It’s that time of year where you reflect the last 12-months and have a good think about what the next financial year will hold. As our team sat at one of our recent morning meetings, coffee in hand, we really felt a sense of gratitude to our clients and that thankfully we’d made it through the other side of the dreaded ‘GFC’ pretty positively. Over the last 18-months, the GFC has hit everyone; some more than others, some directly, others simply through a knock on effect, but overall, we can certainly say it has been challenging for our industry!

However, in the past 12-months we have been lucky enough to work with clients such as Merrill Lynch, Panasonic, Beam Global, BMW, Ubisoft, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Sydney International Airport, Constellation Wines, DEC Communications, Coopers, EMC2, Conexus Financial, Perpetual, Freckle & Partners, United Group, Hewitt, Mango Communications, The Coady Group, Novartis, Charter Hall, Toyota, …to name a few!

Over the last 18-months we have noticed a change in the style/need of events and budget capabilities, however, as the freeze begins to thaw and as the new financial year approaches it is great to see so many brands still recognising that unique, creative and engaging events can really get the results for brands and their key audiences, whether consumer, business or internal.

So thank you clients, both old and new, for entrusting in the services of Neon Projects. We appreciate your trust and confidence and know that we will continue to deliver creative and innovative solutions to support you and your brands vision – outside the box but inside the budget!

Embracing the use of video to promote your product or service, or even to add value to the purchase your clients have already made will be you ahead of the competition.

Product videos

Whether you have a new product or want to show people how to utilize an existing range, video can really get down to the nitty gritty of how something works.

Regular company updates

To pre-record a message and make it available for all in the company to see allows you to constantly communicate on a personal level with your entire team, rather than asking key team members to communicate on your behalf.

A series of information based videos released once a month

Do you offer a service that by answering key questions or divulging interesting information on will enhance a users experience and knowledge, encouraging them back to your website or to remain a loyal customer? Releasing short informative videos on a regular basis adds massive value to your customer whilst also driving important traffic to your website that can increase sales of other products and services available.

Education videos

It could be policies and procedures within your company. It could be helping small businesses with choosing the right way to run their accounts. Whatever the reason, a short regular educational video gets your message across in a clear and concise way.

There are many ways that you can use video to enhance your service to the end user, whether it be a client or an employee. Video engages emotion from both the viewer and also the person in front of the camera. It doesn’t have to be an all bells and whistles production, it can be a simple head and shoulders to camera piece with a company related backdrop.

Using video to promote yourself, your company, your products or your services works in many ways, as suggested above. Incorporating social media into your marketing and brand strategy is one of the most important tools to remember, the use of video to spread the word enhances your social media experience and keeps you up to date with how the end user is expecting to interact with you.

For more information on adding pre-recorded video to your website or a microsite, contact Neon Projects on 02 8622 8600.

To read more about how Panasonic utilised pre-recorded video to give an instant look at their new product range, visit our Panasonic case study here »

If you have a message that you want to get out to everyone in your company, everyone from the receptionist to upper management, imagine the expense in transporting them all to one venue, the down time in productivity and the overall business disruption. So, instead of this you simply select a handful of key team members to hear the message first hand and relay it back to everyone else.

Do you think they repeat your message with the same enthusiasm as you do? Do you think that the people that are left behind may feel a little uninspired about not being included?

If you were able to find a solution to all of the above, wouldn’t that help business productivity, growth and ensure everyone hears what you have to say first hand and embraces your excitement?

Consider a live webcast. It could be the filming of your new product launch and you want everyone from Perth to Tasmania and back to Sydney to be able to see the excitement created around the product. It could be a live announcement by the managing director about company bonuses or buy outs, it could even be a live training session with the HR department based in Darwin. It may be that your business interviews key decision makers within your industry; why not share these interviews live and instantly with your employees.

Whatever the reason, a live webcast gets your message out to the masses instantly; streamed through your website or a microsite built to house the video stream, a simple set up can provide maximum impact to your campaign.

If you can’t see a need to utilise a live webcast within your company structure, you may find it is a great tool to communicate to your end user. Whether it be instructions on using a product, key information to add value to their purchase or even celebrities that endorse your product or service. Combine a live stream with a Twitter feed to allow social media interaction and you have got the attention of your target market instantly. You are also receiving feedback on what you are providing as quickly as you are telling them about it.

Live webcast services are a great way to embrace the internet. Take that step forward, stand out from the crowd and encourage interaction with your target audience.

You can discuss your live webcast needs with Neon Projects by calling 02 8622 8600.

To see how Panasonic utilised a live webcast to promote their 2010 AV product launch, click here »

Neon Projects were brought on board to provide a solution for Panasonic with the filming and live streaming of the main evening event for their 2010 AV Product launch in Melbourne. This was the first time Panasonic had chosen to live stream the event across the internet, promoting to trade predominantly however anyone that was following Panasonic on Twitter, Facebook and You Tube could watch the event.

Panasonic also required Neon Projects to film product videos at the event, these were then edited & uploaded straight after the live stream took place. In addition to this, a highlights video was prepared, focusing on the entire 4-day event plus vox pops with attendees of the launch getting feedback on the new product range.

Working closely with the event organiser, Panasonic and their social media company, this project was a classic example of ‘The Neon Group’ benefiting our clients by Neon Projects drawing on the resources of the other Neon departments, including Studio33 and Neon Solutions.

Studio33’s skills were utilised by providing the video production requirements to film the product videos, highlights video and vox pops, with Neon Projects overseeing and managing the placement of the cameras and scripting. Studio33 provided the onsite remote edit system, with a dedicated editor to edit the content through the night to meet the tight upload deadlines.

