Face-to-face meetings can be the most effective way to get your point across, but the corporate world has to move with the times. Overcoming growing distance, cost and time issues, businesses now demand solutions for video conferencing. As a result, venues, speakers, event planners and employees must be prepared and confident to host these types of online meetings. More solutions enter the market each year. That’s a good thing. Contrary to opinion, a variety of solutions should not confuse, but rather provide a video conferencing solution that is tailored to the needs of the user and runs seamlessly. From basic free applications such as Skype to professional cloud-based video and audio conference platforms, like Encore Connect, event planners and businesses are spoilt for choice. Whether you're arranging an online meeting or remote presenters for your event, here are some helpful tips from video conferencing experts to ensure you’re maximising the technology. 1. Select a reliable video conferencing platform When it comes to technology, it’s best practice to choose a well known provider that is reliable, has a support team and a robust offering that can meet your needs. This is especially true with video conferencing platforms. When you use a trusted provider, you get the peace of mind and confidence your meeting or event is in the best hands and will run seamlessly. Encore offers a first-of-its-kind rehearsal feature with our video conferencing solution, Encore Connect, where a technician will on-board you and your presenters to ensure they’re comfortable presenting remotely and know how to use the platform. It’s this kind of concierge service you won’t get when using a free platform. 2. Choose a suitable venue room There are a few things to consider here which can all be resolved by doing a site visit or at least seeing images of the room prior to the event. Ensure the room has adequate lighting and seating for all parties to the meeting. Natural light has its advantages but can have its own set of issues. Be aware of areas of shade and any potential distractions that open windows bring, like passers-by or pigeons pacing up and down the windowsill. A general rule of thumb is consistency and uniformity. No dark spots in the room and no powerful bulbs which leave people seeing spots. What about microphones or the acoustics in the room? Can the presenter’s voice project? Is the room noisy? Does it suffer from thin-wall syndrome? All of these points can be addressed by a simple site visit or talk with your on-site events team. Encore proudly offers Encore Connect in all our venue partners – that’s over 100 world-class venue options around Asia Pacific for you to choose from. So you’re spoilt for choice. 3. Clear Audio There’s nothing more frustrating when video conferencing has poor audio quality. The aim is to have people hear you clearly, without crackling and dropouts. Look for good quality headsets and microphones which help reduce noise and disruptive echoes. When in doubt, run your set up by your audio visual provider to test. For multi-party conferences, mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to avoid adding any additional background noise. If you are hosting, make sure everyone is on the same page. Check your participants and lead the way. For a larger event, your audio visual partner will test the audio levels of the room and work with the presenters prior to ensure both the audio input and output are set for optimal quality. Wherever possible have a practice run. The best video and audio conferencing partners will do exactly that. 4. Test your set up to find the perfect angle Obscure camera angles might work for Tarantino, but in a meeting environment they can be very distracting. Webcams should be at eye level and if for some reason you need to move around the room, ensure it is steady as she goes. This is particularly important if you are using a mobile device for your video calls. To avoid unflattering or distracting angles, we recommend using self-view mode to test the angle of your camera prior to the video conference. 5. Time Zone Awareness One of the great benefits of video conferencing is the ability to overcome distance or time zone barriers. With this in mind, it is important to consider your attendees and/or remote presenters time zone when arranging it. But what about the delays you didn’t anticipate, such as plane delays and cancellations, a last minute commitment? Offering remote presenters the option to video conference in means your event will continue to run as planned. 6. Remove Potential Distractions Distraction is the number one killer of concentration and engagement. Clear lines of sight without interference are essential for attendees and presenters. Similarly so are unwanted sounds – so remember to switch your phone to silent and in multi-party meetings ask attendees to do the same. Cameras pointed in the direction of anything that has the potential to distract will render it a focal point and eventually, if human nature serves me right, be more popular than a viral cat video. 7. Proper meeting etiquette for video conferencing Just like a meeting face-to-face, there is a certain way of hosting and presenting online. It’s called meeting etiquette. If you’re recording the meeting, it’s polite to let everyone know ahead of time you are recording and remind again when it commences. This will also help keep it professional and on-track with personal conversations saved until afterwards. Possibly the most important feature of any conference is the ability for everyone to hear and be heard. Ask everyone to introduce themselves at the beginning, and if on audio only, ask them to state their name before they speak so everyone knows who is talking. A popular tactic for ensuring the meeting stays on track and avoiding everyone from speaking over one another is for the host to hold comments or questions until the end. And again, avoid distractions by kindly reminding attendees or remote presenters to turn mobile phones to silent mode or switch them off. 8. Dress Appropriately Dressing appropriately is particularly important if you’re presenting online. With all eyes on you, you’ll want to avoid wearing an inappropriate or distracting outfit that will become more memorable than your presentation. Avoid clothing that may flare on camera such as tiny stripes, sequins or glittery clothing. Similarly, don’t wear loose tops or shirts that gape and it goes without saying, wear professional pants. We’ve heard all too often of instances where a presenter or meeting attendee stands up to get a drink of water only to reveal they’re still in their pyjamas! Sometimes the simple things are often overlooked. 9. Stay on track with a well structured agenda A well-structured agenda can be your best friend. Not only can it set a tone, but a well-written agenda prepares invitees for what's in store. Ensure you include the item “All other business” as the last point on the agenda, followed by a decent amount of time for Q and A. Keeping everyone on track with an appropriate and well-worded agenda greatly assists with maintaining conference timeframes and actionable points. 10. Rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse again This seems like a no-brainer but like any technology, testing and rehearsing will provide your best chance for success when presenting remotely or hosting a meeting via video conference. Take advantage of the exclusive rehearse feature offered by Encore Connect, which unlike free or basic platforms, gives you dedicated time with a technician to test your set up and ask any questions. Knowing your video conference is in expert hands means you can get on with the business of organising the event or meeting itself. Speak to the Video Conferencing Experts An increasing number of organisations and event planners are enjoying the benefits of video conferencing. Encore has developed our own solution to accommodate the rising demand for video conferencing in small meetings and large events for remote presenters. Encore Connect is powered by Zoom, one of the most well-known and trusted platforms in the market and you can find it across our entire venue network. If you are interested in finding out more about our video conferencing solutions get in touch by calling 1800 209 099 or sending an online enquiry and one of our friendly team members will get right back. ... Read More

Designing transformative experiences using Virtual Reality at corporate events Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the most hyped technologies of the last decade. Global giants Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook have all invested billions in building the hardware, creating software, and developing applications. Event professionals are jumping on the trend and realising the potential of VR in transforming their events. The short; VR in the event space is here to stay and its the ideal environment to utilise the technology’s potential. We’re seeing VR restaurants pop up, car manufacturers turning mundane road trips into action-packed theme-parks, sensorial VR tours of breweries and some confronting education on road safety thanks to VR experiences. VR totally takes over your guests’ senses. It is about completely commanding your audience’s attention. It offers unparalleled engagement and concentration when compared to a video or spoken presentation. If you’re seeking to entertain, connect and delight, it enables total freedom of imagination. There are several off-the-shelf VR experiences such as real-world simulations of climbing Everest, diving on the Great Barrier Reef and the like. If they fit with the theme of your gala dinner or topic of your conference, they’re a great ice-breaker and novelty to get your guests talking. This is as tangible as you get in a virtual world. Experiencing touch, excitement fear and curiosity. How can events benefit from using Virtual Reality While consumer adoption of VR for gaming and entertainment at home has been much slower than expected, savvy operators in the event space and enterprise have been the quickest to realise its potential. VR applications for Conferences and meetings Virtual reality can be an excellent vehicle for team building exercises and business activities aimed at strengthening goals and creating a strategic focus. A shared VR activity is a perfect icebreaker for attendees that haven’t met. There are many off-the-shelf VR puzzles and games that get people working in teams and are perfect for this. More businesses want to show their audience instead of just addressing them through words or endless PowerPoint slides. During a keynote address, instead of just talking about a subject, why not immerse the audience? The presenter asks the crowd to put on the headsets and continues to address them as they explore a simulation of the content under discussion. The CEO of Intel, Brian Krzanich, kicked off the CES 2017 conference with an incredible VR experience cementing themselves as heavyweights in the area. Intel placed 260 VR units in chairs for all press attending the event where they embarked on an incredible journey starting with a wingsuit flight over Moab, Utah where they then landed on the desert floor. Shortly after, the flyers were shuttled to Vietnam to take in the sights of Ban Goic waterfall. After experiencing more spectacular scenery the VR tour ended with court side seats at an NCAA basketball game. Once they removed their virtual reality helmets, they found themselves sitting back in the audience at the event in Las Vegas. This example shows Krzanich and other industry leaders use virtual reality at events to completely change the way attendees experience