Going virtual with events leads to quick learning for student employees

This paid piece is sponsored by Dakota State University.

Even for a university known for technology, a virtual gala was a new adventure.

But by the time Dakota State University was ready for its March 5 virtual event – complete with silent auction, speakers and a live interactive demonstration – the team behind the scenes had evolved into pros.

The pandemic initially decimated the event industry and threatened the livelihood of local businesses and their employees.

“We lost $500,000 in revenue in two weeks,” said Chris Hintz, founder and president of Pinnacle Productions in Sioux Falls, who along with business partner Jeff Meuzelaar was forced to furlough most staff in the early days of the pandemic.

They persevered, though, creating a new organization, Let It Shine South Dakota, to put on large lighting displays statewide.

“We wanted to cheer people up during a terrible, anxiety-crushing time,” Hintz said.

It lifted spirits, including his. The positive reaction from those events combined with the Paycheck Protection Program, allowed Pinnacle to bring back its staff – including two employees from Dakota State University’s digital arts and design program.

They helped Pinnacle transition from a business that spent much of its time preparing equipment for events, loading trucks, driving to the event location, setting up and running the show to one that trained by watching webinars, learning new software and studying how best to put on virtual events.

“You would be amazed at how much planning, attention to detail and communication is required for virtual events,” said Mason Wieman, a 2020 graduate from DSU.

He was hired as an audiovisual specialist for the production team after working as an intern for Pinnacle.

“I work setting up cameras, television monitors, speakers, lights and the software needed for our events,” Wieman said. “I also operate audiovisual livestreaming equipment during events.”

With virtual events, he was exposed to a new side of production, where he learned how to run video, operate livestreaming software and complete more extensive behind-the-scenes work required to put on a successful virtual event. He, fittingly, was part of the team that produced DSU’s virtual gala.

“Virtual events give you much more control over the run of the show than an in-person event does, so you need to spend much more time before the stream testing and troubleshooting issues, so they don’t come up during the event itself,” Wieman explained.

Additionally, it requires a larger team to make sure everything goes smoothly, from multiple camera operators to a monitor for the livestream’s connection.

Part of that larger team is Albert Pavlinac, a Pinnacle intern who was hired in June 2020.

Pavlinac will graduate from DSU in May with a digital arts and design degree. As a video intern, he has been involved with livestreams, hybrid events and in-person gatherings such as weddings. He has worked as an editor, lead camera operator and assistant camera operator.

“My education at DSU has taught me to be able to adapt to different situations,” Pavlinac said.

“With this type of career, I knew I would have to be flexible, considering there are different needs with each client.”

Hands-on experiences, studying emerging practices and staying on top of new and upcoming technologies in the digital arts and design program at Dakota State help prepare students for their careers and to adjust to a continually evolving industry.

Hintz said he’s thankful for employees like Wieman and Pavlinac.

“They have strong work ethics, a desire to learn and an insatiable appetite to be better,” he said.