Staging Connections has won 2 key industry awards; the Queensland MEA state and national award in the Products and Services Awards -Technical & Creative Production - Branch turnover > $5 million category. In yet another exciting win, Staging Connections' SEQ Business Development Executive Holly Roestenburg was named the Y MEA Future Leader of the Year. This category is open to nominations of any member or an employee of a member who is under 27 years of age and can demonstrate their involvement in Y MEA run initiatives and functions. As NSW and Victorian state winners, and Queensland state and national winners, Staging Connections has been recognised for the ongoing focus on consistent high standards of service delivery. Staging Connections Group Managing Director, Tony Chamberlain, said "The MEA state awards recognise the passion and commitment of our teams to deliver consistently high standards of service to customers regardless of where they are. The fact that three of our businesses have achieved those high standards is a magnificent achievement and one of which we are all proud,". The MEA state awards follow the recent announcement that Staging Connections had won the national mice.net Readers Choice award for Best AV and Production Services Company. ... Read More

During the Staging Connections eposide of Undercover Boss, we went to real time dashboard in Google Analytics and viewed the active visitors on the website. It was amazing to see the number of visitors creep up during the duration of the show, and we all enjoyed digging deeper to observe what users were doing on the website.For the full article click here ... Read More

LED lighting products have gained a certain recognition and acceptance within the corporate events space in recent years. Given this development I thought it might be interesting to have a look at what is available for companies like Staging Connections and what difference they can make to corporate events. Rocco has been part of the Staging Connections team for almost 15 years. With a wealth of knowledge from his work in major concert lighting, Rocco has a flair for transforming any event space into a unique experience. Rocco is involved in purchasing equipment for the Sydney business, and is always looking for new technology to give our clients an edge to their presentations. In this week blog Rocco discusses the benefit of LED. LED lighting products have gained a certain recognition and acceptance within the corporate events space in recent years. Given this development I thought it might be interesting to have a look at what is available for companies like Staging Connections and what difference they can make to corporate events. When LED lighting first came on the scene we were all quite excited and then like the rest of the industry, quickly disappointed. The products had no real punch or control that we saw would have any use to us, they were also extremely expensive in comparison to their traditional counterparts. Due to these restrictions we stayed with our existing product line using fixtures with lamps whilst keeping a close eye on developments from within the LED industry. Then all of a sudden some really cool products came our way! We looked at Cyc and wall lighting and found LED products that were 10 fold better than what we were using at the time. One of the biggest benefits is that with LED cyc lighting the lamps never get hot, making them much safer and helping us reduce risks at our events. Secondly the colour output is fantastic. These units are always in high demand and are always being turned around quickly to be delivered onto the next event. We then ventured out into the world of moving lights and found some great LED products there as well. The great part about these lights and LED in general is that they consume a fraction of the energy in comparison to incandescent bulbs, saving LED lamp life and power requirements. The reduction to our carbon footprint is huge. Whilst I have found some great LED innovations there are some areas that still need to catch up and a good example is with standard profile and wash lighting, which we use on nearly every show. These lights are our work horses in the industry and LED equivalent lighting has been produced to cover these items but the expenditure to buy these lamps far exceeds the purchase price of the similar lamp in a non LED brand. I am sure that these items will come down in price and we are always keeping a keen eye on current releases in the industry to find better, brighter and more efficient ways to light our shows! Written By: Rocco Anzellotti, Technical Director, Staging Connections. Image Credits: Unless stated otherwise, all sourced images are owned by us ... Read More

