Digital Signage

For many of the corporate events we do, digital signage is becoming a bigger add-on. It used to be more of a lower line item, but now, we are seeing it more and more including multiple monitors throughout the venue.

For those of you that don’t know, digital signage is, in its simplest form, a plasma or LCD screen that displays specific content created by our client. This content is usually pretty important to the event and many people are going to need to see it. So having the screens set up in key areas is crucial, that way everyone at the event will know what is going on. For example, it could be a screen in the hallway of a trade show telling you where the seminars are.

We have invested in some great technology that allows our customers to get creative and bring an interesting “style” to their next event or convention. While the simple screen on a stand is typical, our clients are always looking to add that next level of design, something that makes their event look different, without killing the budget.

There are also some big benefits to digital signage that are usually overlooked. It is a great way to generate revenue because the same screen can be used as advertising for the convention. This could in turn keep the cost of the ticket lower. It is also a great way to stay green. Imagine having to create all those signs for a one time purpose and then throw them out after!

The next time you need to get multiple points of information to guests or attendees give us a call and let us help you with creative digital signage!

-Jason

What is a Lumen? Why does a lens matter?

When companies call us for a corporate event and need a video, slide show or power point presentation shown at their event, they usually just ask for a projector and a screen. Some of our customers know the difference, but others haven’t the slightest idea of what goes into the type of system they could get. So the next series of blogs is going to go into detail about the common nomenclature of the A/V world, specifically, screens and projectors.

We are going to start with projectors. Projectors are always rated first on how bright they are. So, when you see the term “lumen,” that is telling you how bright the projector is. The higher the lumen output, the brighter the image will be. And, as you can imagine, the higher the lumen output, the higher the price. Most professional projectors range from 2500 lumens to 10,000 lumens. The projectors you see at concerts can be upwards of 100,000 lumens. The most common lumen output you will see would be in the range of 4500-6500.

The higher the lumen output the better the picture will be. The blacks will look better, the contrast ratio is typically higher and the image, most importantly, will be easier to see. It really comes into play with the general lighting in the room. If you are having an event where you expect the lights on, or it may be in the afternoon in a venue with a lot of windows, a high lumen projector will be necessary. When I say high, I mean at least 5000 lumens. You don’t want your client to be complaining that it isn’t bright enough. Ultimately that will be what happens.

The next thing you need to know is the projection distance, or how far you have to “throw” the image. In most cases you will project the image onto a screen, and that screen is relatively close to the projector. But in our world, we need exact measurements to make sure we fill up the whole screen. That’s where the lens comes in. Lenses are sometimes called “glass.”

The lens, or glass, will allow you to “throw” the image very wide if you are extremely close to the screen or keep it very tight if you are far away from the screen. Both wide angle and short angle lens's can get expensive to rent. And those lenses tend to need a higher lumen projector. So knowing where the screens will go, in relation to where the projector will be are very important to us. All lenses are numbered. The number is what tells you the distance you can be from the screen to fill it completely. For example, a 1:1 lens means you have to be 12 feet away to fill up a 9x12 screen. Pretty simple.

So now you know a little more about projectors. Next up will be the screen! As always, any additional questions you have, don’t hesitate to call Matt or Michael and they will help you through the process.

-Jason

Thought You Might Be Curious

Since we are an A/V company, we get asked by our friends, family or just the average person what the “two pieces of clear plastic” next to the president are when he speaks. Well, the answer is his… teleprompter.

The “contraption” resembles a mic stand with a piece of glass attached to the top of it. From the audience's perspective, the high quality prompter glass is transparent, giving the impression that the presenter is speaking fluently and professionally without any assistance. From the presenter perspective, the glass displays a mirror image of the pre-prepared speech from the LCD monitor at the base of the stand. Whenever you have a behind the shot view of the president, you can usually see wording on the glass.

So now you know what it looks like and what it is.

-Jason

New Years Eve at the Crystal Tea Room

This year we are helping with the production of a HUGE New Years Eve event at the Crystal Tea Room and we are really excited about it.

12Midnight is Philadelphia's hottest New Year's Eve Party for those looking for the best way to ring in 2012 in the Philly/South Jersey area. The Grand Ballroom is the backdrop for this amazing evening - add in special lighting, over fifteen hundred new people, a balloon drop while you watch the ball drop and a VIP area in the 50-foot glass ceiling atrium, and you'll be in awe the second you walk in. There are multiple rooms, tons of easy access bars, delicious food and carving stations and a great crowd - what more could you want?

This will be a great way to ring in the new year, so go to the website for more information and to buy your tickets.

The Prep Work

For every event that involves some sort of production (by production we mean an event that has lighting, A/V, staging, draping, etc.) there are meetings - and these meetings are what ensure that your event goes off the way it is supposed to.

Most of our prospective clients call us with the end result in mind. It is our job to fill in the blanks and let them know what it will take to get to that end result. Because most of the meetings that happen, happen before the contract is even signed, these meetings tend to be the most important ones, the ones that let us and you know what it will take finically to get the event done they way you want it. And the last couple of years have made this process pretty tough with the economy being the way that it is.

