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Tuesday, July 14, 2020

KZN EVENT PRODUCERS MOVE ONLINE

(Left: Evan Roberts)

Local Durban Creative and Musical Director, Evan Roberts, who also heads up one of KZN’s most successful event production companies, Makulu Events, has come up with a solution to counter the effects created by the severe limitations placed on live gatherings due to Covid 19.

In an effort to find much-needed online solutions to hosting events – including conferencing, product launches, awards ceremonies, gala dinners and corporate functions Makulu has teamed up with event gear company Black Coffee, AV specialists Motion Detectives and Beach Garden Events at Breakers resort, to form a collective called Beyond Virtual.

Roberts, who has had vast experience in staging major events including the Durban ICC 21st birthday, Durban Chamber of Commerce 150 year celebration, Hilton Arts Festival and many more for household names like MSC, Transnet and East Coast Radio, says: “Our Beyond Virtual offering means that companies can continue communicating with their audience, consumers or stakeholders in a creative and meaningful way using technology. So many companies want to do something, but lack the in-house skill set, or don’t know what kind of questions to begin asking to stage an online event.

“We have pulled together a team of dedicated, experienced, event professionals and technical experts who have more than 60 years of combined event experience between us. We are able to reimagine those planned events with creative virtual solutions. The core team from a company that needs to be on site will be able to socially distance at our safe, secure, upmarket venue at Breakers Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks, that fulfils all the current legal and safety regulations,” he adds.

Known for his highly creative tailor-made events, Roberts says “In the absence of "real life" gatherings and no matter, if a company is big or small, we want to create online magic for hybrid events to achieve communication objectives with breathtaking results. Music, dance, glitter, glamour, funny, serious – we are able to work collaboratively with our clients to provide them with something bespoke with much talkability.

“What we are really good at is finding creative solutions for events from start to finish. How the whole experience begins and ends from its invitation to its party favour, with the aim of communicating specific messages to the audience.”

The collective is able to offer live streaming and pre-recorded content, hybrid events for small audiences with live streaming, entertainment bookings, coordination and talent management and virtual content 3D visualization for events.

For more information contact info@beyondvirtual.co.za

For a perspective on the virtual offering go to:

 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCCjY-gGcL8&t=4