Category: Charity

Zapstars Productions: find the best solution for your production needs

ZapstarsDecember 10, 2016Award Evenings, Charity, Conferences, Openings, Press Releases
Zapstars Productions: find the best solution for your production needs

No two days are the same in the events industry. Maybe that’s why time seems to fly – we’re fast approaching the end of 2016 already!

Zapstars Productions’ owner and technical director, Jamie McEwen, and his crew are proud to look back over the past year. We’ve supported some standout events such as Krispy Kreme’s new store grand opening in Henry Deane Plaza, conversations with Naomi Klein at the City Recital Hall and the Sydney Peace Prize held in the Sydney Town. We’re also privileged to have met countless events professionals in the industry, Australia wide.

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Krispy Kreme’s new store grand opening in Henry Deane Plaza
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Conversations with Naomi Klein at the City Recital Hall

 

Zapstars Productions entered the events arena in 2007. With growing expertise, we commenced full-blown operations in 2014, providing production and technical solutions. From corporate events to award shows, we’ve worked hard to find the right solutions for our clients.

It’s always been our goal to make our clients’ lives easier by providing end-to-end management. So beyond production needs, Zapstars also brings together event specialists and suppliers to help meet client demands.

Over the years the Australian events industry has changed beyond recognition, with advances in technology constantly providing new and experiential events to audiences. While demand and innovation may change, our aim at Zapstars remains the same: to keep pace with the events evolution and provide the best possible production solutions.

Above all, Zapstars values its clients dearly. We believe two-way communication is essentially what lies behind a successful event. That’s why we value what our clients have to say. By listening and communicating, we can continue to meet expectations.

We’re excited for the future and the challenges it will surely bring. Blessed with a crew always ready to provide its very best, we’re excited to embrace every new event trend. We’re excited to meet new clients and create memorable events with them.

Zapstars Productions is here to stay, thanks to our wonderful clients who continue to trust us and believe in us.

Zapstars Productions With Leo Sayer for Drought Appeal

zapstarsNovember 5, 2015Charity
Zapstars Productions With Leo Sayer for Drought Appeal

Australians have helped Qantas raise more than $114,000 for the Western Queensland Drought Appeal, funding the coordination and distribution of much needed drought relief across the Longreach region.

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Qantas operated a one-off charity flight from Sydney to the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, using its ‘Retro Roo’ aircraft in 70s livery.

The initiative comes in the lead up to Qantas’ 95th birthday next month and was aimed at supporting the community that gave wings to Qantas almost a century ago.

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Leo Sayer provided the pre-flight entertainment in the Qantas Business Lounge.

5 Key Questions To Ask Your Event Planner Before Hiring Them

zapstarsSeptember 3, 2015Arenas and stadiums, Award Evenings, Charity, Conferences, Festivals, Forums, Fund rasing, Openings, Performances, Press Releases, Product Launches, Theatre, Trade Show and Expos
5 Key Questions To Ask Your Event Planner Before Hiring Them
You’ve got an event coming up for your business, charity or even personal (wedding, birthday) but just don’t have the resources to organise it? Well, in this case, you may see the potential benefits of hiring an event planner.

If you don’t have any references from friends or colleagues you will have to start from scratch and interview and evaluate a few different planners before choosing the right one to make your event a reality.  

It’s not hard to find an event management company or freelance event planner since there are hundreds out there. But you will need to eliminate the “so called” planners, that lack important skills and experience to effectively produce, manage and make your event come to life. Hiring the bad event planner can lead to poor outcomes, jeopardize your finances and public relations.

To help guide you we have gathered a 5 key questions you should ask your event planner prior to hiring them:

  • What are your areas of expertise? 

To find out if your chosen event planner is a good fit for your event, ask them what type of events they most frequently work on.

Not all events are the same and there are many different types (conferences, trade shows, weddings, reunions, sporting events and fundraisers) so knowing what events the planner has managed before will give you an idea into their qualifications and areas of expertise.

We are not saying that an event planner has to have a lot of knowledge in your niche area to do a good job, but it’s better to know that he/she has done events similar to yours in the past.

  • What services do you offer?

 Another important information to have is to know exactly if this event planner can handle all your requirements. You will need to establish if you need them to find a venue, take care of catering, audio-visual, transportation, etc.

A good planner will have a preferred list of vendors and even venues that they’ve worked with in the past and they should be able to secure contracts and deals for you and meet all of your needs.

  • What services are included in your fee?

Event planners have different ways of charging for their services (hourly, flat fee, percentage, etc.) and while most of them are upfront about costs sometimes some services may not be included in their fee. You will need to establish and discuss all the fees up front so there are no surprises later!

  • What staff do you have?

Depending on the size of the agency, you will be working with the person you are meeting with, for smaller agencies, or for larger companies, you can sometimes be assigned to someone.

That is why you will need to establish who your day-to-day contact will be, if there will be a team of people working your event or just one and how will your event be staffed the day of it. Just make sure that you have a good connection and feeling about the person you are working with and most important, make sure that you meet them!

  • What is your cancellation and refund policy?

One of the most important factors when planning an event is to remember that things may happen that are beyond your control. Make sure you know the exact details of your contract and the terms for cancelling, postponing or changing the event.

While most organisers will charge you for all the hours and services they’ve put in up until the point of change, keep in mind that other suppliers such as the venue and caterer will have their own cancellation terms, so you have to make sure you know all these details up front in order to maintain sanity in case unexpected things happen.

