience that totally captures your attention and digital techniques have all the power here. They’ve become the new black, offering a number of high-powered, large-scale projectors, projection mapping and flat panel displays that can catapult brands front and centre. LED walls, pixel mapping and digital signage are all techniques that can surprise and delight your attendees, and leave a lasting impression. See all the latest digital trends featured at this year's InfoComm conference. 2. Social immersion The best way to define what makes an experience immersive is to see how it differs from non-immersive events – does the branding interrupt the flow of the event? Do the messages feel clunky or forced? An immersive event will seamlessly and imperceptibly integrate the brand into every element of the event so capture your audience’s attention and let them create a buzz for you online. Create snap-worthy physical experiences and attendees will be dying to share the content with their friends and colleagues on social media. If you can convince your audience to post the event’s content to their networks using your company or event’s hashtag, incorporating your graphics and spreading your message, then you will have gained some of the most valuable endorsement possible - word of mouth. This sort of two-way communication can be achieved by integrating social integration platforms such as Event Feed, into your event. It encourages attendees to get involved and become an integral part of the event, thus immersing them in the event from a social perspective. What is Event Feed? Event Feed allows you to capture your guests’ tweets, Facebook and Instagram posts via a dedicated hashtag and displays them instantly on screen for all to see and comment. It’s great for encouraging that festive cheer and if everyone is going to be posting anyhow, why not take advantage of that? Private Events: If your event is private and you don't want the posts going public, Event Feed can also provide a closed platform where your colleagues simply upload their images and messages at a secure online location which Event Tweet then pulls from. For more information please visit the Event Feed product page. 3. Physical immersion There’s still a huge range of applications for tangible, three-dimensional objects to support your message, and depending on your event, budget and brand they can sometimes be more effective than their digital equivalents. People absorb and retain information from a book differently than a screen, and different people respond to various mediums, so cover your bases using physical displays as a solid reinforcement of your brand that can be touched and shared in way that an electronic image can’t be. Event Backdrop by Staging Connections is built by stretching custom-printed nylon across a high-tech aluminium frame and comes in a variety of standard sizes so you can surround and immerse your audience in visual displays from $2,500. What is Event Backdrop? One of the hardest things event planners face is striking the right balance between styling and branding. If you go too far towards styling your brand gets lost, but if you go too heavy towards branding your event becomes too corporate 'dry'. So what if we told you there is a simple and cost effective solution to get the best of both worlds? Introducing our latest branding solution, Event Backdrop. Now your branding can be integrated into a stunning custom designed backdrop, printed in photographic quality onto canvas. It's the perfect way to marry your styling and branding and guarantee your branding features in photos. Event Backdrop can be used for all event sizes and types as it comes in 3 sizes and can be internally lit or projected onto. For more information please visit the Event Backdrop product page. Whilst a product launch featuring 3D projected aliens jumping out of caravan may be an immersive experience, consider whether or not your event requires stunt theming, or whether you can tailor these three marketing strategies listed above to create an experience that too immerses your audience in the brand and key messages of the event. Related Articles The Next Frontier: Immersive Conferences Staging Connections is now part of the Freeman Co family - the world's leaders in brand experiences. If you have an upcoming event you need to plan and need ideas for how to best create an impact whilst delivering against your objectives, contact us today. ... Read More

Lighting your event is so fundamental and yet so often overlooked. Attention to detail makes the difference between an average event and an extraordinary one. Lighting is so much more than just putting a spotlight on your performer, it creates ambience, displays video content and can be used to in conjunction with architectural elements and dynamic fixtures to build a visual experience that will leave your guests in awe. The advanced lighting displays used at Encore Event Technologies have come a long way since the humble tungsten and halogen incandescent filaments. Since the development of the first high-powered blue LED in the 1990’s, the theatrical lighting industry has progressed beyond imagination. Here are 7 ways to make your event shine! 