01 June 2012
For the fourth consecutive year, AV Unlimited were commissioned by VWV as the preferred technical supplier for the SAB Marketing Sales and Distributors Conference. This annual event was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. An estimated 1 600 people, all South African Breweries internal staff, attended the convention, business sessions and the new Brand Experience. The Brand Experience, which works well on a similar event in the United States, is a networking area where delegates gather after various sessions. Here all SAB brands were displayed in an exhibition type fashion and complimented with lighting and background music. 
AV Unlimited arrived in Cape Town on Sunday and the set up had to be complete by Wednesday for rehearsals. The event was hosted on Thursday and Friday. 
Guillaume Ducray, joint partner at AV Unlimited, says the biggest challenge was rigging 99 points in 48 hours. Having worked on the gig on numerous other occasions, he choose the same good team and complimented them with a few additional hands to help. 
One of the newcomers to this SAB gig was Victor Vermaak as the lighting designer. “I told Victor to run with it,” said Guillaume, and using his grandMA2 light, he did a sterling job. Also at his disposal were the brand new Robin 100 LEDBeams. The superfast lightweight fixtures have great effects including colour chases, various strobing and pulsing effects. Low lying fog complimented the ambience. 
“My greatest issue was to light all the brands individually. It was hard work, but it was fairly straight forward,” commented Victor Vermaak. He lit 11 brands in the Brand Experience along with a stage for performances. “It was the first time I had used the Robin 100s. They arrived the day before load in and I was so happy that we could use them. They made such a difference and were fast and bright.”
In retrospect, Victor was sorry the grandMA2 course which he attended recently was only held after the SAB event. “I could have worked so much quicker,” he grins. “It’s an awesome desk.” 
AV Unlimited History AV Unlimited was established by Arnaud Ducray in November 1991 and in March 1992 Guillaume joined his brother, studying Marketing Management on the side. Brotherly love was set aside as Guillaume was made to sit outside to clean cables, learning the ropes like any other employee.
This passion to service, instilled some 20 years ago, has kept AV Unlimited focussed on service and delivery. “Our motto is to do it right the first time,” said Guillaume. “Take your time and do it right.” This has enabled them to retain clients. “Keeping a client is a lot easier than finding a new one,” smiles Guillaume. Word of mouth has been their best advertising tool.
Well done AV Unlimited. Your dedication has led to success time after time.
Equipment List: Brand Experience:
1 x Grand MA2 light
12x Mac700 Profiles
12x Mac700 Wash
12x Mac600 Wash
48x 1000w Par 64 Parcan
12x 500w Par 56 Parcan
12x 750 ETC Source four
3 x AVO powercube
1x MGD Co2 hazer (compliments of DWR)
1x JEM Glaciater
24x LED Parcans
24x LedForce 18
7x Robe 700 Profiles
12x Robe 700 Wash
12x Robe Robin 100 led Beam
Conference: 18 x 2k Blondes
12 x 750 ETC Source 4
24 x Parcan
2 x AVO Powercube
8 x Mac 700 Profile
8 x Mac 700 Wash
1 x Tiger Touch
