See here! 2021 screens and AV rules.
What’s best to show on your screens? The highlights of your favourite footy game or the latest catwalk fashion? Surfers riding monster waves or hilarious bloopers? Of course, the answer depends on who is watching. Here’s some tips on choosing your visuals. Consider your brand. That’s the people who are in your venue. If located on the beach, snow clips might not be for you but surfing, action sports and other holiday-fun footage is spot on. Consider your demographic. If you’re a dining venue and have families eating in the first half of the evening, some beautiful landscapes interspersed with kid-friendly clips and meal promos work well. Similarly, a gym will be best placed to show fitness clips. Where are your screens located? If screens are in sports areas, it won’t make sense to show timelapse, but our NRL, AFL and other sports highlights would slot in seamlessly outside live game/race times. What vibe do you want? Excellent audio & visual equipment in your venue creates atmosphere & vibe. You shouldn’t be locked to just one channel or one style. Vintage movie clips are perfect for a theme night, while teens love to see bloopers and trick shots. Managing Director Jeff Georgiou, says the increase in quality screens over the past few years means businesses can get exactly what they want, programmed to amplify visual messaging. Megavision Sound & Lighting are one of Western Australia’s leading audio-visual providers. Many major AV installations in WA have included our experienced team. We have packages to suit a vast variety of clients, and can help you choose the right AV packages for your business. Invest in quality products, not cheap imitations, & rest easy in the knowledge you are in good hands!
Perth 2019 Christmas Party Ideas
Your boss has just put you in charge of planning your office Christmas Party this year – it’s an honour, but also quite a responsibility! You want to go above and beyond last year’s affair, but you need some help with ideas. Well, you’re in luck because we’ve compiled a list of our top Christmas party ideas for 2019… To theme or not to theme? That is the question… Arrange for your boss and colleagues to vote; that will determine the answer and make your decision easy! If the voters opt for a theme, here are a couple of ideas to choose from: Winter Wonderland Never fear! You can create a Winter Wonderland of your own, right here. What you’ll need: 1x snow machine 1x bottle of snow liquid Audio-visual leads Lighting – The right lighting can really set the mood for your office party, transforming a space from the mundane to a truly magical Winter Wonderland. Check out Mega Vision’s Winter Wonderland package. The typical colour-scheme for a Winter Wonderland party is light blue, white and silver. Decorative snowflakes, ice sculptures and fur rugs look great and will further enhance the theme. You can also take the theme one step further by incorporating it into your menu. You can nibble away on Christmas classics such as smoked salmon blinis, Yorkshire pudding wraps with all the trimmings, mince pies and snowman cookies. For a culinary spectacle, why not create a festive candy bar? They look great and with such a variety of sweet treats, you can be sure there’ll be something for every taste. Finish off the look with a giant gingerbread house or chocolate log as the centrepiece. Disco baby! Bring on the disco ball and LED dance floor because it’s time to get groovy, baby! Why not add a smoke machine and mirror balls for that extra WOW factor? Check out Mega Vision’s 70s Disco package. A disco is a popular choice for a Christmas party. Who doesn’t love boogieing the night away?! For decorations, napkins, banners and table covers go for rainbow or iridescent colours. Love it or hate it, the cocktail food of the 1970s was definitely something else. Here are some ideas for nibbles, from a three-cheese fondue, to cheese and pineapple skewers, to trifle. And don’t forget the 70’s tunes. Speakers and amplifiers will keep the music loud and happening, so long as you use quality equipment. You’ll likely be thirsty from all that dancing – so, why not make a festive punch or cocktail? Theme party votes came back with a ‘no’? An office disco not your thing? Don’t worry, here are some other great options to consider come Christmas time for some serious team bonding: A Merry Wine Tour A wine tour is an ideal way to plan an office Christmas party with little to no effort required on the day. Just rock up and have a great time getting to know your co-workers over a wine – or few. Located just 25 minutes from Perth CBD, the Swan Valley is one of Australia’s most iconic wine regions, boasting 30 plus wineries and a plethora of breweries, chocolatiers, coffee roasters and art and craft galleries. A Swan Valley wine tour will typically include a half-day or full-day of free tastings across several cellar doors. Certain tours will also incorporate chocolate, coffee and cheese tastings. You’ll be spoiled for choice in terms of lunch options, but be sure to book a restaurant in advance. And if you and your team are water enthusiasts, what better way to explore the Swan Valley than on a gourmet river cruise? Solve a Murder Escape Hunt in Fremantle offers a superb mystery experience. And it’s the ultimate team-building exercise! You’ll be having fun and working together on your problem-solving skills at the same time – think of it as an immersive Cluedo. After your ‘out-of-the box’ activity, you can check out some of Fremantle’s best bars and round off with a delicious feed in one of Freo’s