We recently had the privilege of providing lighting and video equipment and services for Hope Church’s Easter Service at the Altria Theatre.
Our process always starts with understanding the client’s wants and needs. Through vision boards and discussions about their preferences, we gained insight into their desired atmosphere, including LED video wall layout and color palette ideas, as well as lighting inspirations. When asked about more specific goals of the event, the Production Lead of Hope Church, Jay Foster, answered simply – “I want it to be stress free.” With our expertise in managing and facilitating the execution of events of this scale, we worked to translate these ideas into a feasible plan for the venue while ensuring our client’s goal of a stress-free environment was met.
Our team, led by Danie White, focused on designing a plan that balanced the client’s aspirations with the venue’s limitations. From weight and power constraints to logistical considerations, we ensured that the design would be both impactful and achievable. Daniel’s coordination efforts between the lighting designer, Charlie Pike, lighting operator, Kyle Shirley, and equipment provider, Lite-Tek Entertainment, were key in executing it. Daniel not only focused on making sure the team met the client’s expectations, but also encouraged them to not be afraid to push the boundaries of their previous events; because at Hit Play, we believe that within every client’s budget, we can always raise the bar to achieve the highest quality point in our efforts to create impactful and memorable experiences.
This year, we introduced a new step in the process for the client by providing pre-visualization renders of the event. Led by Kyle Shirley, this process allowed them to see a digital simulation and provide feedback before the system was deployed. Another key addition in this step was the incorporation of audio pre-recordings of the band’s songs that were synchronized with the lighting design, which enabled the client to have a more complete visualization of the show. After making final touches on the design and answering questions from the client, Daniel led the charge on creating schedules with the client, utilizing IATSE Local 87, the Richmond union, for labor, and presenting the plan to the venue’s production team.
Because the project exceeded our inventory capabilities, we decided to partner with our long-term colleagues at LiteTek to provide the equipment. Led by the Lite-Tek team, the crew set up the stage and its nearly 100 lighting fixtures, paying close attention to detail to ensure everything aligned with the client’s vision. Despite challenges such as the limitations of the client’s preferred color palette, Kyle’s expertise in lighting design ultimately helped enhance the client’s vision and create a memorable experience for attendees.
Our approach to managing the Easter Service for Hope Church was centered around clear communication, meticulous planning, and collaboration. All of these elements are key in making an event excellent and ensuring that the client’s vision is brought to life – and we look forward to doing it again and again.
