Beyond AV was brought in by Callow Event Management to provide the complete AV and technical production package for a Henderson Group & SPAR UK Gala Dinner at Titanic Belfast.

Working directly with the Callow Event Management team, our role was to take responsibility for the technical side of the event, allowing them to concentrate on the wider event delivery and their client. With around 150 guests attending, the evening included speeches, awards and a specially produced live entertainment show featuring Irish dancers, singers and musicians.

We provided the LED video, staging, cameras, audio, wireless microphones, show lighting and technical crew. A lot of the work happened before we arrived on site, with our Project Manager working closely with Callow Event Management and the external performance company to understand what was planned and make sure the technical setup would support every part of the evening.

Planning the Event

Our Project Manager worked with Callow Event Management throughout the planning stages, making sure the AV package worked with their plans for the evening and the expectations of the end client, Henderson Group & SPAR UK.

We carried out a site visit at Titanic Belfast to look at the room layout and work out the best positions for the stage, LED screens, PA system and lighting. Titanic Belfast is already an impressive venue, so our aim was to work with the room rather than simply filling it with equipment.

One of the more involved parts of the event was the entertainment. An external performance school had been brought in to create a custom show involving Irish dancers, singers, musicians and a large number of performers moving on and off stage.

Before the event, we arranged a video call with the performance company to go through their plans. We discussed the running order, performers, microphone requirements, music, stage movements, lighting cues and the video content required for each part of the show.

Doing this in advance meant Callow Event Management didn’t need to act as the technical middleman between ourselves and the performers. We could work directly with the performance team on the technical details while keeping Callow updated on the overall plan.

LED Video & Live Cameras

We installed LED video towers on either side of the main staircase at Titanic Belfast. This gave us two large visual areas within the room while still keeping the staircase and architecture of the venue as an important part of the overall look.

During the speeches and awards, we used live cameras to put speakers onto the LED screens, giving everyone in the room a clear view of what was happening on stage.

When the entertainment started, the screens became part of the show itself. Graphics and visual content were used to complement the different performances and help change the look and feel of the room.

A dedicated Show Producer looked after the screen content and playback throughout the evening, following the agreed running order and triggering the correct graphics, video and audio cues at the right time.

Audio for Speeches & Live Entertainment

We installed a large PA system to provide clear and even sound throughout the room. The system needed to work equally well for speeches and awards as it did for the live entertainment later in the evening.

For the formal parts of the event, we provided a lectern microphone along with two wireless handheld microphones as backups and for any additional requirements.

The entertainment required a much larger wireless microphone system, including 12 wireless headset microphones for the singers, musicians and performers.

With performers changing throughout the show, we had a technician specifically looking after the wireless microphones. Their job was to make sure the correct performer had the correct microphone, fit and change headsets between performances and check everything before each person went on stage.

Our Audio Engineer mixed the complete show live, taking cues directly from the performance company’s producer and managing the different requirements for speeches, music, singers, musicians and playback throughout the evening.

Event & Show Lighting

We provided a full lighting package for the Gala Dinner, awards and entertainment.

For the formal parts of the evening, the lighting was used to create the right atmosphere within the room while making sure the stage, speakers and award presentations were properly lit.

When the entertainment started, the lighting became a much bigger part of the production.

Different lighting looks were created for the Irish dancers, singers and musicians, with individual cues programmed for different sections of the show. Our Lighting Engineer operated these live, working alongside the audio, video and stage teams so that everything happened together.

The aim wasn’t simply to put as many lights into the room as possible. It was about using lighting at the right moments to change the atmosphere and support what was happening on stage.

The Result

For us, that’s a great outcome from an event like this. Callow Event Management trusted us to look after the technical production for their client, we delivered an event that everyone was happy with, and the way our team worked with the other suppliers has already led to further work.