Special Events + Co-Located Networking
Your Expo Hall Pass lets you be part of the excitement at LDI and DSE!
Immerse yourself in the dynamic landscape of creativity and connections under one roof.
Keynotes

Opening Keynote
Fearless Collaboration: Why the Next Generation is Essential for Success
Keynote Speaker: Laura Frank, Executive Director and Creative Advocate, frame:work
Date & Time: Saturday, December 2, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: New Technology Breakfast Room - W232
Free to all LDI Attendees
Join Laura Frank, executive director of frame:work, as she discusses the value of collaborative problem-solving and how to instill this form of production team bonding in today’s world of entertainment production. She’ll look at the value of what the next generation needs to learn, and how it applies to a variety of jobs in entertainment and beyond.

Lunch Keynote
Shifting Realities of Place: Digital Enhancement Pushing the Boundaries
Keynote Speaker: Jamie Reilly, General Manager Moment Factory Events & USA, Moment Factory
Date and Time: Sunday, December 3, 2023, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: New Technology Breakfast Room, W232
***NOTE: This lunch/keynote is available exclusively to DSE Full Conference and LDI VIP Pass holders.
Moment Factory’s credo - We Do It In Public - sets the tone for this provocative keynote that questions the role of digital technologies and media in the public realm and beyond. Jamie and her team (re)imagine the city to be a place for people to participate in collective and memorable experiences. The building blocks of this approach unearth narratives that engage local culture, connect to physical features and movement patterns, and adapt multimedia technologies to the shifting realities of place.

XLIVExLDI Keynote
Step into the Extraordinary: Unconventional Innovation in Immersive Environments
Keynote Speaker: Brian Loo, VP, Operations Development & Exhibition Engineering, Meow Wolf
Date & Time: Monday, December 4, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Location: DSE Keynote Stage
Free to all LDI attendees
Calling all adventure-seekers, trailblazers, and creative mavericks! Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking keynote that delves into the realm of "doing things differently" in immersive environments.
New Technology Breakfast
New Technology Breakfast
Start your day with a cup of hot coffee and continental breakfast plus a sneak preview of the cool new technology on the show floor.
Lighting & Lasers
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Room W232
Digital Signage, Projection, Special FX
Date & Time: Monday, December 4, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Room W232
Audio, Staging & Rigging
Date & Time: Monday, December 4, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Room W232
Sponsors:

Wellness

Rise and Shine 5K Walk/Run
Race Date & Time: Sunday, December 3, race starts at 7:30 am – 8:30 am
Meet-up Location & Time: Front lobby entrance of the Sahara Las Vegas Resort at 7 am.
Race Course Link: View Route Here
Note: This course is open and not closed to traffic. Please exercise caution while participating.
***All participants must sign a liability waiver on the morning of the run.
Join us for a meaningful stride towards positive mental health and substance use support at our annual 5K Rise and Shine Walk/Run. Lace-up your running shoes and be part of a community dedicated to making a difference. Every step counts as we come together to support a worthy cause, Behind the Scenes. Run with purpose, run with heart – let's go the extra mile for BTS!
Behind the Scenes Mental Health Sessions
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3 – Tuesday, December 5, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Shining-A-Light Wellness Lounge
Visit the Behind The Scenes booth in the Wellness Lounge to learn about our Mental Health Initiative and receive valuable information you can post at work. Our safe space provides an alcohol-free environment where attendees have opportunities to talk one-on-one with the presenters and ask questions about nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, physical health, and mental health. View all sessions.
Sessions in the Shining-A-Light Wellness Lounge:
- Overview of Mental Health Tools & Resources
- Intro to Mental Health First Aid
- Staying Sober at the Bar
- The Effects of Sleep Deprivation in The Entertainment Industry
- Integrating Meditation into Your Workday
- Cup of Coffee Yoga
- A Layman’s Guide to Eating Healthier on the Road
- *Mental Health First Aid with Steven Michelman - paid course
- Strategies for Overcoming Stigma Surrounding Mental Health Challenges
- Breathing and Meditation with Kenton
- One-on-One Discussion Sessions

Foster The Future
Career Day Schedule
Date: Saturday, December 2, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Locations: New Technology Breakfast Room - W232, ConNEXTions Cafe, Foster the Future Lounge
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Orientation Session
Location: ConNEXTions Cafe
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Buzz Session with URTA Tony Hapogian and Sara Ross
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Networking Break
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Buzz Session with Brad Schille
11:30 - 12:30 pm
Networking/Lunch Break
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Portfolio Review
Location: Foster the Future Lounge
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Buzz Session with Jim Lordon
1:00pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch Break (on your own)
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Buzz Session with Hannah Graham, Carnival Cruise Line
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Networking Break
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Buzz session with Michael Howell
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Networking Break
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Opening Keynote - With Laura Frank
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Opening Reception
Sponsors:
Portfolio Review
Date & Time: Saturday, December 2, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: W208
All students and young professionals are invited to participate in the LDI Portfolio and Website Review. Bring your portfolio and/or device to get tips one-on-one from the industry's top professionals. Co-moderated by Brackley Frayer and Deanna Fitzgerald. Click here to register for specific time slots: LDI Portfolio & Website Review
If you are interested in attending and have not registered, please email [email protected].

