Category: New Products

Image of Truss and Ballast

Truss and Ballast for Outdoor Events – A New Product Showcase

The staff at In Depth Events like to flatter ourselves that we engineer products that improve the production industry as a whole.  Occasionally, we’re right!  Some of our innovations really have been influential to the industry.  The best example is our LED Dance Floors – which was one of the first available in the rental market when we began designing them seven years ago.  It’s in this spirit that we are beginning a New Product showcase series.  Sign Up Here to receive information on our New Products as we discover them!

“Necessity is the mother of invention”

The Development of the Rental Truss and Ballast

About three years ago, a tour with a 5K run required a more immersive experience for their attendees.  This client asked us to design a series of outfield towers that could be placed up to 200 feet from the stage.  Each tower would be required to hold a significant amount of lighting as well as holding signage.  It would also require certified engineer documentation.

Engineer Drawing of Truss and Ballast Design

A side view from one of the engineered drawings used in the initial product design.

Our engineers got to work.  Using trussing from our rooftop department, we began with 20 foot vertical truss towers.  This pin-together truss (sometimes called fork truss) is 30 inches x 24 inches and is part of the perimeter truss of our monster 70’x50′ rooftop.  Now, we have the vertical space and strength.  But how do we anchor it to the ground to keep it from falling over?

Using the concept of a typical truss and base (which uses 70 pound steel plates as ballast) we set to design the mother of all truss and base.  Using 3/8″ steel plate, our welders built a box 4 feet x 4feet x 36 inches tall with fork lift receivers.  Then, using rebar and a piece of the perimeter truss, we set a die for the fork ends.  Finally, our stagehands mixed 3200 pounds of concrete, and poured it into each box.

The end result is a surprisingly good looking product with more than it’s fair share of weight.  The steel base is painted black and looks great on site, but it can’t disguise the 3600 pound nature of it’s being.  Our final engineering review allows the towers to be used in almost any weather environment with virtually no danger of them falling over.  Of course, the trussing looks great – it’s a vertical tower of aluminum that holds several hundred pounds of lighting in the air as well as flat vinyl banners with three times the signage space as mini-beam towers.

The multiple uses of Truss and Ballast in outdoor events

Image of Ballast and base supporting lighting and signage

Ballast and base supporting lighting and signage during a spring 2016 tour stop not too far from the Vegas strip.

When we unveiled the new Truss and Ballast, the client was thrilled.  Our engineers had created a product that allowed for the immersive experience their attendees demanded (later, we carried that design to over 150 cities in the United States – but that’s another story).  However, as we started using them on other shows, other advantages of our 3600 pound Truss and Ballast started to present themselves.  Take a look at the list below:

Image for lighting placementLighting Placement:

This should be obvious, since it was one of the main initial specifications.  However, the sheer ability of our design to accommodate lighting fixtures became an asset.  Rather than just holding a few fixtures, these towers can hold hundreds of pounds of weight – meaning more lighting.  Our Truss and Ballast towers have been used with moving lights, conventional 6 bars, lekos and FX lighting – many times all at once.  They are a vast upgrade compared to the traditional usage of scaffolding or truss and base for outdoor lighting!

 

Banner Placement using truss and ballastBanner placement:

The banner sizing is where this product really shines.  Before, spot signage at festivals had to be either scaffolding towers or towers using 12 inch mini-beam.  With our Truss and Ballast, signage is 30 inches wide x 20 feet tall!  This allows for readable signage for logo placement or directional signs.  Since our bases are stand-alone units, you can erect a square signage tower literally in the center of your main thoroughfare, and it provides a easy to read signpost that has very little effect on traffic patterns or slowdown.

 

Commercial Bulb StringersSupport for Commercial Bulb Placement:

Commercial bulb stringers are a mainstay for weddings, receptions and corporate outdoor events.  However, commercial bulb stringers can be difficult to have in open areas.  Our Truss and Ballast make commercial bulb stringers a dream to setup and install.  Our towers can support multiple strings – or use as a corner piece without worrying about wire tension.

