Another Heroic Production for Gustavus Adolphus College’s 50th Year of Christmas in Christ Chapel

Heroic Productions was back in St. Peter, MN for another year of Gustavus Adolphus College’s Christmas in Christ Chapel. “What is Christmas in Christ Chapel?” you ask. Well, it’s Gustavus’s 50 year-old tradition of bringing the community together to joyously celebrate Christmas. Picture this: a large production with singing, dancing, live music, and the spoken word; all brought to you by the incredible performances of Gustavus Choir, Choir of Christ Chapel, Christ Chapel Ringers, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Lucia Singers, and select members of the Gustavus Dance Company.

A Heroic Journey Through Time with Christmas in Christ Chapel

Why Heroic you ask? It all started 14 years ago when Heroic was contracted to help enhance the lighting in Christ Chapel using professional-grade instruments to better illuminate the superstars – the choirs, orchestra, and speakers. Fast forward four years, and Heroic decided to go beyond being a rental contractor. We approached the college with an idea to broadcast the show on the college’s web-streaming services. Gustavus’s response? A resounding “Absolutely!” For the past 10 years, we’ve been an integral part of this magical celebration.

Then came 2020 – the year of the unexpected plot twist. Gustavus decided if the community couldn’t be together in person, they still wanted to spread the Christmas cheer. While other colleges either canceled or used previously recorded versions of similar shows, Gustavus knew they still wanted to showcase the production. Heroic was able to come up with a safe set and recorded all the musical magic in October and edited the show together for a magical broadcast to showcase in mid-December. “It was an incredible undertaking and one of the proudest of my career,” Heroic CEO, Jon Young beams. 

Christmas in Christ Chapel Today

Today, Christmas in Christ Chapel holds a special place as one of Gustavus’s “signature events.” Heroic is honored to be Santa’s little helper behind this prestigious production. Our roots in music and entertainment make this event close to our hearts.

Christmas in Christ Chapel is not a “made for TV” show. It’s a live worship service, a dynamic experience that we strive to deliver to both in-person and virtual viewers. With 1,000 people seated in the audience and 10,000 viewing from home, Heroic is in charge of finding that perfect balance. 

The building is also not designed for our work – it’s a chapel! Working with stringent engineering specs and adding more power to the building has turned us into efficiency experts. We get more efficient every year! Our team of nine camera operators, four audio technicians, two lighting designers, a director, an assistant director, a page turner, video engineers, an executive producer, a technical director, and 20 stagehands expertly get the job done every time!

So, as we close out another year of spreading holiday joy, we invite you to join us next year, whether in person or from the comfort of your cozy couch. Christmas in Christ Chapel is a celebration like no other, and with Heroic Productions at the helm, you’re in for a treat.

To see the work that goes into this production, visit our website.

Ready to elevate your next event? Let’s start a conversation about how Heroic can bring your vision to life, contact us.

Don’t Cancel That Meeting. Consider Live Streaming!

The meetings and events industry has been shaken by the realities and uncertainties of the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Companies have started to second-guess their meeting plans, or are canceling them altogether, especially when travel is involved. Hindsight will be 20/20 as to whether or not these steps are overreaction or prudent. But, at the very least, they are certainly well-intended. And though that intention for your audience is there, the delivery of your event’s message has now been compromised. So, short of canceling altogether, what can your organization do to share its message, in a safe and timely manner?

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How Gustavus’s Christmas Performance Fosters Student and Alumni Engagement

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”

Live Stream Events: How to Boost Your Audience Attendance Through Streaming

live stream eventWho doesn’t want a bigger audience for their event? Live streaming lets you take your event state-wide, country-wide, or global. Suddenly, your awesome conference speakers can present to thousands of people without being limited by venue space. In fact, you can spread the live impact of any big event. Or not-so-big event.

Live streaming lives on, too. Besides the live feed, you can post the video on your website, distribute all or parts of it via social media, or email it to key stakeholders to get even more bang for your buck. Hot dog!

Obviously, live streaming can boost your audience, but how can you make the most of that opportunity? We have some tips. Continue reading “Live Stream Events: How to Boost Your Audience Attendance Through Streaming”

How to Improve Live Streaming at Your Event and Guarantee a Quality Feed

how to improve live streamingLive streaming has become a very important way to expand the reach of big events. You can include a virtual audience from around the world for a live look-in at a charity event, or open your doors to participants who can’t travel to a conference or company function. That can present extra challenges, though, so In order to provide a flawless experience, you need to know how to improve live streaming.

Why? Because streaming quality not only affects audience enjoyment, it reflects on your brand. Even sketchy transmission can send your content out to more people, but technically excellent streaming will make them feel like they’re right there with you.

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LIVE-STREAMING Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus

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.

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Heroic Lights Super Bowl LIVE 2018

Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis

We were elated to be one of just two local AV companies to be selected by the producers of Super Bowl LIVE 2018. As the designated lighting contractors, we were tasked with lighting six entire blocks of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, the top of the IDS Center, and the popular Verizon UP Stage.

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Heroic Wins Award for Live Webcast

Gustavus Adolphus College

We’re proud to announce that we were awarded a 2017 Hermes Gold Award in the category of Streaming Video, for our live web-stream production of 2016 Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College. This live broadcast via the internet allowed thousands of friends and alumni of Gustavus from all around the world, to view the event as it happened.

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Heroic Supports Nobel Conference 54

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.

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Live Web-Broadcast from Gustavus

Gustavus Adolphus College

For the third consecutive year, Heroic produced the live web- broadcast of Gustavus Adolphus College’s Christmas In Christ Chapel. The hard work and talents of over 350 students as well as faculty and staff, creates a high performance standard. Heroic met that standard with intense planning and logistics, scores of lights, thousands of feet of cable, multiple channels of audio and our large staff of talented AV professionals. Watch the entire program or click HERE for some behind-the-scenes video.

6 Must-Know Tips About Live Streaming Events

Heroic Productions_Live Streaming TipsToday, you can live stream just about anything — from a fundraiser, birthday party, or vacation to a cooking lesson, wedding proposal, or corporate event. It’s an excellent way for those who cannot attend in person to enjoy the experience in real-time. For companies hosting corporate events and concerts, it’s a great marketing tool, as well. That is if you do it right. And do it well.

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