exhibitions. VR technology has also enables connectivity for conference attendees spread interstate and internationally. It enables virtual attendance for those who can’t be there to experience the presenters and multimedia live while wearing headsets at home. VR lets people from around the world meet in the same place at the same time simply by putting on a headset. Meetings and breakouts can also be run using VR conferencing tools like Facebook Spaces. VR for Fairs, Exhbitions or Trade Shows Get visitors to your stand or display excited about engaging with your brand via a VR experience. Give them an exciting branded challenge or demonstration that gets their adrenaline pumping; it’s a great way to stand out and be remembered. One insurance provider used VR to promote its products in a rather unusual way. NRMA Insurance designed a car crash simulator to show how car safety features have improved over three decades. “Victims” put on a VR headset, climb behind the wheel of a showroom car, then (virtually) crash into a barrier at the same speed that actual crash tests are conducted. The user then goes through the same simulation, only behind the wheel of an older car with fewer safety features. Users have firsthand experience of being in a major car accident and walk away unscathed at the end, but left with a lasting impact. A large U.S. home improvement company, Lowe’s, helped customers bring to life their design vision with Holoroom. Customers can design their kitchen or bathroom and view it in VR using Oculus Rift in-stores, and take-home a free Google Cardboard viewer to enjoy their room design whenever and wherever they choose. This application of VR could be applied for various products and services to help generate sale and new leads at exhibitions and trade fairs. They say doing is far better for learning than just seeing or hearing. And when you can’t physically demonstrate the new product, service or solution VR is the next best thing. VR is an excellent training platform because it’s cost effective and the closest you’ll get to doing it in real life. Any simulations feel real to the user. Users can make a decision that feels impactful, but it can still be changed or reset entirely. This is particularly useful for the medical industry where a wrong action can result in death. VR provides an effective vehicle for learning new applications, technologies or sales training on new products such as a latest car model. The possibilities are endless. Since 2018, German logistics company Deutsche Bahn uses VR for immersivetraining experiences using an application called Engaging Virtual Reality. Recruiting Talent at a careers fair Like with any media, using the right technology to appeal to your target market will make your campaign more effective. It’s no secret that VR is more popular among younger users. 50% of users between the age groups of 20-29 and 30-39 are veryinterested in virtual reality, with only 6% expressing no interest at all. So when German railway company Deutsche Bahn wanted to recruit young talent they turned to VR experiences at a careers fair. Candidates could experience first-hand the lives of train conductors, electricians, and construction workers. The recruiting team found that exposing candidates to this experience resulted in higher-quality applications and candidates who were interested in the positions. “The idea is to give people a really good insight of the jobs at Deutsche Bahn. We want applicants to get a close look over the shoulder of an electrician or a train driver. That is something that makes the application process very tangible and very satisfying. We can show how fascinating jobs are in the real world,” says Kerstin Wagner, head of talentacquisition at Deutsche Bahn Mobility Logistics. VR for Charity Events Show your donors the actual impact of their contribution in a way they can almost touch and feel. Guide them through a ‘before and after’ experience that illustrates exactly what you can achieve together. A VR campaign does something many cause-driven organizations all over the world struggle to achieve. Virtual Reality can show donors exactly where their money is going and the outcome it achieves. Toms: Virtual Giving Trip. Toms, a popular shoe company, is well known for donating one pair of shoes to a child in need every time a customer buys their own pair. The charity found a new way to inspire its customers to give by taking them on a journey while wearing a VR headset. The Toms Virtual Giving Trip is narrated by Blake Mycoskie, the founder and Chief Shoe Giver of Toms, and one of his colleagues. As they describe the story of Toms’ founding, their VR experience takes viewers on a trip through Peru, where Blake and the shoe-giving team visit a school of children who are about to receive the shoes they need for the first time. VR for Sales Events and Launches From a virtual factory tour to product experience, VR can amp up a sales force and help them truly understand the product and your objectives. Beyond the event, a portable VR version of the content can be used to inspire their customers! Some companies aren’t limiting themselves to brining just products to their tradeshow, instead they’re using VR technology to bring the entire building with them. What better way to immerse customers into your brand. In 2016, Anheuser-Busch gave SXSW attendees a VR tour of their Budweiser St. Louisbrewery that involved seeing, hearing, and even smelling different parts of the facility. Users wore VR headsets and were led on a tour of different rooms to learn about the brew. When they toured near the hops that went into the beer, brewery employees held actual hops under the attendees’ noses. And of course, attendees got to taste the beer afterwards. Have you considered VR for your event Create an immersive experience that’s more engaging, interactive and persuasive than mere video. It’s more interesting and better at holding attention than simply presenting in the traditional form. VR is a perfect platform to take your audience deep into where you want their minds to be. The most important factors to consider in using VR at your event is what purpose does it serve, what story does it tell, and how are you going to obtain, customise, or create it? Avoid using VR purely as a gimmick. Instead, provide real value to attendees and stakeholders. The most important part of adopting any technology is the impact it will have on your strategic goals. Ask yourself what the goals of your event are first and then see how you can leverage VR to help get you there. Here’s some questions to think about when considering VR: Will utilising VR equipment help you attract and meet more contacts at your trade show booth? Do you want something to set you apart from other exhibitors? Would VR take your attendees to a location you are talking about, transport them into a building that is being proposed? Do you need to provide your audience with a more immersive way to experience your videos, photos, or games? Would your employees gain a deeper understanding of their training? Will VR show your donors how their investment can transform someone’s life. The goal is to make the experience more useful, impactful or memorable than what has been done previously, no matter what your event. The gear and the content VR can be experienced with something as simple as a cardboard holder for a smartphone paired with VR apps, or a high-tech immersive helmet and hand sensors wired up to a supercharged PC. The biggest emerging category of hardware in VR is stand-alone glasses, where the computer, vision, and sound are all contained in one battery powered lightweight device with wireless capability. A leading example of this is the Oculus Go, which is the model that Encore Event Technologies deploy on our events. Keep in mind the realities of the space required if you’re using VR for a competitive team challenge. If attendees are expected to swing, duck and dodge you’ll need to allocate enough room to avoid any ‘real-world’ injuries! Find out more about using VR in your events Many industries are now awash with great examples of VR and although it’s a little too soon to call it mainstream, it appears that we are reaching the tipping point. The technology is becoming cheaper and the number of companies producing these experiences is growing, which can only mean we will see it more not only at events but for a widening number of applications. Business investment will likely be a strong driver with demand to create virtual meetings in a time-poor world. There are already products coming to market that enable meeting attendees to dial into a boardroom and see, hear and interact with each other as if they were present. The question now is not if, but when and how you will be using VR in your events. At Encore we love finding ground-breaking event applications for new tools like VR. We’ve already produced experiences for many event types and purposes and are thrilled at the possibilities it presents. This is event planning on a new level. The ability to put your event ahead of the game offers memorable occasions not soon forgotten. Contact us to explore how we can take your next event to virtual new heights. ... Read More

Distance, varying time zones and the cost of accommodating travellers has led event managers and meeting planners to rethink how they bring people together. If a business is to stay connected, forging new paths is essential for retaining and maximising relationships without the need for a traditional face-to-face. It can be done. Video conferencing offers a solution. It’s the next best thing to being there, without the stress or expense. For events large or small, we've got you connected. Venues are recognising the need to accommodate this rising demand in video conferencing and as such all of Encore’s venue partners now have the capability to offer dedicated video conferencing platforms both for meetings and large events such as conferences. What is Video Conferencing? Video conferencing is the technology that allows you to hold online meetings with several participants who are located in different places while seeing and talking to them in real-time. It is different from simple video calling, which is normally one-to-one video communication. It can also be used for remote presenters at events to present to the audience from another location. What does it mean for you? If you’re are an EA or the one in charge of meeting arrangements, we’ve got news for you and it’s all good. Meetings can now be pre-planned over months or be instant and on-demand. For the large event organisers, this means you can overcome travel expenses or unexpected delays for your presenters by using video conferencing for them to present via. Here are our top reasons to embrace the business-minded benefits of video conferencing. Benefits of Video Conferencing for Events We’re busier than ever and more spread apart, but the need to stay connected has never been stronger. With more keynote speakers doing the international circuit event planners need a solution to overcome conflicting schedules and travel costs incurred with getting them to your conference or corporate event. The best video conferencing solutions strive for and deliver that sense of connectivity, conveniently and support you to ensure a professional, stress-free connection. Encore Connect can beam in your presenter in full screen from any location at a fraction of the cost it takes to bring them in from interstate or from all over the world. Your panel of experts need not even leave their desks for a truly collaborative experience. Use a professional service to take travel problems away. The unforeseen doesn’t have to ruin your event. The