One of the most coveted charity events on the Perth events calendar is the annual Men In Black Ball hosted by Momentum Forum Events. For the third consecutive year, Encore Event Technologies were proud to support the prestigious black tie event which raises awareness and funds in support of men’s mental health and the fight against depression through the Momentum For Australia charity. Hosted on Saturday 3rd June at Pan Pacific Perth, the event attracted 400 Perthanalities, socialites, sports men and women, and business owners who arrived in their finest attire to support this worthy cause. MC’d by sports presenter and AFL star, Adrian Barich, this glamorous event included a 3-course gourmet dinner, live band and entertainment, award presentations, testimonial speaker, and charity raffle and auction. In celebration of the event’s 10th anniversary, the Encore Perth team were tasked with delivering a ‘Diamond’ themed gala dinner. As the in-house event services provider at Pan Pacific Perth, the brief was answered with a complete event staging solution including all audio, vision, lighting, staging, styling, multimedia and digital engagement. Watch the video To give the Diamond theme a really sophisticated look, the stylists designed an elegant black and silver colour palette, with minimal styling elements. The hero of the night was the stunning stage backdrop created using Encore’ new 3D Scenic Panels in the centre flanked either side with large screens for the live camera feed of the presenters. We opted for Scenic Panels in the 3D Harlequin design as the jagged edges mimicked a Diamond appearance. The Diamond look was further enhanced by lighting the Panels in an iridescent colour scheme. Throughout the evening, the Scenic Panel backdrop was turned into a stunning 3D canvas for multimedia content projection to support the speeches, awards, entertainment and silent auction. This included a video of diamonds falling on the Panels as well as a constant “twinkle” surrounding the Men In Black logo which we designed in-house. With all of Perth’s glitterati in attendance it was an evening made for sensational selfies. Encore helped encourage sharing the social conversation via Event Feed, a social media platform designed for capturing an event’s social conversation. Throughout the evening, all Instagram uploads, tweets with the hashtag #MenInBlackBall2017 and posts to the Momentum’s Facebook page were displayed live on screens around the room for all to see. Incorporating Event Feed into your event requires minimal input, but the output can be priceless. The evening’s entertainment kicked-off with a high-energy performance from Are You Ok? ambassador Barry Conrad. Guests were also treated to a live performance by the popular Perth band, Proof, who played in their full 10-piece ensemble – a rare occurrence for events hosted within venues. For the first time in the event’s history, the recipient of the Momentum Most Inspiring Man of the Year 2017 award also performed for the 350 guests. Leon Ruri, founder of Haka For Life, performed a spectacular haka alongside 30 others on the ballroom dance floor. Haka For Life became a viral sensation after their awe-inspiring haka performance during the Anzac Day Service in April this year. Encore’ Technical Director for the event highlighted the innovative stage look delivered using the new Scenic Panels as the backdrop. “For the Men in Black Ball we utilised 6 Pro Shop ROX Strips directly underneath the panels laying each one out one next to the other leaving no gaps in between. The intricate 3D shapes of the panels allowed light to bounce off all the various angles, giving the backdrop an interesting dynamic of both shadow and light effect.” The GrandMA Wing Command was a key piece of equipment for the event, enabling the technicians control over the light, colour, brightness and other theatrical effects used on the Scenic Panels. It was crucial the lighting effects didn’t wash out or interfere with he clarity of the content projection. Momentum Forum founder, Barbara McNaught, says “sadly depression is prevalent throughout the community and awareness must continue to be raised,” “Men don’t talk, boys don’t cry. The stigma attached to this topic needs to be removed. I believe that since the inception of the Men in Black Ball in 2008, more men know that they are not alone and are more open about the topic”. With another highly successful gala all wrapped up, the Encore Perth team are already putting their heads together for next year’s creative brief! Watch the Men In Black Ball 2017 official video! -- See more recent event work Get in touch to start planning your event ... Read More

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

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

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

Crown Melbourne host an annual Christmas extravaganza as part of its festive calendar of events. In 2017 they welcomed 600 guests to the “Christmas on Broadway” Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch events. As the long-standing in-house audio visual and event services provider at Crown Melbourne, Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) are tasked every year with producing these events, with the aim of making each year bigger and better than the last! Read on to find out how Encore transformed the Palladium at Crown into a Broadway Theatre in celebration of their annual Christmas event series. The theme for 2017 was “Christmas on Broadway” and Encore were asked to transform the Palladium at Crown into a Broadway Theatre. Emphasis was to be placed on supporting the chosen entertainment throughout the event. All visuals were