1. Use LEDs for event lighting Longer lasting LEDs are around ten times more efficient than their tungsten equivalent. That means ten times less electricity to produce the same level of brightness. They can last hundreds of hours longer, emit less heat and are cheaper to manufacture and replace. A rainbow of options Using RGBW LED chips (a combination of red, green, blue and white light emitting LEDs) you can electronically control your mix to create any desired colour. Before this technology you would have to put a coloured gel in front of an incandescent fixture and if you wanted several colours throughout a show you needed to set up and rig several fixtures each with an appropriate gel, and then you couldn’t change colour or position! RGBW LED chips allow you to play with the rainbow. Clever head A moving or ‘intelligent’ head, one that employs controllable motors on the lamp and its lens, allows you to move your light around ‘intelligently’. All movement can be pre-programmed in the lighting desk by the operator and recalled across the rig at the press of a button. When rigged on lighting bars and flown above stages, LED fixtures can create spectacular lighting schemes using a fraction of the time and energy that would have been required just two decades ago. 2. Make fantastic effects with pixel mapping LED technology has created new types of equipment that were impossible barely a decade ago. As they can be made very small, when fitted together closely they have the ability to change quality of light they are outputting instantly. This technique is referred to as pixel mapping and it has many exciting applications. Image pixel mapping One of the most effective uses of pixel mapping is when they are sent through image source material. LED fixtures designed for pixel mapping are usually a square or rectangular grid, pad or tablet fitted with anywhere between four to over a thousand individual LEDs. The 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony used pixel mapping on a grand scale. The front of each seat was fitted with a sixteen LED tile projecting one ‘pixel’ of a huge digital image. Video pixel mapping Even more exciting, you can send LEDs through video source material, video which can be set to display across several fixtures at once. This means the image canvas can be as simple as a screen-like grid or as complex as dozens of differently shaped fixtures rigged and set across your performance space, creating a synchronized ‘broken’ image effect. Best of all any content can be mapped, from your company’s logo on loop to a product promotional video. Plus the controllers and software that are used for pixel mapping often come with a generous amount of their own generic content that can be deployed as effects. 3. Get creative with Happy Tubes Flexible fun The flexibility of LEDs have been utilized to create a new type of fixture called the LED tube or the Happy Tube. These tubular fixtures are available in different lengths with varying amounts of LEDs but the most common specification is around one metre long with 96 to 144 LEDs. These tubes are incredibly adaptable. They can be joined, hung, flown, stacked to forma screen and used to emit light or images. You can use them on the outside of buildings to highlight architectural features or hang them from the ceiling like a chandelier. You have probably seen them used in all kinds of live events from rock concerts to conferences. Really really flexible These happy tubes can be mounted on just about any physical structure, making them a must for any event. They work on the edges of stages, screens, lecterns… you name it they fit! Once they are set-up and addressed from the lighting desk they can glow softly as an outline or pulse and ripple with waves of light. Like the pad, grid and tablet LED fixtures, image and video can also be mapped across tubes, but have the added ability to be arranged in a circle to form a 360° element, perfect for a feature at a gala dinner. Using a clever assortment of tubes you can create any effect you desire – both coherent and abstract. 4. Move your audience with Moving Heads Moving heads pre-date the LED revolution but were large, unwieldy and very expensive reserved only for elite theatres and concerts. Nowadays, moving head fixtures use digitally controlled motors, which enable all sorts of light movement and have become common even at the low end of lighting budgets. A must for any professional event. The Gobo In combination with LEDs, rotating lenses and other new technologies, moving lights have invigorated the oldest of lighting techniques: the humble Gobo. A gobo was originally a piece of metal with a pattern of holes cut into it that you placed in front of a light. They could be used for simple diffusion or to create a recognisable pattern, such as geometric shapes or leaves. As technology progressed, glass gobos were developed that could incorporate colours and detailed imagery. With modern LED fixtures a moving head fixture can use plastic gobos, less delicate and easier to manufacture than their traditional counterparts. Moving heads can even hold multiple gobos, sometimes more than one at a time creating interesting detailed textural effects. 5. Use dynamic video for effect Animated spaces New types of moving head LED fixtures can even be used as video projectors – not just your average projector, these moving head fixtures can vary the focus, angle, width, brightness and colour of the video dynamically in real-time. Projecting video from a moving head projector is almost like having an animated gobo, which can be used for some pretty incredible effects. When projected on a loop with a strong texture and colour you can simulate immersive spaces such as a forest or a city skyline. This can be used as a subtle but dynamic wash on a stage or across a wall. Learn more about 2D and 3D mapping in our other blog post. Real-time editing Lighting operator desks have evolved along with the fixtures and are designed to integrate with servers that host video files, fixtures that have video inputs and software that controls and edits video in real-time. All this added complexity means there will most likely be two sets of video infrastructure and operators to manage. 