Audio Lighting HD Video and Projection

What’s New in Event Technology? Innovations Piquing Our Interest

Posted on by McKenna LaFave

How can you bring the excitement to your next event using technology? Discover the latest cutting-edge innovations that can set your event apart from the rest.

Event Technology Reimagining Corporate Experiences

1. Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality is the rising star of event technology. It adds an interactive layer to your event, engaging attendees like never before. With their smartphones, attendees can seamlessly interact with trade show booths, branded content, and more. Whether it’s through immersive games or educational resources, AR enhances your event content and keeps attendees engaged.

Image of an augmented reality game on a smartphone.

2. Holographic Video

Holographic video is the pinnacle of event tech sophistication. Imagine showcasing your logo and products, or even bringing in a speaker from anywhere in the world in real time. Holographic video allows you to pre-record content or beam in a live presenter, creating a wow factor that will leave your audience in awe.

Image of a hologram machine with a Lion in it.

3. LED Walls

While LED walls themselves aren’t entirely new, their versatility and reinvention are making waves in the event world. Curved LED walls offer a more immersive experience with superior quality compared to traditional flat LED screens. But that’s not all! Removing LED panels from walls and creatively shaping them can breathe new life into your event. Customize LED walls to different shapes, sizes, and designs to make content more engaging and exciting.

4. Taking LED Beyond the Walls

To truly mesmerize your attendees, think outside the box (or walls). Consider wrapping an entire room in LED, creating a hypnotic and immersive atmosphere. Place LED panels on the floor to craft an LED runway or “red carpet” experience. For an up-close and personal touch, invest in LED fans to showcase content in a unique way. Mesh LED, a relatively new form of LED technology, allows you to overlay pipe and drape or create stunning see-through designs that will leave your audience in awe.

Transform Your Productions With Event Technology

The world of event technology is evolving rapidly, and these innovations are just the tip of the iceberg. To stand out in today’s competitive event landscape, embrace these cutting-edge technologies, and be prepared to push the boundaries of creativity. Your next event could be the talk of the town with the right tech in your arsenal!

Remember, the key is to enhance the attendee experience and create memorable moments that will keep them coming back for more. So, don’t hesitate to explore these new event tech horizons and elevate your events to a whole new level of excitement and engagement!

Ready to elevate your event with event technology? Reach out to Kitty Hart, Heroic’s expert in event tech innovation, and make your next event unforgettable!

To stay in the know about our latest tech-infused events, subscribe to our newsletter.

Heroic Productions: New Home of the Proto EPIC Hologram Machine

Posted on by KHart

On June 22, 2023, Heroic Productions hosted its first ever Event Planner Happy Hour! This intimate event, intended specifically for event professionals, in STUDIO15 with help from our decor partner Festivities, was planned to showcase the latest and greatest in event technology. As attendees sipped on libations and snacked on crudité, the Heroic team went to work showcasing what was sure to blow their minds!

Introducing the Proto Hologram Machine!

While virtual events, LED, and wearable technology were, of course, all topics of discussion amongst ongoing and up-and-coming trends, Heroic had something new and exciting to unveil: Proto EPIC Hologram! One of the only Proto hologram machines in the area, Heroic is proud to offer a home base for this very cool technology. When it’s not out “on the road” in use for our clients, it lives at STUDIO15 and is available for demos and ideation. 

This 54”x87.5”x28.5” box is used for professional hologram “beaming” with high fidelity speakers, 4K video, and a touchscreen. Beam a 3D version of your logo, a product, or yourself from Proto to impress your event attendees. Whether your content is premade or live, using this technology makes it simple for you to capture whoever you choose to turn into a hologram for your next event!

