How Production Sharing Can Help You Get More From Your Event Budget
Discover how production sharing can reduce event costs, increase production value, streamline turnarounds and support more sustainable event delivery.
Maximise Your Event Budget Through Production Sharing
When planning a large-scale event in London, production is often one of the biggest investments. Staging, lighting, AV, rigging, screens, draping and furniture all play a huge part in transforming a venue and creating an experience guests remember.
But what if there were an opportunity to deliver the same level of impact – or potentially even more – while making your production budget work harder?
For events taking place on consecutive dates, production sharing can offer a smarter, more efficient approach to event delivery. By sharing elements of a core production build with another event, organisers can reduce duplication, split certain costs and minimise the need for complete overnight transformations.
At Evolution London, our scale, flexibility and extensive production capabilities make the venue particularly well suited to this approach.
What is production sharing in events?
A production share is an arrangement where two or more events taking place consecutively use some of the same core event infrastructure.
Rather than one event completely derigging its production before the next begins an entirely new build, elements such as staging, lighting, rigging, screens, draping, AV infrastructure and furniture can remain in place.
Each event can then personalise the space through branding, content, lighting, furniture, styling and scenic additions.
The result? Two completely distinct events, with a more efficient approach behind the scenes.
For organisers planning large-scale events at Evolution London, it can be a particularly effective way to make better use of both budget and time.
What are the benefits of sharing event production?
Make your event budget work harder
Cost efficiency is one of the biggest advantages of a production share.
Large-scale event production can involve high costs across staging, AV, lighting, rigging, screens, draping, furniture and technical crew. Where infrastructure can be shared between consecutive events, some of those costs may be divided rather than each organiser funding an entirely separate installation and breakdown.
That can free up budget to invest elsewhere in the guest experience – whether that’s catering, entertainment, content, branding or additional production enhancements.
For example, additional budget could be invested into the food and drink experience with Moving Venue, Evolution London’s exclusive caterer, or redirected towards entertainment and guest experience.
Achieve a higher production value
Production sharing isn’t simply about spending less. It can also be about getting more for the same budget.
Pooling investment into shared infrastructure can make a more ambitious core production package financially viable. Organisers may therefore be able to access a scale or specification of production that would be harder to justify for a standalone event.
From larger screens and more extensive lighting to enhanced staging and scenic design, collaboration can create opportunities to elevate the overall experience.
Evolution London’s blank-canvas Main Space is designed to accommodate ambitious transformations, with extensive technical infrastructure and Encore as the venue’s exclusive AV and technical partner. Explore more about Evolution London’s venue and production capabilities here.
Reduce build and derig requirements
When two compatible events take place consecutively, much of the core infrastructure may be able to remain in position overnight.
This reduces the amount of equipment that needs to be removed and replaced between events, potentially lowering build and derig requirements and making far better use of the time available.
It can be particularly valuable where turnaround times are tight.
Create a more efficient event turnaround
Large-scale event transformations require careful coordination between venues, production teams, caterers, suppliers and event organisers.
A production share can simplify that process.
With fewer elements to dismantle, remove, deliver and reinstall, the transition between events can become significantly more efficient. It also means fewer supplier movements, deliveries and collections taking place at the venue.
For consecutive events, that additional breathing room can be invaluable.
Reduce associated venue and operational costs
The efficiencies can extend beyond production itself.
Depending on the individual arrangement, retaining infrastructure between events may reduce the requirement for additional tenancy periods, overnight access, security, cleaning and staffing associated with a complete derig and rebuild.
Every event is different, but looking at the full operational picture – rather than production costs in isolation – can reveal further opportunities for efficiencies.
A production partnership built for 2027
As Evolution London’s exclusive AV and production partner, Encore is working with the venue to offer a number of set-share opportunities across the 2027 calendar.
Encore said:
“Encore is delighted to present several set-share opportunities in partnership with Smart at Evolution London for 2027 – a collaboration designed to unlock exceptional production value for events seeking a standout technical environment.
This joint offering provides access to a spectacular, fully integrated technical set-up, delivering premium visual impact and seamless production quality at an outstanding cost advantage. It’s a chance to harness the strength of two trusted partners, combining expertise, efficiency and creative ambition to elevate your event experience.”
Is production sharing more sustainable?
Reusing existing event infrastructure can reduce the amount of equipment being transported into and out of a venue, as well as the materials, packaging and waste associated with multiple standalone builds.
Fewer supplier journeys and a reduced requirement to repeatedly install and remove the same types of infrastructure can contribute towards a more considered approach to event production.
For organisers increasingly looking at the environmental impact of their events, using what is already in place is a simple principle with potentially significant benefits.
