Happy 2023! To celebrate the beginning of the new year we combined our strengths with Feelgood Vuurwerk to create a unique experience Amsterdam has never seen before. The show is about connection, inclusiveness and love, symbolized by elements such as a heart, a rainbow, the well-known Amsterdam crosses and dancing people.. A message from Amsterdam to Amsterdam, so to say! Fun fact: this is the first time the Netherlands got to see a drone show in combination with fireworks.

The story behind the lights

At the 31st of December 2022 the weather conditions were not looking good. We made the call to pospone the the Amsterdam New Years Eve drone show by 2 days.&nbsp; to make sure we could still celebrate the beginning of 2023 the Drone Stories way. We started the show at 20:23 as a cheeky hint to the coming year.

Delayed by mother nature

Flying a show in front of our own office, The A’DAM Tower, is very special. A grand location known as an iconic, Amsterdam landmark. Using the experience of Pyrofoor to create a New Years Eve drone show combining fireworks and drones, this special show lived up to the A’DAM Tower and Amsterdam standards

On our home turf

What a way to kick-off 2023! We flew our first drone show of the year right in front of our Amsterdam office. Combining our strengths with others from the A’DAM Tower to create a special moment for the city. A New Years Eve drone show the likes Amsterdam has never seen before.

Amsterdam New Years Eve

Las Vegas is the city of entertainment. This was the perfect place to do something that is never done before. Inspired by F1, Drone Stories and TwofiftyK created two shows: one in the front, which could be seen from the strip, and one at the back, which was part of a whole VIP event. A show where all disciplines come together to create a total experience; lighting, projection mapping, and, finishing it off, a drone show.

Flying a show in a place like this is unique. Flying from the roof of Caesars Palace makes it hard to determine where the show needs to be positioned. Making sure we are not too close to the buildings and perfectly synced to the rest of the experience. We combined strengths with TwoFiftyK to create an experience the world has never seen. Finding new ways to do drone shows in the future, combining projection mapping with the drone show as an extension of the canvas. All of this perfectly synced with a live performance with The Killers

Pushing Limits

All eyes are on Las Vegas next season. A new street race on the calendar with the Las Vegas Strip as a center point of the race. This year we created a unique F1-inspired drone show on a location where we combined all the disciplines to create something special.

Formula 1 Las Vegas launch party

After five years in the making, DRIFT and Drone Stories turned into reality their dream to bring Franchise Freedom to the cultural capital of the world. For the first drone flight ever done over New York’s Central Park, our award-winning performance was intended as a gift to the people of the city. Scaling the artwork to 1,000 drones from the original 300, the flight over the iconic park is the largest display of the aerial sculpture to date.&nbsp;Premiering in 2017 at Art Basel Miami, Franchise Freedom is a creation by art duo DRIFT, Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, in collaboration with Drone Stories’ founder, Lucas van Oostrum. In 2019, the aerial sculpture won Dezeen Magazine's ‘Lighting Design of the Year.’

THE STORY BEHIND THE LIGHTS

<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/franchise-freedom/">Franchise Freedom</a> in New York had the intention to create a moment of connection for people from all boroughs and contribute to the artistic spirit and identity of the city.&nbsp;The one-night event was free and open to the public. Audiences had the chance to see Franchise Freedom over three separate viewings on the night of Saturday, October 21st.&nbsp;&nbsp;The large-scale piece of approximately 10 minutes duration was visible from various sightlines, attracting an audience of tens of thousands at the city’s iconic park.

THE FIRST DRONE PERFORMANCE OVER CENTRAL PARK

A poetic blend of nature and technological innovation, Franchise Freedom is a kinetic aerial sculpture based on an algorithm developed from over ten years of research into starling behavior. The site-specific aerial sculpture reacts to its surroundings, creating the illusion of a flock of birds floating in unison above the night sky.&nbsp;Franchise Freedom is a poetic illustration of how we, as humans, strive to live autonomously within societies defined by rules and conventions. Although the patterns seem random, and the impression of such a flock makes us think of freedom, the behavior of these birds is completely orchestrated and subject to many rules and survival instincts.

INSPIRED BY NATURE

This artistic feat was brought to fruition thanks to the support of the New York City Mayor’s Office, NYC Parks Therme US, Fishko Inc., and Nova Sky Stories.

