3 Things you Should Leave to the Pros

Special celebrations of any kind require a lot of planning whether it’s a corporate conference or an awards ceremony. Hosts have enough details to worry about and it’s essential that some services be provided by experienced professionals to ensure that guests have a superior experience.

Lighting

You may not be aware, but lighting will play a major role in your event and it’s equally important if the event is held outside during daylight hours. The angle of the sun is a critical factor and can result in speakers or presenters appearing washed out. Conversely, the sun can cast harsh shadows that detract from the moment at hand.

A professional lighting and design company has the ability to illuminate for any situation whether it’s indoors or outdoors. The typical types of lighting installed in indoor structures aren’t conducive to filming and can fall far short of the desired ambiance.

Entertainment

For any grand event, you want your guests to have a memorable experience and that can include a wide variety of entertainment options ranging from vocalists and bands to Cirque de Soleil acts or a light show, all of which requires the services of a lighting professional.

It can call for spotlight illumination and can encompass special effects for the performance or an all-out laser light display synched with music. Your lighting professional will also be able to provide that type of lighting and entertainment.

Food

Guests may be conversing, dancing or participating in the entertainments offered and one thing is for certain – they’ll work up an appetite. Food is always something that should always be left to the professionals. A caterer has the experience, staff and equipment to keep everyone in attendance happy and fed. They can provide chef-prepared international cuisine, custom menus, and trendy beverages to accommodate every need.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101
Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 
We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

      

What Can Make or Break A Live Event?

Planning a live event can feel like a thankless task.  All that behind the scenes planning can take months to come to fruition, even though the event itself will be over in just a matter of hours.  Putting on a live event that really packs a punch means that you need to be prepared for anything that could happen on the night.  From badly behaved performers to equipment failure and so much more, you need to be ready to react at a moments notice.

While you can’t prepare for everything, there are some certainties that must be considered during the planning phase.  Following these top tips to ensure that your live event is the best ever.

  1. Test Your Audio Equipment BEFORE the Event

Running live audio is a particular skill set that should almost always be left to the professionals.  If you are planning a live show, you need to know that your audience can enjoy crystal clear audio all night long.

Whether you are using the equipment and sound engineers provided by the venue or hiring your own from an external company, you need to be 10o% sure it will sound absolutely awesome when your audience arrives.

Sound checks are vital for every speaker, performer and even background music, so anyone performing on your stage will need to have their levels set and recorded before the big day.

A good audio technician will be able to make some adjustments to the sound quality during the event itself but limit the possibility for potential problems by ensuring that all equipment is tested and working, and levels are planned before the audience arrives.

  1. Choose your playlist well in advance

Playing the wrong kind of music between bands, or even all night long can really kill the mood.  If you have a DJ booked, to ensure that your guests are able to dance the night away, he or she will need to be given a specific idea of the right type of music for your audience. A great DJ will be able to pick up physical cues from your guests – even if they are not throwing shapes on the dance floor.  Toe-tapping and head nodding are precursors to them getting up and strutting their stuff, so your DJ needs to keep his eye on the ball.  Providing a prepped playlist that doesn’t do the job on the day is also a no-no.  Whoever is provided the music needs to be flexible enough to make changes if the audience isn’t biting.

  1. Light it up

Lighting is one of the most important elements of any live performance or event. Without it, your venue will look dull and disinteresting, and the mood will feel flat.  From the lighting you use to welcome your guests, to the flashes of color and light that illuminate the stage, every part of the event is made more exciting with a finely crafted lighting display.

A professional lighting company will be able to enhance the mood and add excitement to any event, using a series of pre-programmed lighting effects.  From lights that dance to the music, to dark spots that ramp up the anticipation, failing to provide a professional light show will have a huge impact on audience enjoyment.

Professional Live Event Lighting from Frank Gatto & Associates

Meet and exceed the expectations of your audience with a professional light show from the experts at Frank Gatto. Call us today at 561-368-0101 to find out more.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Keeping Your Event Stress Free

If you have been tasked with planning a live event, fundraising evening or corporate occasion, you may already be feeling under pressure.  With so much to organize to ensure that everything runs smoothly, it can feel like the weight of expectation is resting heavy on your shoulders.

Seamless event planning is never without its ups and downs, but by putting tried and tested plans into place before the big day, you should be able to manage every aspect of the occasion perfectly.  The venue you choose, the food your order, the band you book, the invites you send and even the design and lighting of the site on the day are all individual components of the perfect occasion.

Take a deep breath, grab your laptop and start to work through this list of the 7 best ways to keep your event stress free, to see you succeed at this, your biggest challenge yet.

  1. Define your end game

Before you can begin your journey to create an epic event, you need to have a starting point. Are you putting on an event to entertain, to raise money, to reward hard-working employees or even just to bring people together to have a good time?  Knowing what you want the evening to achieve from the outset, makes it far easier to figure out how to make it happen.

  1. Think about the type of event that best suits your needs

A glamorous black-tie occasion will work well as a fundraiser but may be completely off the mark for a more laid-back affair.  A live band in an intimate setting will be great for a party to celebrate the season but will be too informal for a corporate event.  Think of your guest list and your end game, before deciding which type of event will work best.

  1. Set a budget

Knowing how much you can afford to spend makes all the difference.  Grand ideas are great, but if your budget is more bar snacks than a champagne reception, you and your guests will be woefully disappointed.  Work out how much you have in the kitty to spend on your venue, your entertainment and your catering in the first instance.

  1. Find a venue

Whether you are entertaining 100’s of guests or just a handful, you need to find a venue that suits.  Upscale hotels, clubhouses and restaurants bring kudos, whereas outdoor spaces, empty gymnasiums and even sports venues may not be as glamorous on the face of it but may buy you more floor space for less dollar.

  1. Design your theme

A theme is an easy way to seamlessly bring together all the components of your evening.  Whether you choose something classic like a Black and White ball that attendees can easily get on board with, or something more complex, a theme adds interest to your evening. You should incorporate the design into every aspect of the event, including table decorations and interiors.

  1. Book your entertainment

If you are having a live covers band, a refined quartet or even a 100-strong gospel choir make sure they have enough room to work with.  If there is no stage at your venue, you can hire one in.  Also, be sure to check the audio system at the venue before they arrive.  If the one supplied is not up to the job, you can hire AV equipment for the night.

  1. Light it up

One of the easiest and most effective ways to transform a venue from mainstream to magnificent is with the addition of professional lighting.  A lighting company will be able to add awesome effects simply by lighting up the venue itself, as well as the stage area.  If you want it to be really impressive you could even ask for your logo, or company name to be projected onto walls or ceilings to ensure that none of your guests forget why they are really there.

Professional Event Lighting from Frank Gatto & Associates

We can supply you with the right lighting for your event – whatever the occasion.  Speak to us today at 561-368-0101 to find out more.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.