Neon Solutions’ skills were utilised to build the foundations for the entire project that included building the microsite, management & implementation of the video uploads, the live streaming logistics, and the build of the social media platform.

With the product launch commencing on Monday 19th April, a ‘piece the camera’ by Panasonic Australia’s Managing Director Mr Steve Rust was shot, plus all product videos were shot prior to the commencement of the live webcast event. With a fast turnaround for approval from Panasonic, the videos were all edited & compressed for web ready to be uploaded once the live stream had concluded on the Wednesday evening.

The live stream commenced at 7.15pm on Wednesday 22nd April and ran for 49 minutes. Viewers around the globe could watch the event via the launch microsite and were also able to comment on the event live via Twitter, with the Twitter feed appearing next to the live stream video panel (#PanAV was used to track feedback).

On completion of the live stream, the product videos were immediately uploaded to the microsite with Facebook and Twitter as the mechanic to advise people to head back to the site to view all these from the launch.

The Panasonic 2010 AV Product launch was a huge success from conception to the end result; Neon Projects were proud to be part of an industry first live product launch stream via the internet.

View the Panasonic case study here »

Has anyone noticed that the word ‘event’ doesn’t mean what it used to?

Does anyone miss ‘the good old days’ of event planning with the angst over which table centrepiece to pick…flower arrangement or hurricane shade? Which covers band? Do we go with a red satin sash or organiser ivory ribbon? Sequins or Balloons?!

I’m not sure I do.

…I think it’s got a lot more interesting!

Of course all of the above still plays a part in any event, however, our requirement to focus on R.O.I for a brand event needs to be at front-of-mind constantly with any solution we present. There needs to be a purpose, a reason for the event…not just to bring out the dancing girls! Clients need to see the results… and so they should! I find that the events we were putting on 12months + ago don’t commonly exist anymore (not that sequinned dancing girls with ‘jazz hands’ were the top of my creative concepts list!). Certainly the budgets aren’t there anymore to just party.

The world is a smaller place – it has evolved dramatically in our field and it’s our job to provide those world-class creative solutions for Australian brands/branches to keep up, not only with the creative concepts and focus on R.O.I, but social media is a part of our everyday life and must also be at front-of-mind with any idea to gain that potential greater reach. We need to re-think and re-mould how we operate.

‘Experiential’ – the new buzz word that was suddenly is on everyone’s lips the past 18 months…however, ‘experiential’ has always been around, its just more at the forefront. Now commonly recognised, effective ‘brand communication’ is the heart of every event, even at an internal conference, or a trade/consumer event (and if it isn’t…it should be!)

We need to think broader – effective live content for branded integrated campaigns are on the up, therefore we need to be brought in right from the start to workshop with the clients on concepts based on their brief and objectives for the brand.

In summary, to me it feels like events used to be 3D and now they’re 4D…hey, they’ll be 5D before we know it! (if there is such a thing?!)

Catherine Simpson- Director, Neon Projects

To contact Neon Projects call 02 8622 8600 or email Catherine on Catherine@neonprojects.com.au.

In your opinion Phil, what sets Neon Projects apart from other, similar companies?

“Neon Projects is a consistent high standard of Pre Production – each event is managed with the same pre-prod process, no matter what the size.”

What is your favourite part of your job?

“Seeing the project from start to finish, from the initial concept and proposal through to CADs and then the final event before your eyes. It is amazing to see everything come to life and work. It’s a great feeling.”

What’s the largest project you have worked on?

“I was the overall technical project manager for an event that happened in Sydney and Singapore. The Sydney event was the largest ever corporate event in Australia with 12,000 attendees over a 2-week period. We had a technical crew of over 150 people, so it certainly took some management! The Singapore event was similar is style however with 9,000 attendees over 2-weeks. Many of the entertainers and the staff and crew travelled from Australia, along with the locally built set. It was an amazing achievement to see these events come to fruition.”

If you could sum up the Neon Projects experience in one sentence, what would you say?

“Just one sentence?! OK… Neon Projects is a powerhouse of creative and innovative concepts, producing custom made solutions in the live event arena. We deliver unforgettable experiences that engage and entertain every audience.”

Phil, that was two sentences?

“Sorry, I get a bit excited talking about the great team and services we have available at Neon Projects!”

End of interview with Phil Davis, Project Director, Technical – Neon Projects.

We wanted to create an event that truly reflected the game and in a unique environment.
Never used before, Neon sourced & converted an old warehouse in Ultimo to equip us with a grungy raw canvas to build from.

As guests approached Mountain Street after dark on the night of the event, the street had a heartbeat. Truss, lighting, dry ice, and a thumping beat from inside the venue indicated something was afoot. To create presence on arrival, Neon secured Toyota to come on board as the launches major sponsor – showcasing their new imported beefed-up ‘Rukus’ dressed & lit in full ‘Splinter Cell Conviction’ wrap at the venues entrance.

Once inside, through multiple projected visuals, extensive creative lighting, camo-net draped walls, and mass truss rigging, the venue space emulate scenes from the game.

The 250 crowd immersed themselves in the night club vibe, played the new game, drank and ate; gourmet pies and mini hotdogs and pizza served on long boards held by 2 wait staff.

To retain the budget within the production of the event, Neon sourced 2 bar sponsors resulting in Coopers & Canadian Club served from behind a branded 8m long glow-bar.

For photos and a summary of the event, visit our case study.