DMCs & PCOs

Staging Connections Partners with AIME Works its event magic on Welcome Reception
Staging Connections has announced that it will once again partner AIME as a major sponsor for this year’s landmark industry event.
This is the sixth year that Staging Connections has sponsored AIME. As part of its sponsorship, Staging Connections’ creative team will work its event magic on the AIME 08 Welcome Reception. Creative Director Jon Smith will reveal the inspiration behind the AIME Welcome Function – a breath-taking one-night spectacular that will showcase Melbourne to 2500 events industry experts – at the ‘AIME Welcome Reception - the real story!’ masterclass on Tuesday 19 February at 11am.
Staging Connections has been the creative force behind many AIME social functions in the past, but as Creative Director Jon Smith points out, impressing a room full of events experts doesn’t get any easier with experience. In fact, he says the task of delivering the annual Melbourne-based events becomes more difficult as the years go by.
“To create an annual event that tops those in previous years is always going to be a test. The AIME Welcome Function is widely considered as the industry social affair of the year, so there’s no denying that delivering something new, exciting, and entertaining can be a challenge to pull off.”
Not wanting this year’s event to be seen as “just another cocktail party”, Jon has decided to create something very different for guests in what will be AIME’s only social event for 2008 – combining the traditional welcome cocktail party and gala dinner in one main spectacle to be held on February 18th at the new Central Pier Docklands precinct, opened late last year.
Working closely with function host Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), and drawing on his extensive experience in producing high-profile spectacles in Melbourne, like the Centenary of Federation Ceremonies in 2001, and The Australian Open, Jon has devised an event which will showcase much more than the city’s capabilities as an events and conference mecca.
”I don’t want to give away all the surprises! What I can say is this – I’ve taken the concept that there’s more to Melbourne than meets the eye, and I’ve run with it. The Welcome Function is going to reveal some of the city’s unique and sometimes unusual elements.”
A Melbourne resident himself, Jon says his inspiration has come from the city’s rich street culture, diverse arts scene, mix of people, hidden laneways, and tucked-away bars and clubs.
“I intend on bringing out the more avant-garde and edgy side of the city – the living, breathing Melbourne. Guests will explore and discover how Melbourne has evolved, beyond its main attractions. It will be a breath-taker, even for local Melbournians – a stylish, technically innovative breath-taker. Don’t miss it.”
For further insight into the design and delivery of this spectacle, be sure to join the audience of the ‘AIME Welcome Reception – the real story!’ masterclass, where Jon will reveal what goes on behind the scenes of an event of this nature.