Out of the Fog
There's nothing a producer likes more than having an audience walk away from a production saying, "How did they do that?" Producers and performers are always looking for ways to captivate and astound audiences, from ancient shamans to Cirque De Soleil. Now there's a new piece of technical wizardry that can add a touch of mystery and wonder to your latest production or event. Smoke and mirrors? Well, not exactly.
massAV has become the exclusive rental agent of FogScreen, a patented projection system that creates a wall of fog that can be projected on to create a unique and stunning visual experience. No chemicals or special hook-ups, FogScreen uses tap water and ultrasonics to create a steady curtain of fog that's dense enough to project moving or graphic images on - everything from DVDs and videos, to animations, 3D images, large text, lights, or lasers. You can even interact with FogScreen and operate a computer or draw on it simply by "touching" the air.
Have a presenter appear magically by walking though his or her own image. Use FogScreen to draw visitors to your exhibit or booth at a tradeshow. Greet guests at a special event with this dazzling effect. How you use it is up to your own imagination. And here's the best part: it works in virtually any lighting situation.
For a special preview of FogScreen, call 978-670-0027 at massAV and we'll arrange a screening for you in our new warehouse.
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Steve Hubbard joins our Team
massAV is pleased to announce that Steven Hubbard, Boston area event production veteran, has recently joined our production team as Director of Production.
With over 24 years in the event and production business, Steve has pretty much seen, and done, everything. From corporate events to amusement parks, beauty pageants to all-star games, traveling shows and permanent installations, Hubbard's been involved with some of the industry's preeminent stagings and events.
Steve has worn many different hats in his career - producer, production manager, stage manager, director -- and worked on projects all across the US and around the world establishing a solid corps of production contacts and resources. And with his extensive experience with professional sports organizations and corporate clients, Steve is a perfect fit for massAV.
Steve has worked with the NFL and the New England Patriots, the Boston Celtics and the NBA, Major League Baseball and the Red Sox, several NHL teams, the Ryder Cup, and the Special Olympics, among others. Corporate clients include JP Morgan, Ocean Spray, Gillette, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, HP, Sun Life of Canada, and Fidelity Investments. On the entertainment side, he's worked with the Miss Massachusetts Pageant, Trump's World Fair Casino, the San Diego Zoo, Six Flags Parks, Busch Gardens, and Foxwoods Casino.
"I've had the opportunity to work on some really high profile events and some of the top corporations in the world," Steve responded when he was asked what he enjoyed most about his work. "And when you get by all the hoopla and fanfare, a lot of which we're responsible for creating, it always comes down to how effective you are in delivering the message, and how well you execute. It doesn't matter how big or small the event. My job is to be sure the audience leaves on a positive note and my client is happy."
Sounds like our formula for success at massAV - that's why Steve's a perfect fit.
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Raising (Mc)Cain
He was slipping, and in danger of falling farther behind. But once again, New Hampshire came to the rescue. And massAV was along for the ride. From small, backyard house parties to crowded town meetings, Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain's Straight Talk Express rallied supporters all across the state and our production team, headed by Operations Manager Sarith Nhem, was there to provide support at 75 different events in five New England states during the primary.
In a political campaign, the pressure's always on. Schedules are often dictated by the latest poll results or an opponent's changing strategy. "If we were given 24 hours notice, it was a real luxury," explains Doug Cummings, massAV Account Executive. "We had to be ready to move anywhere in the state, at any time when the call came in. And no matter how short the lead time, it all had to work without a hitch because the whole country was watching."
Long nights and early mornings became the norm, no matter what the weatherman was saying. There were times the massAV truck was the only vehicle on the road besides the snow plows. One day, the crew drove six hours in a Vermont snowstorm to stage an event in an aircraft hanger, then had to move three planes to set up the stage. The crews got to know every back road and short cut in New Hampshire. "We were on roads that didn't even show up on a GPS," recalls massAV project manager, John Inza. "On Primary Day, we did seven shows in one day, leapfrogging teams, ending with the victory celebration."
massAV supplied staging, audio (live and broadcast feeds), lighting, video, cameras, and up to 70 network and worldwide press feeds. Chief audio engineer, Steve Shepard remembers, "Early in the campaign, the crowds were so small we didn't need microphones. By the end, we had a full crew setting the stage and rigging lights for the victory party."
According to campaign advance director, Davis White, the massAV team was an essential part of the campaign, "We couldn't have done it without them." The McCain team was so pleased, they invited massAV to be part of the inauguration next January. Sarith's response: "A little early and a bit optimistic, but hey, we get the call, we'll be there. That's the way we work." |
"33"
Celtics' superstar Larry Bird wore it and retired it. Rolling Rock beer has it printed on every bottle. Groundhog Day happens to be the 33rd day of the year. And Prohibition ended in 1933. And "33" is significant for another reason - it's the number of years massAV has been supporting New England clients.
When massAV started in 1975, business presentations were all about flip charts, slide projectors, and folding screens. And the only companies that could afford staged meetings or big events were the corporate giants, mostly for their large sales forces.
Today, companies and organizations know how meetings and events have become an important component in an effective communications program. A staff meeting. A national convention. A store opening. A product launch. A sporting event or a trade show. A satellite broadcast to three continents or a round-the-clock webcast. Staging and event production companies have become an integral player in advertising, marketing, entertainment, public relations, and business communications.
"Our business went through a major transformation in the '90s," says massAV VP Jeff Robinson. "The advertising world was rocked when cable and the internet became a major force. The traditional tools for communicating no longer dictated how to reach an audience. New innovations in graphics, video, audio, and projection technologies were being introduced every month. There were so many more options. Things were changing so fast that massAV was in danger of going from being 'old reliable' to just being old. We had to change how we were thinking about our business, or we weren't going to survive."
And change we did. massAV reorganized and re-tooled. Rather than ignore what was happening, we bought into the new technologies, updating and adding new equipment. We were aggressive about hiring more experienced production crews, and expanded our operations to meet the demands of a growing and evolving market.
massAV President Pat Basteri understands that clients are looking for a partner, not just a vendor. "It's no longer just about having the latest technology and the best crews. Clients are looking for experience and collaboration to produce the results they need. We've learned to be flexible, to listen, and focus more on overall objectives. That's helped us to establish solid relationships with clients in different industries like pharmaceuticals and high tech."
Today, we are in a new facility in Billerica, with 21,000 sq ft of office and warehouse space. The staff has grown and, despite our name, we're no longer just a regional resource. "We've got crews and equipment traveling all over the country. And we're now serving clients from outside the region on a regular basis," according to Paul Paone, Senior Account Executive. "Our recent work with the McCain Campaign is a prime example."
Thirty-three years ago, when clients were looking for equipment for a meeting, you might have overheard this advice: "Call massAV. They can help." Today, when clients are looking for creative services, staging solutions, video production, production design, or a set rendering, the advice is still the same: "Call massAV. They can help."
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www.massav.com
We are your trusted source for staging expertise, video/audio production, lighting and event-related creative services.
978-670-0027 or 800-423-7830
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