Trends in Meeting and Event Atmosphere

Recent trends in Audio Visual for meetings and events

With the technology boom that has occurred over the past couple of decades and continues to impress each year, it is important to stay up to date with the newest technologies and trends in audio/visual for your events.

A/V trends:

1. Out with PowerPoint, in with Gesture Media

What if you could command the screen with your hand gestures instead of using a mouse or slide advance? How much more control and how much more exciting could you make your presentations? Hand gesturing is used in the tech world, why not on stage for your presentations? If you choose to use this up-and-coming A/V trend, make sure you do some rehearsals with the equipment before show time.

2. Projection mapping

Projection mapping or video-mapping technologies allows you to project images on any multi-dimensional shape or form. Any object can become a display, leading to visual effects that make events memorable.

See it for yourself!

Building Projection Mapping in Abu Dhabi

Dallas, Texas Joulle Hotel 3D Mapping

We love this highly content driven video and look forward to using it wherever we can. You need to be aware of time frames for building out the content side and the very technical projection side of this amazing format. Allow time for the techs to have the room to make sure everything is working just as it should.

3. Multi-image display presentation software

Plasma Screens and Video walls allow A/V techs to create amazing graphics for your show. Fly in words and photos to make your information really stand out. Screen sizes are changing from the typical standard sizes to super sizes; some screens are running 20 foot tall by 40-60 and even 80 foot wide. This lays the foundation for an incredible presentation and can also replace your stage set.

4. LED lighting

Your A/V team can integrate LED lighting with video systems, allowing them to color-match LED lighting to suit screen content and themes, further branding the meeting and the experience.

LED lighting is much more energy efficient and “Green” for your meetings. LED lighting is also available using batteries for when cords are not ideal and takes a lot less power for those rooms that are older and don’t have the power grid you need for a lot of equipment. We love the under table lighting, battery operated pin and flood lighting to highlight things like a cake or a centerpiece and even lighting that installs using magnets!

5. Touch-screen technology

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National Meeting and Event Trade Shows: The Special Event 2016

National trade shows are a great resource for new AND seasoned meeting and event professionals. There are always fresh ideas, new faces, and an abundance of networking opportunities with event peeps of all levels of experience, specialties, and backgrounds. You really don’t want to miss out!

When researching which trade shows to attend, be sure that you keep in mind the cost of attending. This can add up quickly with the cost of flights, lodging, food, and attending the event itself and all of the ancillary parties.

Start by choosing several a year – if you can afford it. Attending a variety when getting started will help you determine which trade show gives you the most information and greatest possibility of connections with the right people. After that, you can attend your favorites on a yearly basis, sprinkled with a few others if you’d like.

Over my thirty years in the event industry, I’ve found a few trade shows that I really enjoy attending either yearly or every couple of years:

–    The Special Event (You can find me there next year!)
–    BizBash – there are several smaller Events that BizBash hosts throughout the year that I really enjoy attending
–    IMEX
–    I also enjoy attending several local events to network and build connections with vendors I’ll be working with

You may also want to consider being a vendor at a tradeshow. This will allow you to meet with new and existing clients and to showcase your skills and expertise.

The Special Event 2016

I recently attended The Special Event 2016 with Creative Event Team – a national organization that I am a member of. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there as it allowed us to catch up with each other, gain inspiration, and make new connections. Keep reading to see the highlights of this event:

This year The Special Event 2016 was held in Orlando, Florida. This was definitely a welcome location, having travelled from the frigid airs of the Midwest. My first stop was the hotel to get checked in and meet up with my other team members.

 

After gathering ourselves and our agenda for the week, we got ready for the opening night party. The party was a great place to network – everyone who would be attending the week-long events was there!

The host did a WONDERFUL job of creating fun vignettes, new and interactive stations, and showcasing other fun ideas to incorporate in our events. This included women on stilts that weaved back and forth and looked like angels flying in the air, a lively Cuban band with accompanying dancers, and a Cuban cigar roller.

Highlights from the Opening Night Party

They did a GREAT job with connecting their theme throughout. It was definitely exciting and the place to be. Many of the other restaurants that share Pointe Orlando also offered experiences for party goers.

The next day we had a great opening session with Sally Hogshead (I’m a huge fan!)  and there were many accompanying events that allowed us to take our imaginations to the next level. The rest of the week consisted of tradeshow activities for me. Here I was able to see great design ideas, network with others from all over the world that I hadn’t seen in a while, and brought back new ideas for my shows for 2016.

 My first Selfie Stick Photo with the Backdrops Beautiful gals

The Art of You”: An art themed event

About this time last year, our sister event company InnovativEvents was tasked with creating an event titled “The Art of You”. This event was themed with an artist’s flair and intended to capture what the company does – it was for a cosmetic surgery business. This was a fun event that inspired creativity and imagination. See the event details below:

Tables at the event were accented with toppers that were cut out like artist’s palettes and attended by actors playing the role of a painter. There were small paint cans with different chocolates for dipping the fruit and other items that are tasty with different chocolates.  Actors used paint brushes and encouraged guests to “paint with their food”.

Food was served on an artist palette serving tray. This is Smoked Salmon Asiago Tuile Palettes w/ Lox, Minced Onion, Shaved Egg, Capers & Dill.

Caricatures were drawn on an art palette for guests to take home as a souvenir.

 Delicious Red Velvet Cakes were served by waiters in berets.