With the latest evolution of the events industry, attendees are raising the bar for what they expect out of their experience. So how do event organizers stay on top of the latest trends and technology to enhance audiovisual production, lighting, and audience engagement? Read on to see the breakdown of what we believe AV production and lighting will look like moving forward and how it can help deliver an engaging experience for your enthusiastic audience.

• Immersive Experiences

Because of COVID-19, the events industry had to make the switch to the digital platform. Now, nearing the end of 2021, we’re seeing more events move back to in-person, but it won’t look the same as before. Audiences have been stuck inside staring at screens for almost two years now, and crave something different. There will be a shift from the simple stage and screen setups to something much more exciting and immersive. 

Immersive events gained popularity because of its intense appeal to younger attendees, such as the millennials who expect interconnectivity everywhere. The most powerful immersive experiences are the ones that share stories which surround and engage you through the use of technology mixed in the physical world. When done right, immersion transforms a somewhat typical event into an especially memorable one.

• Augmented or Extended Reality (AR, XR)

Augmented reality can greatly enhance in-person and virtual events. This can often be done via mobile apps that provide unique experiences for attendees. There was once a time when we were all quarantined in our homes and couldn’t interact with one another in the way that we always could, and these AR/XR apps delivered a way to interact with others despite CDC restrictions. These revolutions in new technology are now being found useful in the events world. Attendees can now hold their phones up to various components throughout an event to find engaging and augmented content. These components may be displayed on monitors, graphics, or QR codes throughout the venue. 

 AR and XR is something that has become increasingly more popular in the past year. If you have a virtual or hybrid event, audiences at home can have an equally immersive experience as those in-person, due to this technology. If your guests are in person, this type of technology provides a touchless experience to limit the spreading of germs which is vital in this day and age, and it reduces the paper trail that most events produce.  

• Hybrid Events

We have shared our thoughts on hybrid events many times and continue to believe that we will see the evolution of hybrid events throughout 2022. COVID-19 caused the events industry to develop hardware and software solutions that made the virtual events world possible and reliable. Our understanding of technology has evolved so much that we are able to add live streaming components to in-person events with no trouble at all and at reasonable costs. Adding the streaming component only adds to the hybrid experience for those attending from home. With advances in AV production and lighting, guests from the digital world can expect to be amazed and just as engaged as in-person attendees.

Event organizers can make content more available for digital attendees by creating slide recordings of content. Having this digital content also gives those in-person attendees access to the content after the event is over, furthering your reach and accessibility. With so much going on in the world today, it is so important that events are made reachable for all.

• Lighting Trends

In the lighting world, illuminated decor and chandeliers are growing in popularity these days.  Lighting designers are partnering with event designers and other creatives to create custom fabrications, breathtaking structures, and shining canopies. Kinetic lighting, or motion activated lighting is also a very popular trend heading into 2022, especially on illuminated dance floors, so event hosts can watch their guests dance the night away. And we couldn’t forget to mention the Edison string lights, which are mostly popular for outdoor events.

The events industry had to quickly pivot in 2020 and discover ways to produce amazing events.

That new technology we learned and the incredible innovation is here to stay! Attendees want to be amazed at any event and we know that special lighting and AV production helps ensure that “wow” factor. If you’d like us to help make sure your next event is unforgettable, contact our production and lighting experts at Wizard Studios today!