world-class eateries. Sea, Sand & Sunshine Our sunny climate lends itself to time on the water or at the beach – so why not arrange a boat party? Cruise to Rottnest, Carnac or Garden Island for a day of sea, sand and sunshine. Throw in some cool tunes and inflatables and it’ll be a blast! Bowling & Booze For retro-themed bowling with bright lights, cheesy tunes and bevvies on-the-go, then the Rosemount Bowl is the place to go. With a range of group packages and catering options, you’ll be sure to find a solution that fits. Arcade Extravaganza If arcade games are your thing, the Palace Arcade could prove the perfect party venue. This Northbridge gem brings together classic arcade games, pizza from Palace Pizza and a top-level bar offering. Mini-Golf on Another Level Holey Moley, is a mini-golf course that turns traditional putt-putt into a multi-sensory labyrinth of unique holes. With live tunes, food and unlimited drinks included in their corporate packages, you’re guaranteed to have a blast! Cocktail Masterclass Learn the tips and tricks of the trade in a fun-filled environment with your colleagues. Hear about the history of your favourite cocktails as you whip them up for yourself. A number of Perth venues offer cocktail-making classes, including Wolf Lane and Lot20 to name a couple. Sunset River Cruise What more beautiful way to soak up the Perth city skyline than from the water? Enjoy riverside opulence with panoramic views of the river and city with Crystal Swan Cruises, who boast a number of tourism accolades. Whether you’re looking for casual street food, upmarket canapes or 3-course table service, Crystal Swan Cruises can accommodate your needs with their range of package options. Food Trucks Galore Perth Mess Hall is a permanent food truck park in the heart of Northbridge, with nearly 60 food trucks on their roster. There is plenty of seating, with umbrellas providing shade in the outdoor area
Why You Should Choose A Mobile Stage Trailer for Your Next Event
Whether you are hosting a one-off charity fundraiser, a music concert or a community street festival, making sure you have the right outdoor event stage is crucial for success. The best and newest outdoor event stage on the market is a mobile stage trailer. These portable stages are replacing traditional event stages because of their convenience, simplicity and the fact they offer serious value for money. From Europe to the USA and Australia, these portable trailer stages are popular at numerous events and here’s why: Value For Money Having an event stage that is easily transportable, fully-contained and quick to set up makes organising your event much more cost-effective. The trailer stages reduce the time and costs associated with renting and setting up large event stages that have to be built from scratch on-site. You can save time and labour costs as there is reduced set up time (only 2 hours from delivery to full set up!) and therefore reduced booking time/cost for your event space. Convenience Being part of a trailer, this event stage is portable to almost any location that can be driven onto. Car parks, reserves, boardwalks, courtyards and more, you can have the trailer stage at almost any outdoor location that you like. As the trailer stage is easily towed, it makes transport and set up that much easier. The convenience of this stage lies not only it what has but what it doesn’t have / need – no additional ballast is required, no anchoring to the ground, no damage to the ground / event space and no outward tie down lines. That is convenience personified! Ease of Use No other large event stage can be assembled as fast or with such minimal effort. The mobile stage trailer can be fully set up in only 2 hours, meaning there is a lot more time available to set up other parts of your event. Furthermore, it has a water-resistant canopy, backdrop and sides as well as a non-slip floor so if there is any drizzle at your event, you can rest assured that the performers and equipment will have weather protection. Versatility This event stage is suitable for almost any kind of medium-sized outdoor event you can think of. Planning a charity fundraiser concert? Organising a big sporting event (marathon, triathlon, endurance event)? Holding a community fair or festival? This portable stage trailer can do it all. Whether you are planning an event for 500 or 5,000, the portable stage is a great option. It has side wings for a 300kg or 500kg PA system and you can even hang a big LED screen at the back of the stage area! So no matter what outdoors event you’re hosting, a trailer stage has all the features you’d expect from a professional staging solution. Advertising & Branding Opportunities You can maximise your advertising and promote your brand by hanging signage on the stage! What better way to get your message across to event patrons than by advertising right where the action is? You could even sell sponsorship space and have sponsor logos on the banners to the sides of the stage and across the top section. A lot of organisations, both government and corporate, relish the opportunity to have their branding at an event that they want to be associated with, so why not capitalise on this opportunity? The mobile trailer stage is the most convenient, versatile and cost-effective outdoor staging solution available today and it is clear to see why. So if you are looking to hire a stage trailer for your next large outdoors event, a mobile stage trailer is definitely the way to go! To book your staging, or for more information, contact the friendly team at Mega Vision today.