PARTNERS

For all of our performances, we use NOVA Shooting Star™ drones, awarded the PeTA award for replacing firework displays and thereby helping companion animals, wildlife, and humans who experience trauma from noise and pollution. Working closely with the support of the New York Mayor's Office and NYC Parks, we made sure to receive all necessary approvals for the Central Park performances. As found by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.audubon.org/frontpage">National Audubon Society</a> and other experts, drones do not negatively impact bird migration patterns or habitats.

TECHNOLOGY, ART & NATURE

Our<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/about-our-drone-show-company/">&nbsp;drone show company</a> loves to tell thought-provoking stories in the sky. Using the sky as our canvas, we have a track record of producing art and commercial drone shows worldwide. Franchise Freedom has flown all over the globe, premiering in 2017 at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/franchise-freedom-art-basel-miami/">Art Basel Miami</a>, followed by shows at Burning Man in 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNgQjBy1VA0">NASA’s Kennedy Space Center</a> in 2019, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnuEJLfJQdE">Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam</a> in 2020, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XicmC-uC1D4">UNICEF’s Gala</a> in 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;Have you seen this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/burning-man-2022/">Burning Man 2022 drone&nbsp;show</a>&nbsp;or our recently flown&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/austin-city-limits-acl-festival-2023/">Austin City Limits ACL Festival drone show</a>? Are you interested in what a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-show-cost/">drone show costs</a> or want to find out how we create a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/magazine/drone-show-proposal/">drone show proposal</a>? Or are you ready to make magic happen in the sky?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/contact/">Contact us</a> today.

Storytelling pioneers

Together with Studio DRIFT, our open-air public art performance illuminated New York’s night sky for the first-ever drone performance over Central Park!

Franchise Freedom in New York Central Park

To celebrate Formula One’s return to the City of Entertainment, we created a drone show matching the glitz and glamour of Vegas and the world’s greatest motor racing championship. Kicking off the week leading to the highly anticipated race on Saturday night, we designed a show where all disciplines- lighting, projection, and music- came together to create a spectacle fitting for the Grand Prix.

As a nod to the city’s ever-lasting glamour, the show kicked off with the famous ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign, transitioning to an F1 racing car, the Formula 1 logo, and various formations to get everyone revved up. Timed to the millisecond for F1’s grand opening ceremony, our drones flew alongside the star-studded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNnim_mZlBM">inauguration performance</a>.

WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS

As part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/formula-1-las-vegas-launch-drone-show/">F1 Vegas Launch Party</a> in 2022,&nbsp; Drone Stories and TwofiftyK created two shows flying above Caesars Palace: one at the front, visible from the Strip, and one at the back, for a VIP event. Flying from the roof of Caesars Palace was an incredible challenge we conquered to create an experience the world has never seen. All of it perfectly synced with a live music performance.

BACK IN SIN CITY

Our<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/about-our-drone-show-company/">&nbsp;drone show company</a> loves to push the boundaries of what’s possible through creative storytelling. Using the sky as our canvas, we have a track record of producing mesmerizing drone shows worldwide. Including the first-ever drone show to fly over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/new-york-central-park-franchise-freedom/">Central Park</a>, Franchise Freedom. Premiering in 2017 at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/franchise-freedom-art-basel-miami/">Art Basel Miami</a>, with shows following at Burning Man in 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNgQjBy1VA0">NASA’s Kennedy Space Center</a> in 2019, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnuEJLfJQdE">Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam</a> in 2020, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XicmC-uC1D4">UNICEF’s Gala</a> in 2022.&nbsp;Have you seen this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/burning-man-2022/">Burning Man 2022 drone&nbsp;show</a>&nbsp;or our recently flown&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/austin-city-limits-acl-festival-2023/">Austin City Limits ACL Festival drone show</a>? Are you interested in what a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-show-cost/">drone show costs</a> or want to find out how we create a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/magazine/drone-show-proposal/">drone show proposal</a>? Or are you ready to make magic happen in the sky?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/contact/">Contact us</a> today.

STORYTELLING PIONEERS

With all eyes on Las Vegas hosting the F1 2023 Grand Prix, our drones flew over the Las Vegas Strip for its opening ceremony, celebrating the first F1 championship in town since 1982.

FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS 2023 GRAND PRIX

Hamilton and Russel kicked off AMG X IWC’s Speed City with a performance on the track in anticipation of the Formula 1 Las Vegas 2023 Grand Prix. Our drones interacted with them and the racetrack alongside both drivers, interacting with them and the track for a show unlike any before. Uniquely designed and programmed to interact with the racetrack, our drones flew off the ground at a stunning 2 meters.

In celebration of their long-standing partnership, Mercedes-AMG and IWC Schaffhausen unveiled their outdoor pop-up venue, Speed City, for the Grand Prix with a spectacular event. Accompanied by our drones and a stunning light show by TwoFiftyK, we raced under the Vegas night sky. On kicking off Speed City, Russel said: “It was spectacular and a lot of fun; a fantastic way to kick off the Las Vegas race week.”

AMG X IWC’S LAS VEGAS SPEED CITY

As part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/formula-1-las-vegas-launch-drone-show/">F1 Vegas Launch Party</a> in 2022,&nbsp; Drone Stories and TwofiftyK created two shows flying above Caesars Palace: one at the front, visible from the Strip, and one at the back, for a VIP event. Flying from the roof of Caesars Palace was an incredible challenge we conquered to create an experience the world has never seen. All of it perfectly synced with a live performance by The Killers.

Flying over the Nevada desert to illuminate the Vegas sky, our drones flew alongside Lewis Hamilton and George Russel for a spectacular on-track performance kicking off AMG X IWC’s Speed City.

​​MERCEDES-AMG X IWC SPEED CITY F1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX

KARGO wanted to push limits on what our medium can do within the advertising world. This show was the first time ever displaying the evolution and future of advertising. 600 drones ended up displaying the storyline in the sky.&nbsp;

Introducing a groundbreaking moment at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, KARGO, Tape, and Drone Stories have joined forces to unveil the world's first-ever drone light performance telling a historical marketing narrative. Combining cutting-edge technology with artistic innovation, this collaboration captivated the advertising audience frequenting Cannes Lions like never before.&nbsp; &nbsp;With a rich history spanning over six decades, the Cannes Lions Festival has been at the forefront of celebrating creative excellence and pushing the boundaries of imagination. As the global benchmark for creativity in advertising and communications, Cannes Lions provides the perfect platform for this historic debut, showcasing the fusion of art and technology in a mesmerizing marketing display in the skies. As the drones take flight, they gracefully choreographi a spectacle that narrates the evolution of media.

First time at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

Because Cannes has a beautiful bay, we wanted to push the limit on where we could display the show. We decided to use a barge to build up the airfield, move it to the center of the bay and have the best viewing location one could imagine. The 41 by 11 meter barge was the carrier of a 600 drone fleet which was the highlight of the Cannes Lions Festival 2023.&nbsp;

First time launching from a barge

Our <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/about-our-drone-show-company/">drone show company</a> has flown many different drone shows over the years. You can find all our <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/">drone shows</a>. By the way, are you interested in what a <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-show-cost/">drone show costs</a> or finding out how we create a <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/magazine/drone-show-proposal/">drone show proposal</a>? &nbsp;

Browse more drone light shows

KARGO wanted to push limits on what our medium can do within the advertising world. This show was the first time ever to display the evolution and future of advertising. 600 drones ended up displaying the storyline in the sky.

KARGO Cannes Lions Festival 2023

DRIFT’s award-winning drone sculpture, which premiered in Miami Beach during Art Basel in 2017, returned to the city for an exceptional performance over the roof of the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC).&nbsp;Franchise Freedom is a flying sculpture with drones performing the flight patterns of starlings. Artists Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn explored the concept of freedom by looking in depth at bird murmuration patterns studying the group versus the individual. This behavior is imitated in their work which consists of a flying swarm of hundreds of illuminated drones controlled by Machine learning systems and Artificial Intelligence. The essence of the work is to establish a moment of emotional connection between the audience, the environment, the music, and the drones.

