Stagehand Staffing Helps Support Guest Speaker Events At Drive-In Screenings

A resurgence has occurred in the American entertainment landscape. Drive-in movie theaters, long dormant, now experience a rebirth. In part, the revival draws from the nostalgia-driven popularity of science-fiction, horror, and anime conventions. At these events, it was not uncommon to book guests. Today, drive-in theaters are booking we can film festivals with live appearances from actors and other professionals involved with the films chosen for screenings. The live guests add complexity to the event, especially if the drive-in was not designed for live shows. Hiring the right stagehands and production staff can ensure the guest portion of the drive-in presentation goes along well.

Seeing and Hearing the Speaker

The bold drive-in movie screen provides a way for all the vehicles parked on the lot to see the moving images. Even cars well in the back can do so without obstruction. What happens when a speaker appears right beneath the screen? If the right stagehand and production crew are on the job, then the following helpful steps might occur:

• Blocking the Guests: "Blocking," in theatrical and cinema parlance, refers to positioning. The way the cars park in the lot creates a particular viewing vista. Where does the guest speaker sit relative to the various vehicles? Creating a perfect vista for all vehicles might be difficult, but an experienced theatrical eye could improve things as best as possible.
• Lighting the Stage: Usually, the first movie begins to play when the sun goes down. The flickering images on the screen won't be challenging to see in the natural darkness. A guest speaker would need a decent lighting setup to be visible. A stagehand and production crew might choose the best exterior lighting setup, one that illuminates the speaker and eliminates unwanted shadows.
• Contributing to Reliable Audio: Drive-in theaters run the soundtracks to films through FM signals. The guest speaker's audio may run through the same frequency or rely on a speaker setup. Either way, but especially with the latter, great care must go into the audio setup. Otherwise, attendees would feel disappointed that they can't hear the guest speaker speak. Pros who understand how to set up the sound system could improve acoustics.

Ultimately, hiring a professional crew improves the chances the evening goes off as hoped. The result could make things look professional and not "slapdash."

The Hiring Authority

Working with a production and a stagehand staffing provider could improve the chances the drive-in event comes off well. Staffing services have access to the pros clients need.