6. Ask yourself the right questions about your event With so many new lighting technologies at your disposal you have to consider a few things: What mood and colour palette do you want to create (this can also be aided by styling)? What lighting equipment should you use? How should you use it? What existing video content can you use to enhance your event? Should you create original content for a one-of-a-kind look? What content needs to shine the brightest? At Encore Event Technologies we employ dedicated content creators and video experts that can guide you through the process of achieving your creative vision. We pride ourselves on keeping up-to-date with emerging technology and we will make sure existing and new content fits the physical and aesthetic requirements of your event space. The most important thing for us is to maintain sensitive to your brief and provide you with innovative effects and techniques that will perfectly suit your content. 7. Keep your event real No school like old school ‘Old School’ event lighting (analogue tungsten and halogen lighting with gels) still have their place. Many designers prefer white light of a traditional source to an LED and in many venues (particularly theatres) the installed lighting rig will still contain many traditional fixtures. A combination of both old and new technology often combine for the best results. Incorporating traditional fixtures to your lighting scheme expands your palette and makes your budget go further. At Encore Event Technologies we are all about making your content king! When technology becomes the main attraction of an event, then you’ve lost your purpose. As they say in theatre “If the audience is looking at the set, there a problem with your show”. While we have the ability to create an artwork of pixel mapped video and columns of revolving happy tubes, using the right tool for the right job will always be more effective. Love learning the latest lighting and AV techniques? Download our range of free Event Insights downloadable papers today. ... Read More

The Australian Hotels Associations (AHA) recently hosted 430 guests at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, for its annual Tourism Accommodation Awards (TAA) night. The much-anticipated evening was again assigned to Encore Event Technologies (previously Staging Connections), who delivered all aspects of the event to meet the theme, ‘A Night in the East End’. The highly respected awards provide a platform for assessing and promoting industry excellence amongst hotels. The client requested a theatrical concept, asking that guests feel as though they were "off to the theatre on a Saturday night". As the in house event services provider at Grand Hyatt Melbourne, our Melbourne team brought to life a theatrical experience through a complete event staging solution including audio visual, lighting, stage design, multimedia and event production management. The hero of the event design was the custom ceiling installation and stage set which our team projected themed animated artworks onto throughout the glamorous awards night. Pictured: A musical themed gala awards night for the AHA (Vic) Tourism Accommodation Awards 2017. Guests were welcomed by roving entertainers dressed as famous musical characters, and nearby, a letter light installation of ‘#TAA’ presented a great social media photo opportunity, setting the tone for the evening. Inside the venue, a 30 metre red carpet led through the room to the stage, underneath a bespoke ceiling installation mimicking the entrance way of a grand theatre with festoon lights and a scrolling playbill. Pictured: Custom ceiling installation with rigged festoon lighting a scrolling playbill created using custom animation projections. For onstage, Encore designed five distinctive, eye-catching artworks of current East End theatre shows, set dramatically atop luxurious red velvet drapery, emulating the grandeur of a historic theatre. The ceiling installation also projected the awards categories throughout the ceremony, imitating a theatre playbill. The team designed the presentation itself as an automated show, with audio files built in for a seamless, professional production. Pictured: Table setting with matching themed Programs The main entertainment for the evening was a prominent theatre actor performing a medley of hit show tunes, which had guests singing and dancing for hours. The celebrations continued on to the after party, held at the Grand Hyatt’s exclusive Ruco Bar. -- See more recent event work Get in touch to start planning your event ... Read More

1000 guests in 3 waves across 12 events equals 1 massive incentive road show. It was the magical unicorn brief that rarely crosses an event planners desk. Leading Indian event company, Encompass Events, approached Encore Event Technologies (then Staging Connections) produce and deliver the Asian Paints Privilege Club Incentive Event Series. It was a privilege indeed. The event series was held in various venues in Sydney and the Gold Coast with the aim of strengthening personal ties within the Privilege Club and reward the Asian Paints staff for their hard work and commitment. The theme was ‘Ultimates’ and Staging Connections were tasked with bringing this to life throughout each of the 12 events including the Welcome function, team building and social events, the grand conference and closing Gala dinner. The incentive gave our Sydney and Gold Coast teams