Now, back to the June happy hour. Guests were jazzed to try the Proto hologram machine for themselves and jumped at the chance to see themselves as holograms! The room buzzed and ideas flowed freely as the discussion surrounded the endless possibilities of what this technology could provide in the events industry. From meet and greets with celebrities, to trade show activations, to keynotes delivered by renowned speakers – Proto invites a sensational and cost-effective way to interact with event guests with a WOW factor. 

photo using the Proto hologram machine
photo using the Proto hologram machine

Bring the Magic of the Proto to Your Next Event

To discuss ways in which you can incorporate this cutting-edge hologram machine into your next event, contact Kitty Hart.

To keep up with Proto, follow Transcend Media on LinkedIn and stay connected!

Conference and Event Lighting: Considerations, Color Schemes & Tips

Posted on by andrew

Point fixture, flip switch, ta-da—Lighting. Hang on, there’s a bit more to the art and science of lights and lighting gear, techniques and design. Let’s begin with some options and definitions:

Key & Fill Lighting — Illuminate the front, from two slightly different directions.

Side Lighting — Add more definition in an unusual way. Strong side light from a single direction can produce dramatic shadows on the floor or walls.

Backlighting — Separates people and things from the background – eliminate it and things recede. Picture your host emerging from a darkened rear stage, stepping into the front lights and picking up her backlight as she steps forward. She literally comes to life.

Continue reading “Conference and Event Lighting: Considerations, Color Schemes & Tips”

How Gustavus’s Christmas Performance Fosters Student and Alumni Engagement

Posted on by andrew

Here in Minnesota, where choral music traditions are mythic, we are blessed with an abundance of Christmas concert performances. And one of those cherished traditions is Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College.

When you talk to people about Christmas in Christ Chapel, the word you hear most often is joy. Happily, there is a long-standing connection between the Heroic Productions team and Christmas in Christ Chapel, or C in CC as it is known locally. In a way, you might even say Heroic has been there from the start. Continue reading “How Gustavus’s Christmas Performance Fosters Student and Alumni Engagement”

Using Projector Throw Ratio to Determine Audience Placement Relative to Screen

Posted on by andrew

Ah, the screen. It’s a fundamental element in so many different types of events. It must be large enough and positioned properly for everyone to see projected images clearly, even from the back row. Yet it shouldn’t be so big it dwarfs other stage elements or looms over the audience members down in front. But the screen doesn’t work by itself, it has a companion element – the projector. So where should that go? It’s actually all about math.

Continue reading “Using Projector Throw Ratio to Determine Audience Placement Relative to Screen”

Augsburg University Scholarship Weekend With Steve Wozniak

Posted on by andrew

Augsburg University

Augsburg University (Minneapolis, Minnesota) hosted their annual Scholarship Weekend with a kickoff event featuring a keynote conversation with Steve Wozniak. Heroic was there to transform their large gymnasium into a visually interesting and easy-to-see-and-hear venue for a full house of attendees. We used a wall of gray drape (gray takes lighting much better than black), plenty of lights, large iMag screens and a couple of well-placed Meyer Sound line-array speaker systems. Take a look at the video!

A look back: Super Bowl LIVE 2018

Posted on by andrew

Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis

It was one winter ago that the Heroic crew was braving the Minnesota elements in support of Super Bowl LIVE 2018, on 6 blocks of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. As one of only two local vendors chosen to handle production for this huge event, we were proud to provide dynamic lighting throughout the entire site, on top of the IDS Center, and on the Verizon UP Stage, where local and national entertainment performed every evening of the 10-day run, regardless of weather conditions. Acts included Idina Menzel, Sheila E, Morris Day & the Time, Prince’s band – The Revolution, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, The Jets, Ispo Facto, Vocal Essence, The Jayhawks, Dessa and many more.

Continue reading “A look back: Super Bowl LIVE 2018”

LIVE-STREAMING Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus

Posted on by andrew

Gustavus Adolphus College

Heroic Productions was back again at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN supporting their 2018 production of Christmas In Christ Chapel. This annual event has been a campus and community tradition since 1973, with Heroic’s involvement having grown from simple lighting support to the current multi-camera live web broadcast and recording for broadcast on national Public TV stations. The five sold-out performances feature the talents of more than 300 students, faculty and staff, with music, dance, spoken word and the visual arts bringing this performance to life. The AV needs have evolved to require massive amounts of colorful dynamic lighting, multiple wireless microphones for soloists, and 8 video cameras for the web live stream.