How to Improve the Acoustics in Your Venue
Many hospitality and event venues are not designed with acoustics in mind. Unless a building is specifically designed to be a concert venue or theatre space, acoustics are rarely considered. Large open spaces, hard floors, lack of soft furnishings and flat wall surfaces are all factors that can seriously affect the acoustics of a venue and lead to frustrating noise management issues. Hospitality venues are continually plagued with the dilemma of creating a fun and vibrant atmosphere, without disrupting the local residents or other nearby establishments. So, with our 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, we bring to you the top 5 ways you can improve your venue’s acoustics. 1. Listen It sounds obvious, but listen to the space at the busiest and quietest times of day. Apart from the patrons and music, what are the other main sources of noise? You might find that the air conditioning is particularly loud or that you can clearly hear the pots and pans clanging in the kitchen. Look at how you can minimise these noises. Maybe a sound-proof door between the main restaurant and the kitchen is required? Consider adding soft furnishings to the venue, such as rugs and cushions, as they can also help to scatter and absorb unwanted sound reflections. 2. Address Echoes If you have a lot of exposed walls, hard floors (especially tiles) and minimal soft furnishings, then this can be an acoustical nightmare for a hospitality venue. Sound baffles on the ceiling and walls will go a fair way to minimizing this problem. A sound ceiling is a popular option for many hospitality venues as it can achieve significant sound reductions (10dB indoors, 15dB outdoors) without the need for any costly building renovations. Suspended from the ceiling or installed on the wall, the sound ceiling enables you to combine a cosy, talkative dining atmosphere with a party vibe. 3. Musicians and their Instruments Does your venue host live music nights? If so, then think about where the musicians are positioned. If they are on a stage, see if the drummer can be positioned to the side and near the corner, and hang acoustic panels behind them to reduce rear sound reflections. This will hugely improve the acoustics without compromising on the sound quality and output. Acoustic panels are available to hire and are hugely popular for music gigs, theatres, music studios, school performances and music festivals. 4. Speaker Location Look at the location of the speakers in the venue – are they aiming directly at the walls? Consider the dispersion pattern of the speakers as they may need to be re-aimed or tilted so they are pointing towards the patrons, as opposed to the walls or ceiling. The diffusion of sound is important as the room needs some sound reflective surfaces and some absorptive ones, so we would recommend getting a qualified and experienced AV provider to correctly assess the acoustics and make the necessary adjustments. This will guarantee improved venue acoustics and no dead spots or flutter echo. 5. Baffle, baffle, baffle By far the most effective way to reduce sound spillover and improve acoustics in your venue is to have sound baffles or curtains. There are a variety of options out there, however the cheaper ones often use cheap quality materials which are not very effective – and in a noisy hospitality venue, they will not provide the sound absorption capabilities that you need. After 20 years in the industry, the most effective sound absorption solution we have come across is the Mobile Acoustic Wall – portable sound-proofing panels which can be used for any kind of acoustics, anywhere you like. Available for hire or for permanent installation, these sound proofing panels are ideal for anywhere that requires noise management. Contact the Mega Vision team today for more information on our sound-proofing panels.
5 Wedding Ideas to Add ‘Wow’ Factor Without Blowing the Budget
Supplying AV equipment to weddings for 20 years, we know a thing or two about how to create an impact! We’ve put together some top tips on how to add ‘Wow’ factor to your wedding – without blowing the budget. 1. Lighting Effects Don’t underestimate the power of good lighting! Lighting can create a huge impact on any wedding and doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Some of the best wedding lighting options include LED uplighting to create a beautiful wash effect against a wall or drape, or to accentuate a unique feature, such as a flower wall. Uplighting is a great and beautifully simple way to transform any wedding space. You can even have outdoor uplighting (e.g. lights shining up through the trees). A good lighting hire company should be able to recommend several options depending on the look and colour theme you want. 2. Engage All the Senses You can save money by doing away with some of the ‘extras’ at the wedding (such as bonbonnieres) and instead give your guests a more memorable sensory experience. Consider the five senses when planning your wedding. Visual impact will create a strong first impression so make sure you consider lighting, draping and other elements such as special effects. For example, a dry ice machine creates low lying fog for a ‘walking on clouds’ effect, perfect for the first dance. And don’t forget smell – this can hugely influence a guest’s impression of an event space. If you are going for a rustic theme, consider introducing bunches of scented native plants and flowers. And scented candles are perfect for creating a beautiful ambience and delightful aroma without blowing the budget. 3. Consider Your Music Choices Bands and DJs can be very expensive, so if you don’t have the budget, there are other options available. You can be your own DJ – create your own playlists and hire a sound system to play them! This means you can play the music you want, when you want and save hundreds of dollars. Make sure you get a good quality sound system though – for weddings of 50+ people you need to have professional-grade speakers. Look at professional audio-visual hire companies instead of general party hire places as the difference in quality will be dramatic. A good quality professional sound system should cost you between $125 and $150 for a 24 hour hire. For bigger budgets, you might want to hire a soft jazz band or a string quartet to add some sophisticated pizazz to the pre-dinner drinks part of your day and then hire a band or DJ to get the dance floor pumping later on in the evening. 4. Show-Stopping Entertainment Make your wedding the one that your guests really remember! Add some show-stopping wedding entertainment, such as the Sparkular Minis. These are incredible indoor sparklers that create a fountain effect and can be used both outdoors and indoors – they can even be used inside hotels and other venues without having to isolate fire alarms. They feature a new cold spark technology which means that they generate no heat and no smoke and will create the ultimate ‘wow’ factor for your wedding. Why not have them firing when you arrive at the reception and introduced as the new ‘Mr and Mrs’? Or you could use them for your first dance. Either way, they provide a great way to add some sparkle to your wedding without blowing the budget! 5. Don’t Be Tied to Your Venue’s Providers Lastly, don’t limit yourself to any given provider. If you are having your wedding in a hotel or function centre, they will likely have preferred suppliers that they want you to use. However, it pays to look further afield – very often you will be able to get the same, if not better, equipment from other providers at a much cheaper price. This also applies to using the venue’s built-in audio-visual equipment (e.g. their sound system, projectors or microphones). Venues can sometimes charge more for their equipment than if you hired the same equipment elsewhere and brought it into the venue. If you’re looking for audio-visual equipment for your big day, contact the experts at Mega Vision. With over 20 years’ experience in wedding hire, our friendly team are well-placed to advise on a range of options to suit your budget.