to be based on a classic Broadway musical look and feel, with a seasonal festive touch. A complete event production solution Sharing a decade-long partnership with Crown Melbourne, the Encore team had a unique approach to this event – Crown selected Broadway-themed entertainment and the Encore team designed the event around the entertainment; including themed design, event production, lighting, audio visual, and multimedia elements. The technicalities of this event were distinctive, with an added challenge to execute each production for the lunch and dinner events one week apart. Encore created an incredible stage backdrop for the event using dual 20” screens with curved LED walls and a 14m LED wall in the middle, all controlled using Watchout software. The immersive arrivals space welcomed guests along a 20m red carpet flanked by 20 x 1K lights – creating a tunnel of flashing ‘paparazzi’– leading towards an American skyline media wall with Broadway-themed playbills, search lights and a festoon-style Broadway sign. A second 15m red carpet directed arrivals past classic, floor-to-ceiling red drapery, adorned by 3m tall towers with bright moving headlights. Guests walked into the venue space to see the main stage lit up with the Christmas on Broadway logos projected via gobos. Strobes, lighting, haze, video content, confetti cannons, flutter buckets and Christmas carols all came together to enhance the theme. Guests walked into the Palladium at Crown to see the main stage lit up with the Christmas on Broadway logos projected via gobos. Strobes, lighting, haze, video content, confetti cannons, flutter buckets and Christmas carols all came together to enhance the theme. Entertainment was spaced throughout the event, and exciting giveaways and prizes were drawn. The entertainers were lit dramatically to create an exclusive rock concert feel, with camera crews shooting the live performance like a video clip; guests were up and dancing at their tables for hours! Catrina Bennell, General Manager Victoria, Encore Event Technologies, shared afterwards, “The Crown and Encore teams work fantastically together to deliver these world-class events. We received wonderful feedback from Crown and their guests, who were thrilled with the outcome.” Partner with the leading AV and events company to uncover your event's potential Successful events start with a conversation! If you're starting to plan your event or are looking to try something new, get in touch with our expert team before you lock down a venue and event concept so your event can benefit from our design ideas and production expertise. Encore specialise in the delivery of corporate events and will work with you every step of the way, so you have confidence your event will be the best it can be. Have an obligation-free chat with our team today by sending an online enquiry or by calling us at 1800 209 099. ... Read More

Executing Annual General Meetings (AGMs) both big and small over the years Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) has gained valuable insight into what it takes to organise the perfect event. Here we share our essential guidelines on how deliver a seamless AGM. As the event production company responsible for executing Annual General Meetings (AGMs) both big and small over the years, Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) has gained valuable insight into what it takes to organise the perfect event. Here we share our essential guidelines on how deliver a seamless AGM. Location, Location, Location Face to face is best - Always arrange a site visit in person as the space can look very different online. It comes in threes - Visit up to three different venues and when you’ve engaged one, invite your event management organisation along. Get technical - Assess the technical capabilities of the venue at the site visit – audio, visual, internet connection for video streaming etc. Create a Floor Plan Visualise it - Sketch out a layout or seating plan with the chosen space in mind – this will help you visualise the AGM. Think differently - Think about your chosen space differently to any other event. For an AGM consider working with the venue in say a “landscape” mode – this can often help with maximising the space. Please be seated - Major corporations will require a large board table – typically this head table can span width ways up to 12 metres across depending upon how many board members and delegates are representing the company. The difference is in the little touches - Add drapes behind the stage as a backdrop to enable the board to be easily seen if on camera or when answering questions. Think Tech! Graphs, Stats and Charts - AGM’s will typically require projection and screens to display important charts, graphs and statistics for their business developments. The magic number - Have a minimum of two screens either side of the head table – and place them so they can be viewed by the attending audience and online if you are video streaming. Make the Unseen: Seen - Offer fold-back vision monitors for the head table so directors can follow what is occurring with the presentation without having to turn around 180 degrees. The Power of Auto-Cue – Use auto cue so that all of the essential details of the speeches are outlined beforehand to enable the chairman and directors to relax and engage the audience more effectively. Do you hear what I hear? - To ensure a crisp, clear sound, make sure you have the appropriate number of table and lapel microphones and take the time to test the front of house speaker system from various positions in the room. Light it up – Balance the lighting evenly across the head table using a solution such as Fresnel