Here are some tech-based productivity options that you may have overlooked or not previously considered—and better yet, the functionality of these items are useful beyond on-site management, they can all be incorporated into your daily job to enhance productivity and/or just make life easier.
Event technology
Articles, new, and trends for event technology from the PYM community and industry experts.
10 lessons for creating social media videos
When you’re using a DIY approach to creating video content, it’s important to master the basics. It can be a steep learning curve, and I’m still learning, but here are important lessons I’ve learned so far.
3D projection mapping for innovative content delivery
3D projection mapping has the power to transform environments and event experiences. Check out these great examples from Montreal.
5 fabulous ways to use drones in the event industry
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been around for a lot longer than most people realize. The first drones were used by the Austrian military in their attack on Venice in 1849. Quadcopters have been around since 1920. Mini-drones and quadcopters have been used for photography for almost a decade. As drones have come down in […]
10 tips for creating interactive hybrid events
Here are some tips to ensure that your hybrid event does not turn into a “snoozefest.”
The Meeting Room of the Future
The German Convention Bureau provides a glimpse into the meeting room of the future.
The robots are coming
The use of robots in the hospitality industry is playing out full-scale in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture, an enormous theme park dedicated to imperial Holland, which is host to the Henn-na Hotel (literal meaning: Strange Hotel), the world’s first hotel staffed by robots.
More industry challenges and solutions
From planner-supplier relationships, AV management and safety, here are more industry challenges and solutions.
4 apps to help plan your next meeting
Four top apps for planning your next meeting–along with video overviews to help you get started.
Pokémon Go and real-world augmented reality
The real-world application of augmented reality in pop culture has officially begun thanks to Pokémon Go–and it will impact the meeting and event industry.
Live-stream your events for free (or on the cheap)
So you don’t have the budget, time and/or inclination to set up a costly live online video stream of your event. So what. Free and inexpensive solutions abound that utilize hardware you’ve already got.
Strategies and considerations for low-cost live streaming
While free or low-cost live-streaming apps are not replacements for high-quality streaming services, they can be powerful tools in the event planner’s toolbox. Here are just a few uses to get your mind going.
Why virtual reality viewers are the hottest new conference giveaways
What’s the most trendy conference giveaway? Google Cardboard-style virtual reality (VR) viewers that fold flat for travel, are easy to assemble, use your smartphone as the screen and advertise your conference or company’s brand. In case you haven’t seen them before, here’s an example of how they’re being branded for conferences, courtesy the Future of […]
Science! Live music reduces stress hormone levels in attendees
According to a new study out of London, there’s now scientific proof of the positive biological response to live music—reduction in the stress hormone cortisol.
Straight talk about Wi-Fi charges
If you get a group of event planners talking about the challenges in the industry for long enough, Wi-Fi charges is one topic that is sure to eventually come up. Few things frustrate event planners more than booking a venue and paying “extra” for Wi-Fi. The perception is that the infrastructure is already in place. Groups don’t have to pay extra for local telephone calls or cable TV. So what’s behind those Wi-Fi charges?
10 intriguing VR takeaways from SXSW
10 intriguing and inspirational (possibly frightening) takeaways from virtual reality-related presentations at SXSW 2016.
10 tips for effective live online presentations
As with any new form of presentation media, there are ways to stand out from the crowd, and here they are.
Make the perfect playlist
You must give consideration to the qualities of music that will be present at an event (style, organization, volume, pulse, duration, purpose, etc.). But try going deeper, learn more about your audience and understand a smidge of what legitimate, talented DJs think about when designing the auditory landscape of an event.
5 needs to grow your events
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs may have more in common with the successful outcome of an event than one may think. By identifying attendee needs and then meeting or surpassing them, we can drive brand interaction and engagement like never before.
Case study: Giving event attendees a voice
Because Catchboxes were such a hit in 2015, we’re bringing them back for our 2016 PYM LIVE events. This time they’ll look a little different.
Topi, Zoliro partner to take event engagement to ‘next level’
Topi lets users pre-populate app profiles with information from LinkedIn and add people they meet at events to their LinkedIn connections. Zoliro has a digital event bag with offers that attendees can claim or refuse, qualifying themselves as leads.
Event planning: It’s in your pocket
Given how fast things change in the mobile and social media worlds, there’s more you need to know to have a fantastic fall event season.
7 smart strategies for powerful virtual events
Almost all of us are guilty of logging into virtual events and then proceeding to multitask. How can we expect our attendees to act any differently? Because we can.
Case study: Road to DIY hybrid success full of potholes
I began to get nervous. My team and I are (self-proclaimed) event technology experts, but producing a livestreaming event is a whole other barrel of monkeys.