7 Top Tips For Choosing An Event Space
The success of any event is partly determined by the suitability of the space or venue itself. Get it wrong and it could be a disaster, but get it right and your event could be a cracker! Drawing upon our many years of experience in events management and AV installation, we have compiled a list of top tips for choosing a space to suit your event. 1. Budget Be clear on what the budget is from the outset. Although you might want the river-front, roof-top space with free-flowing Pol Roger, the budget might not (and probably won’t) allow for it. You can create a fantastic event without spending a fortune. For example, lighting and special effects can transform even the ugliest of spaces. If you have a clearly defined budget from the get-go, costs won’t spiral and you won’t be left feeling bankrupt. 2. Know Your Guests A key part of choosing an event space is knowing who your guests will be and how many you expect to attend. The number of people will definitely influence your choice of event space so make sure you have an estimate in mind (e.g. 50-65 or 200-250). The guests you are inviting will also influence the type of event space – a small hen’s party and a 50th birthday bash for 150 guests will require very different event spaces and styles. 3. Event Days and Times Check the school holidays calendar as well as public holidays as this may affect the desired date for your event (and if the event space is available). Very often, you might get the event space you want, but not the date, or vice versa. Try and be flexible where possible and have 2 or 3 potential dates in mind. 4. Scope Out Once you have the event date and guest list narrowed down, you need to have a look at the potential locations. List down 3 or 4 criteria that are important for your event (e.g. sea views, accommodates 300 people, in-house catering, etc.) then search for event spaces that might match these and do a site visit. Don’t be afraid to scope out a few different venues before deciding which one to go for. A hotel or function space are very popular for weddings and corporate events, but a winery cellar, modern warehouse or museum hall can be really fun alternative options. When scoping an event space, consider also: Event theme Location – is the event indoors, alfresco or a combination of both? Venue fees – what are they and what is included? Space – is there enough for the type of event you are planning (including a dance floor)? Parking – is there enough and is it free or paid? Unique features of the space that meet your criteria for the event 5. Audio-Visual Unfortunately, AV is often on of the last things considered when it comes to event planning. And yet it is one of the first things your guests will notice if it is not working properly! Make sure you use quality AV equipment from a reputable company to ensure quality sound and lighting for the duration of your event. Things to consider include: Audio – are you delivering a speech? Is there going to be dancing? You will need to ask the venue if you can use their audio system, or arrange to hire your own. Vision – are you delivering a PowerPoint? You will need to connect your laptop to the venue’s projector or TV. Are you hosting a sports night? Make sure you have enough big screens to broadcast the game. A big LED screen provides a ‘wow’ factor and is the best way to watch the game. Lighting – this will depend on the theme of the event. There is a huge range of lighting that can create any colour or effect you want, including lighting with a company’s logo or a person’s initials. Staging – do you need a low riser for the wedding table? Or a high catwalk stage for a fashion event? You may be able to use the venue’s staging if available or arrange to hire some. Special Effects – if you want to add some extra intrigue and excitement, look at hiring a dry ice machine, bubble machine or snow machine, depending on your event theme. 6. Restrictions Some venues have a preferred supplier list, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use them. Very often, sourcing outside suppliers can be less expensive. These might include: security, audio-visual, catering and furniture hire among others. Don’t be afraid to shop around for different suppliers. 7. Other Events If you are having your event in a hotel, function space or hospitality venue, it is highly likely there will be other events or at least other people there at the same time as your event. Make sure there is sufficient signage for your guests to follow so they don’t get lost (including signage for the toilets). Keep in mind the noise factor – if you are having speeches, you don’t want there to be lots of noise from the room next door disrupting your event. So whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate event, or an intimate cocktail party, the event space has the power to define the experience your guests have. You only have one chance to make a good impression on your guests – so make it a great one!