 

 

Inverted U gatewayGateways and Gantries:

In January of 2017, a good friend and client asked us about building a gateway entry.  These are usually built with mini-beam, but in this instance the gateway footprint had to be minimized.  We designed two corners and a spanning truss to go with our Truss and Ballast, and in doing so, created a new use for our towers.  These new gateway structures boast a limited footprint, while providing exceptionally wind tolerant signage.  Multiple sections can also be used to create ticket gantries.

 

Using experts to help with your next event

Do you have a idea that you don’t know how to make work safely?   Contact our experts and let us turn your idea into a reality! Look no further!  At In Depth Events, our staff and technicians can help provide staging, audio and lighting, and electrical distribution for your next event.  Ask Us a Question to get started on your next event!


Image of Flush Mounted Pool Cover

Flush Mount Acrylic Pool Covers – An Event Planners Guide

Maximize your event space and create a unique swimming pool cover look

At In Depth Events, we are always looking for innovative ways to really amplify the impact and create unforgettable memories for your event. We’ve recently developed a new swimming pool cover mounting technology that can transform any pool into a elegant dance floor or walkway that is completely flush with the deck surface. It’s almost as if your floating on water.

You will always have the normal pool cover options available: Standard rental staging surface / Frosted pool cover surface / Clear pool cover surface… which are all great options to maximize your event.  You can learn more about the standard options for rental swimming pool covers here.

With the new flush mount swimming pool cover, we’re providing an enhanced option with more “WOW factor”. You can see in the image above the stunning ambiance created by a flush mount pool cover rental.  This particular project was for a private event held in the Dallas area.  After the party, the event coordinator stated the party was flawless and her client was extremely pleased.

Benefits of Using a Flush Mount Pool Cover

We’ve covered the sexy details about the flush mount pool cover, but there is a lot more to learn.  Aside from the exquisite visual aspect, here are other key benefits that make a flush mount pool cover ideal for any corporate or residential event:

The frame is constructed from steel connected by steel crossbar stabilizers. We install all materials onto a protective barrier which prevents your swimming pool and deck surface from damage during the install or dismantle process. Your choice of clear or frosted plexi-glass panels are mounted to the frame and precisely cut to fit the size and shape of your pool area. The flush transition from the pool cover to the deck surface creates a safer area for your guests which can help minimize the risk of trips and falls.

Take a look at the before and after images below so you can see the amazing transformation that takes place during the flush mount pool cover installation process.

The image on the left is the swimming pool before the event took place. The image on the right is the same pool, after the flush mount pool cover installation was complete.

The image on the left is the swimming pool before the event took place. The image on the right is the same pool, after the flush mount pool cover installation was complete.

If you’re ready to take the plunge on a swimming pool cover rental, then Ask a Question of the experts at In Depth Events.  We look forward to hearing from you and working with you!


Image of AT&T Stadium for College Football National Championship

ETZEL Agency Truss and Gateways for NCAA Football Championships 2015

Anyone who follows college football knows about the NCAA’s decision to create a national college football playoff. That first playoff happened at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, TX in 2015.  In this historic event, Ohio State defeated Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship.

There were more players at this event than the ones on the field, however.  The ETZEL Agency was in full force, one of the most recognized sports marketing firms in the world.  The City of Arlington staff were everywhere making sure that attendees were safe and having a good time.  And, of course, our staff were there providing sporting event production services for the very first NCAA Championship Tailgate Party!

For this show, our staff provided a list of live sporting event production services. Attendees at both entrances were first greeted by our three-dimensional gateway towers, complete with lighting and custom signage. The Postano social media tower was a three-sided video wall that projected sponsor and event information. Our staff custom designed a 20 foot tall ballast and vertical truss structure for signage in twelve locations over the entire site. Our staff also provided a laundry list of staging and scaffolding structures, including a stage thrust, camera platforms and spot platforms for the main stage performance area.

ETZEL Agency T-shaped-runwayAs always, our first priority is safety. When the City of Arlington required each vendor to have individual permits for every structure, the staff promptly provided the engineer drawings needed. As a Certified Building Contractor with the City of Arlington, we were able to get the permits and inspections taken care of before most of the other vendors. And In Depth Events was the first vendor to receive green tags on inspection day!