Can an event still feel completely bespoke?
A shared production framework doesn’t mean two events need to look or feel the same.
The core infrastructure can remain consistent while the elements guests interact with are transformed. Changes to branding, digital content, lighting states, furniture, table design, florals, signage and scenic details can give each event its own identity.
A screen structure, for example, might remain exactly where it is while displaying completely different branded content. Lighting can transform the atmosphere through colour and programming, while furniture, styling and catering can completely change how guests experience the space.
As a blank-canvas event venue, Evolution London lends itself particularly well to this approach, allowing organisers to build their individual identity around shared production foundations.
The aim isn’t to create two versions of the same event. It’s to identify what guests don’t need to see changing behind the scenes, while investing in the elements that make each experience distinctive.
Why does Evolution London work well for production sharing?
At 5,500m², Evolution London offers the scale and flexibility required for ambitious event production, while its blank-canvas format gives organisers extensive freedom over how the space is configured.
With an 8m ceiling height and capacity for 2,000 guests for dinner, 3,500 theatre-style, 4,000 for receptions and 5,000 for exhibitions, the venue regularly accommodates significant production builds across a wide range of event formats.
From exhibitions and conferences to awards ceremonies, dinners, product launches and large-scale corporate events, the venue’s versatility creates opportunities for consecutive events with compatible requirements to explore shared production.
Evolution London’s exclusive AV and technical partner, Encore, has extensive knowledge of the venue and its infrastructure. At the same time, the Evolution London events team supports organisers throughout the planning and delivery process.
Combined with catering from Moving Venue, this brings venue, production and catering expertise together to support large-scale event delivery.
When does a production share work best?
Production sharing is particularly worth exploring when:
- Events are taking place on consecutive or closely aligned dates.
- Both events require similar core infrastructure, such as staging, screens, lighting or rigging.
- There is a limited turnaround window between events.
- Organisers want to maximise production value within their available budget.
- Both events can retain a shared foundation while using branding, content and styling to create individual identities.
Awards ceremonies can be particularly well suited to this approach. Large-scale awards often share requirements such as staging, screens, lighting, rigging and dinner layouts, while branding, content and styling provide the individual identity.
For inspiration, take a look at how the TPi Awards transformed Evolution London for almost 2,000 guests, or read our guide to creating the perfect awards dinner timeline.
Not every event will be suited to a production share, and the requirements of both organisers need to align. But where there is compatibility, the benefits can extend across budget, logistics, sustainability and the overall production value of the event.
Collaboration without compromise
Ultimately, production sharing isn’t about compromising on your event. It’s about collaborating to get more from your event budget.
By identifying the infrastructure that can remain consistent and focusing investment on the elements that make an event unique, organisers can create distinctive experiences while reducing unnecessary duplication behind the scenes.
For the right events, it’s a practical way to deliver more ambitious production, improve operational efficiency and take a more considered approach to resources.
CTA: Planning an event at Evolution London?
Explore Evolution London’s venue and production capabilities or speak to our team about upcoming dates and whether there may be an opportunity to benefit from a shared production package.
Production Sharing FAQs
What does production sharing mean for an event?
Production sharing means consecutive events use some of the same core production infrastructure, such as staging, lighting, AV, screens, rigging or draping, rather than completely rebuilding the venue for each event.
Can production sharing reduce event costs?
Yes. Where requirements align, organisers may be able to share certain infrastructure, installation, derig and technical costs. There may also be efficiencies relating to venue access, staffing, security and other operational requirements.
Will my event look the same as the other event?
No. Shared infrastructure can provide the foundation while branding, screen content, lighting, furniture, florals, signage, scenic elements and other creative details are changed to give each event a distinct identity.
Is sharing event production more sustainable?
Reusing production infrastructure can help reduce transport movements, materials and waste compared with completely removing and rebuilding similar infrastructure between consecutive events.
What types of events can share production?
Production sharing can work across corporate events, awards ceremonies, conferences, dinners and other large-scale events where core technical and production requirements are compatible.
Does production sharing mean compromising on production quality?
No. In fact, sharing the cost of core infrastructure can potentially allow organisers to achieve a higher level of production than they could justify independently. The shared foundation can then be personalised to suit each event.
Can production sharing work for awards ceremonies?
Yes. Awards ceremonies can be particularly well suited to production sharing where consecutive events require similar infrastructure such as a stage, screens, lighting, rigging and a dinner layout. Branding, content, lighting and styling can then be changed for each event.
How do I find out if production sharing is available at Evolution London?
Production sharing depends on the events taking place around your preferred date and whether their production requirements are compatible. Contact the Evolution London team when enquiring about your event dates to explore potential opportunities.