lighting. Get prepped – make sure you prepare or request a Run Sheet The AGM is not a standard event it could span a couple of hours or up to half a day with Q&A following the main presentations – a run sheet is crucial for everyone involved to know when, where and who is doing what. An AGM run sheet commonly consists of: Meeting called to order, announcements, apologies and previous meeting minutes Order of business Opening speeches (welcome address) Chairman’s address Presentation of accounts Questions and Answers on the accounts Motions, nominations, voting and elections Open discussion of general business – launch of next annual plan Make the most of the compulsory elements Most AGM’s now offer more than just an audio recording for their stakeholders. Video streaming live to the web allows a broader audience access to the AGM, be it your internal team or a range of current and potential shareholders who are unable to attend in person. Learn more about webcasting in our other blog post. Conferencing technology can open up the floor to questions and answers inside and outside of the main space giving a rare opportunity to access the key leaders in the business. The Devil is in the Detail To deliver a successful AGM start planning as early as possible, this can be up to a year in advance for some major corporations. Offer as much detail up front as possible to the event organiser. And Remember – The AGM is one of the most important events on the calendar and can be used to effectively communicate and engage key stakeholders in the business – make your organisations AGM more than just a financial wrap-up. Encore Event Technologies has extensive experience in planning successful AGM's. Have a look at our previous work and see what we could offer your business with a professional and effective Annual General Meeting. ... Read More

Each week we aim to demystify the world of audio visual equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this week’s Techie Tuesday we take a look at the event lighting effect the 'gobo' and the many different shapes, patterns and logo’s they can replicate. The possibilities are endless but first we look at the history of the gobo and what you need to know before creating a customised gobo. Audio Visual Discipline: Lighting for events Audio Visual Event Category: AV Effect AV Jargon: Gobo, Batman Signal What is a Gobo? A “Gobo” is a small stencilled circular disc, and used in lighting fixtures to create a projected image or pattern. The term Gobo is short for “Go Between Optics”, describing the location where it needs to be positioned in the light path of a lighting fixture. Whilst Gobo’s are not a new technology they are still being used on events the world over. In today’s event market they have taken on a more creative role as technology advances allow for more detailed and impressive shapes to be created. Gobo’s come in two main types; steel and glass. Steel gobos are very basic, generally have a short life span and are typically described as “black and white”. Glass gobo’s are more detailed, generally have a long life span and are typically described as “coloured”. There is an emerging third type of Gobo, which is designed specifically for LED fixtures, and is made from plastic. Gobo’s come in many different diameters, ranging from approx 20mm through to approx 150mm. The diameter of a gobo is dictated by the fixture, so it is very important to ensure you know what fixture the gobo needs to be used in prior to manufacture. If used in a static fixture, the projected image will be stationary, however if installed in an intelligent fixture the image can be moved anywhere around the event space. Source: Encore Event Technologies | Learning and Development What events are Gobo's used on? Events such as gala dinners, product launches, award ceremonies use gobo’s to support the event branding and to provide visual interest. A growing trend in weddings is to to use ornate glass Gobo’s featuring the bride and grooms name or initials which is presented as a keep sake from the event. What is needed for a customised Gobo? A few specific items are required for an effective gobo display: Profile Fixture: a profile light which is designed to take a gobo in its light path is required to focus and zoom the gobo. Gobo Holder: a specific accessory that holds the gobo in place is required for insertion into the profile light. Projection Surface: a dedicated surface such as a wall or drape upon which the gobo is projected upon is required. Why use a gobo? A gobo is an effective alternative to banners and signage on corporate events, providing something visually different for the audience to absorb. They can also be used to create patterns, imagery and shapes to support the event theme. Check out some images below of gobo’s of all shapes and sizes. Partner with the Event Lighting Experts Encore Event Technologies (formerly known as Staging Connections) has been designing unforgettable events for over 30 years. As the leading event technology and services company, we are the trusted name for designing and installing stunning lighting for corporate and specials events. Whether you're planning a conference, product launch, gala dinner or incentive event, when you partner with Encore you know you're getting the right ideas for your event from the best in the business. Encore proudly offers the largest range of event lighting and technology solutions for corporate events across the Asia Pacific - so get in touch with our team today to make your event the best it can be. Send an online enquiry or Call 1800 099 209 Related Blog Optimise your event communication with design and production ... Read More

