8 Easy Hacks to Upgrade Your Next Event
If you’ve seen our AV Basics to Bonuses blog, you’ll already know a bit about the basics and the bonuses of AV. We’re willing to bet you’ve already mapped out the basics of what you’ll be after to make your event a success.
But beyond the basics, what’s next? If you’re on a tight production budget, you might not be in a position to make big leaps in production value, but there’s a good chance a few well-selected upgrades here and there can make all the difference.
When it comes to transforming your event from mundane to magical, some very simple but often overlooked upgrades are the missing ingredients. We’ve seen our fair share of transformations in our time on the AV scene – it is one of our core beliefs, after all – so we consider ourselves bonafide experts in making a little go a long way.
Ready to add a few finishing touches to your event? Check out these 8 simple ways to upgrade!
Motion Graphics
Great graphic elements are a key part of an event’s scenic design. Just a simple screen with a high-resolution logo or event name can make a stage appear a cut above the rest.
But by turning simple stationary graphics into motion graphics, you can make a space and stage look that much more dynamic without a whole lot of extra work. Motion graphic loops are a great way to make simple scenic that much more engaging, and work best for down time between when doors open and when a session begins.
Better yet, add motion graphics elements to a presentation by way of PowerPoint animations, and your session will be even more dynamic!
Moving Lights
Here’s one thing we’ve learned in our time on the AV scene – motion for just about anything in scenic design steps up energy in a big way. The same thing goes for lighting, whereas a simple uplight will do a great job of branding a room with color, moving lights will amp up the liveliness of a space without too much more of a spend.
Pairing a few motion lights on stage along with simple uplights around a room’s perimeter is a good middle-of-the-road option for smaller budgets that still want to pack a bit of a punch. This is especially true for evening events, where motion lights will give a meeting space a nightlife feel.
Stage Carpeting
For events that have a raised stage, often this stage is simple black wood. That’s because a stage’s floor is often overlooked in terms of decor… usually because it’s wrongly assumed that it can’t be seen anyway.
Sure, a stage floor might not be in complete view of an audience, but enough of it can be seen that it can’t simply be left to chance. We always suggest carpeting for the stage, which adds a custom color and makes a stage look much more professional and sleek.
Best part is that carpeting for a stage is relatively cheap, and it a great way to put a bit of polish on an otherwise straightforward scenic design.
Dimensional Scenic Elements
Custom scenic is always a great option for bigger shows, but a great upgrade to standard 2-dimensional scenic is anything that adds some texture to a stage.
Try dimensional scenic elements like unique stage entrance points from well-placed gaps between backdrops, textured or layered scenic elements and even specialized shimmer walls with lighting. These types of custom scenic are unexpected and can make a big impact.
Custom Screen Surrounds
Generally with screens and projectors, the easiest and most cost effective way to hide equipment is with simple black drape. That said, a great way to add a bit of production value without cutting too far into your budget is with custom screen surrounds.
These can be painted your brand colors and even include a logo, and fit snugly around your screen. Even if you don’t have the budget to go for dimensional scenic elements, a screen surround will look much more deliberate than a simple drape.
Registration Area Videos and Screens
For bigger events, the first opportunity you’ll have to make an impression is the registration area. Unfortunately, this area is often the most overlooked in terms of AV… which makes it the best opportunity to make a big impact.
Try setting up a few 60” screens to roll either videos or a custom motion graphic loop. That way, you’re setting the tone well before participants have entered the main ballroom for an opening session!
Furniture Rental (Instead of Hotel Furniture)
Just because something is free doesn’t mean it’s worth using. While we’ve seen our fair share of overloaded event planners settle for simply using on-site hotel furniture for lecterns, stage tables and even panel seating, we highly recommend sparing the extra cost of rental furniture.
Why? Well, by renting furniture you can select things like director’s chairs, which offer a great height, look and overall comfort for your speakers and panelists. Plus, you can rent clear plexiglass furniture and lecterns that are easy to brand with dirt-cheap vinyl stickers, and simply remove them before returning them to the rental company.
Record the Event
You’ve put in blood, sweat and tears into planning and producing your meetings and events… so why not make the memories last? The extra cost of hiring a videographer or two to capture the event is worth it if you consider what you’ll get out of those recordings.
Not only can you keep those videos for internal use, you can also chop them up, edit them and use them in your future event marketing. Remember, keeping momentum between regular or annual events really comes down to keeping the conversation going… and that’s best done with great video and other rich content!
Upgrading your next event doesn’t have to be confusing… just like AV doesn’t have to be mysterious. Transforming events into interactive experiences is our bread and butter, and something we’ll admit we’ve gotten pretty good at.
Got questions? We’ve got answers (for just about everything). Set up a call with us to get started!