Story behind the lights

An artwork that uses the sky as its canvas, Franchise Freedom has the ability to reach a large audience at the same time. The installation marks 20 years of Art Basel in Miami Beach and is free and accessible to all.&nbsp;The performance took place over the Art Basel Convention Center and could have been viewed from all over South Beach.&nbsp;DRIFT is joining Art Basel's 20th-anniversary Gift-Giving Campaign to the STEAM+ program, whose mission is to bring active artists into the seven public schools of the city of Miami Beach.

Anniversary of Franchise Freedom

DRIFT presents aerial performance Franchise Freedom in celebration of Art Basel Miami Beach's 20th anniversary.

Franchise Freedom Art Basel Miami

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Van Gogh Museum wanted to do something special. A way to collectively commemorate this impressive milestone and honor Vincent Van Gogh. We’re pretty Vincent would very much approve of our public Van Gogh drone show with 200 drones!&nbsp;

In a groundbreaking feat, DRIFT and Drone Stories mark the historic moment with a drone show above the grandeur of Amsterdam's Museumplein. Be captivated as the drones take flight, transforming the night sky into a canvas of ethereal beauty, celebrating the legacy of the Van Gogh Museum's 50 years of artistic brilliance. The enchanting allure of Vincent van Gogh's timeless creations resulted in a art drone show simultaneously showing the past and the present, combining modern art with contemporary art.&nbsp;

First time at Museumplein

Lonneke Gordijn, the visionary artist behind DRIFT and Drone Stories, draws inspiration from the artistry of Vincent van Gogh, embarking on a journey to translate his works into unprecedented creations. With a deep understanding of van Gogh's brushstrokes, Gordijn&nbsp; pioneers a groundbreaking approach, employing pixels as brushstrokes, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Through this innovative technique, she crafts an immersive experience where drones become the vessels of light, weaving an enchanting tapestry in the sky, bringing van Gogh's timeless masterpieces to life in a manner never seen before.

DRIFT founder Lonneke explains

Our <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/about-our-drone-show-company/">drone show company</a> has flown many different <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/">drone shows</a> over the years, such as this <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/burning-man-2022/">Burning Man 2022 drone show</a>. By the way, are you interested in what a <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-show-cost/">drone show costs</a> or want to find out how we create a <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/magazine/drone-show-proposal/">drone show proposal</a>? &nbsp;&nbsp;

We love telling stories in the sky

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Van Gogh Museum wanted to do something special. A way to collectively commemorate this impressive milestone and honor Vincent Van Gogh. We’re pretty Vincent would very much approve of our public Van Gogh drone show with 200 drones!

Van Gogh Museum 50 years

Marking the first drone shows in Austin City Limits Fest history, our drones flew over Austin's skyline for two spectacular performances. The ACL festival drone show kicked off the festival's opening weekend with an additional show kicking off the second ACL Fest weekend. With the city as a backdrop, these aerial performances celebrated music, art, and the city of Austin in true ACL Fest spirit. As one of the top music festivals in the US, ACL Fest is renowned for its line-up, featuring major headliners and up-and-coming artists, bringing together a diverse and welcoming community every year.

ACL Fest welcomes music enthusiasts with an epic line-up over two weekends. Our drones flew over the festival on Friday, October 6th, and Friday, October 13th, kicking off both festival weekends.&nbsp;

Double the drones, double the fun

The ACL Festival has grown to 2 weekends, 9 stages, and 100+ performances. There’s plenty to do in between sets, including a mini-fest for kids and photogenic spaces. To fully embody the festival, its performances, and its diverse crowd, we created a custom drone show highlighting ACL Fest’s engagement with the arts and Austin’s community. As a nod to the city’s history, the drone light performance formed sequences such as a tree representing Austin’s over 500-year-old Treaty Oak. Adding a modern twist, the show also displayed striking geometrical formations for an even more magical view of the city’s skyline.

Our custom Austin City Limits ACL Festival drone show

Our <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/about-our-drone-show-company/">drone show company</a> creates and shares purpose-driven stories that forever change your audience. Nothing is impossible, as you can see from our track record. We have flown many <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/">drone shows</a> over the years, such as this <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-shows/burning-man-2022/">Burning Man 2022 drone show</a>. By the way, are you interested in what a <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/drone-show-cost/">drone show costs</a> or want to find out how we create a <a href="https://www.dronestories.com/magazine/drone-show-proposal/">drone show proposal</a>? Or are you ready to make magic happen in the sky?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dronestories.com/contact/">Contact us</a> today.

