The Task:
Organising a catwalk or a fashion show can always be quite tricky. Getting models ready, organising their outfits and making sure everything runs on time, is stressful. It takes a good events planner to hide the chaos going on behind the scenes and to instead, focus the audiences' attention on the glitzy catwalk.
So, when the fashion show is located in a venue where the only space for any changing facilities for the models, is directly behind the stage facing the audience, it's going to be no easy task. Add to that, the fact that it's a wedding exhibition so models would be getting changed into big and puffy wedding dresses, hence needing a lot of space, without the audience noticing!
This is exactly what AN Event Services were tasked with by Stoke Sentinel for their Bridal Exhibition Fashion Show. As well as providing all the sound, and lighting for two one hour long fashion shows, we also had to provide a backdrop to cover the width of the room which was 21 metres whilst keeping the focus on the 2 metre wide catwalk entrance and allowing the models to change in privacy.
The Solution:
As our biggest challenge was the backdrop, we focused our efforts on this first. We designed a panelled set in white PVC to keep the focus purely on the models entrance. We then contrasted this with black drapes on the sides to allow the models privacy whilst they were changing into their outfits. Finally, we built a 7.5m panelled wall behind the entrance, covering it in white PVC, so that the audience couldn't see around the set.
We focused the lighting to solely highlight the centre of the room where the catwalk was and using the house lighting controls we were able to achieve a star effect for the ceiling.
The Result:
The backdrop we designed worked really well on keeping the audiences focus on the catwalk entrance only, whilst allowing enough room and privacy for the models to get changed.
As a result, the whole Fashion Show ran smoothly and on time. And we have been called back to do their fashion shows ever since!
"The AN Event Services crew always attends our twice yearly Wedding Event, which is one of the biggest and most popular of our events. They work very closely with our modelling agency to co ordinate the catwalk show and are extremely professional throughout.
Their expertise and knowledge is invaluable to exhibitors and ourselves and ensures a successful and smooth running event every time."
Michaela Tabinor, Staffordshire Sentinel Newspapers Ltd