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Innovative Rental offers complete event technology solutions including both equipment rental and technical staff capable of making your event run flawlessly. The Innovative Rental International Network of event rental suppliers has been chosen over a period of ten years as the best suppliers money can buy. If Hard Set Design, Construction and Implementation are elements of your upcoming event please call (866) 549-3274 for the Innovative Rental specialist in Hard Set Design.

Scenery, Hard Sets, and Scenic Design

Scenery or a hard set is one of the most cost effective ways to increase the impact of a presentation or General Session by a full degree of magnitude or more. Tasteful and functional sets create a air of solidity, authority, and commitment on the part of the presenters. Sets also allow one to hide the bare bones of the technology required to create today's events. Whether the set is composed of available rental components or is custom designed and constructed, the effect will always be a major improvement over the soft backdrop of standard pipe and drape. Design of a set is a careful blend of function and creativity, most often based on the branding of the presentation, product, or organization.

Selection and design of a set is grounded in several realities. Foremost among these is the venue. The features and constraints offered by the venue cannot be ignored. One simple example of this is the difference between a venue with a 30' roll door opening on a loading dock verses a ballroom on the second floor accessible only by a small freight elevator; ceiling height might also be a major constraint. Another set of factors that must be considered are the events, functions, and activities that the set must support; a car show would require a much more substantial stage that a floral presentation. Also one needs to consider whether the set will be composed of rental units available from a local scenic rental house or a custom designed and built unit.

Using a local scenic rental house has an advantage of cost at the expense of freedom of design and theme. Most major cities have scenic houses where one can select from a selection of interoperable scenic elements which can be combined to create a complete set. Generally these set elements will be reflective of the city and environs of that scenic house; themes available in Las Vegas will be quite different from those available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago. As a value added service, most scenery shops will also offer to mix existing elements with custom built units to create a more custom design look, this can be a very cost effective option.

As the number and type of events/functions that a single set must support increases, the most cost effect choice is often a fully custom designed and built set. The advantages of a custom designed/built set are numerous; control of branding, interchangeable elements to vary the look from one function to the next, reuseability, freedom of themes, etc. Sets which serve to set the theme, mood, and feel of an event can raise the level of experience from functional to memorable.

Beyond the set there are several other enhancements that further the effect. Such elements as changing room decor, special effects, floral decorations, table centerpieces, music, and so on can add to the texture and wealth of the total experience. When combine with well integrated graphics, presentations and signage, the event progressively becomes more impressive and professional.

about the author:
John Le Duc has worked in the Audio Visual field in Las Vegas since 1970, served as the Event Staging Coordinator at the Desert Inn Resort from 1995 through 2000. He is currently semi-retired and is available on a consultant basis. Questions and inquiries may be directed through the contact page of this website. Or, to e-mail John Le Duc directly, click here.

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