Aztec Event Services is enjoying a busy three days at the London Book Fair, which has featured some top guests including an ex-England football star.

The Mitcham-based firm is providing extensive AV services to the conference suites, the press room and several private conference rooms at Earls Court.

Aztec is also providing business support services within the International Rights Centre (IRC), offering internet connectivity, print and copying services to agents and publishers.

Running from 8 to 10 April, London Book Fair is expected to attract close to twenty-five thousand visitors this year, nearly half of them from overseas, and Aztec is deploying simultaneous translation services for this strongly international crowd, using its Bosch technology to deliver conference addresses and keynote speeches in multiple languages.

Central to its efforts, Aztec is providing set, stage, lighting, sound and projection for the new London Book Fair International Book Industry Excellence Awards. The awards have 16 categories, including the ‘Crossmedia for best use of IP Awards’ where Angry Birds are pitted against The Walking Dead for the prize.

“There’s a real buzz around the new Industry Excellence Awards this year, so we’ve pulled out the stops to make sure they get the all ‘wow factor’ and panache they deserve,” said Chris Harris, Aztec’s account manager for the show.

“The IRC has once again proved to be a vital resource for some delegates, and it was great to see Sol Campbell having a go at the golf challenge.”

Aztec Event Services has welcomed its newest apprentice, 19 year old Gary Clarkson, to the fold, bringing its apprenticeship scheme into its third successful year.

Gary, who has a keen interest in audio production, opted for the apprenticeship because, as he put it, “this was a chance to start working with professional AV systems and equipment, and get a foothold in an industry that I’d like to work in.”

Gary, who plays in a rock band, has only served two and half months of his apprenticeship so far, but as Steve Colesell, Aztec’s operations director and manager of the apprenticeship scheme, said “Gary has definitely hit the ground running and settled in really well. His positive attitude and thirst for knowledge are just what an Aztec apprentice needs, I have no doubt he will flourish with the support of his trainer and the whole team here.”

Aztec’s apprenticeship framework will see Gary working in the warehouse, supporting the technicians checking equipment in and out, but he has already had a brief taste of working on-site. “Working in the field was a real buzz, and definitely the most exciting part of my apprenticeship so far,” said Gary.

Gary will be using his time getting to know the Aztec system and getting to grips with the vast array of audiovisual equipment, with occasional visits on-site shadowing Aztec’s technicians as they set up, configure and operate AV equipment at a variety of events. Gary will simultaneously be studying for his NVQ Level Two diploma in Events and Live promotion, following a syllabus set up and refined by Aztec.

Finding that existing qualifications were not well suited to Aztec’s core AV business, the company collaborated with NVQ training providers to create a tailor made syllabus in Events and Live Promotion. This qualification gives new apprentices a flying start in the industry, whether they chose to stay with Aztec or not. Aztec provides all its apprentices with generous study time and support during their studies.

Steve Colesell added, “Our apprenticeship scheme is an increasingly valuable route to finding the people we need, and over the last three years we’ve worked hard to established it as a successful pathway for conveying young talent into the company. I’m proud of what the apprentices have achieved so far, and our firm commitment to the scheme means we will be continuing to develop and refine the programme in the future.”

Aztec Event Services is set to provide AV facilities and services to 100% Optical at ExCeL London, 16-18 February 2014. 100% Optical, organised by Media 10, is the first design-led optical trade show to take place in the UK.

Media 10 is expecting around 8,000 international visitors to attend the launch event from buyers, designers, and dispensers, through to opticians, ophthalmologists, surgeons and students. There will be over 400 brands, 2000 product launches, 12 fashion shows and 60 international speakers over the three days in February. Aztec will be responsible for delivering AV throughout the show, including the main theatre and ‘hubs’.

Leo Speck, Aztec’s sales director, is looking forward to the show, “100% Optical is a fantastic opportunity for Aztec to be involved in as it is always exciting to support a new show in the UK exhibition calendar. Media 10 always deliver quality shows and we are sure 100% Optical will be a great compliment to London Fashion Week.”

Aztec Event Services has welcomed a new sales team leader in the shape of Adrian Pearce, who joins the company to head up the exhibitor sales team. Adrian comes to Aztec with a strong sales background, and is an experienced relationship builder and team leader of many years standing.

