How the Event Pros Are Designing Over-the-Top TV Premieres

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How the Event Pros Are Designing Over-the-Top TV Premieres

As a TV watcher, you wait at the edge of your seat for the premiere of your favorite shows, right? You can’t wait to see how that cliffhanger from last season plays out and are just so happy to be spending time with your favorite characters again. It’s exciting! Well, imagine how exciting it must be to attend a premiere party for a popular show like "Game of Thrones." As if the start of the show wasn’t exhilarating enough, event pros are creating TV premiere parties that blow everyone away. The key is to come up with a themed party that’s inspired by the subject matter of the show. Take a look at these over-the-top premieres while considering how you could use these examples as inspiration for your own event.

"Game of Thrones"

You wouldn’t take this article seriously if it skipped "Game of Thrones," so let’s start with this one. The show’s seventh season premiere included a screening and an amazing after-party at LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Classic Parking garage rooftop. This event was put on by Billy Butchkavitz Design for HBO, and it even made a space with no elevator access work by adding bridge and ramp structures guests could climb to reach the roof.

To enhance the atmosphere, a live orchestra gave the background music for the screening. The design team was able to fit the theme of the show by projecting flying dragons and characters. Mood lighting helped create the feeling of winter that fits the show’s premiere, while paper costumes, sculptures and other themed displays decorated the space. As if the show wasn’t enough entertainment, there was also a DJ, dancers and stilt-walkers to wow guests.

"Will"

By attending the premiere of the show "Will," guests got to go back in time while enjoying surprising modern twists. TNT created an Elizabethan party fitting of William Shakespeare, while the unique event let audiences know that the show would put a fresh twist on a classic.

The premiere screening took place on the lawn of Bryant Park in New York, while the party was at Bryant Park Grill. With the help of Empire Entertainment, TNT was able to perfectly fit the theme. The decor matched the unique feel of the show, with a mix of skulls and rock posters alongside fancy chandeliers, tapestries and books. The party also offered an experience, with street fair vendors for snacks, punk rock music, tattoo stations and a photo booth with themed props.

"Snowfall"

It sounds complicated to throw a themed premiere based around a drug epidemic, but FX showed that any subject can have a great party with its "Snowfall" premiere. This one was also complicated by the fact that this is a brand-new show, so the premiere didn't come with a built-in audience. But the themed party was sure to build excitement.

The event team recreated the show’s setting of 1980s Los Angeles with a downtown L.A. pop-up event that was open to the public. The area featured creative graffiti, '80s-style decor and time-period accents like a cassette tape-shaped table. They finished the look with an impressive wall mural showing L.A. streets. The style got visitors into the feeling of the setting and time period, creating interest in a new series. 

The best TV premiere parties were able to create an experience that fit the theme of their shows. These cases offer some examples of how this type of event can be pulled off with flair. How could you adapt these ideas?

Why You Need to Use Drones for Your Next Event

Who wants aerial coverage? We do, and you should too. Drones have made several appearances in 2017, and they’re popping up more frequently. You should invest, because they’re becoming a go-to resource for event marketers, brand promotion teams and event backers. If you want to have a successful, engaging event, take to the skies. Here’s why:

Outdoor Safety Precision

What? You don’t need a weather radar? Well, not exactly. You should still check the day’s forecast. You should also still invest in a security guard. Drones can pack high-end cameras, however, and they can hit regularly inaccessible angles. Whether you’re fearing crowd control issues or security breaches, a droned camera, really, is your best bet.

Facebook’s Favorite Livestream Tool

Facebook is already a popular event media platform. If you want to ramp up your event’s visibility, you should outfit your platform with a drone. Already, event marketers are using DJI drones to stream Facebook Live video. Let’s face it: Social media visibility is the best visibility. Live video via drone provides an immersive experience. It also offers an unrivaled POV.

Mobile-Controlled Mobile Hotspots

Strangely enough, you can use a drone as a WiFi hotspot for mobile devices. Drones can be makeshift cell towers, if you launch them correctly. If your WiFi networks are getting crowded, consider using a drone to boost patron reception. Your attendees will thank you.

Everyone Wants Quick Action

If you’re tired of wheeling around massive equipment, settle for something more agile. Today’s event drones weigh under 55 pounds, on average, and they’re capable of covering tight angles with the push of a button. Sometimes, the event area is too tough to cover, ground-wise. If this is the case, circumvent the headaches by using aerial coverage. Just makes sure you have FAA permission, first.

The Bird’s-Eye View

If you thought mobile-controlled drones were cool, you haven’t seen anything yet—literally. Pilots, now, can use specialized goggles to get a drone’s-eye perspective. You can also have a copilot who watches the physical equipment. Assuming you’re not understaffed, the combination makes for excellent footage coverage. A lot of todays’ event planners are hiring professional pilots to manage their drone activities. Yes, professional drone pilots exist.

At the end of the day, a drone is worth its weight in maneuverability. Before you invest, make sure you’ve got the gumption to repair, upgrade and replace when needed. Move your events at the speed of flight, and outfit your brand with a high-in-the-sky view.

Event Trend: Photo Booth Ideas for 2017

Few things bring guests together like a photo booth. Whether you’re presenting a new product line, getting creative with an expo or simply want to land a new brand perspective, installing a photo booth is a good idea. We’ve already seen a few photo booth trends in 2017 worth mentioning, and we’re sending them your way. Check out these awesome, tech-centric photo booths, and take charge with this year’s latest gadgets.

One: The LEGO Photo Booth

LEGO’s UK flagship store installed the world’s first “Mosaic Maker,” which is a photo booth capable of transforming self-portraits into LEGOs. A lot of brand providers have taken advantage of the trend, coming up with inspiring, unique ways to change the visitor’s face. LEGO’s mosaic kit, available after the photo is snapped, lets customers shape their own pictures.

Two: Movie Photo Booths

Apple, among other big tech providers, has expounded upon the recent Face Place photo booth series. It’s honored as the nation’s “Manufacturer of the Year,” and it isn’t toning down its creative approach to everything customer-centric. The Movie Photo Booth utilizes marquee-style lighting, Apple’s own green screen technology and digital photo sets which harness fantasy film backgrounds. Spice up the typical photo booth experience, and give your guests something to remember, scene-wise.

Three: The TapSnap Photo Booth

Whether you’re putting together a small event, a corporate soiree or a lavish expo, a TapSnap photo booth can enhance your visitor experience. It focuses on the customer’s perspective, using today’s leading technology to offer customized digital photo options. It’s rentable, too. Powered by a well-trained staff, TapSnap is quickly becoming a leading photo booth rental option.

Four: Social Media Booths

Social media has become a popular photo booth tool, and brand are using Facebook and Twitter log-in prompts to capture online moments and build brand awareness. These photo booths still have in-depth photo options, and they still showcase a variety of digital snap options, but having social media accessibility has changed the game.

Five: Gif Booths

Gifs have been around for a while, but they’ve only just taken off in the photo booth world. Alongside slow-mo booths and g-force “wind booths,” gif booths are becoming a staple of mall-based marketing events. Once again, social media plays a part. Facebook’s introduction to short-looping video has only fueled the trend.

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into photo booth technology, customers will start expecting lavish displays. Online metrics, social media and even virtual reality have come a long way. Today, even small marketing campaigns benefit from unique photo booth ideas. Where do you stand?