How do you plan a drone light show?
STEP ONE
When we work with clients on a drone light show, we create storyboards to showcase the flow of the drone light show. Our team usually starts with a music soundtrack and then through creative meetings our artists create detailed storyboard frames showing the flow of the drone light show.
In our experience, some of the best ideas that come out of us were usually around before the show started. It’s not that they were bad ideas; they just hadn’t gotten enough love yet. The storyboard gives you a chance to put all solutions on a level playing field. If you don’t bring out your pre-existing ideas, you do yourself a disservice.
Because new ideas are so shiny and fresh, the facilitator needs to remind everyone to think old first. There’s no need to be embarrassed of that solution you thought of five months ago while eating a burrito or taking a shower. Drone light shows are organic like ideas.
Complete drone show check list
Planning for a drone light show involves bringing together a number of different disciplines ranging from the decision-making process, design and stand considerations, to personnel and marketing strategies. With so many moving parts to consider, careful and methodical preparation is required in order to ensure a smooth and successful event.
While the exact details of each show will differ, this checklist provides a solid framework for identifying and completing the most common actions before, during and after the drone light show.
Basics
1. Select appropriate number of drones for the show
2. Set budget
3. Decide type of formations:
- stock drone shapes
- Custom drone shapes?
4. Agree launch location
5. Learn about the most common drone light show mistakes before you book
Setting objectives for a drone light show
6. Define your audience
7. What does success look like to you?
- Is client happy?
- public happy?
Show offering
8. Decide which music for your drone light show
9. What’s your ‘big enticement’? Will you:
- Launch a product / service?
- Replace fireworks
- create a wow moment
10. Review music track opportunities
11. Research launch and landing locations for drones
Design and requirements
12. Write a good stand brief for your drone light show
13. Decide drone color requirements
14. Do you want a live stream of the drone light show
15. Will your show meet safety regulations?
16. Do you have insurance COI names turned in?
17. Do we need security or night cover for the drone light show
18. Does the location need to be inspected by the city
Team
19. Decide on your drone light show team
- Are they knowledgeable?
- Have they experienced drone light shows?
20. Create name badges
21. Is branded clothing required?
22. Book hotel rooms and transport
23. Create name badges for secuirty
24. Set expenses budget
25. Brief team ( goals, lead targets, dress code, stand rules, etc)
Pre drone light show marketing
26. Learn how to attract more visitors to your drone light show
27. Promote drone light show on website
28. Promote drone light show on social media
29. Notify clients and prospects of drone light show
30. Create press release and distribute to target media
Day of show
31. Decide on promotional gifts
32. Design and print sufficient collateral
33. Design and print sufficient business cards
34. Design and print pop-ups / roller banners etc
Paperwork and timelines
35. Sign and return order forms and declarations
36. Note shipping
37. Note set-up and dismantle times
38. Note artwork deadlines
39. Note show drone light show deadlines
At the event
40. Take list of important contact numbers
41. Take contract
42. Take stand layout plan
43. Take snacks for the drone light show rehersal
44. Take a First Aid kit
Post drone light show activity
45. Have all scheduled leads been followed up?
46. Have all non-scheduled leads been followed up within 3 days of the event?
47. Evaluate results against objectives
48. Evaluate results against investment.
49. Communicate outcomes to stand team and thank you’s.
Before we code
Before our coding team gets involved it’s all about planning on a sheet paper and then creating artwork of each individual formation for client approval. Once the client approves the order and the look and feel of each custom formation, we move on to the next step
create many shapes like faces in the sky
STEP TWO
We then create a sample video that combines the music and storyboard frames into a sample of your specific custom drone light show. In working this way, you and your team or your own clients can have as much creative control prior to the actual programming of the drone light show itself.
STEP THREE
Once the music, and art work is done, our programmers go into a computer to create the model for your show prior to the programming of the drones themselves. In every step of the way you as a client are able to see and make changes prior to programming the drones themselves.
STEP FOUR
The finished drone show
The above video is a sample of how a very rough drone light display storyboard might look for a custom show. Nearly every show we do is different and each show we do is a custom creation for our clients. However, all shows start with an idea or need from our clients and then we simply write down the order of the drone show and move to the storyboard phase next.
