Event: UKickstart Event 2020
Date: Tuesday 8th September
Venue: Illuminate at the Science Museum
Number of guests: 30 at the venue and 1400 virtually
Why was Illuminate at the Science Museum chosen as a host venue?
The UKickstart Conference 2020 decided to expand its event programme to include a Live Performance panel discussion on kickstarting the events industry and chose Illuminate at the Science Museum as host venue. Illuminate is well versed in being able to host events requiring significant technical and AV support, working closely with its production partner White Light (WL) to ensure the smooth running of the both the virtual and live side of the event. Illuminate offers flexible, contemporary spaces with White Light operating a world-class technical installation within the space.
Combining Illuminate’s permanent equipment infrastructure with a comprehensive streaming service enabled the hybrid delivery of the Live Performance panel session. Utilising the venue’s state-of-the-art Crestron NVX digital matrix system, all audio, video and lighting elements were seamlessly integrated, including d&b audiotechnik and Christie solutions. WL worked in collaboration with its strategic partner SFL for the vision mixing and streaming.
Multiple cameras, including broadcast quality PTZ and manned cameras, captured the panel’s expert guest speakers and helped bring the session to life, particularly for the guests who were attending remotely. The session was streamed directly to the Glisser Platform for enhanced audience insight and engagement.
Please describe the brief of the event, who was the event for? What were the core goals and objectives?
UKickstart Event 2020 is the first UK-wide live and virtual gathering of event professionals post-lockdown, with 11 participating venues hosting panel discussions across one day.
Illuminate hosted its panel discussion – ‘Working in a post-Covid world – How to kick-start Live Performance’ – at 4.30pm on 8th September with 30 guests attending in person, and xx joining virtually. The panel discussed the issues encountered due to the pandemic, covering small music venues, theatres, indoor/outdoor venues and arenas, as well as the solutions to overcome these.
The panel was chaired by White Light Managing Director Bryan Raven, with speakers including Adam Blackwood, Founder and Creative Director of Private Drama; Jon Drape, Director of Engine No 4; Clara Cullen, Venue Support Manager and Nicholas Wells, Owner of Power Plan Services Ltd.
What happened throughout the event?
The event kicked off at 4.30pm with guests seated theatre-style in Illuminate with the required 2 metre distancing between them. The panel session concluded at 5.30pm. Illuminate’s catering partner, Moving Venue, was on hand with refreshments for the duration of the event.
What Covid compliant measures were in place for the event?
The Science Museum has implemented a number of Covid compliant safety measures in accordance with Government guidelines – these include:
- Implementation of one-way systems
- 2m social distancing where possible, with signs placed throughout
- Hand sanitiser stations and handwashing facilities
- Perspex screens installed at the welcome desk and cloakroom
- Enhanced cleaning regimes
- Compulsory use of face masks in certain parts of the museum
Venue comment:
Jodie Guilford, Business Development and Marketing Manager at the Science Museum, said: “We were thrilled to take part in the UKickstart Event 2020 and host the panel discussion on live performances at Illuminate. This was our first event hosted in the space since lockdown was implemented in March, and it was fantastic to see our venue team and partners – White Light and Moving Venue – back doing what they do best. We loved being able to welcome a small number of event professionals back into the venue, as well as hosting those who joined online. The ability to incorporate and successfully implement virtual elements of an event will be so important going forward, and this is something we can easily, and safely, accommodate in Illuminate.”
Organiser comment:
Adam Simpson, leader of UKickstart and Director of Marketing of etc.venues, said: “The UKickstart Event received phenomenal interest, which is why we welcomed the offer from Whitelight to extend the event programme and include the in-depth discussion on live performance in Illuminate. The event was incredibly well attended, with over 1400 event professionals taking part including over 300 in person at venues across the UK. We were delighted that Illuminate could host the additional panel and act as a further venue hub for the event.”
Caterer comment:
Ben Paris, Head of Exclusive Venue Sales at Moving Venue, said: “We were thrilled to support White Light at the UKickstart Event and it was fantastic to be catering events in our home from home, Illuminate. Throughout the Summer, Moving Venue has taken the time to ensure they are event ready and its already stringent health and safety practices take into account all new Covid guidance. For the Ukickstart event, Moving Venue provided a refreshment service including individually packages juices and cookies along with a range of teas, herbal infusions and coffee for guests to enjoy.”
