For event organisers, delivering a space themed, out of this world experience for guests means your can let your imagination run wild. From glamorous galactic experiences, to Star Wars inspired pop ups and the Milky Way ceiling installations, there’s something to appeal to everyone’s sense of exploration and wonder, and of course our playful inner child.
Let’s explore ways to create an unforgettable, outer-space themed event that will transport your guests to a galaxy far, far away. Start with a Space Colour Scheme Colours can evoke a mood. Done right, they create mood and emotion and are one of the best vehicles for setting the scene.
Choose blues, blacks with silvers, shiny metallics, purples and all the colours that depict an intergalactic atmosphere.
Additionally, shadows play a part in creating suspense and an unknown environment. Create them with areas of dark and light greys. Set The Scene With an Entrance to Another World The entryway into an event enables you to create excitement for what is to come.
Our first vision of something out of the ordinary stimulates the brain’s transmissions of excitement and curiosity. Set the scene by creating spaceship tunnels, the interior of a rocket ship or even the deck of the Starship Enterprise. For a simple and cost effective entry feature, you can line the walkway with illuminate orb balls in various sizes to mimic the planets in outer space. Cloak the entry walls with twinkling star cloth and you can give guests the feeling they’re at the start of an unforgettable journey into an unknown universe. Sounds can be incorporated to enhance the atmosphere. Roaring engines, robotic voices and whirring machines add an auditory experience. A Starry Backdrop with Clever Drapery Once inside the venue, creative backdrops are the room’s decorative foundation.
Create the space effect with the use of star cloth and dark fabrics draped around the walls of the venue both on and behind the stage.
Add a further dimension with the use of fabric with starlight and shimmering materials. This will appear to extend the room’s length and create a sense of vast space. Stunning Space Theme Set Design With all eyes on the stage, this is where you have the opportunity to design an incredible stage look for your space themed event.
For a recent The Million Dollar Lunch gala, Encore designed and built a fully custom stage set to resemble the inside of a spaceship. Using an array of Hex Panels and clever projection mapped content, the end effect made the audience feel as though they were peering through the spaceships windows out into space. Another space inspired stage set our team designed for the Think Brick awards was inspired by a glamorous, galactic brief and created using 12 LED screens, configured into four arms. The huge screen configuration resembled a futuristic spaceship and was rigged above a central stage, allowing for all guests to have clear site lines of the stage and on-screen content. A simple, yet highly impactful stage set for space themed corporate events can involve Encore’s Floor to Wall LED Screen. The effect of the content and crystal clear resolution can make the presenter appear as though they’re standing on a planet or flying through space. At a more basic level a space themed stage set can be achieved by using an internally-lit Event Backdrop, custom printed with stunning space themed visuals which pop in the darkness. Combine your set with up-lighting on 3D Scenic Panels for a futuristic look. Use Multimedia / Content Multimedia is the most effective way to transform a venue into your perfect space-themed event. Use space inspired designs to make your on-screen content come to life. • Use every blank surface and turn them into a futuristic space scene with the use of projection mapping. Project planets visuals onto spheres to create the solar system. • To truly transport, use table projection mapping to turn dinner settings into a futuristic odyssey experience. Any surface in your venue offers the opportunity to be themed with digital styling. Remember, every piece of content whether it be digital or printed should be on theme. Twinkling Galactic Ceiling Installations What do people do when they think of outer space? They look skyward.
Don’t waste the chance to give your guests an awe-inspiring encounter. Have them looking to the stars with a galaxy inspired ceiling design or installation. You can create stunning galaxy ceiling installations using crystal beaded curtains above guests at a space themed gala dinner. For a corporate end of year celebration in New Zealand, Encore used drapery, star cloth, lighting and fans to emulate the stunning Northern Lights. Adding an extra dimension, our Kinetic Lighting system can turn your events ceiling into a moving masterpiece. Use our sphere LEDs to recreate planets or the Solar System. Star Wars fan? Our baton Shaped LEDs make the perfect lightsabre inspired ceiling installation. Where the budget is limited, small scale decoration can be just as effective. Use blow up planets and rig to the roof to create a solar system. Combined with the right lighting effects this can be simple yet effective. Space Themed Centrepieces Depending on how you want your tables to be decorated, the choices for themed centrepieces are numerous. Spaceships or astronaut figurines offer an easy and usually inexpensive decorative option. You can’t go wrong with Star Wars figurines for an iconic space theme centrepiece. Everyone knows them, even if guests are not sci-fi fanatics, they certainly deliver and on-theme look. If models and figurines are not your preference, try using crystal beads in a glass vase with colour pin spots for a cool galaxy-like atmosphere. The idea is to be on theme will all decorative items.
