The TPi Awards drew over 1 100 industry professionals from all corners of the globe and was given a stratospheric boost this year thanks to the new event space. Guests from France, South Africa, Australia and Brazil fell prey to host Russell Kane’s infectious wit during his pre-awards stand up performance.

“This year’s TPi Awards represented a sea change in the event’s operation,’ comments TPi Magazine’s general manager, Justin Gawne. “The move to Evolution dramatically improved sight lines, catering and interactivity for the guests.’ This year, attendees were treated to a whole raft of interactive sponsorship goodies, including flashing bow ties courtesy of Robe, whose 200+ lighting fixtures made up a significant part of the lighting rig; and, of course, the PRO show endorsed selfie stick, which provided attendees the perfect excuse to exercise shameless social media vanity until the small hours.

Before dinner, more than 100 tables became embroiled in #CreateLight, a light sculpture contest instigated by Philips Vari-Lite. Predictably, a significant number of tables engaged in sculpting what can only be described as enormous glow in the dark phallic skyscrapers with the luminescent glow sticks provided.

Light heartedness aside, this was a live event in its own right, with a crew headed up by production manager Liz Madden of NoNonsense Group. The awards were introduced with an audiovisual feast designed by Digital Insanity’s Richard Bagshaw, and it became immediately apparent that 2015’s production had inadvertently raised the bar for future AV industry awards ceremonies.

This year, Hawthorns was responsible for the lighting design at the event, with lighting designer, Jack Sayer and project manager Tom Ring ensuring the proceedings ran without a technical hitch.

Delivering audio to this year’s awards was once again based VME, which employed a Martin Audio MLA Compact system to distribute PA sound flawlessly to all corners of the busy room.

Video streaming – orchestrated by Chaos Visual Productions and broadcast on Absen LED screens supplied by Euroscreens, provided maximum visibility for all guests during the awards ceremony.

The audience were kept enthralled by host Russell Kane throughout all 27 awards, and as the after party moved to the foyer of the venue, the central bar provided the perfect setting for guests to network, socialise and reflect on the evenings proceedings.

As preparations for the next year’s TPi Awards get underway, Gawne concluded: “We are looking forward to creatively utilising this space to its maximum over the coming years.’