Entry Gantry at College Football Championship Tailgate EventThe day of the event was overcast and cold. But that didn’t stop the fans from attending the inaugural Championship Tailgate party and, of course, the game itself! we were proud to be a part of NCAA history and we look forward to working with our new friends and colleagues at ETZEL in the future.

postono social media and video towerThe staff at In Depth Events has a long history of providing live sporting event production services for sports marketing firms like ETZEL. You can see our page devoted to sports marketing firms here. If you are interested in finding out how In Depth Events can provide production services for your sports marketing firm, then Ask a Question of our sports marketing events experts. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you!

 

Truss and Ballast for ESPN Signage


Image of LED Dance Floor

LED Dance Floor Rentals – An Event Planners Guide

LED Dance Floors are an amazing centerpiece for all types of events. Corporate parties, wedding receptions, college events and fashion events have all rented our LED Dance Floors to highlight their events.   A rental LED Dance Floor can also be used as the centerpiece for a theme party such as a 70’s or 80’s party, a disco party or even at one of our famous glow parties.  

Whether you call them LED Dance Floors, lit dance floors or disco dance floors, the end result is the same – a dynamic display of colors that makes the dance floor – and your attendees – come alive!    

Disco Concert Using an LED Dance Floor

 

What types of LED Dance Floors are available in the event rental market today?

The staff at In Depth Events helped pioneer the Rental LED Dance Floor market.  We’ve been building LED disco dance floors since 2007!  A lot has changed, but the basics are still the same.  Here’re the three types of rental LED Dance Floors available in the rental market:  

  1. Acrylic topped LED Dance Floor.  These are by far the most common LED Dance Floors available in the US today. And we own the largest number of rental panels in the United States! Our LED Dance Floors are made with 4 foot x 4 foot panels and we sandblast the tops for slip resistance and light diffusion.  These floors have over a million color combinations, can be installed either indoors or outdoors and are DMX programmable.  By using DMX lighting protocols, you can program the floor to work with other wash or intelligent lighting in the room.
  2. LED Interactive Dance Floor.  These floors are based on a very low resolution video screen.  They are pressure sensitive, so when you step on the floor, it reacts by running pre-programmed video effects.  These floors are a lot of fun, and are typically used for dance contests, fashion runways or other uses when there will be limited people on the floor.  There are two reasons for this – the first is that a large number on the people on the floor will confuse the computer running the video loops.  The second is that lots of people on the floor keeps you from being able to see the video effects.  
  3. LED Video Dance Floor.  These are the floors you see at large concerts and sporting events.   Most of the floors available on the rental market are medium resolution.  They are very expensive to rent and transport, as they tend to be very heavy.  LED Video Dance Floors, however, make an amazing statement.  They are typically built with 1 square meter panels (approximately three feet wide x three feet tall) and can be built to practically any size desired.  They require a media server to run video on the floor.  These types of rental LED Video Dance Floors are used almost exclusively for corporate parties.  Remember – once you fill the dance floor, it’s difficult to see what is being played on the video!

Image of DJ and Disco Dance Floor

What should I look for in a vendor?

As with any vendor, first impressions are key.  Are you comfortable during the initial phone conversation?  Did the person on the phone take time to listen to details about your specific event?  Did they seem knowledgeable about the services they are offering?  A reputable company will have staff that knows the service and will be willing to take time to talk to you about your specific and unique event.

Ask for pictures of previous events.  Ask for references.  A reputable company will be happy to provide images as well as client AND vendor references.

While vendor selection is key, even the best vendors need specific information from you, the client.  Be ready to provide information on your event space and pictures if possible.  Accurate load in, load out and event times keep everyone on schedule.  Be clear about dress codes.  If you are having a black tie event, we need to know, so your operator can dress appropriately.  

Image of LED Dance Floor

The Shameless Sales Pitch

We hope you’ve found this article to be informative!  If you are considering a rental LED Dance Floor for your event, then make sure to Ask a Question  of the experts at In Depth Events.  We’ve got the largest, safest and brightest LED Dance Floor in the business and we routinely do events all over the United States.  We look forward to hearing from you and working with you!