Aztec’s managing director, John Robson, was enthusiastic about its newest recruit, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Adrian to the company. His in-depth understanding of the executive sales process and his talents for building long-term, profitable relationships with clients will be great assets for the exhibitor sales team. Adrian will be taking over Chloe Retter’s role as she directs her talents towards organiser sales.”

Father of three, Adrian was very pleased to be chosen for the role, “I really liked Aztec’s attitude to business and personnel, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of building a rapport with our existing customers and winning over new clients. Chloe has been getting me oriented and showing me the ropes and now I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

Aztec Event Services transporters were working non-stop last week as official AV supplier to Destination Star Trek Germany (DSTG), at Messe Frankfurt, 21 – 23 February 2014.

Chosen to deliver AV to the convention for the second time by the event’s organiser Media 10, Aztec revisited their role at Destination Star Trek London (DSTL) 2012, furnishing the Frankfurt event with an unmistakeably futuristic and technological look and feel, in keeping with the spirit of the starship Enterprise.

Rob Nathan, marketing director, Media 10, explained why Aztec had been chosen a second time, “Aztec’s previous work on DSTL 2012 was exemplary. By working with them from the outset, we were able to fully realise our sky-high technological ambitions for the show AV, secure in the knowledge it would all work as planned, and any contingencies would be swiftly and expertly resolved with Aztec’s customary, drama free, can-do attitude.”

Destination Star Trek Germany featured an impressive list of guest stars, from all the series, including the original captain of the Enterprise, James.T.Kirk, aka actor William Shatner. Dozens of other stars from the series were also in attendance, including Karl Urban (Dr.McCoy), Brent Spiner (Lt. Data), Michael Dorn (Worf), Levar Burton (Geordi La Forge), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) and Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher).

Aztec Event Services deployed a specially equipped mobile projection van onto the streets of Berlin and Milan between 8 – 16 December, for its client onedotzero, the digital experience specialists. The activity was part of a campaign conceived by London creative agency Publicis for German conglomerate Tempo.

The van was equipped with two Christie Roadster projectors, a selection of lenses, two small petrol generators and a selection of laptops, tablets and networking equipment. It was driven and operated by Ed Kitchingman, project manager, and Ashley Attwood, technical manager.

For three days in Berlin and two in Milan, the Aztec team spent daylight hours scouting for suitable city centre locations with good projection opportunities while also being suitable for interviewing passers-by without causing too much disruption.

With three or four locations on the shortlist each day, the onedotzero and Aztec teams took to the streets as the sun set and outdoor projection became possible. The onedotzero production team interviewed willing passers-by on camera, asking them “If you could relive one moment from 2013, what would it be?” .

This straightforward question elicited huge variety of responses, from the deeply moving to the frivolous and, as soon as the answer was given, the onedotzero interviewer would tap a summarised version into their tablet.

At that moment the text was transmitted via WiFi to the Aztec team waiting in the van and armed with a 13,500 lumen projector. Within seconds the interviewee’s moment of the year would be projected onto the wall behind the subject in bright, crisp and large letters for the whole world to see. Then with a dramatic flourish, the subject was invited to turn around for a “reveal moment” caught on camera, when they saw their very personal and unique memory emblazoned in letters of light high up on the wall of a building. The pieces were later posted online through the campaign’s dedicated website.

Ashley Attwood, Aztec’s technical manager and long distance van driver, clearly enjoyed the experience, “This project was really different. The ‘guerilla’ nature of the work, deploying and packing up rapidly several times a day, made it hard work but great fun. Finding the locations was pretty challenging, the late finishes weren’t always easy, but watching the final results was really rewarding and there were some genuinely moving moments. It was a great experience.”

Sophie Walter, managing director of onedotzero, was full of praise for the Aztec team, “Ashley and Ed did an outstanding job, scouting locations, managing the tech and, of course, creating the all important projections to make the magic happen. The resulting videos from Berlin and Milan really speak for themselves!”

We are looking for enthusiastic and creative people to join our team!

After a really succesful 2013 we want to keep expanding our business and we’ve got some new exciting vacancies waiting for you.

Go to our Jobs Section and check the full list on the left menu.

Aztec Event Services has launched the newly augmented EventIgnite digital signage platform at World Travel Market (WTM), London ExCeL, 4 – 7 November, as an official contractor for the thirteenth consecutive year.

The event, organised by Reed Exhibitions, attracts a large number of global travel professionals, and this year Aztec has deployed its digital signage solution using its newly updated EventIgnite platform to manage the schedules and content.

