Corporate Events Plus

Flat out – up to our eyeballs – no sleep for the wicked

All expressions heard this week

Exhibition Acoustic Design 

Audio replay at Exhibitions has always been challenging between adjoining booths and exhibitors because audio levels can be overwhelming. 

I am working on a project with multiple areas with audio requirements, the difference is we are in control of the whole environment, some of the experiences for the delegates are via headphones and some experiences are direct from a PA where headsets are not used. 

There are different methods of PA – Localized loud speakers directional from a video screen for example or background soundscapes relevant to the area you are immersed in.

How do you get these areas to work in harmony together?

It is difficult but it is also possible to set boundaries to help audio bleed from one area to another. The use of acoustically absorptive materials on boundary walls can temper sound bleed.

The pacing and sequencing of soundscapes can be choreographed thoughtfully.

The location of loud speakers closer to the delegate so the audio level does not need to be too loud can help.

Time in advance of the project is valuable here – the more work that can be done in the pre production phase of the project with thought to the sound tracks to be used or the soundscapes to be commissioned will pay dividends when the project is installed on site. 

This is an area of work I am really excited to be involved with – I am looking forward to listening to the results.

That it appears is all we are missing – a plague of locusts – the world is in turmoil for sure – The British Government has taken measures of tax cuts that do not agree with the banks and financial services are in turmoil with the value of the pound dropping to it’s lowest level for a long time. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second has passed away which is very sad. The war still rages on in Ukraine causing an energy crisis.

I am working on a project in Spain – The Spanish Government in response to the rising energy crisis has release a declaration, some news if you are planning events which involve customers who require an air conditioned environment.

On August 1, 2022, RDL14/2022 Act is published, with energy saving and efficiency measures, as well as reducing energy dependence on natural gas, in which the air temperatures in conditioned habitable enclosures indicated in paragraph 2 of I.T. 3.8.1 of the Regulation of Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE), approved by Royal Decree 1027/2007, of July 20, will be limited to the following values:
(a) The air temperature in heated enclosures shall not exceed 19 ºC.
(b) The air temperature in refrigerated enclosures shall not be less than 27 ºC.

In addition, buildings and premises with access from the street included in the scope of application of the I.T. 3.8 of the RITE will have an adequate door closing system, in order to prevent that these remain permanently open, with the consequent waste of energy by energy losses to the outside, so that the permanent opening of the gate that could be closed, breaches the provisions of the regulations. 

If you have any doubt about it, our Management will be able to tell you.

Thank you very much and best regards,

True words – if you want good crew book them at the earliest opportunity.

The market is in flux – events are back & events are getting booked in but there are fewer freelance crew than there used to be because during the pandemic some crew have found other work outside of the industry.

Material costs have increased – lead times need to be longer to secure the look and feel you want.

Interesting times indeed.

This month a new contract working with Round Room Studios

Technically Directing the build of F1 THE EXHIBITION

The Formula 1 Exhibition is an immersive and interactive museum experience that tells the extraordinary story of the worlds greatest race.

This is an innovative – must – visit story telling experience for all Formula One fans.

The subject matter is of great interest to me, a new team to work with and new methods of working with new project software to learn. Projected delivery in the first quarter of 2023 – something to really get our teeth into

Historically we are quieter in the summer months so it is a good time to catch up on training to keep our skills sharp. Passing the City and Guilds MIG welding course at Bury St Edmunds earlier in the year saw the certificate arrive this week and I renewed my Emergency First Aid at Work.

Interesting that the CPR technique is different now due to possible Covid transfer of mouth to mouth resusitation. More detailed Defibrillator training too now these are becoming more widespread across the country. There is a 75`% increase in survival if a defibrillator can be used at the time of the incident. Worth making a note of the nearest unit when working at venues.

In short – no,

I think the uncertainty of ‘will the event – won’t the event’ be cancelled due to Covid has gone away but the events industry is not as turn key as it used to be.

Crew can be difficult to find, availability of materials for construction of stagesets and graphics are still limited and items need to be ordered in advance.

Those suppliers who are still trading are very busy and now being selective about what work they do commit to.

Working in London last week on a tech retail launch you could see the vapour trails of passing aircraft over the city – yes people are in the sky – people are travelling again but work in Europe for us is limited or none existent at the moment. Work is returning but it is not at the levels we are used to seeing.

Great to work in London at a very different venue this month, the summer break is coming so there is some training on the horizon to keep our skills up to date.

What next? – indoor or outdoor events – the Summer is coming so there could be some outdoor work on the horizon. For now there is plenty to do to catch up after the last busy 3 months so we are booking training while we can to keep our skills sharp and current.

What a difference afew weeks make – from 4 events cancelled in December to 3 projects being confirmed in the new year the culmination of our efforts is now complete. Working on Bett 2022 at ExCel in London saw us managing the delivery of a set of business centre offices for client meetings in The Platinum Suite and an interesting ‘forest’ booth in the main halls.

Another retail customer in another part of the country soon followed in sunny Bognor Regis with a main plenary for 500, a gala dinner including a kabuki drop effect with dancers and acrobats and an exhibition set out for 55 exhibiting contractors.

Step count at a peak of 23,456 – that is alot of walking with events across 3 different areas building simultaneously. Our feet will be glad of the rest over the next week while we recover.

What is next? – that is the great thing about live events, you do not always know what the next project is going to involve but now we are back working on live events I am looking forward to what ever shape it takes the form of.

looking ahead to March we are heading towards a couple of projects which are starting to take shape slowly, materials are a consideration, availability of product from Europe, availability of crew – book early to avoid disappointment – a phrase ringing in my ears.

February has been flat out with government work, I think I am beginning to suffer the zoom / teams fatigue that so many other people in business are feeling. Face to face meetings booked in for next week with clients and suppliers – now that is something to look forward to.