Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center: Working Smarter, Not Harder with Drone Video

The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center (SMPAC), one of Connecticut’s premier outdoor performance venues, made its first major foray into the world of drone video during the 2019 Beach Boys concert. Eager to showcase this iconic band on the SMPAC stage — and the 4,000 fans gathered to watch them — Executive Director Missy DiNunno turned to photography sponsor Capture Visual Marketing (CVM) to cover the event. “With so many non-commercial drone pilots out there, it was important for us to work with someone who had extensive training and the right licensure,” says DiNunno. “Remote pilot certified and keenly aware of all the local regulations, Tony Healy and the Capture Visual Marketing team gave me complete confidence in their ability to provide us with high-quality, fully-compliant drone footage.”

Stills from the Beach Boys drone footage were a big hit on social media — as were drone shots taken when Circus Smirkus rolled into town during SMPAC’s 2019 season. 

Inspired by this success, SMPAC began regularly engaging CVM’s drone services to showcase everything from concerts and community events to craft fairs and athletic competitions. The promotional benefit alone justified the use of drone content, but after the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, SMPAC discovered a whole new world of drone-powered possibilities. 

What makes the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center so special is the venue’s outdoor ambiance. The drone footage Capture Visual Marketing has shot really showcases the natural beauty of our space and gives people a great visual that communicates how unique we are.

— Missy DiNunno, Executive Director, Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center

Deploying drone footage in the fight against COVID-19 

SMPAC found itself in a unique position after the outbreak of COVID-19. Unlike indoor concert spaces — or even outdoor venues with limited capacity — the venue has the benefit of a seven-acre, open-air field; prime real estate in the age of social distancing. The SMPAC team came up with a plan to spray paint socially-distant circles across the field, allowing patrons to attend performances and events while staying within their respective COVID bubbles. The challenge was how to determine the number of socially-distanced circles the field could safely accommodate. But thanks to drone footage CVM had taken to survey the site at the end of the previous season, DiNunno and the SMPAC team were able to precisely measure and map out the optimal arrangement for the socially-distanced circles with a few clicks of a button. With the circles in place, SMPAC went on to provide much-needed live entertainment and community events throughout the 2020 season — ultimately increasing venue usage by over 70%. 

Additional uses of drone video 

After appreciating the operational value of drone footage in 2020, SMPAC began using it in more innovative ways, including:

• Augmenting site surveys — CVM’s drone footage has proven especially useful for facilitating fast, accurate site surveys of the venue and surrounding area. From measuring the right distance for fireworks to assessing traffic flow, drone footage is perfect for precise mapping. 
• Event planning — Just as SMPAC enlisted drone footage to accurately map out socially-distanced circles, so have they used it to determine the layout of vendor booths, food trucks, and other field-based activities.
• Streamlining rentals — SMPAC is a popular rental venue for recitals, galas, graduations, athletic events, and private gatherings. Drone footage helps these rental clients understand the scale and atmosphere of SMPAC, and better visualize their event in the space. 
• Creative promotions — When it came to promoting the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s (HSO) return to SMPAC in 2021, HSO President and CEO Steve Collins knew the ad content had to be memorable. CVM used a drone to film Collins waving from the SMPAC stage while the camera slowly pulled back to reveal the magnitude of the venue. Unlike the bird’s eye view people have come to expect from drone footage, this unique perspective built an innate sense of excitement and anticipation in viewers. 

The future of drone

Whether the precise measurement capabilities are being used to survey space for a new parking lot or the grand perspective is leveraged to convey a sense of scale and atmosphere in marketing materials, drone footage has become a valued multi-tool in SMPAC’s arsenal. As drone technology continues to advance, further innovation feels inevitable. In fact, when it comes to predicting the future of drone, the old adage feels particularly true: the sky’s the limit. 

Learn more about CVM’s work with drone video here.