Meetings Blog Nov 12, 2019
What do you think of when we mention ‘video clips’? Are you immediately transported back to the 1980s, images of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer, and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody? Even if you are too young to have lived through that period, no doubt you’ll have seen those iconic images since. Indeed, the emergence of MTV, in the immortal words of The Buggles, saw ‘video kill the radio star’ and its influence on popular culture has been huge to this day.
The surge of ever more creative videos looking to make their mark slipped neatly into other areas. Clothes chosen from a Madonna clip adapted for a fashion catwalk; rotoscoping animation from A-ha developed into a Hollywood blockbuster; or colors and shapes from an eclectic mega-mix ending up proving crucial to an artist’s canvas success.
The power of these video clips lies in their impact. They are relatively brief but intense. They are disruptive but impeccably situated. They are shadowed swiftly by another but are universally memorable. These attributes can provide the perfect inspiration for event planners.
Just as the director of the video clip wants to catch your eye and hold onto it for a few minutes in order to turn the song into a hit, so too can your event décor. Grab attention with themed visuals in your venue – some of which can contrast (disruptive) with the expected premise – to keep your attendees’ minds alert. Throw your guests into a bygone era to let them escape the boundaries of today. Use creative individual food stands to give several unusual gastronomic experiences during the breaks (brief and intense). Brevity and impact are key, but also look to combine your elements to tell a joined-up story, potentially blending music along the way, to ensure it resides in the mind long after the doors have closed.
More than just for inspiration, you should also consider using actual video clips as part of your event. These days, and certainly since the advent of social media channels, promotional material leading up to the attraction is often the most likely place to find this type of content. Maybe hold a competition for attendees to come up with a 30-sec clip and display these around the venue or on the event app to support the theme. Another great idea is to host a video booth to provide a simple and immediate feedback loop, which can include testimonials to use in the future. Video self-help is another inventive way to provide a fun way to learn and engage, for example with demonstrations of jamón slicing or cocktail making. Don’t be afraid when it comes to creativity.
Now, with all that inspiration to feed off, let’s turn to a venue that encapsulates it all: NH Hotel Group’s nhow Penthouse suites. A trip to the striking Italian city of Milan provides you with the luxury excellence of an American-styled loft, where you’re attendees are met with an eclectic environment for an unforgettable experience. By inventive use of light, furniture and a variety of contrasting materials, this is where an out-of-the-ordinary meeting takes place.
A graffiti-driven alternative awaits you in the French coastal delight of Marseille, while in Berlin there is a musically colorful location to entertain and impress your guests.
Just as decades on, people still marvel at the impact made on our lives by those video innovators at the end of the 20th century, maybe your attendees will be retelling the story of the day they came to your event years from now…
