Lighting&Sound America and InfoComm Announce Winners of 2011 Staged Events Awards

Lighting&Sound America magazine and InfoComm International are pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 InfoComm/LSA Staged Events Awards:

AVW Telav will receive the award for Best Overall Staging for a Corporate or Association Event -- Technology Budget $50,000 - $199,999, for its work on the Organization of Securities Commissions IOSCO Cocktail event. One judge remarked, "Invoking creative solutions to engage all the senses within an honest budget; AVW voyages through the seasons charting scents, lighting, sounds, mist, snow, video, and even leaves to capture the distinctly Canadian weather experience."

Honorable mention will be awarded to Scharff Weisberg for the Oracle 11g Product Launch at the Guggenheim Museum. "This was an inspiring use of technology and project management finesse in a challenging environment. The Guggenheim should consider adding permanent projection to the walkways!" marveled one judge.

PSAV will receive the award in the category of Best Overall Staging for a Corporate or Association Event -- Technology Budget over $200,000 for the Transitions Optical 2010 Annual Convention, produced by the Disney Event Group. "PSAV's design and execution of this event was awe-inspiring and nearly flawless. Creatively, the design, content, and overall feeling of being wrapped in the message were amazing. However, the most impressive aspect to this event was the 24-hour time frame for set up. The PSAV team did an amazing job in a short amount of time. This brings 'hotel AV' to a whole new level!" commented a judge. Another explained: "Budget, logistics, and technology-this project overcame some huge challenges to deliver what would be an impressive result in any circumstances. The blended video display was breathtaking and the overall project budget was very accessible. I think what impressed me the most was the challenge of resetting the main tent into four breakouts without removing the show elements. Wow."

Alford Media will be awarded honorable mention in this category for the Boy Scouts of America 100th Anniversary National Scout Jamboree. One judge said, "With exceptional volunteer management and political aptitude, Alford Media overcame prodigious obstacles and orchestrated an AV masterpiece honoring the Boy Scouts' colossal 100 year anniversary."

The award for Best Overall Staging for a Corporate Industrial Entertainment Event will go to Scharff Weisberg for its work on the Robin Hood Foundation Gala. "Transporting their guests to a land of wonder, Scharff Weisberg captured the magic of childhood, creatively emancipating the mind with fantastic visuals and architectural transcendence," observed a judge. "I really liked the way they [used] 3D mapping and projection [on] architecture from the street to [create] an indoor immersive experience," commented another.

Riverview Systems Group will receive the Best Use of A/V Technology for a Trade Show Booth for a Corporate Client award for its work on the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons 2010 Show. One judge remarked: "Impact design and solid engineering; Riverview set themselves apart with stunning visuals and structural prowess." Another judge added, "The lighting rig was massive, but barely visible- achieving the open effect that the designers intended. In addition, the video displays complemented the exhibit without dominating the execution or look of the event."

Visualfarm will receive an award for Most Innovative Use of A/V Technology for an Outdoor Event for the "World's Biggest Hug" project in Rio de Janeiro, executed in collaboration with Sesi - Conselho Nacional. One judge exclaimed, "A challenging effect, a complicated execution, and an elegant message. The best art inspires and the best execution is invisible. Well done!" Another judge said: "Unpredictable weather, frank solutions, cultural significance: Visualfarm engaged the sacred, prepared for the unexpected, and impacted the world."

The InfoComm/LSA Staged Events Awards judges were David Barbour, editor-in-chief of Lighting&Sound America magazine; Jack Kelly, owner and designer of Eye Dialogue; Janne Mummert, director of business development, VER/Video Equipment Rentals; Tobin Neis, director of marketing for the Barbizon Lighting Company; and Tom Stimson, MBA, CTS, president of The Stimson Group.

The awards will take place on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at InfoComm 2011 in Orlando, following the 13th annual Rental & Staging Forum. The forum, to be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Room W414AB, at 3pm, will feature a panel discussion, which will be moderated by Tom Stimson. At 4pm, Lighting&Sound America's editor-in-chief, David Barbour, will announce the winners of the 2011 InfoComm/LSA Staged Events. Afterwards, a networking reception will take place.