Update from the MEA Chair

By Michael Firman, MEA Chair

One of the top stories and the biggest talking points of the last week has undoubtedly been the Coronation of King Charles, culminating in the King Charles III's coronation concert. The event has attracted an estimated 20 million British viewers and dominated global television, including here in Australia.

The event was one of the most meticulously planned live productions and delivered a blend of pageantry, procession, music and mystery. I was fascinated by the symbolism and rituals while being mesmerised by the theatrics of the event.

Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 crowning was the first ever coronation to be televised live. It was a groundbreaking event that introduced several “firsts” and revolutionised the way people experienced major ceremonial events, allowing millions of people to witness the ceremony in real time from the comfort of their own homes. The live television broadcast of the coronation brought the event directly into people’s living rooms, forever changing the way public events could engage with their audience.

The Coronation of King Charles was a far more dazzling event, combining tradition with music, dance and symbolism. In terms of cinematography, the coverage was in ultra-HD and viewers were treated to a visual feast of stunning shots and close-ups. No angle was left uncovered during the ceremony itself, giving audiences a chance to appreciate the grand splendour of the event, as well as the smallest details, from the intricate designs on the royal garments to the symbolic artefacts used throughout.

It was a sometimes weird but wonderful spectacular.

As an event professional it’s hard not to admire the high quality of the event delivery, the coordination, the execution and creativity on display that was both captivating and dazzling while remaining a symbolic ritual.

While watching the ceremony I began to think about what makes a great event, what makes an event successful? Is it the ability to keep schedules on track while coordinating event participants, artists, and stakeholders? Is it the quality of the entertainment, the colour or the visual effects? Is it the financial outcome, meeting your budget, getting the most ‘clicks’ on social media? Or is it the atmosphere, the location and environment, or the social connections?

For me, the ultimate success is the ability to connect and engage with the event’s community, its audience, the ability to tap into the very fabric of the audience demographic and cater the messages, the knowledge and shared experiences to the intended audience. Successful events create community legacies and lasting connections that have the ability to deliver positive social change.

A successful event is one that also connects the younger generation to the rituals and learnings of the past and develop them for future generations.

In this way, I see MEA’s Evolve conference as a vehicle for the younger generation to connect with industry, its leaders and their peers. The success of Evolve has always been the engagement of our community and the introduction of our future leaders to the wider events community. This is our legacy. It is the vehicle for passing down stories, sharing knowledge and creating new experiences filled with new ideas and innovations, connecting our audience with the greater MEA community and delivering positive change while offering comfort and a warm embrace.

MEA Evolve is your event, we are its audience, you are its community. If you’re still trying to decide, Evolve will take place on the Gold Coast from 7-8 June, so don’t miss the opportunity to engage with your community, create new stories and share experiences at Evolve 2023.

For more information, visit the Evolve 2023 website here.

See you there!