More and more, clients are turning to unique venues such as symphony halls and movie theaters to hold their meetings. These types of venues are often equipped with much of the support gear (stage, lighting, sound) that you would buy and install in a ballroom. And while this can be an advantage, unique venues also present unique challenges.
Take, for example, the Sydney Opera House. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Built on the edge of Australia’s largest city and bordering Sydney Harbor, it’s often the first thing overseas visitors seek out when they get to town. So our client was pleased to discover that, in addition to hosting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and a myriad of Broadway caliber theater productions, corporate clients use the Opera House to stage their live events.
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Producing a live show at the Sydney Opera House is, in many ways, a producer’s and a client’s dream. The acoustics are perfect, there are no visual obstructions and there is a sense of intimacy that makes every member of the audience feels close to the presenters. The hall comes packaged with a built-in stage, basic sound and lighting gear with control, and crew communications. The staff is among the most accommodating that I’ve experienced anywhere in the world and there’s even a fiber optic feed to support a satellite broadcast. Video and projection were brought in because, even at the Sydney Opera House, you have to see PowerPoint! Although there is plenty of room for office space, the backstage area is small and rather tight. Jamming a portable video studio back there was a bit claustrophobic. But, we got over it. After all, we produced our general session inside the Sydney Opera House.
To take full advantage of the venue, it is important to design the show to complement the architectural design. Our attendees, all C-suite executives who regularly travel around the world, were in awe as they sat beneath the cathedral ceiling, admiring the pristine wood interior and immense pipe organ. The smaller stage was a workable presentation area, even when one of the presenters made an entrance on a Harley. Flying presenters onto the stage via a zip line made for an exciting entrance as well.
But…
…you might want to take a look at the performance schedule before you book the venue. Our meeting took place during symphony season, so we had to set, rehearse, strike, set, conduct the meeting, strike, set, conduct the meeting and strike all within a 48-hour period.
In his years with Quicksilver, Chris has staged meetings in Cape Town, South Africa; Barcelona, Spain; Toronto, Ontario, Canada in addition to the Opera House in Sydney, Australia.
