In the summer of 2007 IMS Audio Visual had the opportunity to provide sound, lighting and video services for the Penske Logistics Global Leadership Conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Lake Placid, New York. Special speakers for this 200-person event included the Olympic US Gold Medal Women’s Row Team as well as the President of Penske Logistics.
This event, focused on international team building, presented a chance to showcase both IMS’ technical expertise and creativity as well as the finely-tuned pre-production processes which create a smoothly-running operation onsite.
The Situation
Once IMS was announced as the vendor for all AV elements of the event, production managers began an intensive dialogue with the client to understand their needs for the event and the purposes behind each audio, video and lighting element. After gaining this necessary knowledge, a virtual layout was created, providing the client with the ability to view each piece of equipment as it might look in the venue and how it related to other pieces in the room. Because of the age and layout of the hotel ballroom’s walls, ceilings, soffits and general dimensions, this was a critical step in making absolutely sure every piece of stage, projection, audio and lighting gear would fit together and perform it’s function before any of it ever left for Lake Placid.
In addition, these 3-dimensional renderings made it possible for IMS to present Penske with multiple possibilities with layouts of various complexity for the ultimate in flexibility for the client and their budget considerations.
The IMS Solution
The final decision was to create a fully customized set design to accommodate the various inconsistencies of the ballroom setting and to provide each of the 200 attendees with adequate viewing angles of the content on the screens. IMS would also create an exciting and inviting atmosphere for maximum business communication results for Penske.
Behind center stage, multi-sectional spandex shapes were fixed to truss pieces and lit with color-changing and moving LED lighting technology. General lighting for the stage was also affixed on truss towers at the rear of the ballroom. On each side of this glowing centerpiece were two 7x10 rear projection screens, coupled with 6500 lumen Sanyo LCD projectors. These screens, as well as the two 61-inch plasma screens for delay monitors, were able to present any type of media as well as I-MAG through a Folsom seamless switching system. Presenters on stage were able to view their slides and speaking notes up close through the use of two downstage plasma monitors. Clear and well-projected audio reinforcement came through the use of a 6-piece JBL sound system, Soundcraft console and Shure UHF-R wireless microphones
Results
Through the combination of extensive information gathering process, virtual set design capabilities and the technical skills of the IMS Event Staging Team, we were able to create a functional, as well as aesthetically designed, space for this high profile annual event. Because of the entire team’s efforts, IMS has secured the opportunity to provide Penske with the same Best-in-Class Audio Visual Production services for the 2008 event.
