I can to do it!

So why can't we all be event planners?

Okay I will be the first to admit I am not an event planner In fact I view my roll in creating a bigger and better event by allowing the planner to step outside the box and ask what can we do instead of what can we not do. I am passionate about creating a unique event that someone will want to come back to because it immerses them into a different reality. Why would Disney invest so much in the ride lines if they didn't believe that you would enjoy it more. Why am I not an event planner well it has to do with event planners are concerned with the overall scope and I want to specialize in the event from a staging standpoint.

Running an event is a complex maze of challenges that are not for the faint at heart, and just when you think you have them all under wraps a few more pop up and usually 5 minutes before the event. There are a lot of very great event planners out there and that is why I like working with them because they now what to look for. I am a live production person and know what to look for when it comes to production challenges, but I have no idea when it comes to food or beverage.

If you want your event to come off well you owe it to yourself to at least contact a good planner and see how they can help you out! Email me at pinnacleevents@gmail.com to find out ways to get a list of great event planners.

Happy New Year!

Future plans?

So as I scan through site after site of staging equipment as well as video equipment I am struck with an odd sense that no one vendor from a video side completely understands or wants to take on the daunting tasks of integrating all of the elements of producing a live show. It strikes me as odd because I come from a broadcast model that in recent years showed more and more vendors working on the overall automation goal. As event production people we would love to find a turn-key solution that was fault tolerant as well as automated. Barco/Folsom collaboration comes close, but no one has looked at the playback side in conjugation with a switching and routing platform. I know there are some companies like Medialon working on the automation side, but I long for something like the Optima switchers from Echolab. The ability as a production person to cue up and trigger the next event all in one place is priceless.

Okay so those are the big boys, but more and more the economy of scale comes down to how you can use your tools in an economical way. After spending 10 years at a Cable Company doing Local Origination programming I tell you I appreciate doing things as cost effectively as possible, and I am excited with the technologies I am seeing. Of course the leader for some time is a company called Newtek who basically took the economics of scale to heart and invented what truly was the first studio in a box with their Video Toaster for the Amiga computer. Yes for you technophobes out there the Amiga! It was truly liberating what I was able to do on this box ten years ago. It would seem that they are doing that same thing today with the PC version. I have spoke on this Blog about the Toaster, but they have a new version that even has an internal frame buffer that would allow say a PowerPoint show to be running and be able to use it as an actual input on the switcher. Event production just got a lot easier.

So if 7000 lumen projectors would come down to $7,000 instead of 15K plus we all could do events.... Well not exactly.... Come back tomorrow and I will tell you why it would be good to hire the experts!

Time of reflection.

It seems that when we get to this time of the year we often reflect on the past year and look what we have or have not accomplished. I know for myself that it has truly been a year of change as the business continues to grow in new and unique ways that constantly amaze me. Also at this time we realize how important friends and family are to life. I am truly blessed with a very supportive family as well as some great friends out there that are helping me keep going on this truly Grand Adventure.

Thanks to all of you! Happy Holidays and to a prosperous new year!

The proof in ROI

In a nod to more and more companies looking at experiential marketing comes this from Ad Week:

Shockwave, H-P Rock With Warped Tour
SAN FRANCISCO Entertainment site Shockwave.com today named three winners of the "H-P Music Video Awards," an interactive promotion that combined Hewlett-Packard technology and music from the Warped Tour.

The promotion began in the fall and challenged aspiring filmmakers to create original music videos for one of five songs from bands that were featured on the Warped Tour. Hundreds of submissions poured in from across the country, a Shockwave spokeswoman said.

Michael Estrella, 32, of Los Angeles won the grand prize of $15,000 for his slow-motion video for The Vandals' "I am Crushed," the rep said. First and second prize, respectively, went to Oklahomans Eric Lee and Sam J. Stanton, both 23, for Sugarcult's "Memory," and Michael Horowitz, 29, and Gareth Smith, 28, both of Los Angeles, for the same song.

Estrella's winning submission and the two runners-up can be seen online at hpmusic.
Shockwave, based in San Francisco, has a track record of innovative branded entertainment programs, said Mary Bermel, senior manager of global brand advertising at H-P.

