Eclipse's own winning creative concept for the presentation included an eye-catching set design based around an impressive edge-blended video projection, which included mapped images onto two large scenic replicas of the iconic Catey Award statue flanking both sides of the stage.
Started in 1984, the Cateys recognise individuals, teams and business within the hospitality sector, and are claimed to be the industry's only 'truly independent' benchmark of operational excellence.
It was the first time that Eclipse Presentations has won the contract to supply technical production for the event, on which Producer Andrea Witt comments: "As soon as we saw the artwork for this year's Cateys we knew it would translate to a fantastic design concept for stage and screen. To be able to work with the Caterer team for the first time on this particular event was an exciting prospect for Eclipse and we were over the moon with the end results."
Over 1,000 guests enjoyed the evening which saw 22 coveted awards presented and live entertainment from Joolz Holland's Rhythm & Blues Band.
The Eclipse technical team was co-ordinated by technical production manager John Gibson and worked to an exceptionally tight timescale, getting in, setting up, focusing, sound-checking and rehearsing ... the same day as the show.
The first elements to be installed were the 11m wide by 5m deep stage and set.
The video supplied by Eclipse included an 11mwide by 5m tall upstage projection screen which filled the entire space, fed by two Panasonic PT-DZ 21K projectors, run through a Barco ScreenPRO II switcher for the edge blending. An ArKaos media server was used for the projection mapping that brought the statues to life.
A truly 3D look was created by simultaneously changing the backgrounds on the screen, and the overall effect was further heightened by atmospheric haze which was tumbled down on to the two statues from Jem Glaciator foggers.
For IMAG relay, Eclipse provided three Sony DSR450 cameras. Two were positioned at the front-of-stage and one on the balcony, fed into a Black Magic vision mixer which output to the screens.
Seven 50 and 55 inch plasma relay screens were positioned around the room to ensure good sightlines and that everyone had a clear view of the onstage action from everywhere in the room.
Out in the foyer, Eclipse dressed the space in white including printed canvass banners and a high gloss white floor, all spectacularly lit with more Alpha Spot 700s on stands, together with Core 20 wireless LED up-lighters.
For the drinks reception area, six plasma screens were installed to show sponsor logos, messaging and branding.
The house lighting rig was augmented with Eclipse's LED floods and PARs plus six Clay Paky Alpha Spot 700 moving lights - used together with the house fixtures of the same type. The lighting was run on a combination of the house consoles and Eclipse's Avo Tiger Touch.
Eclipse utilised the venue's d&b Q7 sound system, to which six Q7s were added around the edges of the room to ensure good, even coverage of high quality audio to every seat in the room. Eclipse also provided a full mics-and-stands package for the band and a Yamaha LS9 32 channel console to facilitate the FOH and monitor mixes, complete with engineers.
(Jim Evans)
