US Bank is the fifth largest bank in the country with more than 70,000 employees. Headquartered in Minnesota, their All-Employee Meeting happens every January in Minneapolis and is broadcast all across the nation. Audio Logic Systems’ partnership in the event began in 2015 and includes pre-production consultation and planning services, rigging, audio, video, and lighting support.
Key event details
- Partnership in production with other vendors
- Single day turn around of venue
- Extensive pre-production planning
- FOH and Broadcast audio mixing with redundant broadcast sends
- Video distribution to stage, venue displays, and broadcast
- Two sessions; One live and the second playback
Planning for the US Bank All-Employee meeting includes coordination between the venue, local stagehand union, US Bank event team, local production coordinators and multiple broadcast and internet service providers. By the time load in begins, all roles are clearly defined and expectations understood to meet the tight schedule. The first of two programs happens live. The second immediately follows and is a rebroadcast of the first. In addition, all technicians and onstage talent remain on standby during playback. In the case of a broadcast failure, the program would go live from stage immediately.
Rigging is overseen by our ETCP Arena Rigging Certified Production Manager, Ed Coutu, and led by ALS techs. The rig supports audio, video, lighting, and scenic elements and travels to its final vertical destination simultaneously. Audio production includes coverage for an onsite audience of about 6,000 plus a broadcast feed sent around the country. Two separate DiGiCo audio consoles are used for mixing, one for the live audience and the other for broadcast. To achieve the desired intimate experience for all attendees, reflections from the sound system need to be minimal for the audience and onstage. Loudspeakers and tools designed by d&b audiotechnik are deployed to meet this expectation.
The lighting design creates an intimate look that is cohesive with US Bank branding. The stage wash needs to be optimal for the live and broadcast video distribution. The flown rig consists of entirely moving head fixtures by Robe Lighting. Additional conventional fixtures for scenic uplight are placed on the stage. All control is managed by a GrandMA 3 Light.
It takes a village to manage the video needs for the event. In addition to ALS techs, backstage hosts multiple satellite broadcast and web streaming vendors and an onsite US Bank event team. At the heart of video production is our high-res flypack system based around an Analog Way switcher. Projection screens for graphics and IMAG are reinforced by the scoreboard and perimeter displays. Two Christie projectors are used per screen to compete with the brightness of the venue’s scoreboard LED Wall. Recording and playback of the first program is incredibly important. Both tasks are handled using redundant Sound Devices hardware. To provide a reliable rebroadcast, independent satellite truck vendors and internet service providers are onsite and each receives a scaled signal to meet their needs.
Money is on the line and failure is not an option at the US Bank All-Employee Meeting. We provide thorough pre-production planning, the right equipment, and well thought out redundancies. Most importantly, we provide the right people for the job. All of these things work together to deliver the vision and message of US Bank to its employees around the country.
Written by Nic Hentges
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