The winning videos have already attracted notice within the music industry, Shockwave said. "It's amazing that these videos were created by up-and-coming producers rather than veteran directors," said Kevin Lyman, founder of the Warped Tour.

--Celeste Ward


This is just proof that by looking at your product and staging some sort of event around it you can build a wider buzz than if you just stuck to traditional marketing. Experiental marketing at work for you!

The days of glamour!

Okay maybe not so glamorous, but it was fun and very useful. What was you may ask? Well last night I went to a high school dance and took the laptop to do some VJ stuff. We projected probably an image that was about 50 feet by 50 feet on a wall where the dance was being held. So what implications does this have for staging? In a way it was an experiment to see how images can be projected to add some texture to events and abiance. I think it was successful and it was fun seeing reactions when I put a live image of the dance floor on the wall as well. So I learned a lot and will continue to use this technique in different ways as I feel this is truly the future of staging as a whole.

I also would add that as a video person it is pretty amazing seeing the power of what the software can do in real-time. I do think I am going to have to get one of those cute little cubes to use as my laptop doesn't quite have the throughput to handle everything I was doing.

More stuff this next week!

What is VJ anyway?

The beginning is always the best place to start... So after a slight absence from posting I thought I would put another photo on what I was doing tonight which was helping the guys from Avenue H. We are also working on using VJ software to start creating the mood with images projected behind the band. We unfortunealtly ran out of time, but we will be doing it in the coming weeks. I will really be trying the VJ stuff out when I go help out with a DJ on Saturday. Should be fun and unique!

The long awaited piece...

So it is a bit on the large side (83mb), but if you are interested here is the link to a quicktime for the Ave. H DVD piece we are working on. Also a link to the finished COVA spot. Well have a good weekend all!

Home away from home 2...

Another day in paradise! Well at least having some fun at the LJ3 Studio. What you see here is a complete mobile live multi-track recording studio. If you ever need any audio work from live sound reinforcement to studio recording Conor and LJ3 can definetly do it. Give him a call for more information 541-788-3385. Okay shameless promotion, but he really does have some of the finest gear from Nexo, MOTU, and even a digital O1V from Yamaha. Stay tuned for links to the DVD coming tomorrow....

Avenue H DVD coming soon.

So in the long awaited saga of this piece it is finally in its final stages of remix by LJ3 Entertainment. We multi-tracked the entire project, so Conor will be mixing it down for a 5.1 mix. I will post a rough copy on this post by the weeks end.

On another note I have been asked to do a promotional spot for Central Oregon Visitors Association for their annual Gala at the Riverhouse in trade for my logo on all of their print materials. I hope this is another way of creating a big splash with little cash.

I also am working on a promo piece for my kids school. Nothing like an easy subject, kids having fun. This will be a long term use video for them with the premiere at a silent auction the opening night of WinterFest here in Bend.

Any thoughts for the day?

Maybe I am on to something?

Okay I couldn't resist this post from AdWeek

Blogs: Fad or Marketing Medium of the Future?
SAN FRANCISCO In the past few years, blogs have gone from a quirky vehicle for expression to a political force to, now, a quirky marketing tool for corporate America.

This year, Nike, Dr Pepper, Mazda, SBC and others have staked claims in the blogosphere. They've found blogging (short for "Web-logging") an easy, cheap way to appear hipper and keep customers engaged with the brand. The cost is a pittance--just some spare server space.

"It's a relatively small investment and can elicit a lot of information because it's such a democratic medium," said Matthew Cross, brand consultant at Interbrand, New York. "Compared to the millions companies spend to create or revitalize a brand, and then do TV spots and a print campaign, it's pennies to the dollar to do a blog."

Not surprisingly, tech companies have been the biggest blog boosters. Microsoft has about 1,000 employees penning personal blogs and hosts channel9.msdncom, where developers talk with others in the community. In October, 850,000 unique viewers visited the site.