the opportunity to collaborate and produce a truly unforgettable experience through a complete event staging solution. It was a masterful celebration of everything we love; from design to delivery, including production and stage management, logistics, audio visual, styling, design and even interactive technologies. The Events Welcome Functions The Welcome function took place at McClaren’s Landing, at South Stradbroke Island, just off the Gold Coast. The team took advantage of the unique beach-side location and delivered a jungle paradise theme. They constructed a double stage on the beach shore – one for the presentations with a super bright LED screen for impressive vision, and a separate one for the surprise entertainment. Throughout the evening, guests were entertained with themed photo booths, African acrobatic and fire dancers, tribal drummers, Aerial Angles and contortionist provided by Onstage Entertainment. Food and beverages were served from beach-side market stalls which were beautifully lit by our team and branded with different signage for each one. The market offered delicacies of South Indian cuisine, Chaat potatoes and fragrant vegetable dishes. The finale to the evening was H2O entertainment, an extreme display of jet pack and water ski performers holding Asian Paints flags and a choreographed firework display. Team Building Days On day two, the groups travelled to Movie World on the Gold Coast for team building activities for which we designed dramatic skyline Event Backdrops to add drama to the group’s photographs with super hero favourites. In the evening, our team delivered a Polynesian themed night with custom designed Event Backdrops, beautiful Hibiscus gobos with merged lighting, giant gold palm trees, Polynesian props and accessories for guests and entertainment by an island themed dance show. On the second team building day, the group moved to Tangalooma Island with their event agency Encompass and our team readied the preparations for the final two days. Sydney Experience Day On day four, the group were treated to the sights and experiences of Sydney with a cruise on MV Epicure, where our team delivered wireless audio for full-coverage on each deck of the boat, plus party lighting for the DJ and dance floor for the evening’s celebrations. Conference and Closing Gala Celebration The closing Conference and Gala Celebrations took place at The Dome at Sydney Showground and The Star Sydney where guests were met by a giant banner welcoming them as the Asian Paints ‘Ultimates’. For these events, the Encore Sydney team built an impressive stage set of interlocking hexagonal panels, a super-sized screen and giant 3D letters spelling out the theme ‘ULTIMATES’, the set was flanked by four, portrait formation Event Backdrops. The technical team delivered amazing lighting and projection onto the stage set which created an impactful look for the main stage where all the important formalities took place. Gesture control was our secret weapon to deliver the conference presentations in a unique and impressive way. Also known as motion control, the technology was used to interactively reveal street murals that Asian Paints had sponsored by different artists around Mumbai, using Asian Paints products of course. To achieve this, the team took ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of the buildings, and gave the president an ordinary paintbrush. Motion sensing technology was also used in the next reveal of Asian Paints new products and branding. For this, a gyroscope was placed in a paint tin which the President presented to the audience, moving it around to show the new ‘Game Changer’ products. As he moved the tin, a 3D design of the new branding was presented on the super-sized screen and simulated the President’s motions in real time, delivering his presentation in a dynamic way. The President loved the technology and was genuinely excited to reveal the conference content in this way. Gesture control was also used to reveal the ‘Colour of the Year – Intense Ocean’ . To add drama to this reveal, the technical team suddenly cut the Dome lights, and a shut-down sound effect reverberated around the venue and an image appeared on the super-screen of shards of glass shattering down. Darkness followed and then a spotlight on a solitary violin soloist. The momentum built, with dramatic lighting and choreographed dancers appeared, the principle dancers then used long, sheer fabric in the colour of the year – Intense Ocean – as part of their performance creating waves across the stage. Projection on screen behind the dancers cast images of dynamic waters and beach themes, tying in the days preceding the finale day. After this, more stage performances delighted the guests including an appearance by celebrity cricketer Sourav Ganguly, illusionists Adam and Selena and a Bollywood dance extravaganza. The evening finished with another dance party. Asian Paints Privilege Club members expressed great delight in the highly-spirited atmosphere created and even invited the team onto the stage to dance at the final event and celebrate the amazing production! “The Encore (then Staging Connections) team successfully coordinated over 12 events across Australia in different geographies and venues, and ensured adequate resourcing to deliver an atmosphere of celebration from start to finish. They really are a world class team, always client focused. The production strength of Encore helped us to create one of the most innovative events we have done for any of our clients.” Siddarth Ganta, Account Director, Encompass Events See more examples of our event work Get more insight for your next event on our event blog ... Read More

