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Event Ideas: Using AV solutions to enhance event performances

Jul 4 2019
Encore Research

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

Recent Posts

Festive Styling Ideas

Mar 19 2019
Encore Research
This week our lovely event stylists are sharing their top tips for a super styled festive season. From table decorations to the hottest colour schemes, get the tricks of the trade and use them in your own home. First up is our Sydney Event Stylist Joshua Mason. As well as his very hectic day job, Joshua is a freelance editorial stylist, nightclub promoter and writer on design, decor, fashion and travel for online publications such as Oyster, ninemsn, Does Not Equal and The Vine Online. Here he offers up his suggestions for Christmas decorations that will see you crowed the seasons most stylish. Into the Woods This trend is all about fossicking about your local florist for all the things they use to jazz up an arrangement. Twigs, branches, moss, berries and pine cones combine with smart laser-cut tree silhouettes you’ll see everywhere in the shops. Go all out DIY and you’ll impress your guests with a unique table or mantelpiece of found, natural items warmed by candlelight. This season, I am just dying to pick up a genuine pine tree for my apartment to compliment the high ceilings and dress it with home-made balsa wood decorations. The overall style takes a little time to get right but looks effortless, charming and uncontrived. Festive Floral My friends, colleagues and clients alike would agree that I’m fairly obsessed with flora. There is just nothing better than an idiosyncratic arrangement in assorted vaseware on a table using rich colours and fragrant varieties. If you’re bereft of vases, get creative and use teapots, teacups, old cut-glass highballs or the base of a old candlestick. Peonies, calla lilies, berries and natives are the eclectic mix this season. No need for a florist, arrange it yourself! Arcadian Antiquity The old-world never, ever goes out of style and there are so many ways to make it work in even the most modern of homes. Look out for the décor with antique motifs, mercury glass, mottled gold and crystal. Dramatic black or white Christmas trees allow these elements to stand out and add a touch of the ostentatious. You will need to invest a little coin, but it’s an investment in a charming Christmas over and over again. Colour Pop & Bauble Brights I never would have thought it, but baubles are back and it’s as simple as a trip to your local department store or Christmas cave. Bright vibrant colours are this year’s direction with this style and you can dress everything from your tree, tabletop or chair. Glossy, matte, glittered and sequin baubles are a load of fun together, match them up in contrast ribbon. I would especially love mixing this up with hand-sprayed pinecones in complimentary colours. Feliz Navidad! Images sourced via Inside Out Magazine, Vogue Living, Belle Magazine, Bright Baazaar and DesignSponge Next to the (Christmas) table is Kelly Williamson our Perth Event Stylist. Kelly is a creative at heart with a keen eye for the next big thing. In the past she has worked as an Interior Designer at Laura Ashley, a Visual Display Consultant for Topshop and as a Researcher for a trend prediction company in the UK. Inspired by her children, history and creative people she adores all things vintage and quirky and describes her own personal style as eclectic. Here she shares her ideas of how to display Christmas cards. Christmas cards are something we all get a lot of, especially if we have children in school as they come home in a steady stream from the end of November. The problem with cards is that there are only so many surfaces we have in our homes that can accommodate them and every time you go running past them they all blow over! Now there’s only so many times you can pick them up without it driving you bonkers. So back to the point...the best way to combat this problem is to make a feature out of them, and what's more as the cards you receive will vary from year to year your feature/display will always look different. It’s an inexpensive way of creating an bespoke piece of Christmas decor in the home, because as we all know Christmas decorations can be pricey! Frame it Existing home decor such as frames and mirrors can be given a new look especially for the festive season by hanging a string or cards across or within the frame. A minimal and simplistic way of displaying your cards is amongst a string of Christmas lights. Simple yet very effective! Colour Coordinate Make traditional displays more interesting and colour coordinate using only cards that fit your particular Christmas colour scheme. You can take this look even further with a single colour concept where all the cards are the same hue (so you will have to be selective which of the cards you use). To make this display extra special, add tree ornaments and decor in the same colour scheme amongst the cards to create a relatively contemporary look which suits the more modern home in particular. Images sourced via Martha Stewart, Hall Ready, Punchbowl, Not on the Highstreet and Maddycakes Muse Next we have our Event Stylist, Alana Berryman from Adelaide with her top picks for Christmas decor. Alana has a background in visual merchandising, interior design and floral art which she uses to deliver events of all kinds whether it’s funky, old school, retro or cutting edge! Mix & Match Fabrics Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns, it’s very “Now” and adds depth to the design. For instance, floral fabric and striped fabric in the same colour palette or style works perfect together. Dinner by Candlelight Use as much natural candle light as possible to create warmth, ambience and a festive mood. When selecting your candles try to find out the burn time so you can get as much life out of them as possible. You can even do a test a few weeks before so you know the best time light them! When placing candles around the home also be careful to make sure they are not in the path of any air conditioners as they will burn much quicker. And finally we have some backyard inspiration from our wonderful Event Stylist Renae Vella. Renae is a perfectionist and is constantly working on her own innovative techniques by incorporating current trends and pushing the boundaries of event design. Here she encourages us to look no further than our backyard for inspiration this Christmas. The Natural Centrepiece Arrange a variety of ruby red berries, seasonal green and rustic pine cones in and amongst a symphony of clear glass vessels and candles, to create a unique table centre with a lovely aroma. Mirror Mirror Give an old mirrored photo frame a new lease of life this Christmas. Add it to the base of any table- scape to add instant elegance to your dining room table. ... Read More

