Shane Smith shares his insights on the intersection of technology and live events in his role at a leading event production company. As someone deeply embedded in the industry, Shane discusses how innovative technologies enhance live event experiences and tackle the industry's challenges.
Q1: Can you share a brief overview of your role and how technology shapes your organization's strategy?
Shane Smith: My background originally started in the recording industry, but I found my passion in the live events sector. At LMG, a rental and staging company for live events, I work closely with leaders across multiple departments including audio, video, and lighting, to integrate technology that enhances our live event productions. The advancement in technology allows us to do more with less, moving from heavy hardware to more efficient, software-driven solutions like IP-based signal transport. This not only improves our setup times but also enhances the flexibility and scale of our events.
Q2: What is one significant challenge you're currently facing in technology, and how are you addressing it?
Shane Smith: A major challenge is the heavy reliance on internet connectivity, which can make or break an event. We address this by implementing redundancies such as dual internet providers and cellular backups to ensure there's no single point of failure. Additionally, returning from the pandemic has led to a workforce transformation, requiring us to invest heavily in training new talent. This is crucial as the experience required to manage today's sophisticated event technologies cannot be developed overnight.
Q3: Can you highlight a recent tech initiative or project that you're excited about? What impact do you anticipate it will have?
Shane Smith: We're particularly excited about our work with AI in live translations. Traditional live translation involves summarization by a human, which can introduce errors. AI allows for precise, word-for-word translation, enhancing communication effectiveness. This technology not only improves the audience's experience by providing accurate translations but also reduces the carbon footprint by potentially decreasing the need for live translators to travel to events.
Q4: How do you foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization?
Shane Smith: At LMG, we foster innovation by nurturing a culture of continuous improvement and curiosity. We encourage our team to constantly question the status quo and explore new ways to enhance our services. This approach not only leads to innovative solutions but also ensures that we are always prepared to adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape in live events.
Q5: Looking forward, what technology trend do you think will have the most significant impact on your industry in the next few years?
Shane Smith: AI stands out as the technology that will most significantly impact the live events industry. From improving operational efficiencies to creating personalized attendee experiences, AI has the potential to transform how events are planned, executed, and experienced. We're also exploring how AI can analyze audience engagement in real-time, providing immediate feedback that can be used to adjust event dynamics on the fly.
Conclusion
Shane Smith's insights demonstrate a robust link between technology and enhanced live event experiences. As the live events industry continues to evolve, the strategic application of technologies like AI not only promises to solve traditional challenges but also to revolutionize the attendee experience, making events more engaging, accessible, and environmentally friendly.
