Event in the spotlight: AV1’s Kaleidoscope

Audio-visual production company AV1 hosted 140 guests at its Sydney warehouse on 27 June, 2024, for a dazzling evening showcasing current trends in the events industry.

Each year, AV1 hosts an event during winter that highlights current trends in the industry. Previous events have included “Revive Live” and “The Mixer”, with the 2024 instalment being “Kaleidoscope”.

In the same way patterns and colours through a kaleidoscope constantly change so does Australia’s dynamic events industry. The conception of Kaleidoscope as an event came off the back of a recent McCrindle report highlighting current event trends, including:

Curated event experiences.
Socially impactful events.
A sustainable means of gathering.
Prioritising health and wellbeing.
Promoting human connection.
Seamless integration of technology.

As a B Corp audio-visual production company for events, AV1 aligns with many of these trends so the company delivered an on-trend immersive showcase for “Kaleidoscope” attendees.

*The excitement and colour of AV1’s Kaleidoscope.*

When and where did the event take place?

AV1 HQ warehouse in the inner Sydney suburb of Alexandria.

Who attended the event?

More than 140 guests including clients, partners, supporters and special guests of AV1, Laissez-Faire, All Things All Creatures, Sprinter, Honeycomb Marketing and Valiant Events.

Who was involved?

AV1: Concept, hosts, audio-visual production.
Laissez-faire Catering: Food and beverages.
Sprintr: Registration and onsite check in.
All Things All Creatures: Creative content and highlights video.
Honeycomb Marketing: Attendee gifts.
Valiant Events: Furniture

What happened on the night?

As AV1’s HQ warehouse doors opened, guests were welcomed by a larger-than-life LED peacock, before entering on the “Kaleidoscope carpet”, an LED version of a traditional red carpet.

Guests checked in and collected their badges from Sprintr kiosks, then entered the AV-adorned warehouse where Laissez-faire Catering greeted guests with drinks and cocktails upon arrival.

A 22-metre projection across the warehouse wall was lit in mesmerising kaleidoscopic visuals, which pulsated throughout the evening and responded to the beats laid down by DJ Sean Powderly.

After getting settled into the space, guests visited the team from Honeycomb Agency, which custom engraved water bottles with guests’ names, and got comfortable on Valiant Events’ sustainable furniture.

The Spectrum stage opened with a Welcome to Country, a didgeridoo performance and smoking ceremony by Aboriginal elder Darran Williams.

AV1 managing director Nigel Mintern took the stage to address the audience, supported by live captioning for attendees with accessibility needs. He noted the kaleidoscope theme was built around the six trends for the future of events outlined in the McCrindle report.

Each event partner was briefed on these trends during the event’s planning and worked collaboratively to assemble a showcase to demonstrate best practices and inspire clients.

Mintern gave a special shoutout to Redfern Youth Connect, AV1’s community partner, for which the company raised $10,000 during its “Pay What You Like” drive in January 2024. He announced the initiative will return again in January 2025.

*Current event trends were showcased at AV1’s Kaleidoscope.*

Who performed?

DJ Sean Powderly and roving LED dancers, who entertained guests throughout the evening and provided plenty of Instagrammable moments.

What was on the menu?

Cheese and chocolate station:

Wedges of clothbound cheddar, rounds of Gippsland Shadows of blue and French triple cream cheese served with dried muscatels, fresh grapes, quince paste and fresh honeycomb.
Dark chocolate slabs; peanut toffee with roasted whole peanuts; and crushed coffee beans and chocolates served with berries.
Flat bread, crackers and a selection of artisan sourdough.

Cold canapes:

Smoked salmon dome, dill cream cheese, salmon roe and blini.
Gin and sage salt-cured lamb, white pepper yam, black bread and parsley mayo.
Roasted eggplant and tahini panna cotta, rye pumpernickel and toasted macadamia.

Canapes:

Porcini mushroom and cheese arancini with parsley emulsion.
Panisse, vegan feta, artichoke and upland cress.
Rottnest Island scallops with paperbark-smoked truffle butter and native sea spray.
Chicken peanut satay skewers.
Tiger prawns, orecchiette, scampi bisque and wilted greens.
Truffle and cheese risotto with green peas.

Sweet canape:

Valrhona chocolate and caviar tart.

*Kaleidoscope guests were welcomed by a larger-than-life LED peacock.*

Were there any special additions?

DAISY Room: Curated for guests who preferred a low-sensory experience, the DAISY room featured comfortable lounge furniture from Valiant Events, soft lighting, a live stream of the event and tactile elements, including Lego, coffee table art books and decorative ceramics.

Live captioning: Demonstrating event accessibility, formalities were live captioned and projected onto the wall next to the main stage.

Sprintr Q&A: Sprintr provided a “Positive Illuminations” activation where guests could leave positive messages for their fellow guests via live Q&A software.

Were there any special announcements from event partners?

Launch of All Things All Creatures: During a staged “production disaster” moment, the 22-metre projection “failed and rebooted” using the classic MAC OSX “rainbow spinning wheel” as a design feature. It then directed guests to the Spectrum stage for a special announcement from Kai Raisbeck, creative director of All Things All Creatures – formerly from AV1’s content team – who announced the formation of this new video-first creative studio creating bright and beautiful content.

“We are a small team of agile creatives with a wide base of creative collaborators who specialise in tailor-made video content,” says Raisbeck.

“We may specialise in event, social and narrative content, but we have a team who have done it all, from podcasts to puppeteering.

“We take your objective and make bold content that captures the attention and imagination of your audience.”

*The amazing sights and sounds at AV1’*s *Kaleidoscope.*

“Pay What You Like” returns in January 2025: Mintern announced AV1’s “Pay What You Like” drive will return in January 2025. Allowing event organisers to choose how much they pay for AV equipment for events in January, this initiative raised $10,000 for Redfern Youth Connect, a First Nations youth drop-in centre in Sydney.

“Previously known as ‘Rural Aid’, our ‘Pay What You Like’ drive is where you pay what you like and we donate a percentage of revenue to a charity,” says Mintern.

“This year, we raised $10,000 for Redfern Youth Connect. Look out for next year’s campaign for events in January 2025; start planning to make the most of it and support Redfern Youth Connect.”