We’ve Got Your Backdrop– picking an event backdrop style in 2019

Mar 17 2019
Encore Research
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

Designing the stage set for this year's Oscars and more Academy Awards Week event highlights

Mar 3 2019
Encore Research
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

Highlight Events of 2018

Feb 6 2019
Encore Research
2018 was certainly an exciting year for Encore Event Technologies. Not only did we rebrand from Staging Connections, our teams delivered nearly 41, 000 events across the Asia Pacific for our clients – from conferences, gala dinners and incentives to sporting events, roadshows and everything in between! We continued our pursuit of the very latest ...
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5 Must-Have Event Technologies You Can Use Right Now

Nov 26 2018
Encore Research
Event technologies are an excellent way to make your events more engaging. Whether your next event is a large meeting, conference, or gala dinner, below are must-have event technologies that will take your event from good to great. 1. Use a free mobile app customised for your event Get the tech: Cumulus Apps are a great way to get your event information into the hands of your attendees. Use it to publicise your agenda, key meeting information, topics, presentation details and speaker bios. Plus the Cumulus mobile app is FREE for every client using us for their event services and you can customise it to suit your branding. Packed with 10 useful integrations and features it is a must-have app for any event planner wanting to instant and convenient communication with all attendees - who wouldn't want that? 2. Find out what your audience is really thinking Get the Tech: Event Poll Live audience polling is a great way to increase engagement during your meeting or conference. It helps you engage with your audience and get their involvement in your content. You can also use it before the event to make sure your agenda is on track. Or use it to get feedback immediately after your event rather than losing responses with a post event email survey. 3. Touch the future of presentations Get the Tech: Touch Kiosk Touchscreens are perfect for displaying interactive content at your event, information screens or impressive way finding signage. They can also be strategically placed to acknowledge sponsors, for photo booths and even for live quizzes at events to immerse them in your content and enhance their experience. 4. Harness the hype of social media Get the tech: Event Feed Social conversations extend the impact and influence of the event outside the venue walls. Guests capturing and sharing their favourite moments, keynote insights or sporting goal via their social channels, enables your event to engage a world-wide audience. But how are you encouraging or leveraging off this exposure? Event Feed is an online social media platform designed for event planners to encourage and facilitate social conversations. Make your branded event hashtag known and all social posts from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with that hashtag will be pulled onto the platform and after moderation are published on screens around the venue for everyone to see. It's a simple and engaging way to stimulate conversation and gets your brand out there! Get the best practices for integrating social media into your event. DOWNLOAD GUIDE 5. How your event can be everywhere at once Get the tech: Webcasting, Event Streaming and Recording When you want to maximise your event’s impact by reaching a national or global audience, distance and time can be challenging factors. Encore’s webcasting, streaming and recording products have been created with the knowledge that audiences today need the convenience of live access to information as well as on demand catch up. Speak to the event technology experts With so many new technologies on the market and readily available, the hardest part for event planners and marketers is determining which event technology they need! That's where Encore Event Technologies comes in. As a leading event technology company, we have over 30 years experience in matching your event objectives with the right solutions. With the largest range of event services at our disposal you can bet we will have the answer to your brief and provide you with a creative solution that takes your event from good to great. Don't waste another precious minute, get in touch with us today and let's make your event vision a reality! Let's Chat - ... Read More