This week our blog is written by Andrew Thorne, Staging Connections National Trainer & Assessor. Andrew drives our technical training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events program for new trainees. Here is his guide to the top ten elements you need to consider when looking for a venue for your next event! This week our blog is written by Andrew Thorne, Staging Connections National Trainer & Assessor. Andrew drives our technical training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events program for new trainees. Here is his guide to the top ten elements you need to consider when looking for a venue for your next event! There is a lot that goes into choosing a venue suitable for any style of event. Considerations such as brand, location, price, food & beverage are all very important. However the question around “can the venue aid and support the communication process” is rarely investigated. For any style of event, the communication factor is critical. An event organiser invites an audience to promote a product, to educate, or to simply entertain. What ever the reason is for the event, they want to communicate a message to an audience. This message is commonly delivered through production elements such as sound, vision and lighting equipment that must work in conjunction with the function space. Here I will take you through the ten elements you need to consider on your next site visit to your potential event space! 1. Foyer & Pre Function Space This is the first impression that your audience gets of an event. It’s a space where you have the opportunity to build anticipation and set a great foundation for your message to be communicated. You want your audience to be immediately engaged, as soon as the first presentation begins. The first important messages that set the tone of the event will be lost, if your audience is not engaged! 2. Room Capacity The capacity of a function space can make or break your event. You want to find that balance between not too big and not too small. Attendees could think attendance was poor if they found themselves in a large cavernous space. While on the other hand, in a tight squashy room, it may convey that the client does not care and is skimping on budget. Both extremes have the audience thinking negative thoughts, even before the first speaker gets up to the podium! 3. Room Shape & Orientation The shape of a room can greatly impact the overall production requirements for an event. For long or wide rooms, sound and vision reinforcement is required to ensure that the communication broadcasted from stage reaches the entire audience. You do not want people seated to the side or rear of the function space feeling disconnected from the communication experience around the central stage area. 4. Ceiling Height The ceiling height of a function space can greatly impact production elements such as the height of projection screens and stage. A raised stage or podium is a great way to elevate a presenter and provide a central focus for the audience, overall enhancing the communication. Projection screens are used to visually reinforce the spoken word, and play an integral role in the communication process. You want your entire audience to be able to clearly see the presenter as well as the projection screens, ensuring there is no barrier in the communication being directed to your audience. 5. Rigging Facilities Rigging facilities in a function space, open up the possibilities of positioning production elements such as projectors, speakers and lights in the ceiling. This brings a clean and professional look to the function space. By recessing the production elements from rigging in the ceiling, ensure the productions elements do not draw your audience’s attention away from what is being communicated on stage. Further to this, there are the possibilities for providing a wider range of seating styles or increased capacity due to the floor space not being cluttered with production equipment. 6. Power Facilities Sound, Vision and Lighting equipment all require electricity! The power facilities of function spaces will dictate the amount of production equipment that can be used. Most dedicated event spaces feature 3phase power. This is usually more than enough to run an event. However venues such as restaurants and office spaces usually have limited power outlets, which will restrict any plans for extensive technology to be used for communication. 7. Access Times Venues like to utilise their function space as much as possible. It’s not uncommon for a room to be booked for breakfast, lunch and dinner events, all on the same day. Access times before and after an event will dictate what production elements can be utilised as it can take considerable time to set up and pack down. You do not want to risk being too ambitious and run out of time on the set up, leading to the event starting late. This will start the audience looking at their watches and drawing conclusions as to what is causing the delay. Not a professional way to kick start the communication for an event! 8. Loading Dock The loading dock is not the most glamorous area of a venue, however this is the point where the production elements start the journey on their way through to the function space. The ease of access through the loading dock, will determine what and how many production elements can be utilised in the communication process of an event. 9. Rehearsals Booking a dedicated time in the function space for your presenters to practice and rehearse their presentation is crucial to their communication style and overall confidence. Further to this, it’s also a chance to build rapport with the Technicians who are pressing buttons on production equipment at critical points in the presentation. The Presenter and Technician need to work together as a team, to ensure communication is unhindered. A presenter only gets one chance at a first impression with a live audience! 10. In House AV Most venues have a dedicated in-house event staging and audio visual team. Being in house brings venue knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work for specific spaces and event types. This knowledge is invaluable to draw upon when using that venue for your event. Typically, you will find expertise and efficiencies the in-house teams can exploit for you, through the use of dedicated onsite staff and pre-installed equipment. These In-house teams have strong relationships and well established lines of communication within the venue itself. The communication backstage is just as critical as the communication front of house! Keeping these ten elements in mind on your next site inspection will guide you in the right direction to choosing a suitable venue for your audience and message! Written By: Andrew Thorne, National Trainer & Assessor, Staging Connections. Image Credits: Unless stated otherwise, all sourced images are owned by us ... Read More