reality is people miss planes, get delayed both interstate and overseas. The expense can be a huge burden. Having to accommodate people in hotels, reschedule flights and make further travel arrangements need not be a concern any longer. What makes presenters the most nervous? The great unknown. Unfamiliar platforms or high-tech equipment can have people distracted from their purpose. Remove the anxiety with a video conferencing partner that understands you need your presenter to be focused and the audience to see and hear them perfectly. Take advantage of Encore’s exclusive first-of-its-kind rehearsal and on-boarding service with one of our expert technicians. This means you or your remote presenter can ensure you’re set up correctly, solve any vision or audio problems and confidently use the platform. You can’t ask for more peace of mind than that. Benefits of Video Conferencing for Small Meetings Today’s work environments have undergone some of the most progressive thinking since the invention of the humble office chair. With global companies offering workers varied locations and working arrangements, the need to communicate effectively and instantly no matter what the geographical location is essential. Smaller meetings can also benefit from video conferencing. No longer is it necessary for a business to go to the expense of bringing people in for a one-off conference, meeting or a one-day workshop. Diary conflicts? No problem. EAs and event planners don’t need to spend hours finding a future date that suits all parties which can often push important decision-making meetings out by weeks. Now all parties can run the meeting online from wherever they are, exactly as they would have done face-to-face. Small meetings aren’t exempt from the same complications of organising large ones. You may still need to overcome travel expenses, or deal with unexpected delays. You may need to organise the meeting instantly for those important decisions… all of which can be facilitated seamlessly with video conferencing. The convenience and quality of live video conferencing technology for small meetings means workplaces can be more productive and move faster. With Encore Connect, you and your colleagues can share ideas while seeing each other in HD quality. And with nearly 100 locations across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, finding a venue with Encore Connect is easy. Why Choose Encore Connect It’s no longer a matter of if you will use video conferencing software, but when. With the help of an experienced conferencing company, presenters are beamed in from any location, in real-time and fully versed in the technology they are using Thankfully businesses are not alone with conferencing venues recognising the demand to accommodate changing needs. Encore’s venue partners have the capability and the know-how to offer dedicated video conferencing service for any event. An all-in solution with no sacrifices. Sound good? Contact Encore Event Technologies for the best video conferencing service for your business. Our venue partners have the capability and on-site Encore team to offer a dedicated video conferencing service. Large or small, interstate or international, we've got you connected. Send an online enquiry or speak to us right away on 1800 209 099. ... Read More

Having a theme in mind is one thing. Bringing it all together to create a memorable event is something quite different. One of our favourite event concepts is creating an enchanted garden. The theme gives our event designers the creative freedom to design a magical setting across all elements of the room. And who doesn't love magic?! An enchanted garden or forest is a popular theme because it taps into fond childhood memories where our imagination ran wild. And the goal here is to replicate these warm feelings of nostalgia with subtle triggers thanks to creative event production techniques. Our expert event styling and design team have put together these helpful ideas and inspirational tips to make your enchanted garden or forest themed event something to be remembered. So, where’s a good place to start? Try the entry door. A Portal to Paradise – An enchanting entry feature The doors leading into the venue can be just as much a part of the experience as what’s behind them. Inviting entrances are key to creating a sense of initial excitement and setting the tone for what’s to come. More traditional forest themes would see vines creeping up the doors along with foliage real and artificial coupled with lighting to evoke mystery. For something a bit different you may want to go with the not so obvious. Think Narnia. The wardrobe was the entrance to another domain. Take inspiration from any of these kinds of fictional stories to create any entryway seemingly unassumingly. Your guests’ interest is piqued from the start. Who knows? Behind those doors may be another world. An enchanting entry way featuring lots of lush foliage, ornate mirrors, golden urns and a red carpet. Sound and Vision – Creating a magical event atmosphere Bring everything together as one. Designing an event that feels cohesive and seamless is the ultimate goal of an event designer and can be done with some thought and incorporation of great audio visual solutions like the following. Lighting Use warm colours to accentuate the magical feel of an enchanted forest. Fairy lights are your best friend, as are star covered cloths. The use of gobos will add movement and create layers of texture and ambience. Chandeliers add extravagance and enhance the sense of a setting being something quite opulent. Candles or tea lights always work well to soften and create a mood and add warmth to your table styling. Fairy lights and chandeliers offer warm and elegant lighting options for enchanted themed events. Green,amber and gold lighting and decorative gobos are clever ways to fill the room with a magical atmosphere. Ceiling Installations The appearance of lowered ceiling height will create a sense of intimacy. A warmer more magical feel can be created using draped fabrics, low hanging vines, florals and even tiny twinkling lights. Real foliage, ferns and leaves will add authenticity. Floral installations are a great way to create depth and make the space feel intimate. This garden ceiling installation was created using a mixture of real and fake foliage, green fabric and crystal beading. The Use of Backdrops Any stage can be transformed into a raised clearing on the edge of your enchanted forest with beautifully designed event backdrops. Walls of plants used purposefully with other greenery props and golden ornamental mirrors. Giant screens depicting forest creatures, or scenic imagery with cameras panning from the tops of trees to the forest ground. Dressing the stage with greenery, mirrors, chandeliers and gold decor creates a an elegant, enchanted look. Purposeful Sound FX This is where you can transform your guests. We are all visual but our sense of hearing can be our most powerful sense so combining your event audio and sound FX with your visual elements will complete the picture for your guests. Whistled breezes, animal sounds both sweet and alarming, or rain beating on leaves will have your guest stop and listen and transport them to your magical world. Table Styling Think about your guests when considering your centrepiece design. Obscured vision can be an oversight and dramatically affect a guest's experience. Decorate with a purpose to have the seating blend in with the rest of the room. Branches, ferns and vines can all create the right feeling. Let’s not forget about the scent of the forest. Tea lights and scented candles are an option where individual table adornment is preferred. Incorporate natural materials like woods, and twisted willow branches and avoid potent fragrances. Subtle works much better. Green foliage for table centrepieces are a go-to for an enchanted garden look. Remember line of sight is key for guests so consider tall vases or structures to hold the greenery. Twisted willow trees decorated in glass ornaments are another great centerpiece option for an enchanted garden theme. Performance Matters - Performance ideas for events For an enchanted forest setting, roaming entertainers play a large part in creating the right atmosphere. Wolves, deer, fairies, real and even mystical creatures can set the event apart. A successful theme will show them to be in their natural habitat. Remember the performers should flow and be unobtrusive. This is another world your guests have entered. Allow them to be in a place where they are free to leave reality at the door. The types of performances you choose is limited only by your imagination. From roaming acts, to magicians, aerialists to choirs and ballet acts. Anything goes. Design a visual story Connect with your guests from the very beginning. Set the stage and create a start that will be remembered well past the event date. What you can’t create in the room, you can on-screen. Design a presentation that carries the theme and continues the story. Imagine a huge screen backdrop with a pack of wolves running through the forest or gigantic treetops filled with twinkling fairy-like creatures. These powerful visuals can pull the event together and keep your audience’s attention on stage all night. Encore boats an incredible in-house team of multimedia designers who can turn your presentation slides into dynamic visual stories. With this immersive mindset, you have the capability to transport people somewhere far away, to affect their senses and create an unforgettable experience. It’s the subtle art of connection through ambience and tone. That’s a very powerful thing. Partner with the creative story tellers Transforming a blank canvas into a magical world takes creativity, the tools and a lot of skill. An experienced event production and technology company, with the knowledge and talent, will take your ideas and bring them to life. Encore Event Technologies have had the pleasure of transforming spaces into enchanted forests, kingdoms and gardens for clients around the Asia Pacific. It’s one of those event concepts that you can never get tired of. If you are looking to transport your guests to a magical world, we have the ideas, the production solutions and the experts to make your event the success you imagined. Make your enchanted garden event a reality with the help of an experienced audio visual and event production company. Get in touch with us today so we can start discussing your event requirements and share ideas on how to bring it to life - Send us an online enquiry and one of our team members will be back shortly. ... Read More

