I Love MCR Awards

Brief

The I Love Manchester Awards is a bi-annual event that celebrates all things Manchester and its people. The event is an awards evening that highlights the amazing work undertaken across the city, from charity and community projects to events and hospitality. To truly celebrate Manchester in all its glory, the client wanted to create an impressive production that showed off the city in the best way. To create an enjoyable atmosphere for all the delegates attending, and to fill everyone with a sense of pride in the city and in its people.

Solution

To meet the requirements of the brief, we provided an impressive set production that incorporated many different elements to create that ‘wow’ factor when the delegates walked into the room. Above the stage we suspended 3 separate LED screens with blinder-style moving lights in between to add to the visual impact. On the 2 outer screens, we showed live content from live cameras (2 manned, 1 locked off) so that every special moment was captured from multiple angles. Along the backdrop we placed Sunstrip battens to light up the back of the stage and create further depth. Then we placed RB90s along the stage, which are a hexagonal shape that added a ‘beehive’ look to tie in the Manchester theme. On the stage we had space for a full 20-piece orchestra, as well as a lectern on either side of the stage, one for the main presenter and one for award presenter sponsors. To the front of the stage, we provided a central ramp that was seamlessly built into the set, with stage blinders lining each and lining the edge of the stage. To the front of the stage, we placed cold sparklers that added extra impact for winner walk-ups. At the drinks reception we included an 8-Speaker PA system as well as a custom step and repeat that gave delegates the perfect photo opportunity spot.

Due to the event’s growing popularity, the team moved to a significantly larger venue this year which brought a new set of challenges. The increased creative freedom of the space meant we had to be especially deliberate in our production choices, carefully evaluating the impact of each fixture to maintain the same level of quality. As this is a charity event, we were also mindful to maximise value while keeping additional costs to an absolute minimum.

Result

The event was a great success that truly was able to celebrate Manchester and the people within it. The production looked incredible and engaged all the attendees within the room, creating an electric atmosphere. By having a strong team of technicians, we were able to ensure the event was seamless, with clear audio and dependable visuals.