Tech Talk: How can I create a winter wonderland without snow — or winter?
Winter decor without snow and ice is far from an impossible task.
by Warren K. Kong | Published in November 2008 tech talk | technology | winter decor | Departments
A: This question is perfectly answered with my favorite thing: A/V! The days of loud, messy, slippery snow machines are over. Audio, video and lighting offer many ways to create a winter wonderland look. Here are some innovative ideas for utilizing your technical vendor to build your holiday event.
scents The holidays recall the smells of spiced cider, apple pie and ginger bread. Adding scent generators to your event instantly puts everyone into the holiday spirit. Stick to one scent at a time, though — a mixture of smells will overwhelm guests.
virtual extensions Project video of winter or holiday scenes onto a surface. Disguise the edges of the surface with Christmas trees or décor similar to the on-screen scene to extend the video into your space. For example, use a video of a living room with a roaring fireplace and snow-lined windows. Then place a real Christmas tree in your room and surround it with oversized presents and packages. Winter scene, minimal décor, low A/V cost. Check, check and check.
outside in Dedicate a few areas of your event space to décor only. With a simple plant and tree package, coupled with good lighting, create small “picture windows” into the holidays. A vignette style of décor is ideal, as visions of the holidays are often seen through a television lens.
dancing light show If you’ve seen the homeowner on YouTube who created a light show synchronized to music solely with strings of Christmas lights on his house and yard, you know it’s an ideal concept for events. Properly executed, it creates a completely immersive environment.
falling snow Use gobos to project snowflake patterns around the room. For a more realistic falling-snow effect, City Theatrical (citytheatrical.com) has an EFX generator that is used in a standard lighting fixture. This light simulates falling snow at various speeds.
Happy holiday events!
Have audio, video, lighting or scenic questions for our Tech Talker? E-mail them to rachel@event-solutions.com.
About the author: Warren K. Kong
Warren K. Kong is creative/technical director for Orlando, Fla.-based Chameleon Designs LLC.
Contact: warren@chameleonorlando.com