by Franciso Alvarado, BRPH
It’s an exciting time in the entertainment and attractions industry right now. Here in Orlando, Florida, we have a front row seat to a historic moment in the theme park world—the grand opening of Universal Epic Universe.
Never before have guests been so completely and thoroughly immersed and engaged in make-believe, not only through 3D ride technology, animatronics, live action shows and the built environment, but also through ancillary services including dining, retail, characters, and so on. Truly, Universal has considered every detail.
Themed entertainment competition poses a positive challenge
As themed entertainment projects open, competition increases, too. But this is cause for celebration, not consternation. As our imaginations take us further and further, our tools and skills develop to meet this vision, and the following project benefits from these gained insights.
We’re hearing from other entertainment clients in Central Florida that Universal’s accomplishment is inspiring them to “step up their game” and challenge themselves and their vendors in a positive way. It’s an invigorating reminder that we can never stop pushing boundaries in creating story-driven experiences.
See also: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Epic Universe
Truly, the rising tide raises all ships. This presents an incredible opportunity for all of us in the entertainment service industry. It also clears the path for the creation of new companies and services. I firmly believe there’s room in the game for all of us.
With 60 years in business and more than 30 years in the entertainment industry, my team at BRPH has had the privilege of working on some of the most incredible projects in the world of attractions. Over the years, a few key tenets have consistently rung true.
Here’s my advice for those who want to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities before us:
Great work requires a passionate team
It seems like common sense, but no one is more invested in the success of a project than those who have a personal attachment to the story. When hiring or assigning roles on your next project, keep this in mind. They’ll always rise to the challenge when it’s personal for them.
Guest experience is paramount
As architects and engineers, we live this philosophy every day, in every industry we work, but it’s particularly important in the entertainment and hospitality worlds. We need to take painstaking care to consider not only what guests see but also what they don’t see.
It’s not enough to bring magic to life; we must also make sure the illusion is never broken by catwalks, lighting equipment, maintenance areas or other behind-the-scenes infrastructure. “Good enough” has no place—a commitment to continuous improvement is imperative.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint
Entertainment is an evolution, and great stories take time to bring to fruition. Unlike what we see in movies, magic isn’t made overnight.
When dealing with long-term, high-budget projects, it takes a strong project management team and a solid earned value management plan to manage cost, schedule and risk, both for the solvency of your own business and for the good of the client and the project. Involvement from top leadership is essential.
Creativity is a prerequisite
It goes without saying that to do what’s never been done before, one must be able to think outside the box. Creativity and technical skills are often seen as counterintuitive, but being able to work in grey areas, develop new pathways and adapt the known to the unknown are priceless skills in the entertainment space.
Agility and flexibility aren’t the exception. They’re the rule. Change is not an if; it’s a when.
We’re privileged to be a part of this industry and share in its exciting evolution. That includes not just the team members in our Orlando office, but all those who work on entertainment projects in our 10 other US offices.
Congratulations, once again, to the Universal team, and cheers to healthy competition and “the next big thing!”
See also: From aerospace to attractions: how BRPH helps design the impossible