Finally, be sure to interview and evaluate a good selection of firms and individuals before making your decision but keep in mind that one of the most important thing is to hire someone you like because your event planner has to be an assistant, friend and manager all wrapped up in one.

For more information on how to breathe life into your next event check:

Your trusted Audio Visual Production and Solution Provider,

10 Spectacular Event Lighting Ideas

zapstarsJuly 25, 2015Arenas and stadiums, Award Evenings, Charity, Conferences, Festivals, Forums, Fund rasing, Openings, Performances, Press Releases, Product Launches, Theatre, Trade Show and Expos
10 Spectacular Event Lighting Ideas

  • Candlelight the tables 

Candlelight is a very good option to save money since lighting each guest table can get very expensive. One other benefit is that candle flames make people happier and will definitely put a smile on your guest’s faces, while making everybody look good.

 

  • String lights & fabric

Whether it’s an outdoors event or an indoors one, strings of lights can have a big impact on your event and take it from normal to fairytale land. Combined with sheer fabric you can hide hardware and create the perfect soft romantic theme.

 

  • Lighted globes

Paper lanterns are a very inexpensive and fun idea to dress up your event. You can go for colored globes, patterned or you can keep it simple and romantic.

 

  • Lasers

Lasers are a popular and old school lighting idea that is always good. The best thing about them is that lasers have the ability to sync with your music, it can draw shapes or pictures on surfaces and it can cover the entire space and span across the audience at the touch of a button.

 

  • Projections

If you have a white blank wall at your event venue and don’t know what to do with it, there’s a solution. You can rent a projector and show a slideshow of photos, or project nature scenes or chandeliers. This is a cool visual interest idea and it can go as an art piece and also help with the lighting part.

 

  • Wireless lights

Wireless lights are growing more and more popular and you can get why. They are easy to use and the most important thing is that they can be put in very hard areas to light. They are a perfect way to incorporate lighting to an outdoors event that doesn’t have easy access to outlets and they will transform your event wherever the location may be.

 

  • LEDs

LEDs are another very new and popular choice in the last few years. The benefits of LEDs range from less power to easier to manage and one of the most important benefit being safer since they don’t produce heat. And let’s not forget that it can make any even more futuristic in seconds.

  • Suspended illumination

For an outdoors wedding or even a very elegant event, suspended illumination can be romantic or modern. You can transform it by simply choosing the model of the light: you can go for romantic and make some beautiful string lights with candles and glasses or you can go for modern and go with some LED bulb.

 

  • Letter lights 

Want to express your thoughts through lighting? You can go for letter lighting piece and you can make it the centerpiece of your event. You can spell out a theme word for the party or even your monogram or logo!

 

 

  • Light columns

Light columns are another favorite in the lighting department. You can go pro and get already made, simple, clean columns or you can do it yourself with a few paper lanterns, a bamboo stick and 50 bulb string of lights. Imagination has no limit! The result is stunning no matter what.

 

 

For more information on how to breathe life into your next event check:

Your trusted Audio Visual Production and Solution Provider,

Zapstars Productions​ at the Surfaid Bondi Charity Event

zapstarsMarch 23, 2015Charity
Zapstars Productions​ at the Surfaid Bondi Charity Event

Top chefs raise $44k for Surfaid Bondi charity event

Former ASP world surfing champs Martin “Pottz” Potter and Tom Carroll helped raise $44,00

Former ASP world surfing champs Martin “Pottz” Potter and Tom Carroll helped raise $44,000 for SurfAid.

FORMER ASP world surfing champs Martin “Pottz” Potter and Tom Carroll teamed up with Australia’s top chefs for the first Sydney Surfing Chefs for SurfAid cocktail party and raised $44,000 for the charity.

More than 300 guests descended on The Bucket List in Bondi and enjoyed a night of excellent food and fine wine.

Guests included surfing and sporting elite, Martin Potter, Tom Carroll and Torah Bright, Andrew Judge and Dr Dave Jenkins founder of SurfAid.

“We’ve been talking to SurfAid about an event here for a couple of years and all the stars aligned,” said organiser, The Bucket List’s Tom Walton. The surfing chefs are coming from as far as Perth for the event which will raise funds for the humanitarian aid organisation.

Chefs lined up to help former ASP world surfing champions Martin “Pottz” Potter and Tom C

Chefs lined up to help former ASP world surfing champions Martin “Pottz” Potter and Tom Carroll help raise $44,000 for SurfAid.

Along with Guy Turland from Bondi Harvest will be Russell Blaikie of Must Wine Bar Perth and Tony Howell, Aravina Estate, Margaret River, Ben O’Donoghue from Billy Kart in Brisbane, along with locals Ian Oakes from Drake, Monty Koludrovic Icebergs, Peter Doyle from est., Simon Zalloua from Sefa Kitchen, Zac Pauling The Corner House and Craig Ferrier from Cranky Fins, Palm Beach.

Former pro surfer and Bondi Rescue star Rod “Kerrbox” Kerr swapped his wetsuit for a chef’s jacket.

“There are a few veterans who enjoy the water and their food. It’s a great bunch of guys,” Walton said. “Besides helping a great cause a lot of chefs get stuck in your restaurant all day so it’s nice to network a bit, it’s a bit of a let your hair down type of event.”

See surfaid.org

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