While the drone show is still a relatively new development in the overall historical context of live events, the massive growth in popularity of the medium in recent years has seen it become de rigueur at major festivals, opening ceremonies and even corporate events all over the world – with the Middle East proving to be a particularly fertile breeding ground for the most advanced examples of the technology.
So far, the most common form of drone show has been a large outdoor spectacle, with a massive fleet swarming to produce incredibly detailed and often animated images as well as stunning effects. However, according to SKYMAGIC’s Scott Gibbons, the next step for the technology is to bring it indoors. “SKYMAGIC started doing large outdoor drone light shows in 2015, and since then we’ve been constantly developing the technology and innovating to the point that we’re now able to create much more intimate indoor drone shows, alongside our outdoor offering.”
SKYMAGIC’s first major demonstration of indoor drone technology came at the Venice Biennale in 2022 with the Social Sacrifice artwork by DRIFT. Delivered by SKYMAGIC alongside Drone Stories, commissioned by Aorist and featuring music from Don Diablo, the immersive piece saw a swarm of 50 of the company’s indoor drones navigate through the historic Chiesa di San Lorenzo in mesmerising motion, depicting a school of AI-powered fish encountering a predator and leading spectators on an interactive journey around the building.
“Since the Venice Biennale show, we’ve done some more innovation and pushed the limits of what indoor drones are capable of,” Gibbons revealed. “We’re at a stage now where we’re looking to make indoor drones a bigger part of our offering, alongside our already well-established outdoor solution.”
As anyone who has been a part of a large outdoor drone show will attest, the medium requires extensive operational, logistical and health and safety parameters to be considered. However, while health and safety is always top priority, indoor drones are a completely different proposition – due in part to their small size, light weight and covered propellers. “They’re extremely lightweight and they fit in the palm of your hand,” Gibbons stated. “We’re always working hard to make sure that the technology is safe, and everything we’ve done in terms of development helps us fly them around objects and people indoors safely.”
Indoor drones also open a range of opportunities in the Middle East during the summertime, when the region’s scorching temperatures mean that events tend to take place inside. “This is just one of the reasons why we see the technology working well in the Middle East,” he declared.
The smaller size and lighter weight of indoor drones also leads to huge differences when it comes to how they’re used creatively – a subject that SKYMAGIC’s Creative Producer, Sammy Gooch, could talk about all day. “Creating an indoor show is very different to an outdoor show,” she explained. “Outdoor shows often have a scene-by-scene narrative, almost like a chapter of a book. With indoor drone shows, it’s more like choreographing a dance. There’s less of a chapter-by-chapter approach and a more seamless integration with music.”
While this switch in approach provides a challenge, it’s one the SKYMAGIC team enjoy taking on. “It’s a nice challenge because you must think very creatively about how the drones are morphing, moving and creating different forms constantly. It’s so fluid, organic and intimate,” she commented.
The next step could be to further explore how indoor drone technology can be integrated with other technologies to create immersive sensory experiences. “We’re always pushing ourselves with our technology to make sure we’re able to collaborate with other elements. With our outdoor shows, we’re already collaborating with sound designers, audio designers, pyrotechnics, choreography, and I think it’s about taking that and working it in a different environment to create something truly immersive and engage people to connect in a sensory way.”
This collaboration could also incorporate the artists, with joint choreography between dancers and drones just one of almost limitless possibilities. “I would love to create a piece where drones and dancers work symbiotically on stage,” the Creative Producer stated. “Those kinds of areas of exploration are something that we’re very keen to start moving with quickly.”
As far as potential uses for the technology, the ever-increasing levels of production present at opening ceremonies lends itself perfectly to the use of indoor drones. “We’re thinking about effects like how the drones can give the illusion of lighting ceremony flames or accompanying hero speakers or hero performers. How can they rise behind screen areas and become an extension of the set? It’s such an exciting medium to play with.”
Photos: Skymagic
