It seems like we say it every year, but it has never been truer: the tech and entertainment event trends for 2019 will totally blow your mind. With the equivalent of a computer in every purse or pocket, the obstacles of time and space are literally melting around us, and a complete culture shift is in play.
Consider the impact of social media on our industry. Décor must be Insta-worthy, event hashtags are practically an expectation, and many events even have their own apps. Simultaneously a whole counter-culture reaction to the invasiveness of technology has spawned its own breed of tech-free experiences. Just a decade ago, there was hardly a culture to counter!
Even planning has gone digital to a completely new extent. In 2019, more clients will expect to connect with you on messaging apps than email. Virtual meetings will replace many live site visits and allow couples to participate more in their own long-distance planning than ever before. The landscape of our industry is changing faster than imagined, and next year’s hottest forecasted trends truly reflect this evolution.
Photo courtesy Jenny DeMarco Photography – www.jennydemarco.com
Photo booth revolution
Static images on carnival strips will only be one of many options in the new generation of photo booths. In 2019, look for green screens, videos, and two of the hottest trends – animated gifs and Boomerang stations to join the menu. If the last two don’t sound familiar, all you need is a minute on Instagram to discover how a few props, a simple gesture and a high-speed camera have become all the rage.
Photo courtesy Jenny DeMarco Photography – www.jennydemarco.com
DJ + live entertainers = engagement
Live artists and performers will join DJs to create more in-depth and dynamic experiences. Caricature artists, impressionists, roaming musicians, mariachis, acrobats and illusionists, among others, will liven up both corporate and personal events – including weddings – in 2019.
Silent Discos
Live performances too “traditional” for your taste? Do you prefer something most guests have never seen? Silent disco might be for you. Instead of sharing a single musical experience, at a silent disco, everyone wears light-up headphones and listens to one of up to three different songs at once. The color of your light changes as you change songs so other dancers know your jam. This craze is real and is coming your way soon.
The catering + events show of the year is back! James Beard Award winners, TED style keynotes, influencers galore, and food for days. See all that’s in store here!
Photo courtesy Classic Photographers – www.classicphotographers.com
Lighting trends
While custom GOBO patterns are on the decline, clients can still see their names in lights. Personalized neon signage is now more accessible, so expect to see it incorporated more often in event design. Likewise, digital video mapping, which rose to popularity over the last few years, is in wider use and is more affordable. It allows designers to project anything from intricate patterns to motion films on almost any surface including walls and even wedding cakes.
If you expected 2019 to be a remix of the same entertainment and tech trends that have dominated the events industry for years, surprise! We are watching a bold new world unfold and it will take an open mind and creative spirit to keep up. Here’s to a genuinely exciting New Year!
