SPAR Retail Show
| Event Date | June 2010 |
| Event Location | Birmingham, Hilton Metropole |
| Event Type | Annual Conference and Gala Dinner |
MCL deliver real impact for AF Blakemore with the production of the SPAR Retail Show 2010.
The team at MCL were called into action recently to support AF Blakemore in the production of the annual SPAR Retail Show. AF Blakemore is the supply chain support operator behind over 700 SPAR brand stores across the UK and the SPAR Retail Show (SRS) is an annual event celebrating innovation and success within this SPAR retail community.
In response to a brief to deliver real impact and WOW factor to the event, MCL project manager Mark Hughes proposed a stunning 24m wide, floor to ceiling widescreen positioned to completely fill one end of the Monarch Suite at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. This was achieved by blending the output from five Panasonic 10,000 lumens DLP projectors to create a huge 24m wide x 4.6m high projected image that served as an interactive set backdrop for the entire event.
MCL provide all production material for the event including HD widescreen backdrops for both the conference and gala dinner, branded slide templates for the presentation during the conference and video production for the event. Each conference session featured the success story of a different SPAR store and was introduced with a short bespoke video which focussed on each of the SPAR stores and the story behind each one. MCL filmed all of the featured SPAR stores on location and produced a montage of images and interview pieces to showcase the differing story at each location.
The high end projection solution was supported with a full large venue PA and an extensive lighting rig for the entire room comprising generic lighting, LED lighting, starcloth and MAC moving lights. This lighting rig when combined with the production of different screen looks for conference and gala dinner, allowed MCL to dramatically change the feel of the event from day to evening.
The event was a huge success with AF Blakemore hailing the production as the best yet. The delegates were blown away by the scale, scope and quality of the event production and Mark and the MCL team are now looking forward to the challenge of coming up with an equally impressive solution for next years event.
Specified Equipment
| Lighting | LED colour blast wash lights, 20 x MAC moving heads, wash stage and lectern. |
| Sound | Lectern microphones, radio lapel microphones, hand held microphones, large venue D&B PA system and audio recording of each speaker. |
| Projection | 3 x linked Spyder systems outputting to 5 blended 10,000 lumens DLP projectors to create the 24m wide image – picture in picture used over the top. MCL provided all content and design for screens. |
| Support | Cue light system, autocue, comfort monitors. |
| Screen | Enormous 24m x 4.6m widescreen across one entire wall of Monarch Suite. |
| Set & Stage | As above with 10m x 4m stage with branded lectern and steps. Dance floor installed for evening. |
| IT | High specification laptop show computers, dedicated iMac to run HD widescreen content, over 500 voting keypads for audience response. |
| Video | 2 x live Cameras with operators for show and one mobile cameraman filming interviews and getting footage throughout the day which was then edited down during the day into a closing video sequence for the conference. Production of video stings and talking head style video stings for show – getting the human element across – MCL filmed on location at SPAR stores across UK. |
| Crew | 12 Technicians for main room, including graphics operator, project manager, show caller and video producer. |