Centrepieces are often an immediate talking point. Guests who may not be well acquainted are given an easy way to break the ice with this engaging theme to talk about. Lighting Design Here’s where things get interesting. The correct use of lighting can seriously ramp up your outer space theme, add mystery and excitement. • Lasers, haze and lightsaber installations can be used with great effect to create a futuristic setting. • Gobos projecting space-themed objects across the venue walls and floors • Add more layering by mixing lighting with smoke and low fog machines for that dancing on the clouds effect. • Or even use lighting to create the effect of the ground being moon-like in appearance. Whether you’re going for a futuristic feel, iconic space or a romantic galaxy mood Encore’s lighting designers can create the perfect setting for your event.
Sound FX and Audio Design
There are so many audio options, so listen up! Take the time to watch a few episodes of a favourite spaced themed movie or TV show for sound inspiration. The clicks of communicating aliens, the roaring of rockets blasting off, voices from astronauts from days gone by, or just plain spooky atmospheric sounds all work to create a space-feel environment. Use sound throughout the night to build momentum at the start, and add drama and suspense before performances or speeches.
Work with your AV company to implement some clever audio design and play with sounds from different speakers to create that immersive audio effect. The sound of a rocket drawing closer can be achieved through clever audio design. Space Themed Performances & Entertainment Now depending on your budget, this can be truly an unforgettable experience. Take your guests to another dimension with an alien invasion or a NASA inspired planetary exploration with rockets and satellites abound!
Have your guests greeted by astronauts at the door, or seated by an array of Star Wars characters, the choice is yours.
Encore have even projection mapped beautiful imagery onto dancers turning their performance into a moving part of the visual story. Having your entertainment interacting with your set is possible thanks to holographic and gesture control technology. Imagine having your presenter appearing on stage as if they are speaking as a hologram from outer space, or sitting in a rocket, all are possible thanks to our holographic projection screen. Neon Tube dancers are also a great way to introduce roving acts which provide colour, light and movement to any event.
Aerial artists can perform with the Kinetic Lights around them to make them appear as though they’re in space or surrounded by lightsabres if you’re using the baton shaped Kinetic Lights. Another form of roving entertainment is, of course, the purposeful attention-grabbing performance by costumed roving actors. Adding roving acts to your event offers next level memories. Whether there to entertain, or roaming among the guests randomly, the interaction level increases dramatically and gives guests a great photo opportunity. Speak to the space theme experts Encore are experts at designing truly unique space themed corporate events. We combine our state-of-the-art AV technology with our limitless imagination to turn a blank canvas into an immersive and transformative space setting. No matter your type of event, budget or venue, with over 35 years in the business you can count on Encore to design the perfect space inspired event to achieve your objectives. Ask us to show you the best ways to transport your guests to a memorable out of this word experience.
Contact us today for an obligation free discussion about your event. May the force be with you. (It had to be said). … Read More
Improve Sustainability and Reduce Your Event Footprint - All You Need to Know
Feb 13 2020
So you’ve decided to look into having more sustainable events with the admirable aim of a reduced carbon footprint. Congratulations. It’s a responsible and positive move. As an event planner, you have an opportunity to show others the way to lessening the impact on our valuable resources. This is not a passing trend, but rather a mindful practice at the heart of any business strategy and future goal planning.
“Between air travel, energy use, and excess food (not to mention booth installations, printouts, and giveaways), the average 1000-person event reputedly produces 530 metric tons of CO2e emissions.” Julius Solaris, Event Manager Blog Thankfully, sustainability is achievable and may be easier than you think.
Why it’s Important to Know Your Impact
To make constructive changes, event planners need to gauge their current practices.
Why? Knowing the impact events may be having on the environment points to specific areas for improvement. This is not a lesson in how bad you might have been, but instead it’s something far more positive. Awareness.
