1. Delay towers due to the estimated size of the audience and the outdoor setting. Sound system must provide sufficient volume to reach the last row of seating on the quadrangle, but must also compensate for audience chatter to keep the outdoor audience engaged throughout the ceremony. 2. Microphones, microphone stands and cabling for the following: a. Commencement speakers at the podium located on the Rose Terrace behind the Administration Bldg. b. Announcers calling the names of graduates (located on the ground level beside the Rose Terrace behind the Administration Bldg.) c. Live music performed by an ensemble or a soloist hired by USC Upstate (located on the ground level behind the Administration Bldg.) 3. At least three (3) HD video cameras and camera operators for the Commencement Ceremony. One of the HD video cameras with long zoom lens is needed at the back of the seating area and needs to capture tight headshots of the podium from at least 350’ away. One video camera is to be located in front of the Rose Terrace on the Quadrangle behind the Administration Bldg., where the graduation platform participants will be located. a. The vendor-provided HD video cameras will record Commencement video and audio, receiving a mix of all audio sources from the vendor-provided soundboard. i. Vendor-provided camera operator will provide a close-up shot of speakers at the podium, and then graduates as they receive their diplomas ii. If a Sign Language Interpreter is available for the ceremony, then they will also be recorded. The vendor-provided camera operator will provide a close-up shot of the sign language interpreter on the platform. iii. Vendor agrees to share the recorded footage with USC Upstate. Vendor gives permission for their recorded footage to be used by USC Upstate. b. Vendor-provided video cameras will send their output to: i. Two video walls with a minimum image size of 16ft. wide x 9ft. high with at least a 4.8 mm pixel pitch or lower. The two main video walls must be elevated via a truss tower system for a clear line of visual sight on stage left and stage right. THE VIDEO WALLS MUST BE OUTDOOR RATED. ii. Two delay video walls with an image size of 12ft. wide x 7ft. high with at least a 4.8mm pixel pitch or lower - Built on 4 ft. stage structure and raised above seating for viewing height purposes. THE VIDEO WALLS MUST BE OUTDOOR RATED. (Exact locations of all four video walls TBD in consultation with USC Upstate Special Events staff) c. The video walls will also need to receive/display the following video sources: i. Video output from the vendor-provided HD video cameras. The main program feed and all vendor camera graphics and videos must be sent through a professional switcher to go to video walls. ii. USC Upstate logo (to be displayed whenever a video source is not being projected) - Provided to vendor via email/download link iii. Photo slideshow – Provided to vendor by downloaded link iv. A pre-recorded video with audio – Provided to vendor by downloaded link v. If a sign language interpreter is used, they will be displayed in picture in picture, and the ceremony will be the main picture. vi. A connection to a USC Upstate provided laptop for use with Marching Order/Tassel software for scanning, reading and displaying graduates’ names. 4. A 2 M/E mix is needed for the production of the event – one mix for the in-person and one for the live stream to go to the USC Upstate YouTube channel. a. Vendor will work with the USC Upstate Office of University Communications to facilitate the ‘hand-off’ of the live stream, which will be viewed from the USC Upstate website. Vendor is solely responsible for the live stream. b. Vendor must send auxiliary audio feed to enable the remote captionist to hear the Commencement audio feed and generate captions. Must be a stable feed. Must be able to have 2-way communication with remote captionist at all times without in-person or live stream viewers hearing the conversation. c. The remotely-generated captions will also need to appear on the vendor-facilitated live stream of the Commencement Ceremony, as well as video walls on site. d. Vendor will need to work seamlessly with USC Upstate staff and the remote (offsite) captionist USC Upstate has contracted with to provide live captioning.
