The Tech Briefing @ The Calyx

Designed for Planners, by Production Experts

Held on Gadigal land inside the lush surrounds of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, this full-day experience was created to upskill event professionals in the areas of AV, production, and risk.

And it was a hit.

114 guests from 40+ organisations joined us to learn how to better brief production teams, understand AV timelines, decipher tech specs, and manage onsite challenges with more confidence.

"AV shouldn’t be intimidating - it should be empowering," says AV1 MD, Nigel Mintern. "This event was designed to give planners the clarity and confidence they deserve."

No Sales Pitches. Just Learning.

The Tech Briefing wasn’t your typical showcase. Instead, we built a collaborative learning environment with hands-on demos, live Q&As, and real talk from event insiders.

We tackled it all - and made sure no question went unanswered. 

Immersive, Not Intimidating

From the moment attendees arrived, the event felt different. Sprintr’s EcoKiosk enabled a paperless check-in. A yoga session kicked off the day with calm energy. And MC Mykel Dixon opened with a staged AV fail - only to dramatically flip the switch and demonstrate AV’s emotional power.

Other standout moments included:

• A 6m x 3.5m curved LED wall, installed just for the event

• Live music, including a playful tech-themed nod to Eminem’s Lose Yourself during Dylan Batterham's segment on the presenter experience

• An interactive Production Zone where guests could meet the crew and test gear

• An incredible culinary experience throughout by Laissez-Faire
  
  
• Tools, glossaries and session recaps provided post-event via a digital hub

Premium Partnerships, Practical Learnings

The Tech Briefing came to life with the support of nine trusted partners:

• The Calyx – Venue partner

• micenet – Media partner

• Sprintr – Event check-in & tech

• Simply Seated – Furniture design

• Laissez-faire – Catering partner

• Taylors Wines – Beverage partner

• Mykel Dixon – MC

• All Things All Creatures – Event brand and content

Each partner was carefully chosen to provide both inspiration and real-world insights across AV, catering, registration, venue layout, and more.

Attendee success and perspectives

One week after the event, AV1 launched the Digital Hub, a microsite full of tools and takeaways. It extended the learning far beyond the day and became a go-to resource for planners continuing their production journey.

Post-event feedback confirmed the impact:

• “The best industry event I’ve ever been to.”
• “The epiphany moment I didn’t know I needed.”
• “I finally understand what goes into producing a seamless event.”

The Tech Briefing has also been named a National Finalist for Best Small Event at the 2025 Australian Event Awards.

What’s Next?

With momentum still building, AV1 will continue the conversation with The Safety Briefing, a smaller, deeper dive into risk management and event safety, taking place at Ace Hotel Sydney in September.

Because when planners feel confident, safe, and supported, anything is possible.