SGA sat down with Rob Jones, Vice-President and Senior Producer at Elite Business Productions.  We asked Rob to talk to us about his recent experience working with SGA designing an environment for his client’s sales and service groups’ annual meetings.  The events were held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando.

SGA thanks Rob Jones for the following interview and for the photos of his events.

SGA:  Rob, tell us a little about your background in corporate theater

Rob:  I’ve been involved in production work professionally since 1988.  I began in the corporate meeting world in 1991 working with Disney Entertainment, Marriott and other independent production companies.  From technical to production logistics and sales management, I’ve managed projects ranging from major commercial and retail product launches, video production, trade show designs and those tough gigs like a sailing race in the British Virgin Islands.

SGA:  How have you seen the corporate meetings industry change over the last 5 years?
Rob:  Companies are reducing their production budgets and looking for more cost effective ways to deliver content without revealing to their attendees these cutbacks.  Providing a creative solution and messaging, which clients can utilize beyond their events, is where I see things have gone and where they will continue to go.

SGA:  Was this your first opportunity to work with us?
Rob:  This was my first opportunity in the past ten years to work again with SGA and my experience was very good.  From proposal to pre-production planning and on-site execution we worked together very well.

SGA:  If you could use one word to describe working with SGA on your project, what would it be?
Rob:  Professional.

SGA:  What were your client’s thoughts on the room setup we provided? 

Rob:  Our clients were very pleased with the setup, especially hearing from attendees who have attended this meeting in the past.  One phrase they used to describe the room layout was, “A refreshing change.”

SGA:  What was the goal or vision of using SGA audience risers for your recent event?
Rob:  We wanted to bring the audience closer to the main stage and give attendees a different seating option than traditional business meeting setups. 

The goal was to bring the room “into” the overall set design of the meeting.  In past years, budgets for stage sets were prevalent however this year’s request was to keep the stage simple.  Our alternative for the main stage backdrop was to use a low resolution LED mesh wall for effects and video animation.

Elite Business Productions is online at http://www.elitegroup.tv, and Rob Jones may be contacted at his email, robj@elitegroup.tv.  Producers and TD’s out there, we’d like to tell your story too.  Please contact us to be featured in an upcoming issue of SGA Sightlines.