How to plan a successful roadshow event

Oct 29 2018
Encore Research
Planning any event involves juggling a lot of moving parts, but the geographical spread of roadshows means there are even more moving parts to keep track of. Taking on such an event can prove to be very effective for you and your team or business strategy, but it requires quality planning from all angles. Whether you’re looking to launch a new product, educate your delegates, raise funds for a charity, recognise achievements or something else entirely, below are some key considerations to produce a successful roadshow. Below are 5 important production elements to consider when planning a roadshow event. Clearly define your goals for the event roadshow Set clearly defined goals for your event. When your event production partner understands the purpose for the event, they can help you create a solution tailored to your desired outcome and deliver your message effectively. When your goals are clear, each production decision becomes easier to make. Also ensure your goals are measurable. If getting sales leads is important to you, the event can be customised to help you capture relevant details from your attendees. You will be far more satisfied with your efforts if your ROI can be measured. Carefully select the time and locations for your roadshow Who do you want to attend your event, and what seasonal factors or holidays could affect attendance? When planning where and when the road show will happen, you need to ensure it’s suitable for your audience. Additionally, check the region’s weather and climate conditions. If you’re planning to hold your event outdoors, ensure it’s not during the wet seasons. Or, if it’s going to take place during the summer, ensure there will be adequate shade and hydration facilities. Be aware of when school holidays, public holidays and special cultural holidays are occurring. If you’re planning to host during a busy time, you need to consider accessibility and availability of venues, suppliers, services and so on. Team up with an event production partner Your production partner is your single most important ally in organising your event. When choosing a partner, find one that has the right network, experience and capability to deliver a quality event. Avoid switching partners at the last minute, as you will run the risk of offering an inconsistent experience. Additionally, you may end up incurring more costs, and the planning process will be more disjointed. Ideally, you should pick a national company that can travel with you to ensure the event is delivered consistently in each location. Working with one company also makes admin and planning much easier, so you’ll save on costs as well as effort. Once you know where you’ll be hosting your event, you can find an experienced road show producer to help you narrow down your locations and venues. If possible, find a producer with a large network of venues – this can save you a lot of time and the headache of ending up in less-than ideal venues. An experienced road show production company can assist you throughout the entire planning process to ensure a desirable outcome. Take advantage of their skills, products and experience to help you reach your goals. Harness the power of event technology Take advantage of the following event technology to maximise engagement and ROI: Event apps. Apps are convenient for both organisers and attendees and can help relay important details about the event. Social media. Use a dedicated event social media platform to get the word out about your event. You can also use it to drive up engagement, build community and amplify your reach. Polling. Use live audience polling to ask questions, get feedback, encourage discussion or quiz your audience. Live stream. A production partner can live stream your event on a website or via social media to amplify its reach. It's a great way to engage wide spread audiences as your event travels, and if you record the event you can use it later for marketing, sales or improving on the next one! Make it creative, engaging and consistent Creating new, unique and compelling experiences is key to a successful event, and repeating these experiences for each event is the challenge for roadshow organisers. Making the message creative, engaging and consistent is the cornerstone of every successful event, regardless of what kind of event it is. People remember experiences where their senses have been engaged. Research has shown us that the more senses you engage, the more memorable the event is. Lean on your production partner to help you create a memorable experience for your attendees. They will help you find a solution that can be replicated to ensure attendees will receive the same experience regardless of where they attend your event. Partner with roadshow event production experts Encore Event Technologies have delivered countless event roadshows for companies across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Whether you’re looking to host an event interstate, internationally or simultaneously we have the breadth and experience to deliver it consistently and seamlessly. Get in touch with our team of production experts to start discussing your event roadshow needs - call 1800 209 099 or send us an online enquiry and we'll get right back. ... Read More

Encore delivers a spectacular "modern Queensland beer garden" for the QHA Awards

Oct 24 2018
Encore Research
The Queensland Hotels Association (QHA) held their Awards for Excellence Gala Presentation on 8 October 2018 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, engaging long-term partner, Encore Event Technologies to delight the 1,100 guests. Encore were tasked with creating the atmosphere of a modern summer sun-soaked beer garden, indoors. This was achieved through a total event production solution combining an impressive custom stage set, unique multimedia, engaging digital services and stunning creative styling. Guests were welcomed by lush turf running through a traditional timber arbour dressed in Edison bulb drops and fresh greenery with QHA branding. With the stage being the focal point for the awards, Encore created a unique custom set which included a 5.7m projection circle along with two large rounded projection screens either side. The full projection surface totalled 26.5m wide x 5.7m high, while 6m delay screens positioned in the back half of the room ensured full room coverage. “Having worked on the QHA Awards for many years, the challenge is always how to outdo the previous years’ event. “Our client had a clear vision for this year’s awards and I’m proud to say our team exceeded their expectations,” commented Stacey Buckley, Event Manager – Encore Event Technologies. Two winding, foliage trusses framed either side of the stage while oversized curved circular trusses covered with foliage and beautiful festoon lighting, hung over the stage and dance floor. Continuing the event styling, a stunning ceiling feature complete with oversized hanging foliage and Edison bulb drops caught guests’ eyes and was perfectly positioned above the second awards presentation area. Along with incorporating creative and production services, Encore also provided live digital technology via Event Feed social media integration. The skin design of the social media feed was also designed to complement the overall theme to complete the experience. Encore’s latest piece of audio visual equipment, the Disguise media server, ensured the announcement of the awards ran smoothly, managing 196 cues, live multi-camera switching, audio stings and entertainment tracks. All of this was pre-programmed the week before the event by Encore’s Head of Production Andrew Priddle and Technical Director Tim Stewart. Kelly-Anne Mott, Events and Partnerships Officer from Queensland Hotels Association was thrilled with Encore’s work for the impressive awards dinner production. “We are absolutely delighted with how spectacular the event was. Encore once again delivered, from the custom circular screen and stage set, to the stunning furniture and styling, to the content and digital services. “Another superb event that addressed our brief beautifully: a modern Queensland beer garden,” said Ms Mott. ... Read More