7 Top Tips on How to Select the Best Lighting Hire Equipment
One of the best ways to ensure that your guests enjoy your event is to make your event look and feel inviting. Nothing ruins a party mood more than really harsh lighting or it being so poorly lit they cannot see the party in front of them. So how can you achieve perfect event lighting? Well, you need to make sure you get the perfect lighting hire equipment to compliment the style of your event. 1. Event Style There is nothing more disappointing than having lighting that completely mismatches the event style. Think glamourous gala dinner with psychedelic 70s disco lights. Or a winter wonderland themed party with orange flashing lights. It just doesn’t work. Whether you’re going for elegant or big and bold, make sure you really think about the style of the event. The lighting equipment needs to compliment it. 2. What do you want to achieve? Do you have an idea in mind of the effect you are wanting? If so, be sure to tell your party lighting hire company. They will be able to recommend the right light for the night. If not, don’t worry, that’s what they are there for! Popular lighting options include LED Par cans, LED FX lights, water effects lights and pinspots for mirrorballs. If you want to hire lighting equipment, these are just some of the many options that will be available to you. 3. 5 or 50? When it comes to choosing lighting hire equipment, be sure you choose the lighting that suits the age of people attending your party! 80 year olds most likely won’t want strobe lighting (!) and teenagers may want cool coloured FX lights at their party. So keep your guests in mind when you want to hire party lighting! 4. Old school or high-tech If you want an old style lighting look, then par can lights might be the way to go. They are a cheaper option and provide a soft edged, unfocussed area of light that can be coloured with the use of coloured gel sheets. These might be good for a vintage style wedding. If you want more vibrant colours, then consider LED lights. They have much less power consumption and are more visible than conventional lighting under daylight. 5. Mood Lighting Be sure you can control your lighting so you can control the level of illumination as the natural light changes and the evening progresses. 6. Add flair Add flair to any celebration with exciting special effects (FX). There is a wide range of special FX machines to hire and these will create a seriously impressive impact on your guests. Why not hire a smoke machine? You will be able to see the rays of coloured light through the plumes of smoke which creates a real ‘wow’ effect. So to really enhance your guests’ experience, add flair with some innovative lighting and special fx! 7. Customise If you are having a corporate event, consider using lighting as a way to incorporate the company’s brand colours and logo. Gobos can project the company’s logo and LED uplighting can be used to colour theme the walls. For a wedding, consider customising gobos with the initials of the married couple and have these as a slow moving projection around the room. There are so many ways you can customise so don’t limit yourself. Lighting is a great way to transform your event space into something special. Good lighting can often make or break the atmosphere of your event. So be sure to use these 7 top tips when you need to select the best lighting hire equipment!
How to Create the ‘‘WOW’’ Factor for Your Event or Party
Organising a party or event is no mean feat. The planning that goes into making a successful event needs to be meticulous – no great party is ever thrown together at the drop of a hat. It takes careful consideration of all aspects of the event to ensure that all elements work in harmony with one another to creates a spectacular effect, leaving guests feeling like they’ve just experienced the best party in the world! Here are our top tips for how you can create the ‘‘wow’’ factor for your next party or event. Quality Sound System Every awesome party needs a high quality sound system. No-one enjoys an event with poor sound quality. If you don’t own a great sound system yourself, look at hiring some quality speakers or other audio equipment that will result in quality sound for the entire duration of your event. If you go with the cheapest available option you may find that the sound quality deteriorates after a few hours and that wouldn’t go down well with your guests! Choose Your Colours If you want to create the ‘‘wow’’ factor for your next event, think carefully about a colour scheme. This really helps to bring a room or venue together and can be followed all the way through from invitations to ‘thank you’ notes. If you really want to make a statement, choosing a single bold colour is very effective and memorable (and actually makes it easier to organise too!). Mood Lighting Lighting is essential to any successful event – whether it’s during the day or an evening function. From floodlights, to strobe lights and band stand lights, there is a myriad of lighting options to choose from for any event type. For that extra ‘wow’ effect, get a mirror ball for your dance floor – but check that it’s an appropriate size for the size of your venue or dancefloor. Lighting is essential in setting the mood for your event so make sure it matches the style of event you’re hoping to achieve. Harsh disco and strobe lighting won’t work well for romantic and low key events! Fun Photo Booth If you want to add an element of fun and hilarity for your guests, consider hiring a photo booth for the duration of the event. They’re a great way for your guests to create some awesome memories of the function and provide an excellent ‘mingling’ opportunity. You can also get some great props to go along with the photo booth to add an extra sense of fun. Special Effects Machinery For that extra special ‘wow’ factor, you can’t beat the use of exciting special effects. Depending on the theme and ambience of the event, you could look at options such as smoke machines, haze machines, dry ice machines, snow machines, CO2 jets, stage flames, search lights and much more. Take a look at our range of special effects equipment available for hire here. Hire A Marquee If you’re hosting an outdoor event but don’t want to worry about the weather ruining your plans, a marquee might be a great solution. They come in all shapes and sizes to fit your space and add an air of sophistication to any event. Don’t Forget the Dancefloor Do you want everyone to get up and dance at your party? After all, isn’t that what parties are for? Decide on a dedicated dance area and for that all important ‘wow’ effect, hire an LED dancefloor. Some are even interactive, which means that they are touch or sound sensitive, changing all the time to create stunning visual effects. If you’re looking for quality sound and lighting equipment in Perth for your next event or party, then look no further! Mega Vision Sound and Lighting have you covered with all the latest, high quality audio visual and lighting equipment to make sure your party has the ‘wow’ factor! Contact us today for some advice on how to create an event that’ll be one to remember!
