News & Trends

Infocomm 2020 Connected took place over three days in June, delivering an immersive experience of learning, engagement, and networking in one virtual online event.

This year, attendees embraced the addition of content curated specifically for the live events community. Sessions included topics such as fan engagement, female empowerment, bringing back a socially distant workforce and hybrid events.

As we reflect back on three dynamic days of interviews, panels and discussion, these five takeaways for the live events industry rise to the top.

1. Your brand is everything
In his spotlight session, Claus Raasted’s message was clear, “Every brand should be a universe and every universe should be a brand… If you build ‘stuff’, you are building another product but if you have a universe, you are expanding what you already know. The more different experiences you have to offer (in your universe), the more robust your business is.”

2. Plan your production timeline with additional padding
There is an inherent risk of being together again, but before events do return, do everything you can to create a plan. Michelle E. Christian from EventEQ urged production companies and event planners to consider the timeline and the planning of that timeline for installation, rehearsals etc. “There now needs to be more padding put in place because if your crew isn’t well enough to set up or to be on show site, you are going to need enough time to replace those individuals.”

3. Human first, platform second
In our session about finding opportunity in crisis, our panelists discussed a world where virtual events will be the norm. However alongside the acceleration of technology, it will be the execution of meaningful engagement which will set events apart. Anthony Vade of FMAV stated, “The delivery mechanism is important but we need to get over that and get back to the real purpose and reason for the event.” Sean Mason at Immersive agreed, “You have to have true meaning, people are more cognizant of their time now.”

4. Walk in your confidence
For those looking to get their foot into the live production world, Danielle Edwards, Lighting Director, had some sound advice, “If you know what you are doing, don’t let anyone - male or female - make you feel like you don’t know what you are doing. Walk in your confidence, do your job and do it well.” Loreen Bohannon added, “We are seeing an age right now where there is a lot of change coming in our industry, so things are going to be a lot different. When things come back, access to jobs and what people are looking for are going to change and so now is the time to really be confident in yourself, because that is what people will be looking for.”

5. Adaptability is key to creating new fan experiences
As sports venues reopen with limited fans, how will AV requirements change in this new broadcast first world? We have seen venues extend beyond their inner walls with plasmas, external display boards to manage overflow seating and more activity on the concourses to bring the fan experience outside. Largely it will be AV solutions who are the piece in the puzzle to deliver that. Stuart Reynolds at Diversified commented, “The entire interconnected venue can be brought to life and be presented to many diverse audiences, in many diverse locations, within the entire suite of bases that are contained within a venue facility.”

Although we are all experiencing challenging and uncertain times, what is clear is that being agile and adaptable to change needs to be the new normal.

To replay the live event sessions, go to: https://www.infocommshow.org/missed-connected.