Sun Microsystems is also leading the blogolution. Andy Lark, vp-worldwide marketing, has been Sun's blog champion. "We encourage it in an informal way and now have about 200 blogs running," he said. "It's a hugely effective marketing tool. I'm surprised more consumer companies haven't embraced blogs."

But there's a downside to blogging. Mazda, for instance, got spooked by a "HalloweenM3" blog, which was ostensibly created by a twentysomething but seemed to be a way to shill Mazda TV spots. The site disappeared and Mazda reps could not be reached.

Interesting indeed!

The ball is rolling...

Strategy in marketing! Stay consistent with your message. That is what I have to remember. What is my vision: Pinnacle Event Media Services was founded on the basis of providing memorable events through the creative use of projection, lighting, audio, and staging. What is memorable? What is creative? I certainly have my own thoughts, but what do you think they are?

Marketing 101

So I sent out my first press release today. We will see how far that goes, but I am anxious to see the response. Spent a while talking about the future with Conor of LJ3 last night. We are very excited about what the future holds and will be putting our plans together about the future.

The post title has to do with trying to figure out just what direction my marketing will be headed. I am still feeling out the market, but I have some ideas.

Any one else have some?

What is this?

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog. Okay so I decided to start making this even more functional... Thanks to Kasey for this one!

Each week something new!

I guess the great thing about having your own business is that you get to do something new each week. Last week it was a Christian Rock concert with my company not only producing 2 giant video screen feeds but putting content on TVs that were located behind the performers. This was a lot of fun to put different technology to work and see how it can all come together. This week brings meetings on some projects and research.

The research part is what I am excited about. I tend to dream big and right now there is no bigger dream than High End and their series of digital lights. Imagine being able to one minute put your logo in front of the audience and the next that logo becomes a mask that expands to reveal the product in full color and moving video. This series of lights greatly expands what can be done in the rental and staging market to almost allow you to do anything with video, oh yeah and a few things with light too.

So I decided it is also time to buy a production switcher as we are getting into some areas that would be nice to have a little more actual production capabilities with switching of sources. There are products out there that allow for simple switching of video, but I am looking for more in the way of effects and with the ability to store video also.

Exciting times!

So what the heck you may ask! I did something I haven't done in months and it actually was rewarding and at the same time very time consuming! I used to love spending hours wiring and soldering. I really don't get a chance to do that any more and it was indeed fun. So what is it for? Well Conor of LJ3 Entertainment and I are going to multi track a production this weekend at Westside Church and I soldered 24 ends on a snake cable that they are installing tomorrow to allow us to multi-track on Sunday. No better time than the present to do it... No pressure in my soldering skills. Lets just say the soldering iron will be handy on Sunday just in case.

The storm came and went....

You never know when you find an event that shows you that you may be on the right track, but fortunately I think I was given that answer this last week. I spent a lot of time working on an event for Westside Church called Waking the Dead. This was probably the most intense production that I have ever been involved with. It included 3 different video screens triggered by automation, a custom music bed done by LJ3 entertainment, full lighting rig including fog and haze, and live acting. It was incredible to watch and I feel so grateful that I was able to be a part of it. It does truly show that there is a unique future for a different brand of corporate staging as well as live production. I learned two things from this one, One: There are some amazing youth out there that are willing to just chip in and help out. Two: Sometimes there exists cost effective technology that will work for what you are trying to do. So on to the next project... Hmmm something about a DVD that needs to be finished.

The calm before the storm?

So I spent a mainly restless day struggling with the future of my company. There are to many directions I could go and not sure which way to go. I guess it is a fear that I will make the wrong decision and go down the wrong path, and I also think it has to do with beginning to play with the big boys. I guess in working in Bend I have been a small fish in a small pond, but as I am beginning to venture off I am realizing that I will quickly be the small fish in the large pond. Now don't get me wrong I am an experienced video producer and multi-camera director, but I am beginning to play in even larger waters with even bigger sharks.

Well just hit it head on right! Make sure you don't step on the small fish on your way to the surface... Wow what is with this water and fish theme.

I know what you did this weekend... Well here it is! Spent the weekend mixing a stage for Working Wonders. Now I am not an audio guy, but it was very enjoyable and a good way to spend the weekend.