TURNING THE SKY INTO (Y)OUR CANVAS

Kicking off Austin City Limits Fest 2023, our drones flew over Austin's city skyline for the first drone shows in the festival's history. Celebrating music, art, and the vibrant culture of the city, the energetic atmosphere of ACL Fest brings music enthusiasts together every year, this time enjoying two unforgettable spectacles in the sky!

Austin City Limits ACL Festival 2023

ECD celebrated the 25th anniversary and the brand’s momentous return to Las Vegas after a turbulent 2020 marred by an explosive and controversial postponement. We flew a custom show featuring three large drones with 600 drones above a crowd of 165.000 people to mark the weekend and ECD’s birthday bash. Thus, this EDC Las Vegas drone show was the perfect way to celebrate your birthday the 2021 way!

3D figures were created based on stages from previous years that transformed into multiple polychromatic patterns. The drones changed from the iconic Electronic Daisy Carnaval owl to a silhouette of the unmistakable cathedral stag. Also, viewers saw the silhouettes of two people embracing each other under a glittering heart, among other configurations. In this way, we utilized our 11 minutes of flight time to the maximum. Giving attendees a complete historic overview of 25 years of EDC, from which 10 years in Vegas.&nbsp;

Multiple Polychromatic Patterns

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway, about 15 miles (or 21 kilometers) from the Las Vegas strip. Las Vegas, also known as the City of Lights… our massive EDC Las Vegas drone show certainly strengthened that claim!&nbsp;

STORY IN THE SKIES FROM…

DroneDJ's <a href="https://dronedj.com/2021/10/25/dance-music-vegas-drone-show/">article's header</a> might just be our favorite one yet, stating "Dance music fans can't stop gushing over this Las Vegas drone show." <a href="https://edm.com/gear-tech/watch-mesmerizing-edc-las-vegas-2021-drone-show">EDM</a> also did us the honor of giving attention to our show. They called our EDC Las Vegas drone show a "dazzling drone display'". Further in the article, they describe our drone performance as a "you had to be there moment". Thanks guys, we are already looking forward to our next Las Vegas drone show!&nbsp;&nbsp;

QUOTES ABOUT THE EDC LAS VEGAS DRONE SHOW

More about our drone shows

How do you celebrate your birthday the 2021 way? Yes, by flying 600 drones in front of a crowd of 165.000 people. That's exactly what we did for EDC in Las Vegas.

drone_stories_edc_las_vegas

EDC Las Vegas

We had the opportunity to express a message of collective inspiration, that weaves technology with tradition, light and darkness, and mind with spirit. Our intention was to render magic in the skies of the Playa and inspire humanity to a common dream of unity. We are grateful to be able to contribute to the mission of Burning Man, which is to produce the annual event known as Burning Man and to guide, nurture and protect the more permanent community created by its culture.

The Playa is a place where we can experiment with the magic we are creating. At this year's 2022 Burn we had a beautiful opportunity to express a message with technology that inspires people to come closer to each other and to the dream of unity.&nbsp;&nbsp;‘Space Invaders’ is an ode to the Japanese game that was released in 1978. With ‘Man vs. Machine’ we translated the interesting relationship between human beings and the machines that are becoming part of our lives.&nbsp; Our ‘Endless Show’ is flown to inspire attendees to dream big. Nothing is impossible! The technique enabled us to fly a show for 2,5 hours. More to come soon… Our last show ‘Spirit of the Man’ is a special, iconic, custom-designed Burning Man show. It is a translation of the man walking around the playa, burning down and rising from the ashes.&nbsp;

More about the Burning Man 2022 drone shows

Check out more of our drone shows

Together with our friends from DRIFT, we lit up the Playa at Burning Man 2022, that took place from 28 August until 5 September. With 1000 drones, 4 different show designs and 15 shows in total, there are only 2 words to describe how we used the Black Rock City sky as our canvas: absolutely legendary!

Burning Man 2022

Normally, it is impossible to fly above people because of safety reasons. However, for this special drone show, we found a way to enable this totally new experience. The cages were put in the middle of the fly-zone. With drones flying over the viewers, the way you see a show is totally different, because your perspective is new. You feel like you’re in the middle of the show. In fact, you are in the middle of the show. This meant attendees experienced and enjoyed the show in ways never done before.

