Each year that we provide audio visual production services for an event like this one is a chance to make something new. Yet, we simultaneously relish the fact that a repeat event means getting to build. We are building upon the knowledge of previous years. This allows us to optimize what already works and improve what we have previously done. See how these non-profit fundraiser ideas brought new life to the annual SeaChange Summer Party.
The Ripple Effect of an Annual Non-Profit Fundraising Event
Oceana is an international advocacy organization that is the largest of its kind to focus exclusively on ocean conservation. Their work focuses on the protection and restoration of the oceans having led fundraising campaigns for the past 25 years. The organization’s annual SeaChange Summer Party hit its 18th year having raised over $23 million in total to support the protection and restoration of the ocean.
This particular year’s event, held in California at the Montage Laguna Beach, raised over $1.7 million for ocean conservation. A percentage of proceeds from the year’s successful fundraising was donated specifically to local ocean conservation organizations including Santa Monica’s Heal the Bay.
Called both the “best summer soirée” as well as the “best gala in orange county,” the event is known for attracting celebrities and long term invested locals alike including Grammy Award-winning artist Charles Kelley.
Together with Oceana’s latest non-profit fundraiser ideas, we pooled our resources making this year’s audio visual event innovations stand out from the rest!
Non-Profit Fundraiser Ideas That Introduce New Event Design Challenges
In year’s past, the event was held in the backyard of a multi-million dollar oceanview estate. The draw to the event was the sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean itself.
This year, for the first time in the event’s history, it was moved indoors to a hotel ballroom at the Montage Laguna Beach. This meant we were working within a ballroom with no windows and a relatively low ceiling. Pulling from these challenges, the event had us thinking outside of the box with our creative event design!
The intent behind our design was that if the guests can’t see the ocean, then we will bring the ocean to them! The creation of an immersive video wall achieved this objective. In many ways, the event was more successful than it had been in the past due to such elevated visual installations.
For example, one of the major fundraising components of the evening is the live auction. Previous events held at a private residence utilized basic screens sized at 12’w x 7.5’ tall. This event’s screen was 100’w x 13’ tall!
Guests were able to engage more with the auction items as the visuals were experienced on a larger screen. The auction was much more successful than in previous years due to the impact of the visual upgrade. Oceana’s non-profit fundraiser ideas combined with our event technology crafting a seamless event.
Brite Ideas provided these event tech services:
- Theatrical lighting for the stage and seating area
- Surround sound for immersive ocean sounds
- 125’ wide x 12.5 high video wall, creating a completely immersive environment
Highlights From Bringing Non-Profit Event Ideas To Life
It’s a fact that every event we design has its own creative challenges. This year’s fun challenge was balancing an IMAX-sized video wall with theatrical lighting without ever making the room too bright. According to Brite Ideas’ CEO, Greg Christy, who served as the show caller for the event, “Ultimately, our team achieved a perfect balance to everyone’s satisfaction.”
Greg further elaborated that with a large scale video wall, there are a number of cues that need to be called to transition from the various assets as well as different screen configurations.
With Oceana specifically, one of the key points of the evening is the speech from their President, CEO Jim Simon. Greg, along with our on-site team, worked to ensure that “visuals were tightly timed to accentuate his speech to achieve the highest impact.”
How an Ongoing Client Relationship Continues to Make Waves
We have been fortunate to have a 15-year client relationship with Oceana. This has spanned multiple event planners and changing leadership. With our Southern California headquarters located not far from the Pacific Ocean, we truly believe in the organization’s mission. Brite Ideas always wants to help in any way that we can!
Obviously, Oceana has wonderful assets and telling their story is very visual and our tools easily lend themselves to help them tell it in a highly dynamic way.
Playing our part in the event had us working directly alongside Oceana’s Director of Global Events, Carolina Quijano. Here she reflects on the success of the evening:
“Your AV team played a crucial role in last night’s event success. From setup to execution, everything ran smoothly and seamlessly. The sound, visuals, and overall technical setup were of top quality, and we received many compliments from attendees on the production value.”
Carolina Quijano, Oceana
This is a partnership that continues to endure due to the type of work we provide. As Carolina describes, “We truly appreciate your dedication, attention to detail, and willingness to accommodate our wild ideas! It is always a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to doing it again next year!” The sentiment continues to ring true!
Our work starts with you – tell us what type of event you have in the works!
Vendors
Client | Oceana
Production Fulfillment | Brite Ideas
Venue | Montage Laguna Beach
Videographer | Kaila Howard
Rentals | Signature Party
Rentals | Found Rental Co.
Candles | Vogue Candles
Photographer | John Watkins Photographer
Photographer | Kevin Warn Photography
Photographer | Movi, Inc.
Photographer | Nicholas Koon Photography
Photographer | Ryan Miller Photography