This is a still from a composite from Working Wonders project that I put the wraps on for a premiere last Saturday night. I am going to try to post a link to the actual file in a Quicktime file by the end of the weekend. This weekend I am doing some audio for some grand opening ceremonies for the museum and than back to Avenue H editing.

Looks so nice and peaceful.

Recent pictures of fall. Someone told me I need to update this so a few pictures and than a post on what I am working on!

A picture is worth a thousand words right.... Well in this case it was worth $10,000. This is the production group from Roundabout Pictures, Katie Merritt Founder and Executive Director, Catherine Tambini director of the winning film Farmingville, and two of the Satellite Sisters. It was a great weekend meeting a lot of great filmakers and great people all around.

Technology only works when it works!

Okay I know I state the obvious here, but my external hard drive decided to die. What an eye opener! Fortuneatly I had basically completed every project I needed to and the ones I haven't had just video footage on the drive and not complete projects with images. I know some would think this is karma, but I would choose to think of it as a reminder of how fragile technology can truly be. Back-up your back-ups.... I will be doing things a bit different from now on and I think that is for the better! Filming for Roundabout Pictures this weekend for a documentary on Bend Film. Long days, but a lot of fun.

Production Round 2

You know production is a wierd business... The more I do the more I feal I am behind... Wierd in that way oh well need to learn to prioritize a bit better I think. So on to Working wonders and Avenue H now... Both are going to be a bit more edit intensive especially Avenue H. I am going to get to edit and tell a story, a story of a group of great talented individuals. First I have to get some work done on Working Wonders though. Nothing of an easier sell than kids and playing though.

To bed though... rest... editing to long....

Production update!

Okay so I found the dang bug on that blasted DVD project... Now only need to make 46 DVDs of the project and ship them out. One down! Okay so this week bring some more finish work on United way and deliver dubs to them. I also need to finish up the children's museum for their opening. Bend Film is this weekend and I will be shooting for a documentary that will be being produced by a company I am affiliated with. Lets see what else... Is this enough? I will post some links to some finished movies in the next week (these will be quicktimes due to size and ability to stream from the server).

ARGGGGGGGHHHHH

So this is more of technology frustration, but danget I hate it when programs don't work and they only return an unidentified error. Tell me something so I can fix it! Don't tell me you don't know what the problem is! The problem revolves around Adobe Encore and the Beaver motor coaches DVD that I am authoring for distribution. I have a work ethic that does not allow me to walk away from something once I get started so last night I had inteded on finishing the project and was well on my way until at 12:00 midnight the problems started. Went to burn the DVD and was returned the "unidentified error" when it was just about ready to burn. So went to bed at 1:30 and hopefully start somewhat fresh this morning. Okay done with my rant. On a more positive note United Way is finished Off of the to do list.

Can you work magic?

My favorite thing to do with production is take nothing and make something out of it. I say that because that is kind of what I am doing with the United Way videos. I am so glad Ken Burns came along and showed all of us what you could do with still images! I should be putting the finishing touches on this one by Friday in order to get it ready for them to start using it next week. It is so fun to see these things come together in a way that makes me proud to put my name on it. At my last job I was a perfectionist, but really lacked the time to do any one thing really well. I really have enjoyed being able to do that. Links to come in regards to the finished video for those who may be interested.

On another note in regards to the Cascade Festival Of Music it looks like the screen was a success and we will be doing it next year.

Week in review

So the festival ended on Saturday with much fanfare... It was very enjoyable and I look forward to doing more of those sort of projects in the hopefully near future, but in the mean time it is time to get down to work on a few production projects... To do:
1) United Way
2) Working Wonders (children's museum)
3) Beaver Motorcoaches DVD
4) Avenue H (promo DVD)
5) Website
6) Keep my sanity... Just kidding

There is a lot going on, but you know I love it. When I think of the future it truly is very bright!

Another day in paradise.