Check out the latest highlight events our team have delivered across the regions. From our largest show to delivered this year delivered up in Far North Queensland for Amway China, across to a vibrant 3 day conference held in tropical Fiji, down to a gorgeous vintage theatre themed awards night and an enchanting forest in Adelaide. Our teams have been super busy flexing our creative muscles and pushing the boundaries with innovative event technology to design the unforgettable. Below you’ll see a snapshot of some the amazing work our teams produce to help inspire your next events! If you have any questions about the events or our solutions please get in touch with our National Sales Director, Michael Magafa . QUEENSLAND Amway China Seminar and Incentive Program Venue: Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum (AAAM) Encore produced a spectacular nature inspired leadership seminar for 6,000 guests, who arrived in 7 waves, in Cairns for Amway China. . Amway China returned to Australia for the sixth time with more than 6,000 guests for their annual 2019 Leadership Seminar, this time held in Cairns. Seven waves of guests attended the 4-day seminar and incentive program between 21 March – 15 April. Designed and organised by Encore Event Technologies, the business sessions and concluding Gala Program treated guests to a spectacular experience including a special blended reality sequence created using layered multimedia, holographics and choreographed robotics show with a live performer. The 'Rainforest to Reef' themed Gala Program was a highlight for the destination incentive, allowing Encore to design four totally bespoke immersive experiences - Rainforest, Beach, Reef and River - using creative technical production. Each environment was themed using a gigantic 270-degree screen that wrapped around the inside of the venue, table-styling which incorporated lighting design, customised soundscapes and roaming performers. Within each of the four environments was a key performance sequence that brought it to life. The opening 'Rainforest' environment concluded with a spectacular thunder and lightning performance by the edgy Million Volt Man - one of the most extreme live performances that involves stunts using a high-voltage Tesla coil. This then transitioned beautifully into the second environment 'Beach' which included an artistic Fabric Ballet performance featuring 18 DMX controlled fans with beautifully choreographed dancing and costuming designed by the talented Katie Kermond. The third sequence 'Reef' featured an entertaining game simulation of an underwater treasure hunt made possible using a range of AV techniques, collectively referred to as blended reality. The journey saw a live performer participate in the underwater adventure using layered multimedia with a holographic mesh screen, LEDs, and choreographed robotics show. A major highlight of the Gala was the performance in the 'River' sequence - the final environment for the evening's journey. The ‘Fish Medley’ act included a singing and dancing animated multimedia fish on computer controlled Robotic LED screens that moved with the music. Custom designed tropical reef inspired centrepieces decorated each table, each individually lit with both intelligent pin-spotting and wireless DMX battery powered lighting for every table. In addition, at the completion of the four performance segments, delegates were treated to an amazing high energy performance by The Voice China star Uni Yeh performing with a live band and a team of local dancers. Encore also supplied delegates with fun, luminous head dresses so they could feel part of the theming for the event. “The guests were blown away by the 270-degree multimedia projection, holographic projection and synchronized robotics. The creative event design was matched with cutting-edge use of technology to create an amazing experience for guests,” said Encore’s Show Producer, Andrew MacColl. Amway chose to enhance the attendee experience by selecting a new and unusual venue for the event and the newly constructed wing of the Australian Artillery and Armoury Museum (AAAM) was perfect for both the Gala Dinner and Business Sessions. The venue is the largest military vehicle museum on the southern hemisphere. The delegates were treated to a specially created Tank Show in the parklands behind the museum featuring some of the best of these rare and historical vehicles, including dramatic gun blasts and explosions created with pyrotechnics. However, this unique venue presented major challenges as an event venue; it came without rated rigging points, three-phase power, guest Wi-Fi facilities nor air-conditioning. “Working in such a unique venue had its challenges, but also many benefits in that it allowed our team the opportunity to maximise their creativity to bring to life a blank canvas. Special Event Director, John Schryver designed a truly unique and immersive experience which will undoubtedly be remembered long after the event. The team bought his design to life and delivered the series of events flawlessly,” said Mr MacColl. Tony Chamberlain, Managing Director, Encore, said it was an honour to work with Amway China again especially in such an iconic and unique Australian location. “The team have been engaged in meticulous planning for months after winning the bid to manage this event. On-site we managed 20 days of install and rehearsals. Then the team delivered both Business Sessions and the Gala Dinner for each of the seven waves. “Our goal was to create an event that showcased the beauty of Far North Queensland while also demonstrating what is possible for a creative business event. Our talented team achieved all this and more, in a challenging venue. This event will go down in Encore history as one of the best,” said Mr Chamberlain. VICTORIA Tourism Australia Accommodation Awards (VIC) Venue: Grand Hyatt Melbourne Encore designs a fresh take on "A Night at the Theatre" For nearly a decade, Encore have had the pleasure of working with Tourism Accommodation Australia (VIC) to deliver their annual awards. As with every year, the brief is to deliver a totally new and immersive experience, and this year's theme gave Encore the permission to deliver just that. The TAA (VIC) Awards for Excellence recognises Victoria’s finest accommodation hotels and venue staff and celebrates dedication and achievement in the hospitality industry. Nearly 500 esteemed guests, nominees and representatives from Victoria's finest accommodation hotels attended the awards night at Grand Hyatt Melbourne in late June. Driven by the night's entertainment Encore were engaged to design an evening to emulate the experience of attending the theatre. Guests were treated with an array of beverages upon arrival. As they entered the room they were transported into a 1920’s theatre. Gold draping and all the elements of the front and “back of house” in a functioning theatre were strategically placed around the Savoy Ballroom by the Encore Design team. Key elements for the evening was the digital banner and the interactive stage set. The intention behind the digital banner was to create maximum impact on entry by incorporating 3 6mW x 1.2m H projection surfaces that emulated the exterior of the theatre with in-house multimedia loop that featured a ‘NOW SHOWING’ animated banner with the name of the event. Taking a fresh approach to a 'theatre' themed stage set, Encore chose to incorporate both the back and front of house of a theatre as a homage to those in the room. Looking not only at the glitz and glamour, but all the hard working people behind the scenes. The 'front of house' half of the stage was beautifully draped in gold with a sparkling chandelier the “Stage” also housed surprise tab track reveal for opera singers, mid way through the event. Whilst the remaining 'back of house' section took on a darker, more industrial look dressed with truss, lighting bars, ropes and hessian bags to mimic the workings of backstage. The black pressed metal bar acted not only as a make up station for the actors, but the lectern itself. A light haze filled the room with sophisticated lighting design and thoughtfully positioned pin spotting to accentuate the lush, green herbaceous edible centrepieces created by both Executive head chef Dane Clouston and Encore. The creation of animated presentations for all award nominees and winners followed the theatre theme throughout the evening. Guests marvelled in the creative flair displayed by the Encore Multimedia team. All multimedia for the event was thematically considered and painstakingly developed to enhance the theatre experience and celebrate those in the room – both finalists and winners. Our Multimedia team was responsible for the delivery of all on screen content for the evening. Walk in animated feature on the projection marquee 16:9 Animated Holding slide Sponsors loop Opening package featuring their hotels and nominated accommodation staff All finalists packages All winners packages Working in conjunction with Grand Hyatt Melbourne’s leading chef, we seamlessly incorporated a level theatre glamour onto the tables, with our Smokey Mirror cubes giving sparkle amongst a table bursting with potted herbs, which set the scene for the fresh and local menu for the evening. A refined menu of share plates was presented to the tables for both entree and mains, allowing for interaction between guests and conversation about how good the dining experience actually was! After the formal proceedings had concluded and many a glass of chardonnay consumed, guests made their way back to the PFA where they were treated with a creative array of desserts. Post sweet sensations, anyone who was up for cutting some shapes, or to socialise and network, made their way to the Grand Hyatt Residence space where Encore provided some stylish lighting to accompany the DJ who was playing all the bangers! As 1am rolled around the last of the true hospitality party animals respectively made their way to the taxi rank or we lucky enough to be retiring to a suite upstairs. All in all guests experienced a truly enjoyable and encompassing night of sleek production, food, wine and entertainment. From the client, "I want to extend a big thank you to Encore for all your help and dedication on our TAA (Vic) Awards. Your flexibility with last minute changes, and an ever changing event brief, all the video content – I know it was a lot to ask, and you really made the whole process so easy and flawless come the event night. Thank you. We look forward to next year!" SOUTH AUSTRALIA Adelaide Crows Annual Gala Venue: Adelaide Entertainment Centre Every year the Crows host a fundraising event in support of the Adelaide Crows Children's Foundation. The event is one of the Club’s largest events of the year. This year was a visual extravaganza with a croquet theme, a fun play-on-word on the Club’s name, the Adelaide Crows. As the club’s official audio visual partner, Encore was thrilled to be delivering the event at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for another year. The brief was to design an elegant gala event with a croquet club, garden party theme for 1,000 guests. Here is what we delivered. The size and height of the venue made it possible to design and create an amazing ceiling installation which was created via two giant circular truss hung from the roof. An 8m circle of 50 Scenic Panels framed the installation and encased an inner 6m circle of beautiful foliage. Below this hung beautiful crystal balls which twinkled in the lights. The ceiling feature extended throughout the room with 600m of festoon lighting and 400m of bunting. The stage comprised of three 16ft tall portrait style screens interspersed with 8 x 7m totem formation of up-lit Scenic Panels matching the ceiling installation and flanked by two giant screens at either side. The stage continued the croquet theme with white picket fencing, green grass carpeting and a lectern complete with croquet hammers and foliage. The team delivered a complete event production solution, encompassing all audio, vision, lighting, staging, multimedia creation, styling and production management. The event theme was brought to life as soon as guests arrived at the venue. An entrance feature and photo opportunity was created comprising light up letters spelling AFC. The area was encased with picket fencing and decorated with on-theme props including a grass carpet, croquet hammers and plants. MC for the evening was Ryan Fitzgerald (Fitzy), players and past coaches accompanied him on stage and were supported by Nathan Casserly and Alex Ouwens from OC Real Estate as the Auctioneers. Entertainment for the night was provided by Brian Ruiz plus band. Around the room were silent auction areas framed with additional