I’m always looking for ways to make business events, conferences, and shows a little more exciting. Often, setting the scene to fit a theme is one of the best ways to do that. With the recent release of the Jurassic World films, I’ve noticed dinosaurs coming back in a big way.
More and more are making use of extravagant, and deadly-looking dino features to bring a prehistoric theming to their events. But if you want to follow in those massive clawed footsteps, what’s the best way to do it?
Here, I’m going to take a look at the different dino displays that can really make an impact on your audience, and which might be the best for your event. Let’s look at the most popular types and break down their advantages and disadvantages
Fiberglass dinosaurs
Now, this is a standard, inanimate dinosaur display that’s made out of fiberglass. It’s one of the less life-like depictions of our scaly friends and isn’t going to have all the impressive animation of the animatronic options. However, this offers it a few benefits, as well.
For one, though it might not feel as realistic, it certainly looks the part. As colorful as they are, they’re sure to stand out and catch the eye. However, big as they might look, they’re also lightweight which means that they’re easy enough to transport.
Furthermore, the fiberglass shell that covers the dinosaurs is also incredibly tough. It’s not as sensitive as the soft-skinned animatronic kinds and it’s also likely to last a lot longer. Add to that the lower price tag, and you might have a more reliable long-term investment.
If you’re looking for something that works for an outdoor exhibit, then fiberglass dinosaurs are much more resilient than animatronics, too. The key downside is, as mentioned, that they don’t have that lifelike movement.
Dinosaur bones
These displays are often made out of fiberglass, as well, so they have all the benefits of the standard dinosaur option mentioned above. However, the key difference is that they don’t depict the dinosaur as it may have looked when it was alive, but rather is much closer to the kind of display that you would see in a museum.
As such, it might not be strictly accurate to call it “life-like”, but it’s certain still realistic. These bones are also easier to transport, disassemble and reassemble. You don’t have to move them all as one, they can be taken apart and carried in pieces.
Another benefit is that you can dinosaur fossils and skeleton replicas that are only a piece of the dinosaur. A t-rex skull is easier to carry around and also costs less than a full life-size representation of a t-rex, after all. If your space or budget is limited, this might be the option for you.
Animatronic dinosaurs
Lastly, we have the more immediately impressive kind of dino display on the market. As the name implies, these dinosaurs are animated by electronic parts that do a fantastic job. They can move their head, open their jaws, swipe their tails, move their claws, and some can even breathe with their chest puffing in and out.
A lot of detail has gone into making these displays as realistic looking as possible. It’s not just due to the animation, but the rubbery plastic skin makes them look as close to living creatures as you can get. When it comes to exciting, dynamic displays, they clearly win out above the others.
Animatronic dinosaurs even have speakers that make sounds. So, they can breathe, growl, and roar, adding another dimension to the display.
Naturally, they’re going to be significantly more expensive than the other options, so you have to consider whether or not they’re really feasible with your budget and whether you will get enough use out of them to justify the price. Furthermore, the life-like silicone skin is also not very resilient to the elements, so you need to take care of it and make sure it doesn’t go outside too much.
Which dino works best for you?
Which dino display you choose will depend on your needs. How much space do you have and how much are you willing to pay? Do you want something that’s more interactive or one that’s more life-like and animated?
Either way, there are plenty of options for those looking to use dinosaur displays for their events and venues, you can even use a dinosaur puppet to add some fun elements to the event.
Hopefully we’ve helped you get a better idea of what’s on offer.