How to Select the Best Supplier for Corporate AV Hire
Whether you’re planning a small conference or a large music or entertainment event, it’s imperative your audio visuals are in check. Quality audio and visuals is one of the first steps to creating an event that’s full of energy and impact and helps to deliver a message that’s effective and memorable. Great event planning is about crafting the perfect atmosphere for guests and potential clientele, but if you don’t find the right audio visual supplier match for your corporate needs, it could end up as a disaster! The right sound and lighting is the most important aspect of an event or function because of the visually unforgettable impact it creates. Audio visuals give depth and ambience to an event space and plays a massive role in tying everything together. The power of great sound and lighting is often underestimated – so make choosing a reliable AV hire supplier a priority for your next event to give it that ‘wow’ factor it deserves. Do Your Research Not every audio visual provider is going to provide the best service for your event so it pays to do your research first. Quality is key to ensure you get the best sound and lighting experience so choose a supplier that has the best equipment for the job. It’s essential you find an AV hire company that has experience in the type of corporate event you’re planning to run and offers a service that’s reliable, accommodating and creatively inspiring. Make sure the supplier you choose provides the highest quality equipment too – you don’t want your microphone to fail midway through a speech, or no visuals showing up on the TV fopr your presentation. Don’t just look at the dollar value and go for the cheapest option – remember, you get what you pay for. You will find companies charge similar rates for equipment but the variation in quality can be dramatic. For reliability and quality assurance, go for suppliers who provide commercial-grade equipment as this quality will really shine through. Determine Your Event Needs What event are you actually running? Small business conferences will have very different sound and lighting needs to live music events or corporate functions. Some events will only require a small sound system and LCD projector, whilst other higher-profile events thrive off special effects, large LED video screens and extensive staging, audio, visual and lighting equipment. You’ll need to weigh up whether you’re just hiring the equipment for the event or if you need a AV technician to operate everything on the day too. Using an outside provider with a qualified technician on hand will ensure the event runs smoothly, and keeps someone on site to prevent and attend to any problems that may arise. Event production and operation can be all the difference between a function that is good to one that’s impressive and memorable. Know What Essentials to Look Out For After you determine your event needs, you’re in a better position to find a AV hire company that has all the essentials for the job. Maybe your event requires the latest innovations like digital cinema installations for a highly creative project, production services or digital tools like presentation management and webstreaming services. A great AV company will offer onsite support, exceptional sound quality and a high level of creativity. They will be able to professionally turn your vision for the event into a reality, offering insight and tips along the way. Their sound and lighting equipment will be of the highest quality and fit for the job. If you require an onsite technician, they will be qualified and able to tackle any problems. Using a good, reputable AV company means havingqualified AV technicians who have extensive experience. There are lots of cowboys out there so be sure you have done your research! A good AV company will be able to provide advice and suggest an option that is customised to match your specific event needs. Great customer service and 24/7 support is essential too. Ask the Right Questions Think of your AV supplier as an investment towards a successful event. Thus, you want to ask the right questions to guarantee you’re getting the best bang for your buck. A reliable company will be transparent in all areas. Ask to see a profile of previous events they have supplied audio visual equipment and services too and check referrals and social media channels (such as Facebook reviews) to find out what other customers have said too. Find out if the company will be sub-contracting any parts of the provided services and don’t be afraid to ask about the staff’s training, experience and qualifications. Ask to check all equipment before hiring to test everything is in proper working order and whether there’s any cancellation charges or additional fees you need to know about. Finding the Best Supplier to Leave a Lasting Impression Hiring the right AV company will do more than create a smoothly running event – it’ll ensure your guests and potential clients leave with a positive lasting impression. Very often event companies sub-hire equipment from AV companies, so why don’t you go straight to the source instead? A good AV company will often be the one-stop-shop you need for small-medium sized corporate events. Vision, sound and lighting should be thought about as a branding opportunity for your business. No matter what the event size or style, you want people to leave talking about how fantastic the full experience was. For your AV needs, contact us today to find out how we can help!