You know when I look back on this I hope I read this time with joy in knowing that I started this business and grew it from scratch. Right now I seem to be getting more production than event jobs, but sometimes you need to shift to where the market is. I shot the intro for the local United Way today and will be shooting some extra footage to drop in to cover some holes and complement the production tomorrow. Everyday something new and different. Oh and by the way on a personal nature there is always a chance to try something again.

A picture from the Cascade Festival Of Music. It was a great night tonight with a fantastic soloist and great camera work by the camera guys. Had a great time and I am looking forward to the closing night on Saturday which should be a very good concert.

Thoughts for the night?

So... I think some that have happened upon this have noticed possibly a lament of loss in some of my posts of a more personal nature. I wonder why we often are put in someones life to only have it not quite work. I am listening to one of the pieces that we shot today and it has a hint of remorse and wonder... Much like I feel right now. Music for me is my release... Only through allowing myself to listen and appreciate can I let go of the bottled up pain and heartache that I feel. I do not want to loose this one... I have been touched in a different way, and yet I think I have already and we just are going through the motions... Why must it be so hard?

Here is a picture of today's project. I am working with a great group by the name of Avenue H. We are working on a promotional DVD for them as a way to introduce themselves to prospective clients. They are a group of very talented musicians that made a long day very enjoyable. Look for links to clips when the DVD is done.

Night Number 2

Okay... So shot wise and production wise it was great! It is great working with people who know what they are doing! We uh... had another problem with the screen though... Lets just say I hate gaff tape and humidity. Those two things are not a good combination at all. I think people are enjoying what we are doing but we have one little issue with the screen to work out before Wednesday. I am sure we will make it happen... One step closer to a dream!

Day one done!

We completed the opening night with generally good reviews. One lesson learned is that the screen should have been front projection due to the musicians seeing themselves in the screen from behind. Oh well.. Looks like we are going to have to change things up today or tomorrow. It was a blast though! I love doing live multi-camera stuff! Man these are definetly rambling run on sentances!

My current project

So spent most of the day hooking up 3 cameras for IMAG (image magnification) of the Cascade Festival Of Music. I am working for a local company here called Leonardi Media Arts who got the project. It is always good to get back to my production and engineering roots! We start tomorrow night with the opening concert. This is the first year that this is being done so we will see how it goes.

The coast adventure... A picture of a sand castle built by those great kids.

Thoughts from the coast

So each day does not get easier, but finds me wondering what if? What if it had been different? What if I could move? Who knows… We are where we are, and I think it is probably better that way, but I can’t help but think of the words of the Vanessa Carlton song Twilight “I will never see the sky the same way and I will learn to say goodbye to yesterday . . .” Telling in many ways for me. I feel I truly was not “alive” until recently and because of this I have the light again… I must keep it lit and glowing at full brightness. The beach has been good for me because it has allowed me to relax and let me allow myself to feel the pain and grief. Amazing how personal this it, but perhaps it is better getting it out into the open. It has allowed me to see this in a new light and let others perhaps benefit from it.

As the dream has come from sleep
The reality comes from the dreams….

Time slips bye....

When you look at what you have accomplished in you life measure it not by how much love you have amassed, but how much you have given love to others... For in this lies how we can all show each other how we can all get along. Okay so a little philosophical, but I felt it needs to be said. Maybe it is my way of letting go... I know this is supposed to be about my new business, but I think it can be about my life in all of the pain and glory. Each day goes by and I wonder what is around the next corner... Never assume that you know what is truly going on... Live like there is no tomorrow because there just maybe a change in the winds that will take you a different way the next day. Ride the winds of change and you will never be bored. So with this I sail off until tomorrow!

On my way to my project last week! 

My first post!

So a little about myself- I am a 30 year old single father of two wonderful kids. They spend half of their time with me and half with their mom. I guess I start out with this because behind my grand adventure are these two great kids.

What is my grand adventure... Well it is a new business. I know half of all new businesses fail in the first couple of years, but after spending 10 years working for a small company and now one that is a small corporation I just want to be my own boss. I am not sure if I can do the corporate thing, at least right now. I just enjoy the one on one interaction that I can get with the clients by being on my own.

So maybe I have grand plans and dreams for taking event production where I live to a new level... Well we shall see.