festoon lighting and count-down screens. A Toyota RAV 4 was the lucky door price for the evening and finalists were invited to come on stage for a croquet challenge, with the winner of the car generously donating the prize back to the charity. The annual Crows Gala Auction is a hotly anticipated event for the Encore Adelaide team. The event gives us the opportunity to create truly immersive experiences and we love jumping through hoops to deliver something completely different each year and look forward to next year’s creative brief! From the Adelaide Football Club, "The Events team here at the Adelaide Football Club look forward to this Annual Event as much as Encore. We have an extremely strong working relationship with Encore which allows us to deliver events such as this. When we met with Encore the theme was decided and we discussed all elements of the event from styling, multimedia requirements and production. "With so many elements involved including a vehicle on stage, MC, a multitude of performers including a five piece band and two Auctioneers, it was smooth sailing from bump in to bump out. Encore handled last minutes run sheet changes during the event without a hitch. "The feedback from our guests and Executive has been overwhelming in relation to the entrance and the room. We believe this set the scene for the night and contributed to our overall result." FIJI Annual Sales Conference Venue: InterContinental Fiji Gold & Spa Resort A wonderful setting in Fiji for The Wonderful Company's year's sale conference Encore in Fiji were engaged by leading US health food company, The Wonderful Company, to deliver their annual sales conference for 200 high-performing team members in tropical Fiji. Held between 3 - 7 June 2019 at the InterContinental Fiji Golf & Spa Resort, as the in-house AV and event services partner, Encore collaborated with Rosie Hollidays who provided all the styling, decor and concept for the event. The event program comprised a Welcome Dinner at Kama beachfront, followed by two full days of conference sessions, a White party dinner on Thursday before a final day of conference sessions before flying home. The event vision was clear from the outset and the client’s prior production experience helped make the process run smoothly. The final concept was significantly larger than what was initially proposed as The Wonderful Company grew more excited about the event and more confident in Encore’s capabilities. The Welcome Dinner held on the foreshore of the resort was all about setting the tone for the event to come. There was lots of vibrant, colourful lighting to echo the tropical surroundings with guests even treated to a special ‘welcome drink’ in a kava ceremony - a traditional Fijian welcoming ritual. The tropical vibes continued into the design of the main conference in the Ballroom; the stage was dressed with a cane matting, the bright palm-tree imagery on the large 20ft x 11ft rear projector screen, as well as the suspended hollow wooden hearts which were used as a branding device. Across all of the events, The Wonderful Company's heart-shaped logo was incorporated in various ways from a gobo projected onto the roof at the Welcome Dinner, the suspended wooden hearts in the conference design and a special custom-made 5m flaming heart for the closing White Party. The scope and production management involved with delivering this event on the 4th tee of the golf course presented many challenges for the Encore team to overcome. There was actually a pro golf tournament happening at the time, which meant Encore had to coordinate the bump-in to occur at a specific time and work around their schedule. An event of this scale meant we were coordinating 9 external suppliers, with a tight turnaround on a remote location, definitely presented many challenges. However the event went off without a hitch – even the ‘59 Chevelle car used for as a photo prop made it through Fijian customs just in time. Lighting was key to the event. We started the night with a blue wash, cloaking the event and which made the all-white guests and décor stand out. Then as the night progressed we continued to changed the lighting colours and effects using our wirelessly controlled uplighting to suit the mood and energy as the event continued into the wee hours. As the big finale guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks display. A wonderful ending to The Wonderful Company’s sales conference. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Red Ball (SA) 2019 Venue: InterContinental Adelaide Encore transformed the Ballroom at InterContinental Adelaide into a lush Enchanted Forest for the Fight Cancer Foundation's fourth annual Red Ball Adelaide held on Saturday 1 June. The gala gave Encore's styling & design team in Adelaide a chance to flex their creative muscles, not leaving a stone in the ballroom unstyled, so to speak. After guests journeyed down the red carpet they were greeted with a beautiful fern-covered archway with decadent gold plinths and spiral topiary plants either side. This was the first clue as to the kind of evening they had instore. Once they entered what used to be a room, the guests were dazzled by the glowing fairy lights, chandelier-filled ceiling and lush greenery all around the room. The stage backdrop was styled beautifully using an array or mirrors, chandeliers and gold mirror frames floating against a tall planter wall. Tables were styled with alternate centrepieces; a mixture of gold twisted willow trees decorated with glass ornaments and tangled in fairy lights with the other being styled a large arrangement of fresh ferns by Botanic Poetry with red beads at the bottom of each vase to incorporate the Fight Cancer Foundation's colour red. Encore projected the night's content onto two 13ft screens flanking either side of the main stage and used the InterContinental Adelaide's Mh5 Moving Head pin spots to cast beautiful coloured lights and patterns around the room. The enchanted evening was hosted by Adam Giles and included a special performance from Glenn Shorrock. The gala was a huge success, raising more than $116,000 to support South Australian children living with cancer! "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Encore again….. particularly this year and would have no hesitation in working with you again if circumstances permit and to recommend you both. I have had so many wonderful comments about the event….so thank you again for working with me to make it such a success." Jennifer Carnell, Fundraising Coordinator South Australia, Fight Cancer Foundation AUCKLAND Barfoot & Thompson Annual Awards 2019 Venue: SKYCITY Convention Centre Auckland Our Encore team in Auckland partnered with leading real estate brand, Barfoot & Thompson, to deliver their annual awards night in recognizing high performing staff and offices. Held in the Ballroom at SKYCITY Convention Centre Auckland, we delivered a very grand, decadent awards setting for 520 guests. Providing an end-to-end solution for this long-term client, we designed a big Hollywood awards style evening – big custom stage set, with custom on-screen content, red carpet, lots of gold and warm tones. Encore provided a total production solution from initial concept through to execution and management on show night. Upon arrival guests were ushered down a glamorous red carpet posing in front of the 4m media wall to have their 'paparazzi' shot taken. Being an awards night, the hero of the event design was the bespoke stage set comprising of 2 x 15m wide screens, 8 hexagonal panels and a large 15m x 4.5m low res LED screen - the entire design spanning a total of 32m wide! A challenge in the production process was finding projector fabric large enough for the screens, leaving our team to import it from the UK as there is no seamless fabric tat large in New Zealand. Leading up to this impressive stage set, our team built a custom grand staircase in a hexagonal shape to complement the hexagonal screen panels and the gold wire hexagonal table centrepieces. We collaborated closely with B&Ts marketing agency who was responsible for producing their on-screen content. It was important we met week in the lead up to the event to review the content and provide technical feedback to make sure it was feasible and provide creative insight as to what could be possible. Our production team brought this content to life on stage using our Watchout media server and some of the largest projectors in the country - 4 x 30K projectors - which included some projection mapping prowess to line up the single image across the entire set including the hexagonal panels. Lighting design comprised of static, amber-coloured pin spots lighting each onto each table, 8 profile lights rigged to the ceiling with 16 from the floor, casting beams of light around the room with gobo beams breaking them up. During each award a ballyhoo lighting effect was used giving it that Hollywood awards feel “similar to a lighting drumroll effect”. We created a beautiful canopy effect on the ceiling using luxurious gold draping interspersed with warm fairy lights with black draping to dress the venue walls. Guest were treated to a mesmerising performance by a trio with the Grand Piano as we all as a special performance from popular New Zealand singer-songwriter Lizzie Marvelly. The choice of gold tones, warm lighting, a flashy dramatic stage set with big, orchestral music all worked beautifully together to create one memorable awards night. -- Partner with the production specialists for your next event At Encore, we believe in turning ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. With Australia's largest range of event production solutions at our fingertips, we have the creativity and technology to bring your event vision to life. From conferences, galas and exhibitions to sale incentives, product launches and touring roadshows; we have the network, experience and equipment to deliver your event seamlessly. Get in touch with us today to start discussing the requirements for your upcoming events. ... Read More

