Robot at a Festival and a Company Celebration: Two Days, Two Events
Written by ROBOTio Team · · 6 min read
Article summary
Two different formats in two days: the opening of the Forbes Next Big Thing festival in Brno and a 130th-anniversary celebration in Třešť. What changed for the robots, and what stayed the same?
The same humanoid robot can handle both a conference and a company celebration, provided that what changes is not the technology but the script, the persona and the role. Two consecutive days in September 2026 demonstrated this: on 17 September we opened the Forbes Next Big Thing festival in Brno, and on 18 September we attended the 130th-anniversary celebration of Podzimek a synové in Třešť. The hardware was similar, while the programme and atmosphere were entirely different. ## Day One: Forbes Next Big Thing in Brno On 17 September at Wannieck Gallery, two humanoids, R.U.D.A. and R.I.C.O., opened the main programme of the Forbes magazine festival. The host introduced them by name to a packed hall, setting the tone for the whole day. The brief was typical of a conference: - short appearances of 5–10 minutes on the main stage, - a presence for the robots among the guests throughout the day, - involvement in the festival's technology zone. The robots were given personas based on the festival programme and the names of the speakers. We prepared lines for them in six languages, along with an opening script coordinated with the host. During the day they then posed for photographs with visitors and answered questions in whichever language the guests addressed them. In the Next Arena, people could take a close look at them and try out a conversation. In addition, there was a live segment for TV Nova, in which the robot stood right next to the reporter. Such a recording continues to serve as a reference long after the event has ended. You can find the full account in the [Forbes Next Big Thing 2026 case study](https://robotio.eu/case-study/forbes-next-big-thing-2026-brno). ## Day Two: 130 Years of a Company in Třešť On the second day we were at a different venue with a different audience. The construction company Podzimek a synové was celebrating its 130th anniversary. There were two celebrations: on 11 September for employees and on 18 September for guests. We adapted the deployment of R.U.D.A. to what each event required. At the evening celebration on 18 September, it went as follows: - **from 18:00** the robot, holding a "Podzimek 130" sign, welcomed guests at the gate of the premises, after which guides in period costume led them onwards, - **at 20:00** it opened the official part on stage in front of an LED wall, - **afterwards** it performed a sketch at a historic horse-powered gin wheel, which was used to cut ice for drinks, - **the programme ended at 23:00**; in the meantime the robot danced in front of an orchestra and a choir and also mingled with the guests. At the employee celebration, the robot presented awards and had its photograph taken with the recipients. The client supplied the script and schedule. We prepared over 70 recorded lines in three voices, personalised welcomes and sketches, such as "switching off" the robot before the speeches, on the grounds that people would do a better job of them. The details are in the [Podzimek 130 Years case study](https://robotio.eu/case-study/podzimek-130-let-trest-2026). ## What Differed Between the Events | | Conference / festival | Company celebration | |---|---|---| | Main role | opener of the programme, participant in the technology zone | doorman, speaker, award presenter, "labourer" at the gin wheel | | Tone | professional, thematic | personal, with humour about the company's history | | Language | lines in six languages, responses to people asking questions | lines in three voices, approved by management | | Environment | gallery, hall and technology zone | outdoor premises, asphalt with a 230 V connection, stage | | Media reach | live segment for TV Nova | photographs and videos for the company and its employees | The difference, then, lay not in the robot but in how we prepared it. ## What Stayed the Same The foundations were identical at both events: - **Two operators for each robot.** One controls movement and safety, the other communication and the programme. They were present throughout. - **Approved content.** The persona and lines are approved in advance; nothing is left to unsupervised improvisation. - **Autonomous balance.** The robot maintains its own movement and balance; the operator determines direction and gestures. - **A clear script.** Arrival time, appearances, breaks and the photo spot are agreed in advance. Our other events are built in a similar way, for example a [corporate event with the R.U.D.A. robot](https://robotio.eu/case-study/ceska-sporitelna-leasing-robot-ruda-firemni-akce). The robot thus works as part of the programme, not as an attraction in the corner. ## How to Prepare an Event with a Robot 1. **Define the role.** Opener, co-host, guest among the attendees or a character in a sketch? The persona is written accordingly. 2. **Provide the programme.** Speaker names, the schedule and topics make it possible to offer personalised welcomes and relevant answers. 3. **Decide on languages.** The robot speaks in the language in which a guest addresses it, but the lines are prepared in advance. 4. **Check the venue.** We need a stage or area, a firm and dry surface, and access to electricity. 5. **Agree on media use.** It is best to plan from the outset for a recording of the opening, photographs of guests or a television appearance. You will find further practical advice in the article [10 Tips for a Successful Event with a Robot](https://robotio.eu/blog/jak-pripravit-akci-s-robotem). ## Which Robot Suits Which Occasion On both days we worked with humanoids from our own fleet of [Unitree](https://robotio.eu/brands/unitree) robots. For contact with guests, photographs and stage sketches, the compact [Unitree G1](https://robotio.eu/unitree-g1-basic), standing 135 cm tall, is well suited. For events where the robot needs to stand out even from a distance, we offer the H2, which is 180 cm tall. At a single event, we can deploy up to four humanoids. For conferences we have a dedicated page on [robots for conferences](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type), and for anniversary celebrations and parties, [robots for corporate events](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type). If you are organising an event in South Moravia, please also see [robot hire in Brno](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can a robot handle both a conference and a company celebration in a different tone? Yes. The tone is determined by the persona, lines and script, which we prepare separately for each event. On the two days described, these were the festival opening and a humorous sketch at the gin wheel. ### Can a robot speak in the voice of a specific person? Only with that person's consent. At Podzimek, management approved the voice profile that the robot used for welcomes and sketches. ### How many people accompany the robot at an event? Each robot has two operators with it at all times. One controls movement and safety, the other communication and the programme. ### Can a robot cope with an outdoor venue? Yes, on a firm and dry surface with a 230 V connection. In Třešť, the premises were asphalted, and the robots worked from the arrival of the guests until the end of the programme. ## Would You Like a Similar Deployment? Tell us what kind of event you are planning, and we will prepare a proposal for the robot's role and script. Prices are not published; we will send a quotation within 24 hours following a [non-binding enquiry](https://robotio.eu/robot-rental).Want to see a humanoid at your own event? Find out how to rent a humanoid robot with our own operators.
Category
case-study
Tags
- Forbes Next Big Thing
- Podzimek 130 years
- robot for conferences
- robot for company celebrations
- R.U.D.A.
- case study
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ROBOTio helps companies rent, demonstrate and integrate humanoid robots: Unitree G1 and H2 for events, trade fairs, conferences and marketing campaigns — always with our own operators.