Providing Multi-Zone AV Support for Friends of the Petaluma River’s Annual Gala
Friends of the Petaluma River needed audiovisual support for two distinct areas of its annual Sunset Fandango Gala, an evening celebrating its work in education, access, and conservation on the Petaluma River. I provided separate systems for the outdoor dinner and auction program and for a video presentation inside the barn, along with setup, testing, and on-site technical support.
See the Setup
A quick look at the Sunset Fandango Gala and the AV support provided across the event.
The Prompt
Provide reliable AV support for two separate areas of the event. The outdoor dinner and auction needed clear sound reinforcement, while the barn needed a client-supplied video to play continuously with its own projection and audio system.
Both systems needed to operate independently and remain reliable throughout the event without requiring the organization’s staff to manage the technical setup.
What Had to Be Solved
The two event spaces had very different purposes. Outside, the priority was making sure guests could clearly hear the dinner program, announcements, and auction. Inside the barn, the focus was presenting a video continuously with a screen large enough for the space and audio that guests could hear while exploring the silent auction.
Each area required its own equipment, cabling, signal flow, and setup. The systems also needed to function at the same time without interfering with one another.
The Approach
I planned each area as a separate AV system based on how the space would be used.
For the outdoor dinner and auction area, I installed and configured a sound system focused on clear spoken audio throughout the seating area. Inside the barn, I supplied the projector and screen, connected a dedicated playback source and audio system, and configured the client’s video to repeat continuously.
After installation, I tested both systems and remained on site to monitor the equipment, support the program, and address any technical needs during the event.
What I Provided
The complete AV setup included:
Outdoor sound reinforcement for the dinner and auction
Projection and video playback inside the barn
Projector and screen
A dedicated audio system for the barn presentation
Equipment placement, cabling, and signal routing
Video-loop configuration using client-supplied content
Setup and system testing before the event
On-site technical operation and troubleshooting
The Result
The finished setup gave Friends of the Petaluma River dependable audio and video support across both event areas. Guests outside could follow the dinner and auction program, while visitors inside the barn could watch and hear the organization’s video as they explored the silent auction.
By handling both systems from planning and installation through on-site support, I was able to give each part of the event the technology it needed while allowing the organization’s team to stay focused on hosting its guests.
The project demonstrated how thoughtful AV planning can connect multiple spaces and activities while keeping the overall event experience clear, reliable, and cohesive.