Do you think you’ve seen it all before? Think again. Performances at events are common place. From dance troupes, magicians, quick-change acts to aerialists, bands and more. It can be a challenge finding the right entertainment to re-energise and captivate your guests. And thanks to social media, the challenge of discovering a new experience is only amplified as anything worth sharing is shared; to hundreds, thousands and millions of people in an instant. So what’s the answer? Creative technical production to cast a new light on these performances, elevating them from something you’ve seen before to something never experienced. Are you ready? The Point of Engagement So, why does your event need enhanced performances? If you’ve held events before, you’ve figured out putting on a great display goes beyond a disco ball and a spotlight. The connection between an on stage performance and what’s going on in the background has the powerful ability to build excitement in the audience and confidence in the performer. When it’s done right, performers will thrive on what’s happening around them, while the guests are left with an experience they won’t expect. Any venue can become a part of your presenter’s performance, not just simply accommodation for a captive audience. Below are some ideas on how event producers are building this connection between performers and the event environment using a combination of audio visual greatness and a healthy dose of creativity. The Fine Art of Light and Sound In terms of event planning, delivering something unexpected for guests has become increasingly difficult as each year passes. The good news is new technologies and the latest in crowd-pleasing AV techniques give us a vast number of ways to deliver something extraordinary. Lighting design with flair Lighting creates mood. Actually, it has the ability to alter mood, which is a very powerful thing, when you think about it. When it comes to performances, the effect of lighting goes far beyond simply shining a light on them. Clever lighting design can shape a performance. There are a myriad of lighting equipment and techniques to set the tone of a performance such as static and moving pinspots, ballyhoo, uplights, hazy smoke effects and more. Combining light and colour can alter a room’s ambience, synchronising seamlessly with the performance for dramatic impact. And sometimes, no lighting at all at the right time during a performance can have the biggest effect of them all. They all have their place. Enhance the atmosphere with sounds Music and sound also have the ability to transform. There’s not too many of us who don’t have memories attached to certain sounds, music or a particular song. The right combination can create the perfect atmosphere to complement any performance and take guests on the journey. Set the Stage and the Performer Imagine a room where you can be transported into the eye of a storm, a sea filled with jellyfish, or even a rainforest. The same room can take your guests back in time with large scale imagery of days gone by. Your set design can give your performances the backdrop they need to elevate their impact. We’ve created wide vistas of jungles for rope artist performance, of the Italian coastline for a Bond themed dance and custom designed a set to replicate a large ship for a dance performance as part of an HMAS themed gala. Lighting that moves Kinetic lighting is new addition to our lighting arsenal. By using a combination of mechanics and lighting, movement prevails, synchronised and relevant to your events theme or your soundtrack. Kinetic Lights are a lighting system that is rigged to the ceiling and turns any vast space into a dazzling light display. The lights are programmed to change colour, flicker, glow and can be choreographed to move up and down in sync with a performance. We’ve used them to enhance an aerialists performance, a band and even to amp up the crowd for high-energy opening act of a gala dinner. Wall to floor imagery If large screen TV’s are your thing, then you’ll love the latest in wall to floor LED screens allowing for an incredible 3D experience. Latest LED screens allow content to seamlessly extend from the wall down to the floor creating an immersive 3D effect. This is the perfect backdrop to transport your performers to distant places, back in time or underwater – any setting is possible with our team of in-house designers. But wait, there’s more. Mind-bending illusions with projection mapping and holographic technology Want to change the appearance of the performer’s outfit to blend in with the background? You can, thanks to projection mapping. Depending on the type of performance, projection mapping 2D and 3D content onto the stage set or another object they interact with, is another way to enhance the performance and tell the story. Our team in Sydney used projection mapping to change the outfit of an aerialist for a gala in Sydney. We’ve turned a static stage set into a moving alien world for performers to interact with at the launch of a new video game. We’ve even used projection mapping to change the backdrop behind performers, continually transporting them to different spaces as the performance transpired. What about creating a holographic-like experience to have a performer appear to be swimming in underwater? For a large destination incentive, our team created an entertaining game simulation of an underwater treasure hunt made possible using a range of AV techniques, collectively referred to as blended reality. The journey saw a live performer participate in the underwater adventure using layered multimedia with a holographic mesh screen, LEDs, and choreographed robotics show. Holographic mesh screen & Holograms enhance the event by offering the once thought impossible. In Canberra we used the holographic mesh screen to make the presenter appear on stage interviewing himself as if there were actually two of him. This holographic effect can even be used for dance performances. Dancers projected onto a backdrop, with the help of sensors, can interact and even mimic what’s happening on stage, making it appear as though their shadow was dancing. Immerse your audience in the performance by combining these innovative solutions with creative lighting design and sound FX. So how is it done? Smartly. Creatively. Intuitively. Leave Everyone Wanting More This is not about distracting your guests from what’s happening on stage, but rather soaking them in the entire atmosphere and transporting them to another world, even if it’s only for a few hours. A performance supported by the right creative production goes beyond something you witness to something you experience. And that’s where unforgettable moments resonate. From a return on investment point of view, if you’re spending big dollars on getting the big names to perform at your event, give them the experience that even they’ll never forget with creative production. See for Yourself: Speak to the AV experts for your next event At Encore, we understand how long it takes to plan and organise the type of events that become the talk of the town. You want the lighting to be perfect, the visual messaging to be strong, the audio to be mesmerizing, and the live performances to truly shine. There's no room for half measures, especially when your audience is comprised of individuals who've been bombarded by all kinds of media and have likely seen it all. The only way to impress them is with an all-encompassing solution that consists of the most cutting edge AV technology and techniques available. Bringing the right solutions to your brief requires expertise. That’s exactly what Encore Event Technologies has in abundance. Contact us to have your ordinary event transform into an extraordinary experience. ... Read More

See how we used custom table projection mapping to create an extraordinary dining experience for this year's Living Grand dinner at Grand Hyatt Melbourne; delivered a holographic-like experience for the Top Secret 2019 Dinner in Canberra, built a 48m wide custom stage set for Volkswagen and so much more. Below you’ll see a snapshot of some the amazing work our teams produce to help inspire your next events! If you have any questions about the events or our solutions please get in touch with our National Sales Director, Michael Magafa . VICTORIA Living Grand Client Appreciation Venue: Grand Hyatt Melbourne Encore had the pleasure of partnering with Hyatt Australia to deliver a unique culinary and visual journey for its VIP clients as part of the annual Living Grand event. Hosted at Grand Hyatt Melbourne in February, Encore created the immersive experience by combining audio visual theatrics, lighting design and creative styling with the world-class custom projection mapping to stimulate sight, sounds, taste, small and touch. Watch the video below to re-live the Living Grand Dinner 2019 48 VIPs were led down a dark tunnel into a dimly lit room, surrounded by black drapes with ambient music playing in the background. The room was sparse, with minimal styling and theming building intrigue as to what was to follow. Once guests were seated, the journey began, completely immersing them in the sounds and visuals, complimenting the menu course by course. The entree took guests underwater with sounds of the ocean filling the room and swimming fish flawlessly projection mapped onto the tables and drapes. Then when the sorbet was served, it was accompanied by images and sounds of ice breaking and shattering throughout the room. The main course was themed fire and smoke. Diners were blindfolded before the sounds of burning wood and fire floated through the air. The Encore team then projection mapped fire onto the table while mains were served. Along with the sizzling of food on the grill, the room was filled with low fog slowly rising from the floor as the guests took off their blindfolds. The final course was an ode to Willy Wonka with the room lighting up with the colours of liquorice Allsorts, a chocolate river flowing down the tables and the infamous theme song of the Oompah Loompas playing. For this night to be a success, the timing of the projection and audio had to be perfect. Grand Hyatt Melbourne General Manger, Ilan Weill was thrilled with the work Encore produced. “We of course appreciated your innovation and hard work to meet the deadlines and listen to us. However, the special thank you I would like to convey is for your partnership and amazing spirit working and having fun with us on what was a last-minute idea and turned out to be a fully produced wow type of night. Your patience, great attitude, talent and how you joined forces with us on the night was felt by everyone involved and we really appreciated working together as one team,” said Mr Weill. “We are delighted to call you our partners – Thank you again!” QUEENSLAND Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit 2019 Venue: Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Delivering a big stage solution for Volkswagen Encore was set the challenge to create a memorable high-end audio-visual feast communicating the ‘Iconic’ theme for the Volkswagen Customer Xperience Summit 2019. The event welcomed over 800 delegates in two streams from across the Volkswagen dealer network at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane on 19-21 February 2019. Conceived and convened by Volkswagen Australia Director of Customer Experience and Marketing Jason Bradshaw, more than 800 Volkswagen Group Australia staff and delegates from the nationwide dealership network have attended what is believed to be the biggest customer training exercise held by an auto importer in this country. The commanding stage set delivered a massive impact. Encore’s technical team created a mammoth screen consisting of 5 custom borderless screens combined to form one large canvas of 48m wide, this included two curved screens at either end to frame the 28m custom black acrylic stage. Over 150 pixel mapped LED neon tubes encased the top and bottom of the screens creating a futuristic feel and complementing video content. Two circular stages made of black reflective acrylic built either side of the screens created a platform for two of the latest Volkswagen vehicles launched at the event. This impressive event delivered a series of captivating on-screen animated experiences on the huge projection surface which flowed thru to the pixel mapped lighting effects adding an extra level of excitement and drama. The central screen was also recessed to enable the speakers to make a dramatic entrance from behind the stage set. By day the impressive stage was beautifully lit with red and blue with spotlights shining on the cars and reflective stage. During the conference the dramatic staging hosted Omar Johnson VP of Marketing for Apple, followed by presentations by a number of guest speakers and dealers. During the gala event in the evening the premium dealer awards were presented. The lighting show was ramped up to the maximum, plus pyrotechnics, the release of thousands of streamers and CO2 canon blasts to celebrate the major awards. Michael Magafa, National Sales Director for Encore was delighted with the impact created by the giant stage set and the overall seamless delivery of the event. “The brief was to create a big impression, so we delivered a huge solution! The stage encased