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

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

The Department of Defence last month hosted its debut VIP Defence & Industry Gala Awards Night for over 700 VIP industry, employee and political guests. Held ion the Exhibition Hall at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, the evening included speeches by key political members Christopher Pyne and Marise Payne, assisted by dual MC’s Vince Sorrenti and Erin Molan. Encore Event Technologies (then Staging Connections) was entrusted with the essential gala styling, AV and multimedia for the inaugural event, all to meet the brief ‘Hollywood Oscars’. The team designed a unique entrance for guests, who were ushered upstairs for photos in front of the media wall, which was simultaneously live-streamed via remote UHF backed camera for other attendees to view. A French drape feature dramatically revealed the main space, and guests were seated to a memorable Welcome to Country, complemented by a full widescreen video presentation. Encore arranged for four 16k projectors and an impressive 26.5 metre curved widescreen to be flown in specifically for the event, which acted as the backdrop to the stage, displaying awards graphics and video during the evening. The entertainment for the evening was provided by the extraordinary Defence band, who stood out amongst the elegant black drapery and soft table lighting. Grand MA lighting with over 50 LED fixtures and moving lights kept the attention focused on the awards recipients and inspiring speeches. Feedback from the client and attendees was hugely positive, and no doubt the event will become a highlight on the Department’s events calendar every year. -- See more recent event work Discover more event ideas, trends and best practices on our Event Blog ... Read More

After a partnership of over 15 years with Destination SA and the Adelaide Convention Bureau, Staging Connections were given the task of designing and producing the significant Destination SA showcase dinner for 120 guests held this year at Sprout Cooking School and Health Studio. Staging Connections’ brief was to design an exciting and engaging event for guests, highlighting Sprout as a function venue, while providing a great platform for dining and networking amongst the stunning natural surrounds. The theme of the evening was ‘organic modern with a burst of colour’, furniture, centrepieces and lighting needed to enhance the existing space and cooking school, Staging Connections’ Adelaide team proved their styling expertise and met the brief by contrasting key industrial, colourful pieces with organic textures and natural greenery. Long, wide timber tables provided ample space for the delicious food and exquisite Penfolds Estate wines, while marble planters filled with foliage and centrepieces of local herbs tied in the unique Cooking School venue, adding a sensory element to the experience. Coloured metal industrial chairs gave a modern edge, and strategically-placed mirrors and scattered tea lights added a warm ambience to the space. The Staging Connections lighting and AV set-up was a real highlight – Sprout chefs prepared the three-course meal exhibiting SA’s local produce as a live cooking demonstration, made possible by large television screens around the room switching seamlessly between supplier logos, stunning SA landscape shots and the live footage from multiple pan/tilt roof mounted cameras. The audience were informed, engaged and thoroughly entertained the entire evening. Destination SA is vital for South Australia’s events industry, marketing the best of SA’s venues, suppliers and producers with a range of dinners, cocktail events, hotel tours, local tourism and featured event spaces. Helen Hobbins, Adelaide Convention Bureau’s Events and Sponsorship Manager, commented, “It really did look amazing! So many comments this morning from clients and all really positive! Please pass on my thanks to the whole team – great job!! Hope to work with you again in the future.” -- See more recent event work Get in touch to start planning your event ... Read More

Graduation Ceremonies are a highlight of the University year and a proud day in the life of those who are graduating. In 2017 Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) for the first time collaborated with Flinders University to deliver an event befitting the importance of the occasion. The Encore Adelaide team was engaged to transform the look and atmosphere of the Alan Mitchell Sports Centre, normally home to the University’s sporting clubs, to a graduation venue imbued with prestige and ceremonial ambiance for the 1000+ graduands and guests. Fulfilling the event brief, Encore provided a comprehensive event staging solution, including installation of black draping around the perimeter of the room, stage construction, mounting of digital screens, lighting and audio visual support, and provision of camera operators for live streaming at the venue and across the university precinct including the central Plaza super screen. The ceremonies were also webcast via the Flinders University website, enabling family and friends unable attend in person the opportunity to share in the excitement of their loved ones being presented with their testamurs, via a rich virtual experience. “Encore Event Technologies (formerly Staging Connections) were very professional and great to work with. Dan, Tim and the team were friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. They engaged in a collaborative approach with us throughout the event planning, implementation and debrief; and provided great suggestions and ideas for improvement for the event moving forward.” Kirsten Diercks, Manager Examinations and Graduations Office of Student Administration, Flinders University -- See more recent event work Discover more event ideas, trends and best practices on our Event Blog ... Read More

