Some shows come together fast. Others, like this one, take months of planning and execution. The University of Southern California had one of its biggest graduation ceremonies of all time in 2025, and Gear Connection was gratefully hired to be the AV partner for these important events.
This wasn’t just a show. It was a multi-day, multi-site AV production event featuring A-list speakers, complex logistics, and massive audiences. From concept to final cue, our team handled everything: staging, sound, lighting, video, IMAG, comms, and livestreaming.
For the University of Southern California’s 142nd Commencement Ceremonies, Gear Connection delivered a full-service event production across three of Los Angeles’s most iconic venues: the LA Memorial Coliseum, the Shrine Auditorium, and the Galen Center.
USC Commencement is a landmark celebration welcoming thousands of graduates, families, and faculty. This year’s ceremonies included headlining appearances by director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and music legend Snoop Dogg. The event spanned three venues, incorporating a drone show, fireworks, and multiple stages.
With thousands of eyes on the production and moments that mattered deeply to the attendees, the pressure was on to get it right, everywhere.
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The client needed more than AV gear, they needed a partner. USC’s vision was to create a unified, immersive experience across three unique venues, each with its own size, acoustics, and technical requirements.
Our role as a full-service event production company was to translate creative goals into a real-time, multi-venue AV solution that delivered elegance, energy, and a strong sense of USC pride.
We were brought into planning months before the first mic check. Early walkthroughs at all three sites allowed us to build a tailored strategy for everything from staging to crew flow.
Each venue had a unique set of logistics:
We worked closely with USC’s in-house AV team, their event planning staff, and venue managers to create a seamless production experience.
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Each space required its own configuration:
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This event ran smoothly thanks to the months of pre-planning and the experience of our team. Our crew executed across three locations with no major issues, no tech delays, and full schedule adherence.
That kind of execution doesn’t happen by luck. It comes from clear communication, tested systems, and a crew trained to adapt in real time.
Highlights from the weekend included:
Learn more about the 2025 USC Commencement or see the full video on YouTube.
This wasn’t just another job for us. Several members of our team are proud USC alumni, including Arik and Natalya, who worked on-site throughout the weekend. There was a sense of pride in every cue and every cue call. It was personal, and it showed.
The most rewarding part? Seeing the smiles, the tears, and the sheer joy of thousands of families celebrating something unforgettable. That’s why we do what we do.
At Gear Connection, we believe that what sets a great AV production company apart isn’t how they handle the easy shows, it’s how they navigate the complex ones.
From logistics to live execution, we bring clarity, calm, and capability to every moment.
Looking for a full-service team that gets it right the first time? Contact Gear Connection and let’s make your next event unforgettable.