Recent Posts

Jan 06, 2020 by Michelle Bruno
While collecting business cards from trade show prospects has its advantages—no learning curve, no pre-planning required, no need to write contact details down—it’s a practice that lacks in so many other ways. Using a digital lead capture solution, especially one provided by the official lead retrieval provider at the show, offers exhibitors a number of important benefits. Speed It may seem like asking for a business card is fast, and if asking was all that was required to proces...  

Dec 27, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
Considering what’s at stake, the budget approval process can sometimes be stressful. You want to roll out the most successful and impressive event possible given your budget parameters. One of the first steps to reaching this goal is getting your audio-visual budget approved. Here are three steps you should take to ensure a favorable outcome. Do your background research As with anything in life, nothing worth having comes easy, and high-quality event audio-visual is no exception. W...  

Dec 23, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
As we set out to embark on a new decade, we look forward to a year filled with technological advancements that promise to make our events even more personalized, interactive, and engaging than ever before. The latest buzz surrounding fully immersive experiences made possible through multisensory stimulation and the creation of mixed reality environments will continue to gain traction in 2020. Here are some of our predictions for the tech trends the event industry can expect in the coming year. ...  

Dec 16, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
Here we are, on the verge of wrapping up not only 2019, but an entire decade loaded with technological innovation. Event tech has certainly evolved over the last decade. The first iPad was released back in 2010, which is when event planners were just starting to make use of wireless handheld devices to simplify audience participation. Projection screens were also just coming into their own at that time, though certainly not with the advanced capabilities of today’s screens. Fast forward to...  

Dec 12, 2019 by Michelle Bruno
Another Expo! Expo!, the annual conference and exhibition of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, has come and gone. The “Show of Shows” was held December 3-5 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The annual event epitomized where event technology finds itself as 2019 comes to a close. Digital attendee marketing is coming of age Not long ago, the attendee-marketing stack was dominated by traditional tools, such as email, direct mail, and print adve...  

Dec 06, 2019 by SmartSource
There is science behind the benefits of designing a booth display that delivers sensory experiences five different ways: sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch. Engaging some or all of the senses focuses an individual’s attention, evokes strong emotions, and calls to mind pleasant memories (think Grandma’s fresh baked cookies). Exhibition displays also have important work to do: influence a sale, educate attendees, and deliver brand messaging. There is evidence that multisensory booth desig...  

Nov 26, 2019 by Michelle Bruno
The Audience response system (ARS) has been a fixture at events for decades. Before Smartphones and tablets, audience members used colored paper or numbered paddles to respond to presenter questions or vote. Today, software has replaced hand-raised objects as a more valuable, flexible and impactful way to connect with an audience. But using an ARS sparingly or only to collect simple responses is the definition of underutilization. There are better reasons to deploy an audience response syste...  

Oct 30, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
We hear it all the time: today’s business leaders are expected to do more with less. That often means taking on more responsibility and producing better results with less staff, budget, and time. Luckily, there are a myriad of innovative technologies available to help them achieve these lofty expectations. Meetings – which have gained a reputation of being too lengthy, frequent, and unfocused – are one aspect of life in an office setting or at a trade convention that could use an efficienc...  

Oct 25, 2019 by Michelle Bruno
General sessions are the stars of a conference—plenty of lights, camera and action. However, because they’re also an opportunity to reinforce a message or educate and motivate participants, it’s important to avoid being all show and no substance. Here’s how to pack a punch with purpose. Know your audience Before putting pencil to paper on a production blueprint, planners need to understand who the audience is. Demographics, such as age, gender and job title provide clues to what m...  

Sep 24, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
If your employees didn’t share photos from last year’s company holiday party on social media, did it even happen? Don’t let your holiday party fall victim to the stereotypical “same-old-same-old” corporate gathering. From the tried and true to the new and novel, here are ten audio-visual technologies that are sure to wow guests at your upcoming party or special event. 1.Festive Lighting Creative lighting can be used to take almost any venue from ho-hum to whoa! Even the coo...