Seamless Event Production with Experience Columbus

Guests of Experience Columbus’ (Greater Columbus’ Convention & Visitors Bureau) Annual Meeting were given the opportunity to experience the city’s nightlife as they savored the tasty offerings from the city’s top chefs and tapped their toes to the music of Popgun. With so much going on, few attendees probably put much thought into the technical side of the event, and that is okay. It is actually a good thing if we went undetected; it means we did our job.

Flawless onsite execution is something we pride ourselves on, but the decisions made during the pre-production phase ensured a successful show. Collaborating as a team with the Experience Columbus event planning staff, Bartha worked through creative and logistical issues to transform an hour-long luncheon program into a fun evening event that featured a half hour program.

Some notable highlights from the show included a custom audio track mixed for the start of the show. It played as the live jazz band wrapped from the pre-function event and drew attendees to their seats for the program. Mixing techno beats and the voice over track from Columbus’ one and only Nina West, Bartha’s sound engineer provided an upbeat entrance as Experience Columbus’ CEO Brian Ross took the stage and welcomed everyone.

With multiple bands playing at the event, placement of the pre and post-show entertainment required some thought to provide a smooth transition between segments of the event. At Bartha, we look forward to adding surprise moments into our shows. This event included a perfectly timed curtain reveal of the evening’s entertainment and dining option strategically located in front of a view of downtown Columbus.

Another important part of the show was the Experience Columbus EXPY Awards presentation. The EXPY Awards recognize outstanding contributions from organizations or individuals to the visitor experience of our city. Bartha was tasked with producing videos to accompany the awards presentation to celebrate each winner. Production was a careful balance of creative expression and subtlety as not to distract from the onstage presentation. In addition, photo resources of the winners were in short supply, as the award winners were kept secret. In the end, Bartha provided a creative solution that not only solved these issues but also worked within the client’s budget.

Overall, the event was a major success. It not only celebrated and educated guests on the city’s tourism accomplishments, but also allowed attendees to experience the best of Columbus.