Guest blogger Annmarie Mansour, Account Director at Zadro Communications, shares her top tips on making the most of your next tradeshow. Guest blogger Annmarie Mansour, Account Director at Zadro Communications, shares her top tips on making the most of your next tradeshow. As with any event, it’s the thought and work that happens before that makes the most impact. A tradeshow is one of those events that requires time to allow it to be a great success. There are a few simple steps that can be addressed in a targeted three step approach; Pre Show Preparation and Promotion, At the Show and After the Show. 1. Pre-Show Preparation A tradeshow is not all about shell schemes and stand size. Once you have booked your space, take the time to ask key questions and undertake some important steps: What is the purpose of your presence at the show? As with any element of your marketing campaign there needs to be a purpose to any tradeshow presence. Are you attending the show to launch a new product; introduce a new brand; create brand awareness or to generate sales? Nut down the goals of your presence to help you gain the greatest return on investment. Establishing clear goals and objectives gives you and the team clear direction. Dedicate some time to read your exhibitor pack. Exhibitor packs include policies and procedures, and ideas and steps to help make your time at the show a hassle free experience. Stand Design - you’re booked in, you know what you want to achieve and you’ve read your exhibitor pack. Now is the time to think about how to create the greatest impact and stand your company apart from your competitors. Conduct a pre-show briefing to train the staff who will be hosting your stand. The briefing should cover the show including layout and amenities; the stand and what it will look like; behaviour expectations, any special promotions you will have at the show and last but not least why you’re involved and what you want to achieve. Promotion You've booked your space, now it’s time to let everyone know you’ll be there. Invite your clients. Tradeshows are a perfect opportunity to invite your clients (current and prospective) to take another look at your company and your brand as well as starting a new conversation with them around new products; new team members and new ideas Take it online. Whilst your presence at a tradeshow is very much physical, use all the online resources you have to promote your participation in the show: Website - Add a blurb to your website about the show and share your stand number Social Media - Create a series of social media posts in the lead up focussed on what your key messages will be E-news. Use your own internal and external newsletter to start sharing information about your time at the show 2. At the show When you’re at the show there are so many more opportunities to making the most out of the show then just your stand Be Interactive. Encourage visitors to your stand with vibrant displays, videos, giveaways, tastings and most importantly, a refreshed, fed and energised team. Be Approachable. Tradeshows are not a case of if you build it they will come – you need to design your approach to start the conversation with attendees. Make sure all your team are aware of the conversation starters and confident in their own individual approach. Lead Generation. Make your team’s life easy – provide them with an easy to use lead sheet. Lead sheets that are simple to use help your team start the conversation with prospective clients at the stand and also capture the information you need to continue the conversation long after the tradeshow. Come Prepared. Ensure the collateral you have on your stand tells your story simply so that when visitors walk away they understand what you do but are not victims of information overload. 3. After the Show Follow Up. The success of your time at a tradeshow hinges largely on your ability to continue the conversation with those you met after the event. Assign the responsibility of follow up before the first day of the tradeshow and ensure it happens within 48 hours after the completion of the tradeshow. De-brief with your team. A tradeshow is a learning experience for everyone. Sit down with the entire team involved and discuss what you did well and what could be improved for next time. It’s amazing what ideas a fresh perspective can inject into your planning process for next year. All that said tradeshows are the perfect opportunity to show off your company’s personality through the team, the ideas and the inspiration that represents your brand! Written By: Annmarie Mansour, Account Director, Zadro Communications. ... Read More