The Story Behind the Lights

Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. With this new concept, people experienced a drone show from a new kind of perspective. From down below, you get pulled into the show. Definitely one for the books!

Story in the skies from…

The drone show was performed above a beautiful bay. Whilst the performance visualized a dance of drones, the water created a beautiful reflection of the drone lights. A totally new dimension to the show was thus created.&nbsp;

Water adding another dimension to this drone show

Learn more about our drone shows

We love to challenge ourselves. That is why, for this special private event, we did something no one has done before. We used cages to fly over people...

Live Through This Cabo event

Live through this

Spotify x ADE was a show where Spotify promoted its new DJ Mixes. There were four shows designed for 4 different DJs: Tiesto, Blond:ish, Aluna, and Yung Bea(Checknaam) We designed the shows specifically on the music the DJ’s making the show special and unique. Light patterns designed on the music, together with the movements of the drones, created a magical experience for the people who were watching.

We love to create and share purpose-driven stories. Creating a show in collaboration with Spotify in our home city was unique. 4 custom designed shows for the launch of Spotify's new DJ mixes, together with Tiësto, Aluna, BLOND:ISH and Yung Bae. Every DJ had their own lighting patterns and movements which was created on their personal DJ Mix. A magical experience created with hundreds of drones could have been seen every hour between 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. We flew above the IJ, close to the sprawling NDSM site, where at the same time the first day of Into the Woods ADE Festival was taking place. Each show lasted 10 minutes and gave visitors extra reasons to celebrate the beginning of the ADE weekend.&nbsp;

Lighting up the sky of Amsterdam

It was the first time Spotify did a drone show in Amsterdam, collaborating with the biggest dance event in The Netherlands, Amsterdam Dance Event.

Spotify x ADE 2022

To create this artwork, <a href="https://studiodrift.com/">Studio Drift</a> studied the natural flight behavior of starlings and translated it into specially developed software built into the drones. Franchise Freedom is a poetic illustration of how we, as humans, strive to live autonomously within societies defined by rules and conventions. Although the patterns seem random, and the impression of such a flock makes us think of freedom, the behavior of these birds is completely orchestrated and subject to many rules and survival instincts.

There is a particular kind of beauty in watching these sudden decisions by thousands of individuals and their reactions to each other. If each bird acted independently, complete chaos would ensue. Humans, like birds, find safety in a group. At the same time, they are forced to act according to many rules on which society operates. Those who prefer complete individual freedom to these rules are forced to operate outside of our culture. What is the perfect balance between the two? Is freedom an illusion? Each performance is site-specific and unique, and the drones will respond to their environment in an unpredictable, autonomous way. Their technology is based on ongoing university research into the behavior of swarms. The principles of self-organization have become increasingly relevant in our ever-changing world.

Is Freedom an Illusion?

various places such as Art Basel Miami, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, Liberation Day in Rotterdam, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Burning Man, Amsterdam above the IJ and Unicef in Capri. The music for this installation was composed and played by pianist Joep Beving.

Franchise Freedom invites you to look at and learn from the patterns and survival mechanisms of nature. Life has been on earth for over 3 billion years and has its instruction manual on what works and what is appropriate here. Why don't we look at nature's patterns more often and find our solutions there?

Look and learn from Franchise Freedom

Want to know more about us?

Franchise Freedom is a flying sculpture by Studio Drift and Drone Stories. This invigorating artwork is located at the intersection of technology, science and art. Hundreds of drones visualize an autonomously flying swarm of starlings, exposing the tension between individual freedom and safety in numbers. The ultimate goal being to provoke the mind and give the viewer food for thought.

Franchise Freedom Event

Franchise Freedom

Based on different scenes of the movie, we created a show that was personal and recognisable for family and friends. The design we made was very organic but also geometric. A perfect balance between the shapes and movements, leading to a cohesive tribute to the movie. And a once-in-a-lifetime birthday party drone show!

Yes, we are the first to introduce drones to Montenegro and Montenegro to drones, seeing as this was the very first drone show to take place above the beautiful country. In order to make this happen, we worked together with the authorities from Montenegro. A first birthday party drone show, where hopefully many more will follow.