The primacy and importance of sound in everyday life is obvious to everyone, yet the process of creating an aural presence at an event with excellent results is not widely understood outside of technical circles. Sound, both ephemeral and invisible, does not emit from as ethereal sources. The equipment is often ungainly and the event industry goes to great lengths to make its provisions as visibly unobtrusive as possible, leading to the common misconception that sound equipment is not a major component of an event. It may not have the visual spectacular presence of a huge projection screen or complicated lighting show but there is a lot going on that cannot be seen – but is definitely heard. Getting Your Message Heard The Ins For the voice of your speaker to be relayed clearly a number of things have to fall in place: You must use the correct microphone in the right position The presenter must use the microphone appropriately Adjustments need to be made to the signal to compensate for issues inherent in the speakers voice You must adjust to any complications in the room’s acoustics And Outs The signal from the speaker then needs to push out of the loudspeakers at the right volume past your audiences ears. This involves amplification, sending the signal to the right number, size and type of loudspeaker. Obtrusive Visually The balance between acoustic performance, intelligibility and a visually acceptable solution is a delicate compromise. Loudspeaker design and development over many decades has improved their power and aesthetics, but they are still considered an eyesore. Unfortunately the ears are positioned very close to the eyes. Negotiating the ideal blend of practicality and performance takes a skilled and experienced designer. Choosing the Right Music For Your Event Almost everyone has a soundtrack to their lives; the love song that represents a relationship, the album that captured a summer or the music that helps you through a hard time. The correct music choice at an event sets a mood, creates excitement and can be used to create associations between your product or service and a cultural value. Different styles of music can require different types of loudspeakers and amplification. For example, a high-energy sales conference will mostly use up-tempo inspirational music and use volume as a means to animate the crowd. This will require more power and more coverage, quite simply because you need to move more air at a higher energy level. Equipment You will Need No matter how expensive they are all, all loudspeakers and microphones are imperfect replicators of the original sounds they are trying to distribute or convert. You will need to supplement these with extra equipment. Subwoofers One of the biggest physical limitations in any loudspeaker is its ability to reproduce the entirety of the frequency range audible to humans at the same time. When the frequencies get down to the ‘extended low end frequencies’ created by bass instruments and most synthesizer music (‘doof doof’ techno) they’re physically impossible for a normal low-end driver in a loudspeaker to recreate. Specialised loudspeakers, ‘subwoofers’ or sub-speakers, are dedicated to reproducing frequencies from around 120Hz to 20Hz, which is the bottom of the human hearing range. These extended low-end frequencies are very important to human understanding of music. We have a very visceral reaction to low end audio, because we feel it more than hear it. Think about adventure films and dance music – the bass delivers the adrenaline. At your next event ask the sound technician to turn off the subwoofers during a rehearsal of your musical cue. You will most certainty hear and feel the difference. Microphones Microphones perform the opposite function to loudspeakers – they take movements in the air and convert them into electrical signals. There are dozens of designs and types that each perform a specific function and most will do a poor job when used on a source they are not designed for. You will probably be surprised by how many microphones are dedicated to just the drum kit in a jazz ensemble. As each individual drum or cymbal has different frequency, volume and tonal characteristics, each needs its own microphone. Eight to twelve yields the best results. Getting the Best Sound from Your Performers Choosing the right equipment, setting it up and operating it correctly are the benchmarks of performance for any sound operator, but it does not guarantee you will have perfect sound. The best sound operator in the world cannot make a bad band sound good! Luckily individual speakers are easier to converse with and adjust. Scared Speakers Some speakers are afraid of the microphone and will stand too far away from it. Even a great sound technician will not be able to generate enough volume for them to be heard. A quick conversation between presenter and sound technician should remedy this. Active Speakers Similarly some presenters are very energetic and are constantly moving around a static microphone. You just need to keep up communication with the presenter about the specifics of the microphone they are using. The best way to ensure a quality performance from your speakers is to have a speakers prep. Making Sure Your Performers Can Hear Themselves Not just your audience needs to hear your performers but your performers need to hear themselves and each other. The sound mix created for the perfomers is called foldback and can be as simple as a single speaker on the floor of the stage to a complicated map of dozens of separate mixes sent to individual pairs of wireless ear buds. Usually foldback can be handled by the same mixing desk working with the audience sound, but for large musical and vocal ensembles and events with multiple acts, the best option is to have a separate mixing desk and operator just for the stage sound. Listen Up Everyone has a story about bad sound; too loud, plagued by feedback, patchy speakers, too hard to understand what was being said… but how many people talk about an excellent sound experience? Sound technicians often speak of the perfect job as being one where they were not noticed at all. At Encore Event Technologies we pride ourselves on our ability to stand out and be invisible at the same time. Want to stay up to date with industry trends? Browse our range of downloadable Event Insights papers ... Read More