Our General Manager on Digital Event Services, Tim Chapman looks at the evolution of the product launch and discusses how technology can be harnessed to reach wider audiences whilst lowering costs for both the host and the attendee. Our General Manager on Digital Event Services, Tim Chapman looks at the evolution of the product launch and discusses how technology can be harnessed to reach wider audiences whilst lowering costs for both the host and the attendee. Last year Apple announced the launch of the iPhone 5 to the world via a webcast which could be viewed on their website. Corvette launched the highly anticipated Corvette 2014 through a live recording of the reveal which was streamed straight to their YouTube page. The list goes on; technology companies through to country music stars are all turning to the internet to get their message out. The explosion of social media, pressures of globalisation, increased competition and the need for all stakeholder relationships to be managed has left brand owners and product managers questioning the value of small in person events. High costs, limited audience reach and inconsistent outcomes have only sought to drive them to look for more innovative ways to deliver their message. At Staging Connections we have been lucky enough to be involved with many leading brands looking to change the paradigm and push the boundaries of event delivery. They want to reach a global audience, amplify their message through social media all while reducing costs. Technology is providing the answer to these challenges, allowing brands to broadcast to multiple locations, expanding audience interaction, creating interest through social media and above all, allowing the experience to live on long after the event has finished. Reaching a wider audience Video streaming is one way to invite national and global audiences to attend a product launch. Integrating video streaming allows organisers to commence a direct conversation with the end consumer not limiting engagement to just the media or industry. At the local launch of Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food campaign, in conjunction with corporate sponsors The Good Guys, we were charged with delivering a live cooking demonstration plus broadcast the launch online to reach a larger audience. What made this challenging was the remote location that was void of access to a phone line, ISDN or the Internet to assist in achieving the broadcast goal. The team used a unique piece of technology, allowing a wireless video link to be streamed to the Good Guys website. This directed thousands of people to The Good Guys site to watch the event live, and even more have gone on to view the event long after the launch day. Social Versatility Taking a product launch online increases the ability to engage in a different conversation with existing and new consumer networks empowering them to share your message via social media and amplifying the message. Recently we filmed and streamed a live feed of the launch of the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar via Nissan's YouTube channel gaining access to a wider audience geographically and demographically of more than 3,000 people. By combining a visual element; video streaming into channels like YouTube and adding a discussion platform with a Twitter feed, the audience has a three dimensional experience; an online event with the ability to share. This combination allows a significantly wider audience, offering the potential to send your messages around the world, creating a viral sensation. Working in Unity Going back to basics, your physical product launch requires an innovative and inspiring display that will entertain and translate for both your attending audience and online viewers. This can be tricky as the needs of both sets of people are very different. At the launch of Alienware's computers and laptops we executed an out of this world 3D light show using 3D projection and 3D mapping combined with stunt actors, pyrotechnics, sound and bursts of CO2 gas which was electrifying for the audience attending. We took a lot of time before hand setting up the cameras and testing the angles to make sure we had the correct vantage point to capture the action for the online audience. The future of product launches The challenge has been laid down more now than ever to change the approach of product launches. Staging Connections combine innovative techniques with a highly experienced team to deliver expertly produced creative launches that engage and motivate both the live and online audiences. Written by Tim Chapman, General Manager of Digital Event Services. Tim is continuously supporting and developing Staging Connections digital event components, looking for new and innovative ways to utilise technology to take any event from stage to screen. Tim comes from a background in corporate events where he pioneered large scale video conferencing projects and global webcasting of major events. ... Read More

Our General Manager - SA/NT, Ashley Gabriel discusses the challenges outdoor events can present and shares his thoughts as to how you can make the most of your next outdoor event. Our General Manager - SA/NT, Ashley Gabriel discusses the challenges outdoor events can present and shares his thoughts as to how you can make the most of your next event. What epitomises an Australian summer more than attending an outdoor event? Apart from the weather, have you ever considered the other numerous challenges that face event producers when delivering high quality event experiences in outdoor locations? Things like: 1. Making sure the public attending feel part of a community or brand experience. 2. Keeping safety as paramount at all times. 