Montenegro, drones. Drones, Montenegro

at this birthday party in Portonovi Montenegro, there was the perfect spot to experience the show. Looking out over a beautiful lake with music that was synced to the show, surrounded by people literally and figuratively closest to the client.

What a way to celebrate your birthday. Extra special because the Drone Stories team can tailor the show to your wishes, ensuring a one-of-a-kind birthday party drone show. Naturally, this goes for every kind of drone shows created by Drone Stories though!

Birthday party drone show

Find out more about us

This secret cliënt has a not-so-secret love for a certain movie. Thus, for his birthday, we created an entire, personalized show surrounding this movie. Can you recognize which movie we're talking about?

Happy birthday! Event

Happy birthday!

The US government banned the official festival, but this did not stop people from coming to Black Rock City. Burning art installations were also banned. In order not to completely lose the ritual of the Burn, we brought light to the playa with our drones. This was a perfect opportunity to invent an eco-friendly new “drone man''.

We performed three different shows at the Playa: one on Friday morning, one on Friday night, and one on Saturday night. According to the audience, the pieces that flew were memorable. Not only aesthetically but emotionally. On Friday morning, a tribute was paid to George Mueller, founder of Robot Heart and friend to many in the Burns community. He passed away suddenly last year, so we decided to join the Robot Heart community in honoring him. Friday night, homage was paid to some of the works of art from the past. This was a special show because we flew above a baseball cage. That performance made us the first to fly above people, without endangering anyone. It changed the whole perspective of the show. Saturday was all about the most recognizable show of all. We started the performance with Franchise Freedom building up to the week's big moment. A huge man was revealed along with an excellent musical build-up made by Unders Music. This reveal shocked the playa. No one expected that a man could be flown 300 feet high. After the man was ‘burned’, the airfield was surrounded by people. Grateful and loving as you would expect from a Burning Man.

Two Days, Three Different shows

Black Rock City during Free Burn 2021. The Burning Man drone show is one of our never to forget Drone Stories moments!

For our Burning Man drone show, we sure had some challenges to overcome. First, getting everything there was a hustle because of the lag of resources. And what do you think about charging batteries at 40 degrees Celsius? Also, we didn't stick to 1 Burning Man drone show but flew 3 shows in 2 days. Making sure all safety measures were air-tight is pretty hard with 20.000 people being free to walk or bike everywhere. In the end, everything worked out though!&nbsp;

More about the Burning Man drone show

Burning Man 2021

Free Burn 2021

Because their travel memories are so special to the bridal couple, we challenged ourselves to create a show to top them. The combining of different show elements was our answer to this challenge. Using water projection during the show and fireworks at the end made the entire show stand out. The combination of these elements created new memories of precious, past moments. A brand-new story, serving as the first chapter of their new lives together.

this private event was watched by the bride and groom to be from their own, intimate space on a secret Greek beach, together with their friends and family.

We love to use the sky as our canvas to (re)tell stories. This wedding drone show is the perfect example of how you can create new memories through old ones. Showing how the couple, amongst others, visited beautiful mountains and flew in a hot air balloon, let them relive the moment. However, it ensured their travels memories now also take them back to one of their most special moments of all, their wedding!&nbsp;

A wedding drone show full of old and new memories

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This wedding was a very special show. We combined various show elements with drones. In fact, this was the first time ever water projection was used in combination with drones. Because the bridal couple love to travel together, we created unique flashbacks in the skies surrounding their precious travel moments.

A wedding with old and new memories

Samsung showed the world that the tech industry is still booming and the company remains at the forefront of creating the latest innovations. Simultaneously, they promoted new technological advances through groundbreaking technological capabilities. In this case, with Drone Stories’ abilities to create art in the air that transformed before the eyes of the spectators.

250 drones flew high in the sky above this beautiful body of water, depicting shapes and movements for Samsung. They outlined some of their new technical features and movements of products. At the end of the Samsung drone show, a QR code was displayed for the audience to scan. When viewers scanned the code, they were directed to a page where they could learn more about Samsung’s latest foldable smartphones. Now that’s innovation for y’all!

Completed with a QR-code

Amsterdam above the IJ. The drone show is developed by Drone Stories in collaboration with Blauw Gras.