We have so many events happening everyday that we rarely get time to share the end result! In this monthly blog post we round up some of the events we have worked on in the last month to help inspire and amplify your event know how! We have so many events happening everyday that we rarely get time to share the end result! In this monthly blog post we round up some of the events we have worked on in the last month to help inspire and amplify your event know how! We kick off this post with 'The Hunger Project Fundraiser’ in Sydney for our client - the lovely Emma Isaacs, CEO of Business Chicks. We turned an old run down garage in Sydney (that incidentally was formally owned and used by Frank Lowy to store his classic car collection) into a beautiful dinner venue. Recently our mantra seems to be ‘any event space can be your event space’ and this event just goes to prove what can be achieved with a little imagination (and a lot of lighting!) Next up is some child like fun from a Carnival inspired cocktail dinner. This event was hosted in the Barossa Novotel Resort after a two day corporate conference in the Barossa Valley. We couldn't think of a better way to end a conference than with all these lollies and popcorn! Our talented event stylist Alana turned this amazing look around in just under 2 hours flat which is incredible or maybe it was simply down to the sugar rush! Now if you are looking for some colour theme ideas for your next event then check out this fabulous purple styling. Held at the Crown Plaza Adelaide this cocktail party was themed using purple as the main accent colour for the floral and lighting which was complimented with crystals to create this opulent look. Next we jump to Perth for some poolside action at the newly redeveloped Crown Perth! Together with DG Global, we staged the welcome party for ISPS HANDA Perth International Golf event. It was a challenging brief as we had to be incredibly careful not to damage the newly renovated pool area whilst securing the Perspex stage in place. We also had to be absolutely sure it was a safe platform for the band to perform on. We take safety extremely seriously and this event took a lot of pre planning, all worth it in the end as the area looked incredible with that Perspex stage reflecting lighting and creating the wow factor! We have said it once and will say it again; it just shows that any space can be your event space! In October we were also proud AV sponsors of the Black Horse Foundation dinner held at Australian Technology Park. It’s a great event space which has a fantastic industrial feel, great for large scale events! The evening was a huge success with over $80,000 raised for a range of charities including Redkite, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Fareshare and the Beacon Foundation. Check out the boys in black hard at work behind the tech control desk! #weloveourcrew Viva Las Vegas was this year’s theme for the annual United Convenience Buyers Conference held at Jupiter's Gold Coast Hotel. To create this effect we had huge blow out projections directly onto white drapes on the sides of stage and on a cyc backing the stage. Each section was 6 meters high and 20m wide across the entire stage wall of the room. We had to re-edit all of the video content to fit the ratio of the projection area which took a little time but was worth it to create an awesome effect that transported guests right to the Vegas Strip! And finally we teamed up with our venue partner Hyatt Hotel Canberra for an exciting Wedding Experience Day held in the Federation Ballroom at the Hyatt in Canberra. Local brides had the chance to visualise their day with tables and room styling by our talented team from Canberra. They also watched a bridal runway and were treated to some delicious food from the Hyatt’s wonderful chef! Check out the images below, we love the summer centrepieces featuring blossom, willow & roses! October was a great month with some amazing events staged by our teams around Australia. We look forward to a busy November and to share the results with you come December! ... Read More

Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks Techie Tuesday we look at the product launch favourite, the 'Kabuki Drop'. Audio Visual Discipline: Staging Audio Visual Event Category: AV Effect AV Jargon: Kabuki, Reveal What is a Kabuki Drop? A Kabuki Drop describes a swift and sudden reveal, using drapes or curtains that drop to the floor, exposing hidden elements for the audience to see on stage. What events are Kabuki Drop used on? Events such as product launches and live performances commonly use a kabuki drop to provide the audience with mystery, surprise, excitement and a focus. The drop is set up by suspending drapes/curtains on hooks or magnetic clamps that can be released via a remote control positioned off stage. The kabuki can hide any element of an event such as a new product, a live band or even a celebrity presenter. When other elements are combined such as a evocative sound, moving lights, video projection (2D or 3D), and smoke effects, they build to a dramatic finish resulting in the dropping of the kabuki. Check out this video which features a kabuki drop in action at the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar launch. For this event, the car was positioned on a stage, hidden behind a white circular kabuki, which was also used as the canvas for a projected video presentation. The kabuki played a major role in creating focus and generating audience excitement around the product. What is needed to create a Kabuki drop? A few specific items are required for an effective kabuki drop: Rigging: overhead rigging is required above stage to attach the kabuki hardware. Hardware: remote controlled hardware is required to release the kabuki on cue. Kabuki: a material, cloth, drape, or curtain is required to provide a barrier that can drop. Up next week... Next week we shine a light on gobo’s and how they can shape your next event. In the meantime if you have any AV terms or words you would like our AV experts to tackle leave a comment on the blog post below or join in the conversation on Twitter @EncoreAPAC #TechieTuesday. Image source: Gerriets | Kabuki G2 Drop System Related Event Blog Post Optimise your event communication with design and production Love learning the latest lighting and AV techniques? Download our range of free White Papers today. ... Read More

Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Ballyhoo, or 'Bally' and find out what it is, where it's best used and what equipment you need if you want a Ballyhoo on your next event. Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Ballyhoo, or 'Bally' and find out what it is, where it's best used and what equipment you need if you want a Ballyhoo on your next event. AV Discipline: Lighting AV Category: AV Effects AV Jargon: Bally Ballyhoo Description A Ballyhoo is an event lighting effect that involves fast movements, intensity changes and a variety of colours, which all help to build excitement and celebration during an event. Used in collaboration with smoke or haze, shafts of light will appear to punch through to all corners of the function space. Event Types Ballyhoo’s are typically used on events such as award ceremonies and product launches where the desired effect is to energise and excite the audience. It’s a communication element that is totally driven by technology. To enhance the ballyhoo, event audio and vision elements can be introduced, giving the audience a heightened experience. Equipment Required So what is needed to create an effective Ballyhoo? - Lighting Fixtures; intelligent lights such as moving heads or moving mirrors are popular due to their controllable features such as intensity, colour, beam, and movement. - Lighting Console; a lighting controller that is able to trigger cues for multiple fixtures is required so as the fixtures know what to do and when to do it. - Lighting Technician; a creative and competent operator is critical to interpreting an event brief and designing a series of ballyhoo’s that enhance the audience experience. As Seen on Screen Next time you are watching the Oscars, Grammy’s Bafta’s or even our home grown Logies, check out the lighting effects when they return from a commercial break, transition into a new segment or an award winner is called up onto stage, you will see a Ballyhoo in action entertaining the audience on a global scale. Source: Encore Event Technologies Up Next Week Next week we will examine sub speakers, and discover the difference between woofers and tweeters! In the meantime if you have any AV terms or words you would like our AV experts to tackle leave a comment on the blog post below. Related Blog Staging an Awards Night to Remember ... Read More

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