Many companies want to be seen as “innovative” and new, but the reality is that it’s easier said than done. When planning corporate events, seminars, or presentations, there is a fine line between wanting to stand out and striving to limit technical difficulties and frustrations. While the latest technology may excite your attendees, it could frustrate them (and you) more if something goes wrong. What sort of advanced AV technology is worth the risk at these events? And, even more important, how do you make the decision in which events to take the jump and in which to play it safe? Read on to find out.
You likely know the feeling of spending time, money, and energy incorporating new technology, just for it not to work. Even better, it can seem like these devices choose the worst times to experience setbacks and difficulties, like in the middle of an event that you spent months planning. Immediate panic, frustration, and chaos ensues. You think to yourself — “why do I even try something new when there are proven, simple techniques that have worked for years?”
We’re here to tell you: there are in fact times when taking that leap of faith is worth it. This blog will outline types of AV tech worth the risk, when old reliable is the better choice, and how to decipher if an upcoming event is your time to shine by incorporating the newest technology.
Go Big Or Go Home
It’s the age-old question — is the risk worth the reward? And now you may be thinking: is there ever a time when the reward is big enough to risk choosing new audio-visual equipment at an event? The “reward” may not seem worth it, but there are some situations where incorporating the latest and greatest AV tech can be beneficial.
The main reason for incorporating “risky” AV-tech devices is simply to set your event apart, making it memorable and leaving a long-lasting impression on attendees. It can allow your event, and your company, to set trends and stay one step ahead of the competition. If you’re looking for some innovative ideas to incorporate into your next corporate event, consider such features as interactive touchscreens, intricate lighting designs, immersive audio experiences and 360 degree live streaming for remote participants.
Old Reliable For The Win
Even as technology continues to improve and new devices pop up each day, there are some situations and events where simpler is better and experience outweighs newness. Deciding between types of technology requires an assessment of your event’s goals, audience, budget and technical requirements. Board meetings, smaller-scale conferences, events with budget constraints and events hosted in more remote areas are usually best equipped with seasoned and trusted av tech equipment — or old reliable, as we like to call it.
To paint a picture of what is included in this category of technology, think overhead projectors, slide projectors, a handheld microphone, and basic lighting and audio systems. While these tried-and-true pieces of tech are anything but exciting, they’re more likely to get the job done with minimal problems. Choosing proven and familiar technology can allow event producers and organizers to sleep at night, leaving less room for nightmares as to what could go wrong.
Stuck In The Middle? Here’s How To Choose
A single phrase defines the best time to toe the line between seamless execution and taking risks when it comes to your AV tech at corporate events: on-site support. If your event is equipped with on-site AV-tech professionals, ready to tackle any and every difficulty that occurs, you can rest easy when implementing new devices.
Within a matter of minutes, on-site support professionals can work behind the scenes, most of the time going unnoticed, to fix various problems on the spot. Instead of getting bogged down with user troubleshooting — or even worse, wasting the time of your attendees — trained professionals can spot problems from a mile away and fix them surreptitiously. In the event of a worst-case scenario, if the problem cannot be fixed, these professionals can even provide an alternative solution that allows your event to continue running smoothly.
Interested in taking the leap of faith and incorporating the newest technology at your next corporate event, or struggling to decipher if your upcoming event would be better equipped with proven and familiar devices? Visit our event production solutions page to learn more.