Fun fact: the Samsung drone show was part of an online promotion. Naturally, people could attend the show at the Amsterdam IJ. However, people could also tune in online. This resulted in the Samsung drone show being shared online by various media outlets and many individuals.&nbsp;

Hybrid Samsung drone show

More drone shows by us?

Above Amsterdam’s largest river, the famous IJ, Drone Stories was given the honor of highlighting the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 4 5G with a stunning drone show brought to life by 250 drones. The foldability of the new phones and the innovative pens they work with were unique features they wanted to portray and share with the audience through the show.

Samsung’s Foldable Phone Launch

The Day Trip Festival LA drone show broadcasted the message “WE BACK BABY” to announce that Insomniac productions had returned and they would bring people together again. Abstract shapes flowed together that intertwined with the timing of the music’s evolution, and brought Day Trip’s logo to life in light. This was the first festival hosted by Insomniac since the COVID-19 Pandemic. We're sure back, baby!

For the audience, the Day Trip Festival LA drone show changed the way people interpreted the possibilities of drones. Exciting unique images and dimensional structures were created with the drones that delighted the eyes of the audience and left them in a state of awe.

Delighted the Audience

Los Angeles during the Day Trip 2021 festival, where tens of thousands of attendees cheered to the words of ‘We back baby’. An unforgettable moment!

Apart from telling the world that ‘we back, baby’, the 200 drones created recognisable outlines of an eye, a colorful peace sign, and wished people a happy 4th. What a way to celebrate the return of Insomniac's festivals!

Day Trip Festival LA drone show

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At Day Trip LA 2021, we flew a drone show on July 4th to celebrate both the significance of Independence Day and the opportunity for people to come together and celebrate again.

Day Trip Festival LA

Disney+ wanted to promote National Streaming Day. For this purpose, we created an 8-minute choreographed Disney+ drone show, which was part of the accompanying film shoot.

240 drones flew above the Pier to create the outlines of the icons and characters of some of the most popular shows streamed on the Disney bundle (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN). Illustrations created in the night sky included Grogu from The Mandalorian on Disney+, Captain America's shield from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, outfits from The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu, and an MLB bat and baseball for ESPN+.&nbsp;

Recognisable illustrations in the Sky

Above the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. We developed this drone show in collaboration with Epidemic for Disney+.

Did you know National Streaming Day has been celebrated since 2014? It started off as a marketing stunt, however, since then streaming services have grown in double digits. The Disney+ drone show was part of a larger celebration. For example, a sneak peek at upcoming programs, announcements of new summer series and movies, and the hosting of classic movies and shows were also included.

Disney+ drone show for National Streaming Day

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The Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles was the setting for our choreographed light show in honor of National Streaming Day. The production was organized by the online streaming service Disney+.

National Streaming Day with Disney+

With Nederland geeft licht (the Netherlands lights up), we had the honor to work with BLØF, one of the most renowned bands of the Netherlands. Together, we created a show that was synced to the song Horizon by Bløf. The show was in perfect synergie with the song's lyrics, using the rhythm of the song to create a memorable, moving KWF drone show. The show represents the support for the people suffering from cancer, and is also meant to bring strength to everyone affected by this terrible disease.

The total show was broadcasted on national television, where KWF, BLØF and Drone Stories are proud to have made this tribute to the fight against cancer.

Well-known Dutch celebrities endorsing the KWF traveled through the Netherlands, collecting stories. In this way, ensuring they could shed light on everyone having to do with cancer. The KWF drone show was the perfect embodiment of the sharing of these stories. &nbsp;&nbsp;

KWF drone show as part of a larger message

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Every year, KWF initiates a lantern walk. These lanterns are the symbol of supporting the ones that are affected by cancer. However, due to covid-19 it wasn’t possible to hold this lantern walk. To show support for KWF and all the people suffering from cancer, we did something special to ensure the lantern walk could still take place.s

052 Austin City Limits ACL Festival 2023

THE STORY BEHIND THE LIGHTS

Double the drones, double the fun

Our custom Austin City Limits ACL Festival drone show

TURNING THE SKY INTO (Y)OUR CANVAS

LET’S DESIGN YOUR DRONE LIGHT SHOW