URTA Design Showcase
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3 —11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Location: Foster The Future Lounge
Designers and technicians! Present your work, and network with graduate school recruiters and potential employers. Presented by the University Resident Theatre Association, there is no additional cost to participate in the showcase. Pre-register at https://urta.com/ldi to reserve your space at the showcase. All pre-registered participants will receive a free LDI Expo Hall pass. Walk-ins will be accepted on-site as space permits.

Pat MacKay Diversity in Design Scholarship Ceremony
Date & Time: Monday, December 4, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Circle Bar
Support diversity and inclusion as we acknowledge and celebrate the 2023 recipients of the 5th annual Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships, sponsored by LDI.
Partners:
Sponsor:


Show Floor Tech Tour
Date & Location: Monday, December 4, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Foster The Future Lounge
Take a guided tour through a curated labyrinth of innovation, immersing yourself in a myriad of cutting-edge products and services that redefine industry standards. Exclusive for Young Career Professionals.
Sponsors:

Awards

LDI Booth and Products Awards
Date & Time: Monday, December 4, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Location: Circle Bar
Followed immediately after the Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships, the 2023 LDI Booth and Best Debuting Product Awards, will honor technological advances in new products from our exhibitors and those companies who excel in their booth design.
Drone Show
Competition
Networking
Networking Power Hour
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3 – Monday, December 4, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: ConNEXTions Café
LDI is excited to introduce our brand new ConNeXTions Café! This section of the event is reserved exclusively for you to host meetings with partners and prospects outside of the loud Expo Hall, from Sunday - Monday for Networking Power Hour.

LDInnovation League’s Design Thinking Sessions – Ideating the LDI of Tomorrow!
Speaker: Bill Digneit, Department Head, Theatre & Dance, Northern Michigan University
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3 – Tuesday, December 5, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: ConNEXTions Café
This exciting session led by Bill Digneit and the esteemed team members of SISU: The Innovation Institute at Northern Michigan University, three-days of hands-on workshops will immerse you in the world of design thinking. Through collaborative exercises and interactive activities, we will percolate fresh ideas and seize new opportunities to elevate LDI to greater heights.

Crew Up + Connect Industry Party
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Circle Bar
Reunite with old friends, colleagues, and make new ones at LDI’s Crew Up + Connect industry party. Meet us at the Circle Bar for beverages immediately after the Battle of the Busk. The Circle Bar will also be open during show hours.

LDI After Dark
Las Vegas opens its arms – and dance floors – to LDI and DSE attendees. Present your LDI or DSE badge for free entry into the hottest clubs in town. It’s the perfect way to check out the gear as you dance the night away. Each night will have exclusive VIP expedited entry and access to special VIP table booking options.
After Dark Schedule:
- Thursday, November 30 – Hakkasan
- Friday, December 1 – TAO
- Saturday, December 2 – Marquee
- Sunday, December 3 – Omnia
- Monday, December 4 – Jewel
- Tuesday, December 5 – Omnia
Sponsored by:


Expo Hall Sessions

Diversity: Committing to Equity And Inclusion
Date & Time: Sunday, December 3, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Foster The Future Lounge
A serious conversation on the need for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion in the live events industry, is an important issue the industry is facing and there is so much more to learn. How to engage and commit!
LDInnovation Conference - Audio Sessions
Dates: Sunday, December 3 - Tuesday, December 5
Location: Amplify Stage
Visit the Amplify Stage to learn and demo the latest audio gear.
Sessions in the Amplify Stage:
Click Here for Schedule & Speakers
- How to Solve Problems and Create a Clear and Present Mix with EQ
- New Technologies: Unique Deliveries in Audio
- Immersive System Equation
- Audio: Foster The Future: Young Designers Forum
- What's New Pussycat: New Developments on the Las Vegas Sound Scene
- No Room, No Problem!
- Wireless Intercom: Dealing with the Unexpected
- Audio: Foster The Future: Career Paths in Audio
Podcasts
The Lumen Brothers Light Talk Podcast Live at LDI
Date & Time: December 3, 2023, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Podcast Studio W201
The Light Talk podcast features seasoned professional lighting designers and educators— the original three Lumen Brothers Steve Woods (SMU), Stan Kaye (University of Florida), David Jacques (California State University Long Beach), plus Brackley Frayer (UNLV) as well as designers Zak Borovay and Driscoll Otto, and honorary Lumen Sisters Ellen Lampert-Gréaux (LDI/Live Design) and Ann McMills (San Diego State University)—who discuss the latest topics and developments in the world of entertainment and architectural lighting design and offer sage, and sometimes controversial advice to professionals and students of lighting design. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and they can be as silly as they are informative. Join us for a live taping and toss out questions and topics at LDI.