In addition to a 2019 Telly Award, Heroic has also garnered a Hermes Creative Award 3 years in the running, for its production of the live stream broadcast.

Continue reading “LIVE-STREAMING Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus”

Home For Life Gala With Guest Jane Goodall

Posted on by andrew

International Market Square, Minneapolis

Recently, Heroic was honored to work with “Home For Life,” providing lights (incredible gobo effects!), sound reinforcement and HD projection for their Spring Gala fundraising event at International Market Square in Minneapolis. Famed researcher Jane Goodall was guest speaker at the event and raised much-needed funds for the Star Prairie, Wisconsin animal sanctuary “for cats and dogs who have been unable to find adoptive homes.”

Continue reading “Home For Life Gala With Guest Jane Goodall”

Delta Airlines’ B747 Farewell Tour

Posted on by andrew

Detroit / Seattle / Atlanta / Minneapolis

Logistics. Planning. And more planning. That’s what it took to pull off this before-Christmas whirlwind-around-the-country, 4 cities (Detroit / Seattle / Atlanta / Minneapolis) in 4-days farewell tour for Delta’s B747-400 airplanes. We supported BI Worldwide by providing the lights, audio and video/projection (notice the large projection screen in the shape of a tail fin!) for the hangar parties. How did we do it? It took two crews and two sets of gear, leap-frogging one another across the country, to pull it off. Some of our crew even had the exciting privilege of riding on the final leg of the tour! It was an honor to be a part of this historic event.

Continue reading “Delta Airlines’ B747 Farewell Tour”

X Games Party – Maxim & Indian Motorcycles

Posted on by andrew

Aria, Minneapolis

Maxim Magazine and Indian Motorcycles threw an exclusive “by invitation only” party at Aria during a recent edition of the X Games here in Minneapolis, and Heroic was there with over-the-top lighting and audio. We’ve put together a fun, time-lapse video of the set up and included images of some of the incredible motorcycles that were also on display at the party. What a night!

Heroic Supports Nobel Conference 54

Posted on by andrew

Heroic Productions returned to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN for Nobel Conference 54. For this annual prestigious event, the Lund Arena ice rink is transformed into a lecture setting for several thousand attendees, and it’s our job to help make sure the message is seen, heard and remembered by all in attendance. We do that with fabulous scenic, crisp audio and video, and creative lighting. A rock-solid video feed is provided for a live web-stream (also recorded for viewing on YouTube) of all the presenters so that people unable to attend have front-row seats for the lectures.

Continue reading “Heroic Supports Nobel Conference 54”

2019 MN ILEA Star Awards

Posted on by andrew

2019 MN ILEA Star Awards

The 15th annual MN ILEA Star Awards highlighted the incredible work of this year’s Star Award nominees and showcased the best and brightest in MInnesota’s event world. 2019’s reception/awards and after-party were held at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel – The Depot.

As a Platinum Production Sponsor, our intent was to deliver an “over-the-top” AV experience, and everyone at Heroic jumped in to make that happen. With thematic, mood-setting lighting, dynamic LED scenic banners, an LED wall, and an LED podium (all from our ContentCanvas™ family), and crisp-clean audio, attendee response indicated mission accomplished!

For us, the highlight of the evening was being presented with an ILEA Star Award for “Best Technical Production” for our work at 2018 Super Bowl LIVE on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. (All awards were judged by independent ILEA chapters from outside Minnesota.) Congratulations to everyone involved in the planning and execution of Star Awards. It was truly an awesome event for all that attended!

Continue reading “2019 MN ILEA Star Awards”