Heroic Productions Delivers Audiovisual to Gustavus Adolphus College’s Nobel Conference

On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, Heroic Productions had the sheer joy of bringing Gustavus Adolphus College’s annual Nobel Conference to life! Since 1965, the Nobel Conference has been a captivating platform, gathering leading researchers and thinkers at Gustavus to delve into groundbreaking, transformative, and urgent scientific matters, as well as the ethical questions that invariably accompany them. Over the years, many Nobel Laureates have been guest lecturers. Heroic has had the privilege of being the creative audiovisual force behind this conference for the past decade!

The Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College using Heroic Audiovisual

This year’s theme? “Insects: Little Body, Big Impact.” Our team was buzzing with anticipation as we embraced the responsibility of orchestrating the audiovisual experience, ensuring the magic unfolded right before your very eyes.

An Audiovisual Transformation

The metamorphosis occurs annually at Gustavus’s hockey arena, Lund Arena. With a fresh theme each year, our mission is to transform this space from an arena into a dynamic conference center. What makes it all the more thrilling is that this event is hybrid. This means we must craft an engaging atmosphere for both those in the room and those tuning in from the comfort of their homes via the livestream. And did we mention that this event spans two full 8 hour days?

The Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College using Heroic Audiovisual
The Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College using Heroic Audiovisual

Setting the Stage

Our incredible audiovisual crew waved their magic wands and turned an ordinary room into a captivating experience for both our in-person and online audience. We kicked things off by setting up not one, not two, but four gigantic projection screens that brought content and live footage to life. Behind the speakers and panelists, we utilized five LED towers for background. This created the perfect stage for them to shine. To make sure every angle was covered for our livestream audience, our crew decided on four cameras, ensuring that no moment was missed!

Our lighting guru, Bex, bathed the walls in exquisite shades of green and blue, mirroring the signature colors of the conference’s featured insect, the scarab beetle. Three hundred feet of Truss was installed to handle the lighting and video. 

Now, let’s talk sound. Our audio maestros were in their element, ensuring that live music, speakers, and panelists seamlessly took center stage all day long. Coordinating this auditory extravaganza was no small feat. However, they nailed it, making sure that everyone’s voice was heard exactly when it needed to be.

The Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College using Heroic Audiovisual
The Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College using Heroic Audiovisual

Lights! Camera! Action!

The event unfolded flawlessly. The presenters were exceptional, and the music was nothing short of divine. Gustavus even featured a new jazz work with dancers to lead the opening academic procession! We’re already counting down the days until the next Nobel Conference next year.

To learn more about our work, visit our website.

To see how we can help you transform your next event, contact us.

How to Do a Corporate Event Right: The ‘Please Welcome’ Series

A corporate event, when well executed, is a vital tool for corporations to connect with stakeholders. Interactive experiences have the power to create lasting and meaningful connections, and in-person events present endless opportunities to engage and motivate attendees. 

We offer various tips and tactics for successful corporate event planning on our blog, but to really show rather than tell,  we’re spotlighting Heroic’s own ‘Please Welcome’ event series. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at our planning process for a memorable event. We want to show you how much fun we have planning and executing this series.

Define your goals

An event’s purpose should determine format, content, audience, and just about every other element of event planning. Whether you’re launching a new product, celebrating a milestone, or providing a learning opportunity for your team, every aspect of your event should connect to that purpose. 

Heroic’s ‘Please Welcome’ event series is designed to showcase speakers and entertainers who are changing the landscape of corporate events. We want to inspire attendees with an impactful, live studio production experience. We achieve that with a stellar studio, engaging speakers, and our team of seasoned experts.

Choose the right venue

The venue is a critical aspect of a corporate event. The atmosphere sets the tone and provides an opportunity to elevate attendees’ experience. When choosing a venue, consider the location, capacity, accessibility, amenities, and event tone. If you’re planning an in-person event, make sure the space is large enough to accommodate your guests comfortably. If your guests would benefit from an immersive event experience, consider using a studio with an LED wall or green screen capabilities. 

Heroic’s STUDIO15 is the perfect venue for our event series, as it provides a prime seat for attendees to enjoy our show, either in the studio or via seamless live streaming. Because we do everything in-house, we know that the lighting, sound, and design of our event will be cohesive. A well-prepared team makes for seamless transitions, synchronized cues, and a harmonious atmosphere for our audience. Venues with an in-house team of capable event production professionals make all of the difference to attendees’ experience. 

Strategize the content 

Corporate event content is a crucial aspect of driving audience engagement because it’s often what motivates your audience to attend an event in the first place. Plan your content around your event’s goals and audience’s needs. 