3. And most importantly, creating an interactive experience for those attending and those watching at home. Whether executing an audio visual solution for over 750,000 spectators in South Australia or providing staging for a parade which attracts close to 400,000 people we have combined creative and technical elements to deliver a recent slew of outdoor events under challenging outdoor conditions. The Santos Tour Down Under, the southern hemisphere’s largest cycling race, held annually in South Australia is a prestigious road cycling competition drawing cycling greats from around the world. By working together with the team over numerous years, we have been able to determine the optimal location of speakers and screens at multiple sites throughout the week long festival of cycling. Over four hundred 100 volt Line Speakers were spread throughout the streets of Adelaide, its suburbs and country towns with over 30 km of copper cable for the street PA's used. In order to ensure the outmost safety for both the riders and the public, a bespoke audio system was installed into some of the race day cars which travel ahead of the parade. All of this combined allowing for all attendees to be enthralled with the unfolding action whilst ensuring the riders were not distracted from the task at hand. In celebration of the Tour’s 15th birthday acclaimed Australian dance music group, Sneaky Sound System took to the stage on Saturday 19 January 2013 to kick things off. We set the staging, concert lighting and LED screens withIn celebration of the Tour’s 15th birthday acclaimed Australian dance music group, Sneaky Sound System took to the stage on Saturday 19 January 2013 to kick things off. We set the staging, concert lighting and LED screens with live footage for over 30,000 spectators. We installed a comprehensive audio system suited the crowds, eliminating the audio bounce back that can often occur at outdoor events. Toward the beginning of Summer, we also assisted with the Credit Union Christmas Pageant in Now in its 80th year, the parade attracts over 400,000 people each year and many more for the TV audience. Our team of 12 staged the event with over 200 speakers along a 6km route through the city streets and over 60 individual MP3 audio systems in various floats and walking characters. We worked closely with the Pageant, even disguising two crew members as Clowns so they could ride in the pageant and fix any audio issues on the floats without taking away from the magic of the parade from either the live or TV audience. Although outdoor events present numerous challenges compared to Indoor ones, we find that our crew love taking on that challenge and working in the great Australian sun. Being able to contribute to a major outdoor event in a way which enhances the public’s enjoyment (whilst remaining relatively in the background) is part of the thrill the crew enjoy. With temperatures reaching 40+ and usually non-stop sunshine, we have developed logistics and plans to suit to all weather contingencies and ensure that not only our staff & general public remains safe but that the show goes on and all deadlines are met. Written by Ashley Gabriel, General Manager - South Australia/ Northern Territory. Ash shares with us that the best event he ever worked on was a Video conference for the Queen. He commented that whilst there were obvious challenges in ensuring technology worked in two countries, it was all worth it once the team saw the Queen smiling and amusing to see Prince Philip's reaction when he realised we were watching him back here in Australia. ... Read More

Have you ever considered what impact the technical elements can have on the success of your event communication? Our National Trainer & Assessor Andrew discusses how event design and production can impact the success of your message delivery. Have you ever considered what impact the technical elements can have on the success of your event communication? This diagram shows how all the production elements work together in an integrated way to deliver the best communication outcome for your event. Audio Audio delivers the emotion for an event. Imagine you are at an auction, where the auctioneer is yelling and speaking very fast. This conveys a sense of positive energy and excitement around the subject matter. On the other hand imagine, you are at a memorial service, where the speech is very slow and considered with long pauses in between words. This conveys a sense of sombre energy and reflection around the subject matter. Vision Vision provides the stimulation for an event. Imagine you are at staring at a still image such as a graph for a length of time. This provides very little audience engagement and your mind goes to sleep. On the other hand, imagine you are watching a moving image such as a video, this will keep you engaged and alert as the imagery changes. Lighting Lighting affects the mood for an event. Imagine you are in a theatre, where the performer is spotlighted using dark colours and lighting angled upwards casting long shadows. This conveys a sense loneliness or isolation around the subject matter. On the other hand imagine the performer is spotlighted with warm bright colours and lighting angled downwards. This will convey a sense of happiness and enjoyment around the subject matter. By carefully utilising all three of the technical elements in unison, you will be able communicate with your audience through multiple levels of emotion, stimulation and mood. Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor. Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC National Trainer & Assessor and drives our technical training programs at Staging Connections, including our Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events program for new trainees. ... Read More

