- Image Audiovisuals conducted the geology meeting's presidential address in the Denver Hyatt Regency's Centennial Ballroom, delivering large screen projection, lighting and sound for more than 600 attendees. Credit: Cronin PhotographyThere's nothing like taking a break during a four-day conference to relax in a home theater in the middle of a convention floor and to feel the rumble of the tectonic plates giving birth to the Appalachian Mountains. According to Scott Collinsworth, director of sales, Rental & Staging for Denver-based Image Audiovisuals, that's one of the experiences shared by 6,700 government scientists, geologists, retirees, students, and Ivy League professors brought together to share planetary findings at the Geological Society of America (GSA) convention in Denver Oct. 28-31.
- "Engineering a theater featuring ongoing geology movies and complete with Eiki-X5 projector with a long throw lens and full JBL surround sound system added spice to the show and proved one of the more fun aspects to create," said Collinsworth.
- Due to its educational nature, the GSA convention required 23 breakout rooms and a speaker-ready room, each fitted with computers for PowerPoint, video, and audio presentations to accommodate the show's more than 2,000 presentations taking place every 15 minutes. Image Audiovisuals technicians worked closely with Rhode Island-based speaker software system CONFEX to load the selected presentations into the computers twice a day. Image Audiovisuals also subcontracted with ABS Computers in Aurora, CO, for rental of 120 computers. "We provided GSA with a one-stop technology solution," said Collinsworth.
- Image Audiovisuals was hands on, spending nearly 45-minutes each day tutoring fresh batches of GSA volunteers who monitored equipment in the breakout rooms. "We staged computer and AV technicians in each hallway to assist volunteers," said Collinsworth.
- For large room video, Image Audiovisuals orchestrated the GSA presidential address in the Denver Hyatt Regency's Centennial Ballroom, delivering large screen projection, lighting and sound for more than 600 seats. The president's address and an evening public forum were shot using three-chip Sony D35 cameras with CCU control and studio kits. The cameras and PowerPoint presentations were switched using an Edirol V-440HD Video switcher which seamlessly scaled all sources up the projector's native resolution.
Image Audiovisuals chose the 12,000 ANSI lumen Sanyo XF-46N projector with a 15-foot x 20-foot, rear-projection screen, which allowed the audience to see the visuals even with the house lights on. LED stage lighting and geometric spandex shapes accentuated the stage. Credit: Cronin Photography
Image Audiovisuals chose the 12,000 ANSI lumen Sanyo XF-46N projector with a 15 foot x 20 foot, rear-projection screen, which allowed the audience to see the visuals even with the house lights on. Eco-friendly LED stage lighting and geometric spandex shapes accentuated the stage. Image Audiovisuals also supplied an LG 50-inch Plasma monitor off-stage and wireless PowerPoint controls for the presenters.
Using an EAW KF-850 Speaker Rig with EAWZ0260 center fill speakers, even geologists in the back of the room remained attentive. The sound and lighting were ground-supported on trees rather than flown, eliminating the need for rigging in the ceiling and saving valuable set-up and strike time. Shure wired and wireless mics worked flawlessly for keynote presentations and panel discussions, said Collinsworth.
The entire program was recorded using Sonic Foundry's MediaSite Rich Media recorder, creating an automatic, indexable recording of the presentations that combined video, PowerPoint slides and program audio. The recorded presentations can then be published on the web or distributed via DVDs for on-demand viewing. "By the time they left the stage, we could give them a copy of the presentation that just ended," said Collinsworth. GSA officials enjoyed this technology and are looking to webcast and publish more Rich Media presentations in the future.
Image Audiovisuals faced its greatest challenge with managing room turnover. "It was very important to the GSA to start and finish on time, and that meant setting up and striking rooms as quickly as possible," said Collinsworth. "When operating in the expansive Colorado Convention Center, it can be difficult to get from room to room on time. We overcame this challenge by having our AV techs stationed strategically across the convention center and staying in constant radio communication for immediate response."
As one of the largest western U.S. providers of advanced rental and staging technologies, AV operations for hotels and commercial and residential systems' integration, while servicing more than 2,500 meetings and projects annually, Image Audiovisuals is not new to orchestrating multi-day conferences. But with the scope and size of the GSA show, Image Audiovisuals proved they have the experience and talent to deliver services to large meeting formats.
With more than 25 large screens, projectors, digital speaker timers and PowerPoint control, 120 computers, 25 printers, multiple cameras, miles of cabling and 15 staff, the GSA show bestowed a multifaceted challenge. Collinsworth owes the show's success largely to the half dozen pre-planning meetings. "That was instrumental in creating an error free show," he said.