The difference between an ordinary corporate event and an extraordinary event comes down to the details. That’s what an Encore Event Technologies' event is all about. We believe a great stage design is essential for a memorable experience – and is a key element in inspiring the people who attend. What makes a stage come to life? Through our years of experience, we’ve come to know the right formula for a great stage design. Here are the elements we’re always thinking about. 1. Event Space Stage design is about working with specific spaces, often within a limited set of possibilities. But our stage designers thrive on limitation, using space in unique and creative ways – to complement event speakers, boost brand messaging, or bring out the best in a performance or presentation. It’s often a challenge, but one we’ll find a solution for. The harder the space is the more creative you need to be. We have built stages over pools, used modular stages, curved stages and many more. The possibilities really are endless. A great solution to help envisage the end stage design is to view a graphic render of the desired look. This can help you see how the stage will look in relation to the event space and help foresee any design and technical issues. View some of our render to reality examples. 2. Lighting Make the stage come alive with great lighting. When it’s time to make a dramatic change, professional lighting can transform a plain space from a blank canvas into a completely new environment. It can control the mood of a stage, and hype up its energy. And it can create an event atmosphere that’s both eye-catching and unforgettable. 3. Backdrops, stage sets and banners A stage is simply an elevated platform, a blank canvas if you will, that requires design and AV elements to take it from something ordinary to something extraordinary. Corporate events are evolving and event planners are looking for new ways to make their events bigger and better than the last, without breaking the bank. An effective way to do this is investing in interesting stage design. Encore have developed a range a of stage design solutions that add impact to your event. Event Backdrop Event Backdrop is a visually striking and flexible branding solution, perfect for all events. It is a high-tech illuminated frame wrapped in a photographic-quality printed nylon. So simple, yet so effective! It’s a great way of delivering a message, promoting a product, enhancing the theme of an event or building recognition of a brand. Event Backdrop’s also come in a variety of sizes to cater for small meeting rooms all the way to large ballroom size. This has been our most popular event product this year and can been used for a variety of events. Digital Stage Banners and Widescreens If you want to add WOW-factor to your next event, a simple solution is to incorporate digital stage banners and widescreens into your stage design. Traditionally, a stage set consists of the elevated platform underneath a large screen. With digital stage banners you can creatively position them across the stage to present your multimedia content in an interesting and engaging way. Another option is to use Widescreens – which are by name, very wide digital banners used to project multimedia content onto. These are highly effective when you have a large stage to work with and through the use of blend projection can house highly immersive imagery. Why not use both! If you’re interested in exploring new ways to design your stage, speak to your Encore representative or contact us today. 4. Visuals We always pay particular attention to the visual elements of your event. Tools like animation and high-impact video are great ways to capture your audience’s imagination, while 3D projection mapping can transform dull presentations into stimulating visual journeys. The use of LED walls, projection screens and stage backdrops can also engage your audience and help deliver your message – but also enhance your overall branding and create a lasting impression. How it all comes together At Encore, we believe the stage should be as much a feature as what’s happening on it. With the proper use of space, lighting and visuals, it can become its own key part of the experience. This transformation helps to boost your event’s theme, and it adds another dimension to audience engagement. Ultimately? Great stage design can be the difference between a run-of-the-mill presentation, and an enjoyable real-life experience with a sense of ceremony and lasting messages. With more than 30 year experience designing amazing stage sets for event of all shapes and sizes, you can count on Encore to create something extraordinary for yours. Whether your event is a conference, product launch, gala dinner or a small C-level presentation - with all eyes on the stage it's important you get its design right. Get in touch with one of our friendly team members to start discussing your event needs and hear our ideas. Send an online enquiry or give us a call today on 1800 209 099. ... Read More