This process takes time. We want to make sure that all of the necessary steps have been taken to deliver what you expect on time and on budget. You don’t want to hear that, "we didn’t consider that" or "I was unaware this was going to be this way."

Rest assured, everybody at Synergetic is thinking for you. We are thinking of every possible thing that your event will need and asking these questions BEFORE we step foot on any site. We know what to anticipate. So if we seem to ask more questions than you might be used to, or we take a little longer putting together an estimate, it is simply because we want to make sure we get it right!

So make sure to give us a call during the bidding process of your next event. Let us see if there is something we can think of for you!

Michelle and Sam

It took six workers and almost six hours of labor, but when our team was done setting up for Michelle and Sam’s wedding, we knew we had created something extraordinary.

They had their ceremony and reception at the Loews Hotel at 12^th and Market Street. The Loews is quite an impressive venue and it’s perfect for weddings of 300+ guests like Michelle and Sam’s. Located in the oldest skyscraper in Philadelphia (the PSFS building), the Loews links history and modern elegance as its immaculate renovations deliver a very sleek and contemporary feel. Michelle and Sam came to Synergetic to enhance this beautiful venue with added lighting, draping, A/V upgrades, and of course, good music.

The production crew and I arrived at the Loews at 11:30am. We had a lot of work to do before the ceremony at 6:00pm. We first got to work on the lighting in the Millennium Ballroom where the reception was held. Michelle and Sam added up-lighting in amber, a dance floor wash, and pin-spotting to highlight their 27 centerpieces. We also set up a projector screen directly over the DJ booth that allowed guests to view slideshows of Michelle and Sam throughout the night. Their guests really got a kick out of that!

We also contributed to the ceremony by setting up 40 feet of drape with amber up-lighting.This created a beautiful backdrop that made for some wonderful pictures of Michelle and Sam exchanging their vows.

During the cocktail hour in the Millennium Foyer, I brought Sam into the ballroom to make sure he was satisfied with all the work we had done. He was speechless! The room itself accompanied by the city-scape that surrounds the ballroom made for an amazing sight. After all that work, the party was just getting started.

Michelle and Sam had a lot they wanted to do throughout the reception. They had parent dances, bouquet and garter toss, a traditional tea ceremony, and several slide shows that we projected on our screen. It was important that I kept strong communication between myself and the staff at the Loews to make sure we stayed on schedule. When there is a lack of organization among vendors, a wedding will tend to drag, usually resulting in less dance time at the end of the evening. Dance time is my favorite part of the night! So, before every wedding, I always review the timeline with photographers, videographers, day of coordinators, maître Ds, and any other professional involved in the reception.

On this night, I was able to get a solid two and a half hours of dance time. This is the point where the DJ can make or break your reception. I was recently at a wedding where the DJ was very professional: well-dressed, well-spoken, and handled formalities well. But at the end of the night when he had to show his true DJ skills, he was exposed. If you have guests at your wedding, like Michelle and Sam’s, who are expecting to dance, you need a DJ who can deliver in this spot. It’s these last two to three hours that separates me from your average wedding DJ. So what do I do to keep your guests on the floor?

Before anything, I come to the wedding prepared. Michelle, Sam, and I talked about songs and genres that they thought would work really well with their guests. We also discussed other factors that would contribute to my song selection: the length of the reception, demographic breakdown of guests, and their overall vision of what they wanted from me as a DJ. This information allows me to make a mental blueprint for where I should take the night weeks before the event.

When I’m spinning my music, I try to put myself in the position of the guests on the dance floor. If I was out there with them, what would I want the DJ to do? When mixing song to song, I am constantly aware of tempo, dynamics, and rhythm. By managing these factors, I make seamless transitions and can continuously build the energy in the room without any awkward breaks in the music. This the part of the night your guests will remember the most, so make sure you have a DJ that can keep the dance floor alive.

Michelle and Sam’s wedding was one that I will always remember. It was certainly quite a production! I was very pleased that the Synergetic team and I were able to meet and exceed their expectations with our lighting design and my service as a DJ. Best of luck to them in the future!

For more information on Synergetic, or to set up an appointment, contact Kelly at our office: 215-633-1200.

-Kyle

Thanks so much to Jea Lee Photography for the images.

Recent weddings

We've gotten a bunch of new pictures in over the past couple of weeks from a few different weddings so I figured today was a good day to post them. Happy Monday! Enjoy!

Theresa and Corey had their receptin at Cairnwood. We DJ'd and did the lighting for them (monogram, up loghting, dance floor lighting). Thanks to Renita of Denlinger Photography for the images.

Jackie and Glenn had their reception at Cescaphe and Jason kept the dance floor packed! Thanks to Paula and Aleen of Creative Images for the pictures!

A couple of months ago we did some lighting and production work for a rave at Snipe's Farm. Thanks to Amy Kallicragas for the images.

Kelly and Brian had their reception at the Manor House. We DJ'd and did the lighting for them as well (Purple up lighting and butterflies on the dance floor). Thanks to Colleen at Full Circle Photography for the pictures!

The next two pictures are hysterical ...

-Becky