Overview

The LightFlight Gala Ball 2024, held at the prestigious Good Shed in Toowoomba, was a remarkable evening of entertainment, elegance, and cutting-edge technology. This event showcased the best in event production and design, transforming the venue into a spectacular sensory experience with meticulous planning and execution.

Objectives

• Create a visually stunning environment that highlights the evening’s performances.
• Ensure crystal clear sound for speeches, music, and performances.
• Deliver high-quality video projections and live feeds to engage the audience.
• Overcome the acoustic challenges posed by the venue’s large open tin space.
• Seamlessly manage three separate stages: pre-show, main show, and after-show.

Challenges

One of the primary challenges was the venue’s highly reverberant space, made primarily of steel and concrete. This reverberance has major impact on speech intelligibility and overall audio quality, making it essential to implement acoustic treatments and a highly focused PA that only covers the areas needed.

Solutions

Acoustic Treatment

• 140m of Drapes All Round: Heavy drapes were strategically placed around the venue to absorb sound reflections, significantly reducing reverberance and improving speech intelligibility.

Lighting Design

Equipment Utilized

• 14x Martin MH7: Used for dynamic moving head effects, creating versatile lighting atmospheres.
• 22x ShowPro Q27 Fusion Wash: Provided vibrant colour washes and smooth colour mixing.
• 8x Acme CM400 Wash: Offered additional wash lighting to cover broader areas.
• 20x LED Hex Pars: Used for up-lighting and stage washes, adding depth and colour to the venue.
• 4x ETC Colour Spot Jnr Profiles: Delivered precise spotlighting and highlighted key areas.
• MA Lighting dot 2 Console: Controlled all lighting equipment with precision and flexibility.

Implementation

The lighting design was crafted to enhance the grandeur of the gala across the entire event space. The Martin MH7 moving heads created dynamic effects and were programmed for multiple scenes throughout the evening. ShowPro Q27 Fusion Wash fixtures added vibrant colours, seamlessly blending with the overall theme. The Acme CM400 Wash lights ensured comprehensive coverage of the stages, while LED Hex Pars illuminated the venue with striking up-lighting. ETC Colour Spot Jnr Profiles were strategically positioned to highlight the speakers and performers on each stage. The MA Lighting dot 2 Console provided robust control, allowing for seamless transitions and synchronized lighting effects.

Sound Design

Equipment Utilized

• 8x Adamson S7 for main arrays with s118 subs: Delivered powerful and clear audio for the main event.
• 4x Adamson S119 subs: Enhanced the low-end frequencies for the band performance.
• Adamson S10p for additional fills: Ensured even sound distribution throughout the venue.
• Lab Gruppen PLM series amps: Provided reliable and high-quality amplification.

Implementation

Sound clarity and coverage were paramount for the gala, especially in addressing the acoustic challenges of the venue. The Adamson S7 main arrays, paired with s118 subs, offered a full-range audio experience, ensuring every detail of the performances was heard with precision. For the band performance, the S119 subs added depth to the low frequencies, creating an immersive audio experience. Adamson S10p speakers were strategically placed for additional fills, ensuring even sound coverage across the three stages. Lab Gruppen PLM series amps powered the entire sound system, providing consistent and high-quality amplification. The use of drapes around the venue significantly reduced reverberance, enhancing the clarity of speeches and performances.

Video Design

Equipment Utilized

• 5x Epson PU2216 Projectors: Provided high-definition projections for visuals and presentations.
• PTZ Optics Cameras: Enabled live video feeds and recordings.
• Roland V160 Video Mixer: Managed and mixed video feeds for seamless presentation.

Implementation

The video setup played a crucial role in engaging the audience across the three stages. Epson PU2216 projectors delivered high-definition visuals, ensuring that presentations and video content were clear and impactful. PTZ Optics cameras captured live feeds of the event, providing dynamic shots and recording the proceedings for future use. The Roland V160 Video Mixer facilitated smooth transitions between video sources, enhancing the overall production quality.

Outcome

The LightFlight Gala 2024 was a resounding success, thanks in large part to the meticulous planning and execution of the lighting, sound, and video setups. The combination of advanced technology and creative design transformed the venue, creating an unforgettable experience for all attendees. The strategic placement of drapes effectively mitigated the acoustic challenges of the venue, ensuring high speech intelligibility and overall audio quality. The event not only showcased the capabilities of modern event production but also set a new standard for future galas and events at LightFlight.