As warmer weather rolls in and we spend more time outdoors, it is time to start preparing for all of our fun outdoor events. Whether you are looking for a chill night with friends or entertainment
for a large party, an outdoor movie screening is a special treat for everyone in attendance. It is always better to start your planning early for an outdoor movie night. The timing of your event and the season, including temperature and inclement weather, can affect its success.
To help you get ready for your next outdoor movie, we have put together a list of things that should be considered before your event.
Planning for Outdoor Movie Nights
Whether you are planning a party, a corporate event, or a festival, as you are planning for your event and are looking at an outdoor movie screen rental, you should always consider some basic requirements first.
1. Who is your audience?
Who are you inviting? Is this a family-friendly event, a community event, a smaller gathering of friends, or a workplace event? Knowing your audience will make it easier to decide where to set
up and what is required. Certain locations have obstacles and restrictions depending on the needs of your audience. Generally, there is at least one cable running from the projection area to the screen side for sound (sometimes multiple depending on power). Sometimes cables will be run through the audience, so everyone should be aware. Outdoor movie nights start late in the evening (with the movie beginning about 30 minutes past sunset). This may be a concern for those with young children.
2. How many people are you expecting?
How large of a gathering are you planning for your outdoor movie event? The equipment required and the location depending upon the size of the audience. If you are far from a power source, you may need generators. If the location is too small, there won’t be enough room for your audience to spread out and enjoy the movie. Will you have seating or vehicles nearby? The number of attendees can drastically change your location needs. Depending on how large your event is, you may want to consider bringing in security and EMS personnel to be on standby.
3. What movie genre are you interested in showing?
Once you have decided on your audience/attendees, the next step is to consider what type of movie you will be showing. If there are both children and adults in attendance, then the movie will be rated for all ages. If it is a professional event, maybe you are considering a documentary or industry-related topic. The movie genre may also affect which type of equipment you may need, including extra speakers. There are also licensing fees and permissions that must be obtained depending on the movie that you are planning to show. The earlier the movie is chosen, the easier it is to ascertain what the cost and permissions will be.
4. Do you have a suitable location to gather an audience?
Where would you like to host your outdoor movie setup? The location has to have room to stake the outdoor movie screen and be near enough to a power source. Will you need generators? Set up generally requires three dedicated 20 A circuits for the blower, sound, and projection. Are they available? If the screen cannot be staked and needs barrels, is a water source nearby and available to fill them? Do you have the ability to access the water? At the end of the night, the water from the barrels will be emptied, is the site manager aware of this requirement?
5. Do you have permission to use this location?
If the event is not going to be held on your own property, do you have permission to set up an outdoor movie? Is there a site manager that has access to power and water if needed? Noise restrictions must also be followed. Outdoor movie nights usually start around sundown, which in summer, can be 8 p.m. or later. Although the event start time is around sundown, the movie won’t start playing until about 30 minutes after sunset. It is important to keep in mind that certain locations have noise ordinances that start as early as 8 p.m.
Let Metro Technical Services Help With Your Outdoor Movie Nights
It is always better to start your planning early. Certain times and seasons are busier than others. It is essential to plan to ensure you can book the location, secure a date, and get the invitation out to your guests. We are here to help your outdoor movie screening go off without a hitch. You schedule the date of the event and pick a suitable venue. We’ll provide set up and tear down of the inflatable screen, projection, and sound system. Before your event, we will also help you obtain the licensing rights to the movie and obtain the proper costs. Give us a call to get your event planned today!