the entire room and the team designed an impressive lighting and projection solution to captivate the guests. I am very proud of the team’s flawless delivery for our client.” AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Top Secret 2019 Dinner Venue: National Convention Centre Canberra Encore Event Technologies (Encore) served up an incredible holographic-like experience for some of Australia’s leading event industry professionals, at the “Love and Desire” themed Top Secret 2019 Dinner on Friday 22 March. Hosted by the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC), as part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), this dinner was part of a 3-day program run by the Canberra Convention Bureau (CCB). The program consists of a series of individualised experiences for an exclusive group of national meeting planners. Showcasing business event product and services, the program allows Canberra’s events community to demonstrate the calibre of events in our nation’s capital. The hero of the night was Encore’s expert use of a holographic mesh screen, highlighting the venue as a premium event space and showcasing the technology available when holding an event at the NCCC in conjunction with Encore. Using the holographic mesh screen, Encore created animated content such as a hot air balloon that appear as though it was floating through the air. Known for their innovation, Encore really broke the mould for the Top Secret 2019 Dinner bringing Stephen Wood, General Manager of the National Convention Centre Canberra into the room through a hologram. Guests were able to watch Mr Wood standing onstage, interviewing himself as if there were actually two of him. The use of holographic mesh screens is usually only seen at big budget events such as Eurovision and the Grammys, or on television. However, Encore were able to demonstrate to event managers how this technology is possible at their events with the right team and the right venue. Mr Wood commented, “We love working with Encore, they always manage to outdo themselves with their innovation and creativity, and this event was no exception.” The theme for the 3 day familiarisation was “Love and Desire”, based on the current exhibition on display at the National Gallery of Australia. On each table were large 2D Scenic Panels on custom frames, designed to look like garden lattices in the shape of hearts as a nod to pre-Raphaelite theme of the “Love and Desire” exhibition. Directly above the tables were 20 LED Kinetic Lights, programmed to move with the music and change colour throughout the night, creating a truly spectacular lighting display. Also taking inspiration from the “Love and Desire” theme was the night’s entertainment. During the event, two actors from the Shakespeare by the Lake performance rose up after being hidden as guests and began to perform some of the Bard’s most famous sonnets. Continuing the surprises, instead of using one main screen, Encore set up four 60in televisions across one truss structure on the main stage. They displayed the animated logos of Encore, NCCC, CCB and IHG in front of scrolling panoramic shots of Canberra spread across the 4 screens as a single wide screen image, showcasing the beauty of the city. “This was a truly sophisticated and memorable event. The National Convention Centre Canberra and guests were delighted with the outcome, and we can’t thank Encore enough,” said Mr Wood. VICTORIA Lunar New Year Venue: Crown Melbourne New technology for New Year Celebrations at Crown Melbourne VIP guests from China celebrated the Lunar New Year in style at Crown Melbourne on Friday 22 February. Encore created an atmosphere of opulence and splendour with their stunning table projection, multimedia, audio visual services and styling. The highlight of the evening was the spectacular custom table projections that greeted guests as they entered the River Room and found their seats. The content projected onto each individual table was the perfect blend of Chinese tradition, opulence and technical innovation. On each table, cranes flew around the circular table, fish swam between glasses and flowers grew from plates as the different animated looks circled each table and even individual plates. On top of the Lazy Susan, the menu for the night was projected in both English and Chinese, rotating, so all guests could read it. Then as food arrived, Encore masked the projection on the Lazy Susan and plates, so the colour didn’t affect the look of the food while the areas surrounding each continued with projected with animation. As well as the projection mapping, Encore created a beautiful light show adding excitement to the entertainment while enabling the projection show to shine. Encore’s beautiful styling enhanced the theme. Red was chosen as the main colour as it symbolises luck, happiness and joy in Chinese culture. The team used varying shades of red in the lighting, stage set and table projections, while also laying red carpet to cover the entire floor and hanging red swagged drapes to create a seamless look. Two large screens framed either side of the stage with a sign displaying a custom designed Year of the Pig insignia in the middle of the stage. Also outlining the stage was an intricate stage set that was Laser cut to look like lattice in a traditional Chinese garden interwoven with cherry blossom branches. During the night, guests were entertained by a high energy violinist, lion dancer, and magician. Each entertainment act had their own animated table projection to complement their performance – a sparkling display of glitter for the violinist, a small animated dragon for the lion dancer and the magician’s logo for his performance. AUCKLAND New Years Eve Venue: SKYCITY Convention Centre Auckland Encore Event Technologies (Encore) treated guests at the SKYCITY NYE Party 2018 to a showstopping, Las Vegas-themed audio visual spectacular at SKYCITY Convention Centre, Auckland. The talented team at Encore were entrusted with the event, designed to enthral the most valuable of VIP’s on the biggest party night of the year – and they didn’t disappoint! Capturing the unique and glamorous atmosphere of a Las Vegas show, guests were transported to one of the world’s most famous districts with a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement. Encore created the stunning aesthetic with bold and colourful lighting choices, innovative stage styling and carefully crafted audio to support the entertainment that immersed the audience in the Las Vegas theme. The hero of the night was Encore’s lighting solutions. With over 100 LX Fixtures around the room and moving LX fixtures attached to truss droppers and totems on the stage, Encore turned the back wall into a lighting backdrop. To keep guests entertained, the stage was framed on either side by two 20ft screens and two 16ft screens, all displaying multimedia content created by Encore. This custom content was projected onto the screens using four 7K laser projectors and a Barco S3. Guests danced the night away with back-to-back entertainment such as illusionists, dancers, singers and an 8-piece band. During these acts, the lighting became part of the show, working seamlessly into the performances on stage. SKYCITY were once again thrilled with Encore’s work and the creativity and efficiency they demonstrated in producing an unforgettable night. Encore have been creating mesmerising events at SKYCITY for 15 years, managing to outdo themselves each time. QUEENSLAND Cairns Taipans Season Celebration Venue: Pullman Cairns International The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans celebrated their 20th anniversary year and the 2018-19 NBL season on Friday 22 February at the Pullman Cairns International. It was a celebratory night for the Taipans, marking 20 year history as well as acknowledging they are the only local sports team competing at a national level, so club officials wanted to give their players, local supporters and sponsors an unforgettable night. As the in-house event services provider, Encore was tasked with delivering an experiences befitting of the occasion. Inside the Grand Ballroom, Encore created the stage set using interlocked 2D and 3D Scenic Panels. When lit, the intricate patterns of the Scenic Panels cast beautiful shapes and shadows turning the backdrop into a feature piece. In the centre, the team engineered a 3D Scenic Panel formation in a diamond shape which became the frame for the 20th Anniversary logo. Each element of the stage set was spaced one metre back from the next creating visual depth and an innovative 3D effect. Lighting design was key to the overall event concept using a variety of equipment from moving lights, uplights and washes, profiles and more. The creative lighting choices were set to a theme of orange, navy and purple – the Taipans team colours. Centrepieces were designed using the team’s basketballs placed on top of glass vases – a simple, yet very fitting design for the event and its guests. Following the main awards ceremony, it was time for the party to begin. With the DJ playing through the flawless sound system and Encore’s lighting operator putting on a show with unique lighting effects, guests had a great time dancing and celebrating. -- Partner with the production specialists for your next event At Encore, we believe in turning ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. With Australia's largest range of event production solutions at our fingertips, we have the creativity and technology to bring your event vision to life. From conferences, galas and exhibitions to sale incentives, product launches and touring roadshows; we have the network, experience and equipment to deliver your event seamlessly. Get in touch with us today to start discussing the requirements for your 2019 events. ... Read More

A backdrop used to be just that – a painted curtain that was ‘dropped’ at the back of a stage; it literally ‘set the scene’ in a show. In 2019, the concept is still the same, but backdrops can be printed, rigged, flown, or projected, and can be made of canvas, LED screens, moving objects, holograms or be totally virtual. Whatever your event, there’s a perfect backdrop that will enhance the theme and message you’re trying to convey, whatever your budget. Here’s Encore Event Technologies’ run-down of the tricks in our stage design toolkit… LED Screens Screens made from LED panels are super-bright and because our range is modular you can scale the screen to perfectly fit your needs or used as separate geometric shaped formation. Whether you’re after standalone backdrop, one that splits to welcome presenters or performers on stage, a continuous floor to wall 3D effect, or a backdrop that wraps around the entire length of the room without losing any clarity – LED screens are your answer. The screens can be used to run presentations, static images, video, or beautifully created animation. If you want dynamic, flexible, and eye-catching solution, LED screens are idea for any type of event. Scenic Panels Scenic Panels are two or three-dimensional modular tiles that lock together to form beautiful backdrops, build structures, act as room dividers, feature areas, or create textural elements for product displays. They’re a perfect medium to project light and video onto, creating beautiful and striking effects. Two and three dimensional panels can be combined in the same structure, and there’s a range of patterned design options to suit any look or theme. Scenic Panels transform any event space by lining stages, creating modular stage structures or be hung from ceiling in a wave formation or even built into a chandelier. Event Backdrop Event Backdrop is our go-to flexible, affordable