Social Media has revolutionised event marketing and as such has found a solid place in most event communication plans. Used as a key promotional tool it is driving awareness ahead of the event and helping improve attendee numbers, but is it helping improve the event experience and boost engagement during the event? Social Media has revolutionised event marketing and as such has found a solid place in most event communication plans. Used as a key promotional tool it is driving awareness ahead of the event and helping improve attendee numbers, but is it helping improve the event experience and boost engagement during the event? Many event professionals are still failing to capitalise on the huge benefit social media interaction can have ‘during’ the event. Whether it is a one day exhibition or a three day convention it’s more than establishing a hash tag. The challenge is integrating social into the overall event design, being responsive and broadening participation beyond the confines of the event space. It can be problematic as the person who manages social media is not always included in discussions around event production, especially the technical side of things like vision, multimedia and webcasting. But social interaction is key to the success and longevity of event as engagement improves loyalty. So how can you make sure you integrate social media into your event design to engage attendees and broaden participation? Let’s talk tech – Engaging Attendees Do a walk-through in your mind and make a list of what the attendee will see, hear, touch or feel from start to finish at the event. At each audience touch-point from the entrance, to the table setting, to the stage, think about how you can engage the audience in social media participation. Twitter is a powerful way to encourage real time interaction and instantly gives you more visibility. Make sure you discuss with your technical team how you can include Twitter into the different areas of your event. Display your key social profiles on strategically placed plasmas and projected onto screens/ walls and prefacing any presentations. If you have speakers encourage them to engage the audience, asking them to tweet questions using the event hash tag. You could use a Twitter scroll on the bottom of your event presentations and/ or on all your holding screens. As another option consider a Twitter Walls, they are a unique visualisation of live updates and will instantly capture attention. With any of these tools you need to understand the technicalities and discuss any concerns with your production team. You want to get the most out of your investment so ensuring these additions are branded and integrated into the same look and feel as the rest of the event is essential. Moderation is so important when talking about live feeds. They can be populated two ways, automatically or operator controlled. With the latter you have more control as to what is seen but whichever you choose it is important your technical team are fully briefed. Equip them with knowledge of your social profile details, hash tags and key messages and so they can moderate the feeds for you and remove anything that may be off topic or potentially offensive. Beyond the venue – Broaden your participation If you are successfully engaging with attendees at your event, it is the perfect opportunity to broaden participation by being responsive. Assign a dedicated team to manage your social media channels as this is the time you are likely to see more activity than usual. Having a dedicated team at the event means you can not only respond to attendees at the conference but also broadcast sound bites to engage those that may not be there in person. Pay special attention to providing insight into what is happening at the event and highlight why it is beneficial to attend in person. You can go one step further and invite those who could not attend the event to join in via webcast. Webcasting has come a long way from the days of dial up and has evolved as technology infrastructures have improved as well as production capabilities. Webcasting is now a fully interactive social tool as your recording can be live streamed through YouTube or your Google+ Hangout. Twitter feeds can be integrated into the design to allow the speaker to engage in direct questions and gain valuable feedback in real time. Discussing the logistical challenges with your production team will allow you to understand how best to utilise this technology. In conclusion, Social Media offers much more than a promotional platform for your event. Utilised to its full capacity, you can take your event to the next level and broadcast to multiple locations extending your reach and allowing the experience to live on long after the event has finished. The real challenge is integrating it seamlessly into your overall event design. To do this you need to discuss your key social media objectives ahead of the event with your production team. They will be able to suggest the technical solutions available and how best to utilise the technology to ensure social success at your event. Written by Katie McDonald, Digital Brand Manager - Staging Connections Katie McDonald is the resident Brit at Staging Connections. Armed with post-graduate qualifications in Marketing and specialist skills in Digital Strategy, she is passionate about management, execution, and measurement of all digital efforts that enhance and humanize brands online. ... Read More