Trying to find the best venue and supplier while keeping an eye on the bottom line is one of the most difficult aspects of planning a special event. You find a perfect venue in terms of location, capacity, and atmosphere, only to find that the audiovisual elements break your bank. The struggle to find the right sound and lighting provider, along with the perfect venue, can result in an event plan that costs way more than your client wants to spend.
To address these concerns, Artisphere recently upgraded its sound and lighting capabilities. Its expanded capabilities and combined seven event spaces, including three theaters and four flexible spaces, make the campus a one-stop shop for hosting special events of all sizes.
Director of special events and rentals Sharon Raphael says: “Over the past four years we have learned a lot about the very specific, and oftentimes technical, needs of our rental clients. We also realized that as a multidisciplinary arts organization we have an incredible resource of skills and talent within our team of technical staff. And so we’ve learned how to very creatively host events with extensive lighting and sound technical requirements using our existing staff in a way that is usually much less expensive than hiring an outside production company.”
Artisphere, conveniently located in the heart of Arlington, Virginia, now offers a wide array of state-of-the-art lighting and sound options:
- The Ballroom’s lighting grid has been upgraded with wiring for LED lighting that is lighter and more energy-efficient, allowing for much more creative lighting effects, helping set just the right ambience to enhance the event.
- The Dome Theater’s sound system has been upgraded to allow sound technicians the ability to accommodate a much broader range of soundscapes. From lecture-style presentations to musical performances with an amplified “reverb” sound, the Dome can now host a variety of events. Likewise, many of the other spaces within the Artisphere campus are now wired for microphone plug-ins into the master sound system.
- Video projection and cosmetic upgrades were made to the Dome Theater, the Black Box Theater, and the Spectrum Theater.
What does that mean for you? According to Raphael: “Less time worrying about the technical aspects of your event, giving event planners more time to focus on the other aspects of their event. In short, if you’re looking to host a creative event, work with creative people.”