option for a huge range events. Want something to set off a small display at a trade show, media wall, or communicate a theme on stage? Event Backdrop is an illuminated or backlit frame, featuring photographic quality print on fabric available in three standard sizes. It’s ideal for any event from a meeting, conference, or gala. They can be free-standing frame structures, or rigged and hung. For an extra dimension, you can use two or more and rig one above at an angle to create a 3D effect! Curved screens Want to completely immerse and impress your audience in a big space? Our curved screens can be scaled to breathtaking sizes; we regularly build curved screens more than 25 meters long and almost two storeys tall. Multiple powerful projectors then blend the content together to create a seamless vista across the screen; vast landscapes, city views, animation and custom content created by our in-house team will transport your audience wherever you need them to go. Think ‘Modular’ Modularity is a design concept that can be implemented with a mixture of backdrop media; LED screens, regular screen displays, banners, video walls, set elements, hexagonal panels, and more. A classic example is a video wall made of multiple screens separated physically, but displaying parts of the same image – it’s edgy, geometric and eye catching. Elements can be built into sets, flown behind the stage, and hung from walls, but the key to carrying off the look is to be visually linked while physically separated. Our range of digital banners and widescreens provide you with endless configurations for a creative backdrop. The individual frames allow content to be blended across them as a single imabge, or individually. Custom Sets , Projection Mapping and Holographic Screens Design a custom set when you want to create something truly unique and have the budget to do so. Our teams have built unique stage sets for galas using their logo as inspiration and have even built replicas of iconic landmarks for a destination incentive. The possibilities are literally limitless and our team can help you visualisation the event with 3D virtual reality render. Another option which is custom in nature, is projection mapping onto a surface – whether it be a wall, a backdrop, or an object. Creating tailored content to project allows you to change the backdrop through the event to match your content or theme. You can even combine your custom built stage set with projection mapping for a totally unique experience. For a real estate conference our team built a stage set to resemble the Melbourne city skyline with spherical objects attached. Throughout the conference we projected different 2D and 3D animations onto the backdrop creating totally new look celebrating the city. Another idea for an impactful stage backdrop is incorporating a holographic mesh screen. The mesh screen creates a ghostly effect with the objects behind still being slightly visible. As you project animated or static content onto the screen it creates a layered effect and can be truly striking when combined with your onstage performers or presenters. Holographic Mesh Screen at Moutai China Gala from Encore Event Technologies on Vimeo. Lighting It’s not just about making sure you can see who’s on stage, or creating a mood for the walk-in. Lighting can be used architecturally and sculpturally to the extent that it’s really part of the physical backdrop. Old-school lighting techniques include using dozens of crisp, tight beams cutting through haze for a big ‘Wow!’ moment. There’s a raft of products made of LEDs that fit this application; LED strips, LED battens, LED tubes, LED ropes. At the bigger end of the budget, there’s a full-blown Kinetic Light rig – these are a grid of lights suspended on individual wires, run on independent motors, that can be controlled to create three-dimensional moving shapes, waves, and patterns; you would have seen these used at Euro vision or The Oscars. Something a bit different… Truss Frame Reveal When is a backdrop not a backdrop? A Truss Frame Reveal is something a little special for when you want to surprise your audience. On walk-in, there’s a screen across the stage, which you can project video or images on. At the right moment, the whole screen flies up and back to turn into a ceiling or backdrop, revealing the speakers, guest stars, or band. You can also do this trick in reverse! Letter Lights Make your theme, logo or hashtag a glowing, physical reality! Letter Lights are large white letters that are internally lit, or can be projected onto. They’re a bold, iconic look that communicates exactly what you’re about, and provides a perfectly Instagrammable backdrop for your guests and ensures your brand is front and centre in any photography. Speak with the event backdrop experts Whatever your event’s budget, style, or artistic goals, Encore Event Technologies has the in-house creative, design, construction, and production staff to create the right backdrop for your event. We’ll advise you on the techniques, technologies, practicalities, and logistics that will ensure that your backdrop perfectly sets the scene, giving you and your event the platform for success. Before you lock in a venue and start restricting your event design, speak to our expert team so we can devise a solution and venue that'll best suit your needs. Encore delivers events in over 100 venues and across major cities in the Asia Pacific. Speak to our team today by calling 1800 209 099 or send an online enquiry and we'll get right back. -- ... Read More

Hollywood’s night of nights has once again inspired us with beautiful design concepts to carry across our events this year. Seeing the creativity and design thinking poured into each event concept is truly incredible. The monumental creation that was the set for this year’s 91st Academy Awards was designed by veteran production designer, David Korins – the name behind some of the world’s most mind-blowing sets for big names like Kayne West, Lady Gaga and a whole host of musicals. In his first year designing the coveted Oscars, Korins designed an asymmetrical proscenium inside the iconic Dolby Theatre using 115 foam blocks. In a video posted to his Instagram he commented, “For this year’s Oscars I have designed a world based on the ideas of inclusion and community. “The design uses warm, welcoming shapes that not only reach out and wrap around the audience towards the viewers at home…. “It is warm, welcome, feminine and a picture of what I want the world to be.” View this post on Instagram Thank you to everyone who reached out with such kind & supportive messages about my design for the Academy Awards. I’ve never had a response like that to anything I’ve ever done. The last several days have been beautiful, overwhelming and humbling. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. ♥️ #oscars A post shared by David Korins (@davidkorins) on Feb 27, 2019 at 1:40pm PST As with every great event, continually designing new experiences is key to keeping audiences engaged – whether they are tangible or not. And the stakes were high with the whole Western world watching and Hollywood’s A-Listers in attendance - a simple curtain change will not suffice. Over the course of the 4 hour long awards night (give or take), the set morphed into 15 different looks all based around the hero installation of the “asymmetric portal” – from a concept using 40,000 roses in the shapes of ribbons to a look of waterfall-like strands made from 41,000 Swarovski crystals right through to the gold-leaf covered Oscar statues. The final result was magnificent. In an interview with Architectural Digest in the lead up to the show, Korins explained, “I really wanted to find something that felt organic and natural and iconic and elegant,” Korins says. “[Roses] obviously have an implicit warmth, an elegance. We’ve seen them in red carpets and we’ve seen them in fashion shows and parties, but I had never seen them in award shows, and I felt like they could deliver such a deep and rich texture.” Photo Credit: Valerie Macon via BizBash It took a team of 15 people over 2,100 hours to create the four Swarovski crystal designs. Using lighting of warm colours and other gold, champagne-coloured textural elements allowed a traditionally cold object like crystal to fit naturally into the warm and welcoming concept. View this post on Instagram ✨✨✨ A post shared by David Korins (@davidkorins) on Feb 24, 2019 at 8:02pm PST “The most important thing is to deliver on an aesthetic that helps not only bind the entire ceremony together, but also pushes viewers to think beyond what they’re seeing onscreen.” David Korins, in an interview with Architectural Digest The "Crystal Cloud" Photo Credit: David Korins via Architectural Digest. Before entering Korins’s magical stage set, presenters, performers and winners were welcomed into an Under The Sea themed green room, sponsored by Rolex for the fourth time. Guests entered the backstage room through a bronze door resembling a boat hatch. Once inside, the interior was lined with vivid underwater scenes backlit to create a dramatic, lifelike feel. The concept was bought to life using an oceanic blue colour palette, round-edged and textured soft furnishings which resembled coral life and waves, with the walls and ceiling featuring laser cut-outs of coral backlit with blues and gold. The space was produced by Event Eleven in collaboration with Warner Bros. Design Studio. Rolex Oscars Green Room, Photo Credit: Bart Michaels via BizBash Following all the action from the main awards ceremony, guests were ushered onto the next glamorous affair, the annual Governors Ball. For 30 consecutive years, Sequoia Productions have been the name behind the prestigious event and this year was no different. Hosted at Hollywood & Highland in the Ray Dolby Ballroom, the 1,500 guests were immersed in another decadent concept paying homage to global cinema showcasing iconic movie moments. This year’s look was based on a colour palette of black, merlot and Oscar inspired gold with styling elements that spoke to the old movie-theatre feel and warm lighting design to give it that air of elegance. Photo Credit: Jerry Hayes Photography via BizBash Centrepieces were created in collaboration with Mark’s Garden, using 10,000 red tulips, burgundy roses, mauve orchids and dark calla lilies. The 400 floral arrangements were displayed around the ballroom in beautiful ornate gold vases. Photo Credit: Jerry Hayes Photography via BizBash To read more about the events delivered during the Academy Awards Week head to BizBash.com. Designing your own Oscars-inspired Awards Night Gala It's easy to understand why an opulent Oscars themed event is popular each year. Encore Event Technologies has delivered incredible gold and red rose laden events inspired by the Academy Awards for a number of local and international corporate events. Layering rich gold textures and soft furnishings with metallic votives and vibrant red flower arrangements is key to achieving the look. Below is an example our Sydney team created for a hotel awards night. Our production team also specialises in creative stage set design and has in-house capabilities to design real-life 3D renders to help you show your our vision rather than tell it. If you're looking for an award-winning event production team that can deliver your event from end to end, get in touch with our team today to start discussing the possibilities. The earlier you bring our team on board in your event planning process, the better. Let our experienced teams help guide all of your production decisions to maximise your ROI and outcomes - call Encore on 1800 209 099 or send an online enquiry. ... Read More