WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS ANNUAL GALA
For many organizations, annual events are an integral part of their fundraising strategy and revenue stream. That is the case for the Washington Performing Arts, a group that has engaged for more than half a century with artists, audiences, students, and civic life. Each year, the WPA holds an annual gala that raises money to support the performing arts. When the pandemic forced many events to cancel and postpone in 2020, EventEQ made sure the show went on by providing a virtual event solution.
CHALLENGES
- Redesigning for a smaller space
- Updating the script to virtually accommodate multiple forms of entertainment, including a choir/band, solo opera singer, and pianist
- Installing all of the equipment and getting “show ready” for the same date and time as the initially planned gala
- Setting up and testing all of the webcasting capabilities
SOLUTION
Rather than canceling the Washington Performing Arts Annual Gala, RJ Whyte Event Production (RJWEP) partnered with EventEQ to pivot and convert it to a virtual event, bringing the gala to their guests in the comfort of their home. Whyte and his team asked EventEQ to help transform the gala to be contained within the new venue’s footprint. EventEQ’s team sprang into action, modifying the video, audio, and lighting needs to fit the new virtual platform. A broadcast studio was created to execute the event virtually.RESULT
Within a span of 14 hours, RJWEP and EventEQ were able to plan, install, rehearse, webcast, and dismantle the entire reconfigured event. The end result was a perfectly executed event with more than 300 virtual attendees enjoying a three-camera shoot showing all live performances, an online phone-in auction and a Skype-based virtual awards presentation. The event also helped raise more than $200,000 to support the performing arts.
