Your 2027 Event Starts Now: Lessons From a Busy Fall
“Every Day of Living Is a Gift,” lit by ITA for BLINK in Covington.
- Great events come together long before event night, and so do the best 2027 events.
- Popular spring and summer dates go quickly, so starting the conversation now gives you more options.
- Plan your AV for your farthest guest, and everyone gets a great event.
This fall kept our team busy, with three straight weeks of back-to-back events from city festivals to fundraisers. One of our favorites was BLINK, where we lit a mural in Covington so visitors could experience it after dark.
Lighting Up Art for BLINK
BLINK brought light, art and crowds to the streets of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky this fall, and ITA was proud to add a stop to the Covington route.
Working with ArtsWave and Madison Design, our team lit “Every Day of Living Is a Gift,” a mural on the back of Madison Design at 515 Madison Avenue, so visitors could enjoy it after dark. Designed by Emil Wiersma and produced by Enodia Studio, the mural celebrates ArtsWave Pride’s 10th anniversary and honors the life and performances of Terry Noel.
Lighting art is a little different from lighting a stage. The goal is to let the work speak for itself, so it looks just as striking at night as it does in daylight.
Thanks to ArtsWave for bringing us into the project.
Why Planning for 2027 Starts This Fall
Projects like BLINK come together long before event night. Lighting, power, placement and timing are all worked out in advance, and the same is true for the events you’re planning for 2027.
Popular spring and summer dates go quickly. The sooner we start talking, the more options you’ll have for dates, crew and equipment.
4 Steps to Start Planning Your 2027 Event
The best outdoor events of 2027 are being planned right now. A few steps this fall can make your spring and summer events run a lot smoother.
- Debrief while it’s fresh. What worked this year, and what would you change? Write it down before the details fade.
- Lock in your dates early. Popular weekends fill up fast for venues, vendors and AV crews alike.
- Walk your site with your AV team. Power, sightlines, load-in access and crowd flow are much easier to solve on paper than on event day.
- Build your budget around priorities. Know where AV matters most for your audience, and spend there first.
The earlier the plan starts, the fewer surprises on event day.
“I was in touch with ITA for months, but budget constraints and shifting plans meant I couldn’t commit. Two backup equipment options fell through, and three days before the wedding, Nico still found a way to make it work within budget. The ITA team pre-programmed (shout out Adam! Couldn’t have done it without him either!), loaded, and secured everything in my van. Nico led communication and set the plan. He even met me at 8am on a Sunday when they’re closed so I could return gear and catch my flight. Give that man a raise!!! Grateful to Nico and the ITA crew!”— Evolving Events NYC
Plan Your AV for the Back of the Crowd
The front row always hears fine. The real test of outdoor AV is whether the people at the back can hear the speaker, see the stage and stay engaged.
As you plan for 2027, think about sound coverage for the whole site, not just the front. Size and place screens for the farthest viewer, and build a run of show that keeps transitions tight. Bring in a crew that can fix issues before anyone notices.
Plan for your farthest guest, and everyone gets a great event.
Your 2027 Event Starts With a Conversation
Whatever you’re lighting up next year, we’d love to help plan it. Tell us what you’re planning, and we’ll help you map out the AV, the crew and the timeline before the best dates are gone.
Start the conversation →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions we hear from event organizers planning for 2027.
Now. Popular spring and summer dates go quickly for venues, vendors and AV crews alike. The sooner you start the conversation, the more options you’ll have for dates, crew and equipment.
Power, sightlines, load-in access and crowd flow are much easier to solve on paper than on event day. A site walk lets those details get worked out in advance.
Plan sound coverage for the whole site, not just the front. Size and place screens for the farthest viewer, keep transitions tight in your run of show, and bring in a crew that can fix issues before anyone notices.
Yes. For BLINK, ITA lit a mural in Covington so visitors could enjoy it after dark. Lighting art is different from lighting a stage: the goal is to let the work speak for itself, so it looks just as striking at night as it does in daylight.
Let’s talk about your 2027 event
Start the conversation