Knowing the facts gives you an idea of what to measure and helps focus your energy onto specific areas to change or improve. The end result is being able to see clearly how your practices contribute to improved sustainability. Sustainable Events: Where to start
Not sure where to begin? Try looking at these points. Most event planners will recognise many, if not all of these aspects of their daily lives. Right from the start The beginning of any event plan has many contact points. The first phase impact can be reduced by cancelling meet & greet travel plans and replace with video conferencing. The good news here is you’ve also just saved on travel and accommodation costs as well as improving our event’s footprint. The Paper Trail It’s an obvious one, but going paperless can be the easiest way to start minimising waste. Use an event app, build an event website, or stick to emailing. Encore offers a free event app called Cumulus which gives you and your attendees the convenience of easy access to all event information at any time, everywhere you go so reducing paper waste is easy. Use this free event app specifically built to ensure delegates have easy access to all event info and live updates before, during and after the event, without the need for excess paper use. When all else fails, stick to email. Power Consumption Does your AV and event technology provider actively take steps to reduce their energy use? Overuse of power and underutilising of more eco-friendly options is one area constantly under the microscope. Where possible use renewable energy sources and switch all lighting to LED and lower power efficiency systems where possible. Your AV technology provider should be willing to rationalise inventory to minimise redundancy and over-engineered AV solutions. Have the conversation with them to see how you can both achieve a reduced footprint for your event, there’s often cost savings involved to. Venue Locations & Transportation Hosting your event at a venue with accommodation facilities immediately cuts the need for transportation. Your guests will appreciate not having to think about cab-charges and Uber rides to get to their hotel safely. This is a great opportunity to really consider your venue options. Easily walkable venues, and those close to public transport assist significantly. Where combined/local event venue and accommodation are not possible, offering shuttles are a great alternative. One vehicle transporting many attendees reduces the impact of several vehicles in the traffic at once. In addition, clearly conveyed information about public transport sent out to registered attendees will be greatly appreciated. Also, when scheduling your event, take into account peak travel times to avoid the traffic. Faster travel means less impact and happier commuters. Modern Day Conveniences Encourage alternative transport. Have bike racks, bike storage areas or bike concierge at your event. We’ve all seen more and more bicycles in the city. People making their own stand on reducing their personal footprint will likely remember an event where this is on offer. Having change areas, private shower facilities and lockers at your event also makes life even easier for those choosing peddle power. Food & Beverage Catering companies using eco-friendly utensils is a simple way to make an immediate change. Choose providores and caterers that are committed to using sustainable fish, organically grown fruit and vegetables, and locally sourced hormone-free meat. Ditch plastic for biodegradable or reusable cups. Another tip with catering is to not over-cater the event. The guest list should be quite specific in terms of numbers, and dietary requirements, so you can cater for your guests’ needs. If you find yourself with an abundance of leftover food, consider the many companies that accept donations in the area. Waste Disposal Have you confirmed your venue has the facilities, and the mindset to recycle waste? Everyone should be well aware of the need to re-use and recycle in order to reduce landfill and the overall impact on our environment. Ensuring there are adequate recycling bins and general waste bins around the venue will safeguard against any issues with imposed clean-up fees or removal costs. Go Digital Use online registration platforms to be more sustainable. Not only is it cost-effective, but will save delegates time enrolling on the day. Send e-mail notifications and create e-tickets to be scanned from their smartphones to eliminate the need for endless paper printouts. Use digital signage at your event, rather than one-off pull-up banners. Build a website or an event app. This goes a long way to reducing the need for excessive amounts of printed badges, programmes, posters and brochures. Putting your event sustainability plan into action
Ok, so you know what is possible, now’s the time to translate it into your reality and transform yourself into more than just someone whose intentions are good. Create a List Put the ideas in order, beginning with those things where you can have an immediate impact, through to those which will require more thought, planning, and discussion with others. For you, maybe using less paper, and having more Skype meetings is completely do-able in the beginning. For every point you’ve made, add the goals. Be Realistic This is not something that can happen overnight, so don’t have the expectation that you can save the world in a week. Plans that are rushed or ill-considered will be doomed to fail, or worse, not even see the light of day. Review and Monitor Over time, add and remove where necessary to make each goal stronger. Long term, consistent and thoughtful objectives are the way to go. Sustainable event inspiration Check out these three events Event Brite shared that have put their suitability goals into action.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 A little known fact is that these Games were the first to secure the ISO 20121 sustainability standard. This measure of sustainability is voluntary and is a promise to all those watching that this event leaves behind a path of positive footprint reduction.
All the venues where the competition was held were completely car-free. In addition, the organisers used a local company to provide efficient and clean energy. They also ensured the headquarters for the Games were on an energy supply recognized as a Green Tariff.
Baseball All-Star Games Major League Baseball requires its members to be a member of the Green Sports Alliance. Providing sustainability guidelines, the Alliance ensures the following happens: Teams collect recyclable items throughout each game. Solar panels are installed at events where possible. The aim is to have each game powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. Traditional ‘Red Carpet’ events are now referred to a ‘Green Carpet’ by the use of eco-friendly materials for the carpet. Any food prepared at events that remains untouched is donated to their preferred charity for those in need of a meal. The Show Goes on at the Shambala Festival England's four-day carnival-like Shambala Festival has taken steps to ensure much of its single-use plastics are eliminated entirely. Individual water bottles are encouraged for refilling onsite to reduce bottled water housed in plastic. For those who forget, the sale of stainless steel bottles adds to driving the point home on the reduction of harmful and wasteful synthetic materials. Other Helpful Resources for Sustainable Events Want more? Check out these additional places to go. Sustainability in Events - Event Manager Blog Checklist to a Sustainable Event - Climate Wave How to make an event more sustainable - Event Brite To have an environmental conscience is commendable. Putting these goals into action wherever possible during your event sets you apart.
This is not just about you as an event planner feeling better about your impact, but an ongoing commitment your company and its guests will bear witness to.
In a world full of rhetoric and promises, actions speak louder than words. Let’s begin your action points today. Our experience can show you the way to more sustainable event planning. Contact us for expert advice on your next event by sending an online enquiry today and we'll get right back. ... Read More