In an Australian first, Staging Connections partnered with Mirvac to bring the spirit of Christmas to one of Central Sydney's largest shopping centres, Broadway Shopping Centre. Mirvac approached Staging Connections with the opportunity to create an unforgettable lighting installation in Broadway Shopping Centre. With the true meaning of Christmas at the core of the project, Mirvac aimed to bring joy to each of the +1.3 million pre-Christmas shoppers who enter the centre during the month of December. Event Brief To ensure the installation created a premium Christmas shopping activation, it was important the project delivered: A unique Christmas experience – never before seen in Australia Innovative use of technology A multi-sensory experience Event Solution Inspired by UNESCO’s Year of the Light, Staging Connections produced the concept of Luminous, a revolutionary kinetic light show featuring a matrix of 39 specially constructed LED light spheres that wowed shoppers, with choreographed movements synchronised to a dedicated Christmas sound track. The show involved a series of six different Christmas themed experiences, including Joy, Love, Giving, Sharing, Hope and Peace. The performances were scheduled to commence every half-hour, rotating through each of the six routines which lasted between 3 to 5 minutes each. The free show wowed shoppers with views of love hearts and Christmas trees that formed from the light spheres. To maximise visibility of the installation by shoppers, the sphere lights were suspended above the shopping centre’s central void, at the entrance, by a 6m x 5m grid of truss which supported the 39 individual 350mm LED lights, each attached to 9m winches which allowed isolated control of speed and direction. The elite software required to manipulate the individual lights was not previously available in Australia and had to be sourced internationally. This cutting-edge technology was utilised to produce the complex patterns and shapes that were core to the show. Using the latest AV Equipment The GrandMA was the primary control system along with a 3D Media Server managing the spheres in the 3D space. The spheres were mapped in virtual 3D space within the 3D Media server, which also generated programmable movement patterns which could be recalled via Artnet DMX from the GrandMA. The movement of each sphere was converted from “Movement in Metres” to DMX values and sent back to the GrandMA, where it was then merged with the colours being triggered from the GrandMA. Using the Agenda item on the GrandMA we were able to trigger the 3D Media server to playback the audio track. Each audio track was converted to Mono on the Left channel and striped with Linear Time Code (LTC) on the Right track. When the GrandMA received the time-code it would execute all cues from that point on. The scheduler ran each show every 30 minutes from 1000-2100 for 29 days. The team also had the ability to ‘remote in’ to trigger shows manually, adjust the volume or change the schedule. In addition, there was a sub system that would send an email if there was something wrong with the system, alerting the team to run a system check. Iconic Christmas tunes played from two dedicated PA systems anchored on level 1 and 2 at either side of the void, creating a multi-sensory experience to capture the magic of the Christmas spirit for shoppers. Mirvac encouraged shoppers to share their experiences of Luminous via social media which resulted in numerous videos and images being shared on Instagram, providing the client with positive online exposure and personal recommendations from shoppers sending their friends and family to the centre to witness the production. Related Articles LED Yo-Yo Ceiling Installation for Million Dollar Lunch Awards night uses projection mapping for WOW-factor stage design Transform your event with these creative stage designs ... Read More

Live streaming is a powerful way to connect with thought leaders and present your brand which must not be overlooked. More and more event planners are turning to live streaming their events as they want to amplify the reach of their event to maximize ROI. However, beyond this obvious reach benefit it provides, the vast majority of event planners are missing out on the many other benefits that come from live streaming events. And we don’t want you to miss these valuable opportunities any longer! To start things off, a lot of event planners miss a big opportunity by not streaming the event via their social media channels. This is a great way to engage your followers, attract new ones and importantly, a tactic for marketing and driving ticket sales for your next event. Branding your live stream by incorporating your logo and company services into the footage will make a brand more recognisable. You’ll also be able to better understand the audience through live streams using analytics to capture data that will let you know the exact number of your virtual viewers and their location. Here are 6 things you should know about live streaming so you aren't missing out on valuable event ROI. Live streaming has a high return on investment Did you know that Facebook Live videos are more watched three times longer than pre-recorded content? This is most likely because today’s online audience craves authenticity and human connection, further explaining why video enhances brand recognition by 139% is so important to your event marketing and brand. Professional conference organisers look to live streaming to broadcast events held in intimate settings. The live stream can