Perth Winter Festivals and Indoor Events
Discover the best fun, frolics and festivals in Perth Some might say Perth is about as close to paradise as you can get on Earth, and with good reason; it has great beaches, great weather and apparently is also responsible for Hugh Jackman. Perth is a long, long, long (did we say long?) way from just about everything and anywhere, but that’s alright because it also happens to be home to some amazing events. All year round, you can rest assured there’s an experience for you and your friends to enjoy, while simultaneously making the rest of your crowd envious when you share the snaps of your memories on Facebook. Here’s the rundown of some of winter’s best events, courtesy of Western Australia’s capital city: The Comedy Festival In Perth, you can get your annual dose of the best medicine. That’s right, we’re talking about laughter. The Perth Comedy Festival erupts in spectacular fashion, starting with a glamorous Gala event, and Perth’s funniest and largest night of comedy. Here, Australia’s up and coming talent, finest acts and some of the best comedic stars the planet has to offer, gather under one roof in a night of abdominal stretching humour. Each year is bigger and better than the year before, offering stand up, satire, improvisation, musical, magic and a host of other forms of comedic relief.So if you want a smile on your dial, be sure to check it out! . Christmas in July That isn’t a typo. Australia really does enjoy two Christmases. All the hallmark tell-tale signs of Christmas are plain to see in July; the flurry of shoppers rushing to stores far and wide (can you say mid-year sale?), the mulled wine flowing (yes, really) and the beautiful coloured lights that are put up in homes (head to the Mandurah canals for the best Christmas in July lights!) It is the epicentre of retail sales; from restaurants to clothing stores, nightclubs and movie houses, you can enjoy discount prices and rates. It truly ‘tis the season to be jolly, so while you may not be able to frolic in the snow, you can always enjoy the sun, sea and Santa Claus in Australia during July. The Winter Garden Are you a diamond-in-the-rough ice-skating talent that is set to amaze at the next Olympics, or perhaps, Bambi on ice looking to just enjoy a day of relaxed skating? Regardless of your prowess on the ice, the Winter Wonderland is sure to be right up your alley. This festival, held in June/July each year,will be sure to put any reservations about the possibility of magic firmly to rest. It is held in Fremantle, with entry to the festival being absolutely free. However, some of the activities on offer will require the purchase of tickets. The attractions that you can look forward to include: Australia’s largest outdoor ice rink Falling snow A titanic pop-up slide Numerous carnival rides A host of music and entertainment for all ages What’s more, there are a handful of specially selected local Fremantle businesses and food providers that are on hand to serve delectable treats and succulent meals to keep you fuelled throughout the day. Winter Arts Festival This titanic festival is an enlightening sensory experience. There are displays of art and culture to suit every taste and challenge every imagination. The festival runs for a period of three months, from the beginning of June to August, featuring theatre, music, comedy, cabaret, dance, film, literature, family and visual arts. Popular favourites at the festival include: The Caucasian Chalk Circle—Black Swan State Theatre’s first international collaboration with the National Theatre of China. Comic Tragics—an exploration of graphic art at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. The Little Shop of Horrors at His Majesty’s Theatre – A scintillating musica. Winter Arts Bar – An experience featuring multimedia projections and live performances in a tunnel under St Georges Terrace. If you’re tired of the monotony of modern day life, you owe yourself at least the opportunity to be inspired by new ideas and creative expression. There’s virtually no excuse not to enjoy your time in Perth in winter, whether long or short, there’s always something to capture your imagination. As a leading provider of professional audio, visual and lighting equipment in WA, we have a pulse on life in Perth. If you have an event coming up, (corporate, community, private or otherwise) and need some audio-visual gear, be sure to contact us and we can certainly help you out!
Outdoor festivals you should attend in Perth
Perth has an awesome outdoor culture and festivals are part and parcel of enjoying your free time under the sun. What is it that we enjoy about outdoor festivals? Is it the fresh outdoor air, chilling out with friends, trying new food, watching the footie, listening to cool bands or simply drinking a few beers? Whether you’re into music, sports, arts & culture or food, Perth can offer an outdoor event that will interest you. Here are just a few of Perth’s well-known annual outdoor festivals: Perth Fringe World Festival Perth’s FRINGE WORLD Festival is a multi-arts celebration which takes place annually over 31 days in the height of summer. Fringe World is an open access festival, which means that artists from anywhere in the world can register to perform and Perth Fringe World Festival presents both local and a wide range of international artists. The acts feature a variety of genres, including circus, cabaret, comedy, music, dance, theatre, film and visual art. Perth’s Fringe is now the third largest Fringe in the world and the largest annual performance platform in Western Australia. The 2016 FRINGE WORLD Festival played host to 700 shows at over 150 venues across Perth and in local communities further afield. Over 350,000 tickets were sold and attendance at free and ticketed events topped a staggering 900,000. Taste of Perth Taste of Perth is a wonderful celebration of Perth’s unique and progressive dining scene, bringing together the latest, greatest and hottest of Perth’s restaurant scene to one central location – Langley Park from. Over three indulgent days, you can enjoy over 40 restaurant dishes and mingle with award-winning chefs and like-minded foodies as you browse through the artisan stalls of hand-picked premium food and drink producers, take part in one of the many interactive foodie attractions or simply relax and enjoy live entertainment in the stunning surrounds of Langley Park. You can also relish top chefs’ exquisite signature dishes in ‘taste’ sized portions. Perth International Arts Festival Taking place over three weeks, Perth is home to the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), which guarantees a range of artistic expression in many forms. Whether it’s movies or a standstill exhibition, you can choose to see only what interests you. By making use of perfect lighting and crystal clear sound, you are able to experience the best in art at this festival. Margaret River Gourmet Escape If food and wine is what you love, then the Gourmet Escape in Margaret River is perfect for you. In the surrounds of the beautiful world-famous Margaret River wine region, the Gourmet Escape offers a fantastic line up of amazing food, fine wines, great beer and top international celebrity chefs. The festival offers an action packed weekend programme filled with cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, master classes, intimate Q&A’s and panel discussions. In just one day you can explore, indulge and share in some of the best produce from Western Australia. This culinary extravaganza will deliver a world-class festival, with special events that offer Australian and international visitors food and wine experiences like no other. What to pack Sunscreen Water Light jersey or scarf Cap or hat Cash (some events may not have card facilities) Small bag or deep pockets Dress comfortably – no heels ladies, try wedges instead! Pick and choose from a wide variety of festivals across Australia, and spend your time enjoying what you love!
