Corporate meetings and conferences have long been characterized by tedious power-point presentations echoing off the walls of fluorescent-lit hotel ballrooms. But thanks to new technologies and trends in the AV world, these long-dreaded symposiums are getting a makeover. Immersive audio, eye-opening lighting, and interactive engagement are just a few innovations changing the event industry.
Exploring this rising trend on this episode of Backstage Pass is Ben MacKinney and Ali McMahan of Alford Media. The pair have their pulse on the rapidly changing industry of audio-visual entertainment and corporate events.
“People are tired of sitting in front of a powerpoint for 90 minutes,” said MacKinney of traditional corporate events.
As a result, audio-visuals that incorporate the idea of immersive entertainment have taken precedence.
McMahan points to the influence of the entertainment industry as a major instigator to event changes, with clients requesting visuals they see on television award shows or integrating assets that make the experience “playful and fun.”
Is this change here to stay? MacKinney thinks so.
“It’s coming, whether you like it or not. And so you can either figure it out now or you can figure it out after everyone else already has," he said.
Both end-users and industry clientele are demanding a more interactive, exciting event experience. Stunning productions with engaging AV components don’t necessarily have to break the bank.
“It’s really important that event planners and producers know their goal upfront...there is not off the shelf option at this point, so much of it is custom," McMahan said.
As AV designers are pushed to innovate, there’s no boundary to new, never-been-done-before audio-visuals. McMahan said it’s an “open playing field,” with the most creative AV experiences rising to the top.