The new version of EventIgnite offers improved branding and sponsorship opportunities, now organisers can make use of full screen posters, video, promoted tweets, full width bottom banner and a breaking news feed displayed on their digital signage, all integrated along the time sensitive schedule. Reed will be able to remotely control each of the five digital signage screens placed outside the Knowledge Theatre, Travel Tech Theatre, and three of the Platinum Suites.

In addition to the comprehensive digital signage solution, Aztec has also supplied and installed high intensity HD projectors and PAs for both the Travel Technology Theatre and the Knowledge Theatre, and full AV provision for one Platinum Suite. Aztec has delivered 8 cyberpods for the Digital Hub and the Buyers Lounge North, as well as several projection screens, projectors, laptops, iPads and other technological equipment for use around the show.

Aztec also built the stage and set for the Greek National Tourist Board press conference, and also for an edition of the BBC’s HardTalk programme made at the show. Aztec designed the oval set, and used projection and lighting to create a truly professional OB studio, with three Aztec camera operators and digital video management facilities to capture and rebroadcast live footage.

Leo Speck, Aztec’s sales director, was clearly pleased to be involved, “World Travel Market is a show that does some pretty serious business, so the delegates are very demanding when it comes to accurate, timely and easy to access information. It’s the perfect environment for digital signage, and at this year’s show we are demonstrating how it can deliver not just for delegates and organisers but for sponsors too.”

Aztec Event Services put some serious shine on IP EXPO 2013, 16-17 September at Earls Court, with an 18 meter wide twitter wall greeting the estimated 12,500 visitors to the Social Media Lounge with a compelling, full spectrum, media wall that became the talking point amongst many of the delegates.

Imago Techmedia, organisers of IP EXPO 2013, and Aztec devised the LED wall as a way of boosting participation in, and engagement with, the show’s social media sphere, and providing a showstopping central feature with opportunities for liberal sponsor branding. Jovan Maria, account manager at Aztec recounts its development, “Imago Techmedia wanted an inventive way of making social media a more gregarious experience, and to create a feature that wouldn’t fail to impress a technologically sophisticated audience. We suggested the LED wall with a twitter feed to begin with, but then things really took off, and in the end we were bringing in data and media from all over the show, and aggregating it in real time. I think it really knocked peoples’ socks off.”

Aztec used EventIgnite in combination with the LED wall in order to give Imago Techmedia the ability to fully manage the twitter feed displayed on the 36m2 screen. Using EventIgnite’s intuitive interface, Imago Techmedia’s personnel could log into the system and moderate tweets and select tweets to highlight in real time. By collaborating with the Imago’s digital signage providers, Aztec was also able to include schedule information and other show announcements in the mix of images and video footage made available from other sources. Three Aztec technicians remained on-site to manage the LED wall’s overall operation.

To manage the LED wall twitter output and for general operational duties, Imago’s personnel were supplied with 18 iPads by Aztec, whose technicians trained them in the use of the EventIgnite platform and how to moderate and configure the live feed.

In addition, Aztec broke its own record for number of screens supplied to an exhibition, installing more than 160 wallmounted HD screens from its warehouse. With the additional equipment for 17 seminar theatres with full PA and HD rear projection facilities, the Aztec’s total manifest for IP EXPO 2013 filled four articulated lorries.

John Robson, Aztec’s managing director, summed up after the show, “IP EXPO is a technologically demanding show, and this year the whole team has done an outstanding job. Our capacity to simultaneously deliver large scale exhibition AV and create innovative signature features depends on their imagination, talent and commitment.”

Aztec Event Services has announced its best ever month of business, with a record breaking performance featuring a staggering 35% increase in revenue over its previous record, set last year in September 2012.

This September Aztec was selected as official AV contractor for more than twenty exhibitions and conferences, twenty five corporate events, and completed more than 1000 jobs in a solid month of activity for the Mitcham based firm.

Aztec’s managing director, John Robson, commended his staff for their achievement over this traditionally busy month, “From Offshore Europe in Aberdeen to the Halal Food Festival at Excel, and at every one of the shows in between, we’ve delivered a consistently high standard throughout an incredibly busy month. Our capacity and bandwidth to supply and service simultaneous major events, plus the fantastic dedication and teamwork from everyone on the Aztec team, made this record breaking month possible.”

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