integrate a larger audience without additional seating, making it easier for your best leads (often found in your social media following) to be converted into customers and loyal brand advocates just by watching your broadcast. Your approach to live streaming doesn’t have to be complex because content that is offered from a live stream doesn’t need to be scripted. It can be streamed across the a live streaming channel, its own webpage, or across your social channels. It just needs to be real to show the audience that your brand is genuine. With the technological capabilities of mobile phones and affordable cameras, we know that using live streaming for events doesn’t always require a major budget. Regardless of budget, small and large scale businesses see major returns on their investment when live streaming for events, with up to 35% of a live stream audience physically attending the same event the following year. You can get creative with live streaming Build brand awareness and give exposure to fellow event participants through your live stream. This fosters a sense of community while showing off your dashing personality. Remember that the more people like you, the more they will respect your business. Some of the best ideas for live streaming are as follows: Invite an influencer to speak at your event. Share their actionable knowledge on your live feed. Conduct an interview with an expert. Research the concerns of your followers to compose interview questions. Follow this with a live stream that provides answers in an engaging way from a trusted source. Offer a personal perspective. Live stream from a collaborative event where your company is in attendance. Engage other attendees as you stream to create a more personal feel. Corporate event live streaming requires specialised knowledge It takes a great deal of pre-planning and professional assistance to broadcast a corporate event without any hiccups. High quality and functional sound and visuals will position your team for a successful event and keep your viewers focused. Live streaming during a corporate event can make or break your brand’s image, especially if you are working with sponsors (who always expect top-notch quality). You want to avoid poor quality filming resolution or shaking, poor audio or picking up coughs, comments or other sounds made by your attendees not intended to be part of the presentation. Nor do you want the speakers and attendees to deal with malfunctioning equipment during a presentation. To avoid the embarrassment and stress that comes with amateur mistakes, use professional audio visual services that will test your equipment before live streaming, and have a backup plan to quickly put into action if any issues arise. “Live streaming is not a fad.” – Event Manager Blog Live streaming boosts social interaction It’s your responsibility to make sure your virtual audiences feel connected and acknowledged during your live stream. Our Event Feed platform offers a comprehensive solution to help event planners monitor and moderate social media activity while engaging their viewers. Enable a chat option to address questions from viewers during Q and A sessions, or use Event Poll. Event Poll is Staging Connections' live audience polling platform that lets you connect in real time to form a better understanding of online viewers through your questions and their responses. Live streaming is more profitable with ads and sponsorship opportunities Your viewers want to trust your brand. Monetising your content through ads can further build your credibility if you show advertisements that will be valuable to your market. Promote short, engaging ads on behalf of products and services you believe can truly benefit others. With options for pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll advertisements, flexible choices are available to suit your preferences. Here at Staging Connections, we’ve done our research, and here’s some information we want you to know: Pre-roll and post-roll ads are known to be most effective. Viewers complete pre-roll adverts 78% of the time, but mid-roll advertisements have a completion rate of 90%. By avoiding live streaming, you're losing out on brand amplification When you don’t use live streaming, you lose the ability to extract genuine pieces of footage and repurpose it for social media marketing. Your live broadcast also serves as an outlet for strategic networking to align your brands with influencers by promoting their involvement with your event. Here is a quick tip: Always add social media tags. Beforehand, do keyword research to discover the terms your target audience searches and uses most frequently. The more you know about your viewer’s interests, the more relevant your content will be over time. Content that offers solutions lives on. Wrapping your event doesn’t mean your live stream is no longer valuable. Research has shown that 78% of people online are watching videos, and 75% of executives are watching videos related to their business every week. We're here to help you go live - live streaming experts you can trust At Encore (formerly Staging Connections), we know that live streaming video can change the way brands engage with audiences. Whether you’re looking to show behind the scenes footage or host competitions, we offer event streaming and recording services to bring all of your live streaming ideas to life with quality and professionalism. Get in touch today to find out more about our event streaming services and plan your event with a live stream that will impress audiences and maximise social engagement. -- Photo Credit: Valoso ... Read More