If you’re planning a celebration, consider entertainers that delight and inspire. If you’re planning an educational event, consider inviting industry experts or thought leaders to share their knowledge and insights. Don’t hire just any entertainer you think people will like. Remember your corporate event goals. How do you want attendees to feel during and after your event? Strategize content from there. 

Heroic Productions’ Please Welcome event series features dynamic speakers and entertainers who are changing the landscape of corporate events worldwide. We also provide attendees with opportunities to meet the featured talent, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and network with other attendees. 

Our last event featured Daryl Davis, a musician, author, and activist who is known for his work in fighting racism and promoting positive change. Daryl was a keynote speaker and entertainer all in one–inspiring attendees with his beautiful music and compelling testimony of his great work. 

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Invest in corporate event logistics 

Corporate event logistics should have purpose and precision. Ensure all design elements are in place, and don’t make technology an afterthought. Look for ways to synchronize the various aspects of event logistics, too. The lights, the sound, the music, the staging, the branding–should all feel harmonious to the attendee. When done right, your attendees may not even notice how cohesive your production is, but they’ll feel the difference of your attention to detail.

At Heroic, our stage and LED wall create a stunning and visually striking backdrop for events. Our exceptional lighting and sound design further elevate attendees’ experience. For Daryl Davis’ keynote, we chose hues of stunning pinks and purples for the lighting, with his illustrious musical background in mind. From the music that played before he walked on stage to a subtle green light on Daryl’s piano–we considered every detail to set the tone for the night.

The results were beautiful, but logistics don’t stop at audiovisual capabilities. Good planning also means communicating all necessary details to attendees before the event, including the event agenda, location, dress code, and parking instructions. At Heroic, we also limit the studio’s audience to ensure a personalized, engaging, and comfortable networking experience for our attendees.

Pick a team that thinks of everything

Heroic is a one-stop shop for corporate event planning and production. We understand the value of an immersive experience and are ready to handle all aspects of your event–from strategy to execution. 

The ‘Please Welcome’ series is a testament to our commitment to excellence. Our next event will spotlight Dr. Luana Marques, an acclaimed psychologist and author who will provide attendees with insights into mental health and well-being. We hope you join us and experience firsthand the extensive benefits of Studio15.

We aim to make your event a success, and we work tirelessly to ensure that happens. Contact us to learn more.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Planning Virtual Events

Whoever said it’s easier and less time to do a virtual event, in comparison to an in-person event, has a lot to learn about this “new normal” of our industry. However, what we’ve learned is that people aren’t having the upfront and honest conversations of why this is. Well, we’re here to help answer some of those questions and give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes breakdown of everything you need to know about pre-production for a virtual event.

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Virtual Event Planning Guide

Virtual events aren’t going away. Here’s what you need to know about virtual event planning.

For years, many of the in-person events we produced included a virtual element as part of their overall production. But it wasn’t until “it-which-shall-not-be-named” forced our industry to think differently, that going completely virtual became the norm. It was the only safe solution for our clients to keep telling their stories, sharing their messages, and celebrating their achievements.

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Top 5 Tips for a Successful Virtual Commencement

It’s hard to believe spring is right around the corner, which means it’s almost graduation season. As you may have guessed, commencements in 2021 won’t be like they used to be – massive venues with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people gathered for hours as they watched their loved ones walk across stage. But big venues and large crowds aren’t the only things that make a commencement memorable. Many schools are shifting away from cancelling commencements completely and transitioning to a virtual setting. We’ve compiled a list of our top five tips for you to consider when creating a successful virtual commencement.

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Our Top Virtual Entertainment of the Month

We’ve compiled our first Top Virtual Entertainment picks of the year. The world certainly isn’t short of talented entertainers. Be on the lookout for our ongoing recommendations of top virtual entertainment. Subscribe to our blog to be the first to receive our monthly recommendations.

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How to Book More Business with Speakers Bureaus with Diane Goodman and Kris Young

Jane Atkinson of The Wealthy Speaker Podcast featured our very own VP of Speakers and Entertainment, Kris Young, and the founder of Goodman Speakers Bureau, Diane Goodman, on her podcast about navigating toward the “new normal.”

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Heroic Welcomes Kris Young As New VP Speakers & Entertainment

Kris Young_Heroic ProductionsWe are excited to announce our newest member to the team, Kris Young as VP, Speakers & Entertainment. In this role, Young will solely focus on helping clients secure talent to help deliver event key messages.

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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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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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