Increasing fan engagement at the NRL Grand Final with Live Polling

Oct 8 2018
Encore Research
The 2018 NRL Grand Final saw 500 guests invited to an exclusive event at Sydney's ANZ Stadium where they enjoyed a dinner, 2 VIP discussion panel sessions, half time entertainment and post-game wrap up. Taking this year’s match day experience up a knotch, the NRL engaged Encore Event Technologies to devise a crowd engagement solution that was simple to implement yet fun and interactive. Encore delivered the perfect solution – Event Poll – our exclusive live audience polling platform that connected the spectators and encouraged lively discussion. The concept was to use the platform for a competition for ’Who will score the first Try?’ and also capture questions from the audience for the panel of NRL celebrities. The MC Andrew Voss introduced the Q&A and competition which built excitement in the room while guest submitted their questions and predictions for first try. In 10 minutes over 200 guest names and questions were posted to screen. Rebecca Portors from the NRL commented, “Event Poll was a great addition to our game day function, it was so simple to use and provided a new level of engagement with our audience, I was impressed with how many people used their phones to enter the competition and submit a question to the panel without having to run microphones around the room.” Get involved and follow the conversation: #NRLHospitality hospitality@nrl.com.au -- ... Read More

Holographics: How to create mind-bending 3D illusions at your event

Sep 24 2018
Encore Research
If you saw Australia’s own Dami Im perform at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, or Lady Gaga duet with the late David Bowie at the Grammys, you’ve seen the amazing potential of this technology to astonish audiences. The technique includes a Holographic Mesh Screen - an invisible, metallic coated screen that when hung on your stage becomes a vehicle for 3D content to appear in thin air. It is unique because it doesn’t require any special rigging or reflective floor space to project onto, and can be used in most venues. The Holographic Mesh Screen works by fooling your brain into thinking there’s a three dimensional object hanging in the air in front of you. A high-powered projector is used to beam custom-made video footage onto the screen, using perspective and a black background to simulate three dimensions. Most importantly, the stage, objects, or people behind it are lit without that light touching the screen, giving an illusion of depth. When your brain tries to reconcile what is really a 2D projection and the depth behind it as information it can make sense of, it decides it’s a three-dimensional object. Some people call this effect a ‘hologram’, but technically it’s the latest technological innovation of an illusion called ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ whose origins go all the way back to Victorian times. Encore have been deploying our massive Holographic Mesh Screen to spectacular effect on gala dinners, awards nights, and product launches. For the Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards, attendees were initially intrigued by what looked like a bare stage bounded by black drapes, before the lights went down and the screen came to life with an enormous 3D digital set that interacted with dancers both in front and behind it, ingeniously tracked with motion sensors. Even awards presenter Shane Jacobsen got to have fun with the interactive elements before handing out the gongs. Pictured: Encore uses Holographic Mesh Curtain and motion tracking technology at AHA Awards. For legendary Chinese spirit-maker Moutai, known as ‘the world’s most mysterious spirit’, Encore Event Technologies enhanced the mystery to celebrate 46 years of the 2,000 year-old tipple in Australia. Giant three-dimensional bottles hung in the air, and custom-made video content showcased the brand’s history, highlighting the cultural significance of the occasion to over 500 distinguished guests. The Holographic Mesh Curtain provides an ideal effect for any event that needs a big 'wow' factor. It’s perfect for product launches, and can used to entertain at gala dinners, award nights, in any venue with controllable lighting and some depth on stage. Ask your Encore Event Manager about the potential of using the amazing Holographic Mesh Screen for your next event, and put your imagination to work! Get in touch by calling 1800 209 099 or sending an online enquiry today. ... Read More