With the academic school year in full swing, colleges and universities host drone light shows for numerous on-campus activities. From football halftime shows to orientation weeks, there are virtually no limitations to how drone shows can be implemented into a college or university event calendar. Our goal is to assist you in exploring the possibilities of drone shows at your college or university. We aim to help you determine whether this entertainment is a suitable fit for your school. Additionally, we will provide insights into how other colleges and universities have successfully incorporated drone light shows into their events. We’ll offer you a glimpse into the process involved in organizing these shows. Ultimately, we aim to inspire you to create your very own college drone show.
How to Organize a Drone Light Show at Your College or University
Organizing a drone light show can be a creative and easy process with the right drone light show provider. At Sky Elements Drone Shows, our team has experience working with colleges and universities to design and produce their drone shows from start to finish. Here are the steps we recommend before organizing your drone light show.
Determine your Goals
What is your objective with the show? What results are you hoping to achieve? Look at the goals of a particular event or activation and have the plans for the show align and emphasize the effect you are building towards.
For example, you may be looking to produce the most incredible college football halftime show. A drone show makes the perfect accompaniment to a football halftime show. Sky Elements produced the halftime drone show for the University of Southern California, which resulted in one of the best halftime shows the USC Trojans ever had. After viewing the drone show, Craig Kelley, the Chief Marketing Officer for USC Athletics, said, “This is the best halftime show in my 20 years here at USC”.
Take a cue from USC and brainstorm: How would a drone show create the ultimate halftime show at your college or university?
By clearly defining your goals, many logistical and creative components become apparent. You will be able to determine the event dates, the creative show design, and the location for the show.
Baylor University produced a drone show for their event called “Howdy at the Hurd.” The goal for the evening and the drone show was to celebrate the opening of the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. The show echoed this, creating a 3D Mark Hurd playing tennis to honor the new building’s namesake. Students enjoyed the inside jokes and iconic Baylor references sprinkled throughout the show.
What Is the Cost of Hosting a Drone Light Show for Colleges and Universities?
The cost of a drone light show varies based on several factors. The number of drones, show complexity, and logistics are all considerations. Roughly, drone light shows are priced per drone. A quality drone light show provider will charge around $250 per drone, which makes the starting cost for smaller shows around $20,000. The more drones added, the higher the complexity and the higher the price.
Consider your budget when determining if a drone light show will work for your college or University. What funding can you realistically pull from to produce the show? Does your drone show align with marketing or student experience objectives? Does your school have a separate budget for special programs? Could your show be produced through a donation from alumni?
Determining the Ideal Number of Drones for Your University’s Light Show
Now that we have our budget, we can determine the ideal number of drones for your college drone show. The added benefit of utilizing more drones is that you can get more detailed with your designs. Our typical shows start at 100 drones, which is plenty clear. The USC show comprised 200 drones, allowing for more 3D shapes and images. We flew a giant three-dimensional football and helmet with the Trojan mascot etched onto the side.
Baylor University took it up a notch with a 300-drone show ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling the new Hurd Welcome Center. They had full-body football and tennis players with a 300-drone count, making for an exceptional show. The most successful shows for colleges and universities are between 200 and 400 drones.
Beyond Sports: Exploring the Versatility of Drone Light Shows for Colleges and Universities
While the obvious choice for your college drone show may be sports-themed, not every university has sports teams or may opt for something different for their event. For instance, consider the drone show that Purdue University’s students created.
Sky Elements partnered with Purdue University for their orientation event and, as an academic partner, taught and mentored students in a multidisciplinary program beginning in May 2023. The students were taught everything they needed to know about drone light shows over the summer to help design, plan, and pilot their college drone show. The students chose Boiler Gold Rush, an on-campus welcome party for incoming students. The show focused more on the Purdue student experience, the alma mater that walked the same campus as them, and the road toward graduation. Drone shows offer a new medium to tell the university’s story in a way like never before.
Creating Your School’s Mascot Using a Drone Light Show: Is It Possible?
We get a question from schools nationwide: Can we fly the school’s mascot? The answer is a resounding YES! Sky Elements strives to represent the university in the best way possible. Whether that’s flying Purdue Pete slamming his sledgehammer on an anvil or flying two adorable Baylor Bears, Sky Elements will have your mascot crafted with the utmost precision to keep your students engaged. We’ll even fly other traditions associated with your school, like Baylor’s Sic ’em Bears bear claw they raise at games. You may need to Google that one.
In summary, drone light shows have become a captivating addition to the college and university event calendar. By following these steps and considering the creative potential of drone shows, you can elevate your institution’s events and create unforgettable moments for your students and faculty. Dare to dream big and let the skies come alive with a drone light show for your school today! Contact us to fly a show for your next campus event, big or small!
Watch how Sky Elements helped create the best halftime show ever for USC!