Understand why quality sound is so important for events
Hire quality sound systems for parties The importance of hiring quality audio equipment cannot be overstated because good sound really adds a great atmosphere to any setting. The right songs coming from the right audio setup, can inject great energy into your event. Avoid hiring audio systems that are on the lower end of the cost ladder quite simply because it is a disaster waiting to happen. A number of generic party hire places Hire low-quality products, which are the same price, or sometimes even more expensive, than hiring quality products from the AV professionals. The sound quality of cheaper products is obvious because it diminishes the experience. The longer the speakers are used, the more heat is generated and the quality of the sound starts to decline. When hiring quality sound systems you need to ensure it comes from specialists who are more than qualified to advise you on what you need, because hiring quality equipment will ensure a clean and clear sound. When planning your party, it is important to think about exactly what you require, and there are several factors to take into account. You can’t just pick up a box, plug it in and think that it’s going to bring the house down. There are various speakers, available in a variety of sizes, each of which are designed to deliver a different sound. 400 watt speakers in total are fine for simple events such as fundraisers or a dinner/dance setup because they are not designed for high output. They will heat up and are not designed to continually produce med – high level of output for long periods of time. The result is bad sound will then heard. However, when you’re looking for a party on the dancefloor then you need to consider 700 -1000 watts ( in total ) of sound amplification. These are built for big sound all night. But beware that the cheaper brands say they have a 800watt amplifier but it can only produce this for a few seconds were the real industrial professional equipment produces 800 watts continuously. If your budget is limited, then chat to the experts about a package that can work for you. Continuous Wattage is key – make sure you have enough for your requirements, and that it is included in your sound system package. Good sound has a lot to do with the output. Do you want to hear distortion or clarity at high volume? It is worth investing in quality equipment for a good party. The right sound specialists will ensure you hire the right equipment, which they will set up for you or you can pick it up from them if you want to save some dollars. . Using the right company also means you don’t have to worry about the sound because they will ensure your event is a sound success. You won’t be sorry, your guests will have a great time and you’ll be left with good memories. Always remember that you can never go wrong with a good sound system hired from the right company.
Sports pubs are drawing more people with big screen sport
Watch the game on the big screen, in amazing HD, at your local sports bar When it comes to watching the game in a sports bar or restaurant, size matters – big time. There’s nothing like a rowdy, beer-drinking crowd jam-packed into a venue while watching the game on the big screen. Unless of course it’s a small screen and you can’t really see what’s going on from your beer-soaked seat at the back of the pub. In this case you might as well go home, watch the game from your couch, and feign excitement when your team scores, while hugging a pillow instead of the drunk stranger next to you. Watching sports games at public venues is great fun but you do want to be able to see the game. That’s when size comes into it. You want a big screen, especially when the venue is large and there are loads of people. Those venues with multiple large screen will always draw the crowds for the big games as opposed to those places that make do with home-sized screens, which might be fine in your living room, but won’t cut it at your local pub. When you and your mates are deciding where to watch the game, you never go to the place with the smallest screen, you go for size, and cold beers of course. Now while most places serve cold beer, not all screens are equal – not by a long shot. The place with the bigger screens, can simply accommodate more people who can watch the game easier. It makes the game visible from a long distance and allows for you to fill large venues with large amounts of people, most of who are drinking and eating. It makes practical and financial sense. In days gone by, there used to be multiple small screens scattered over any sports bar and maybe one large screen with poor quality. With the price of screens having gone down and the quality gone up, there’s no excuse for that kind of display. And the best screen is if the venue buys commercial. Commercial screens have a much brighter output, more robust and made with high performance in mind. There is no use having a big domestic TV if you cant see it. Nowadays you should be able to see a big size screen from pretty much anywhere you sit or stand, and the quality should be flawless. Going beyond the normal size big screen TV’s the next step is large scale LED technology. These are made up of panels you keep bolting together to make any size you want. These are made for outdoor and indoors with the better the pitch the better the image. Someone who decided to go large on a big scale was Crown; Perth’s newly renovated Sports Bar. They went all out, engaging the services of Megavision to help them install three massive LED screens, which wrap around three walls of the bar. The 130m² of wrap around screens is truly impressive, has taken sport watching in Perth to the next level and is drawing large crowds who are loving watching their favourite sport in almost life size high definition. 2 x “small screens” are 8 m wide x 4.5m high and the large screen is 13m wide x 4.5m high. 522 panels all together of 3.9mm pitch to give you over 8.5 million pixels to look at. If you are looking to up your game when it comes to watching sport on the big screen go large with Megavison or go home….and watch on the couch.