How to virtually share conference content (on the cheap)
Using free tools, anyone with a laptop and an Internet connection can create, broadcast and archive education content.
Mic runners: How to train them, why you need them
Microphone wrangling can often get short shrift when it comes to ballroom management. It shouldn’t.
There’s no need to sweat over Wi-Fi, if …
Connectivity, especially the wireless variety, has apparently jumped up the list of human needs to a spot somewhere between food/water/shelter and a comfortable temperature.
Simple. Clean. Easy. Effective.
Hybrid and virtual meetings are no longer reserved for tech geeks with big budgets. They are a staple.
Get started on social media – updated for 2018
Even if you weren’t born a social (media) butterfly, it’s never too late to learn. PYM LIVE Events are the perfect opportunity to get started. Here’s a step-by-step guide how. #yaypym!
Virtual viewers’ needs explained further, Part 2
Keep this question in mind: Would you rather your virtual audience watch and walk away or participate and stay?
Virtual audience needs explained, Part 1
The main question: Do you want them to watch and walk away, or participate and stay?
More events, less work: Is it possible?
Small businesses today host 13 to 14 events per year, thanks to innovations in event management technology and social media.
How to slide into your presentations with confidence
Securing the right ballroom for your meeting is essential for a successful event, but it’s only part of the equation. Managing the content and presentations is equally critical.
A ‘variables’ nightmare? Not if you understand AV, production
Are you a master of program logistics until you step into a ballroom? Need to know how to evaluate and hire a production team and determine your general session needs but afraid to ask? We can help.
A how-to: Using Google Hangouts, Hangouts on Air
Today you can log on to Google, push a button and stream content directly to YouTube, where it’s archived after the event. For free.
Virtual audiences need you in at least a dozen ways
In today’s interactive world, virtual audience members want to do much more than watch what is happening, they want to be part of it.
Case study: Installing temporary Internet for meetings and events
When our venue lost Internet days before our event, it required MacGyver-like action.
Answer: The organizer, the speaker and the virtual emcee
We don’t get a second chance to make a first impression when it comes to hybrid events. And if your virtual audience doesn’t feel welcomed, appreciated and involved, it will walk away and rarely return. Here’s how to avoid that.
Technology Primer: Part 6 – Do virtual trade shows work?
Do virtual trade shows generate real (not virtual) leads? The answer is yes, if …
How to pick the perfect virtual host
Just as I do not believe that sticking a camera in the back of a room makes a hybrid event, I do not believe that randomly jumping in front of the camera and talking to the virtual audience makes a virtual emcee.
Selecting a well-rounded online platform
Whether you are conferencing with colleagues across the country or hosting a virtual component to an event, the number of options you have at your fingertips is astounding.
Technology primer: Part 2 – Virtual events
A virtual event, quite simply, is one that is broadcast over the Internet. It typically has audio of a presenter, and visuals in the format of slides.
Troubleshooting AV, Part II (VIDEO)
Did you know it’s a scientific fact that if you leave your earbuds lying around, they’ll get tangled? And there’s more! Chief AV Girl Midori Connolly is back with more tech-infused travel tips. Watch this short video and learn how to stay charged up and in-control on-site or in transit. And don’t forget: If you’d […]
Troubleshooting AV, Part I (VIDEO)
Traveling from conference to conference, you need more than just stamina. You need to stay connected, keep your electronics juiced up and have a dongle for every occasion. No idea what a dongle is or what you should keep in your emergency AV kit? In this brief video, chief AV girl Midori Connolly shares the items […]
Why I’m the world’s worst virtual attendee. And how that can help you plan better hybrid events.
I tuned into one of the EventCamps recently because I love them and the people who organize them. Because I couldn’t be there in person, I joined the virtual audience. Unfortunately, I discovered that I’m a really crappy virtual attendee, and I’m not too embarrassed to tell you why: I have a bad attitude. I […]
Four things to consider before planning a hybrid or virtual event
At our last PYM LIVE Event, Plan Your Meetings experimented with hybrid technology for the first time. Because our educator, Joan Eisenstodt, is an industry thought-leader, we figured her session would be a perfect test case. We partnered with Telenect and Active Production and Design to create a live webcast of her session and broadcast […]
How to fight those sky-high Internet costs
My biggest challenge as a high-tech association planner was providing Internet access to my attendees at a reasonable cost to the association. We were known for always having a great network and free access. It set us apart from our competition. Our attendees were heavy Internet users that expected to have free access in the […]
Meeting technology 104: Using video as a communications tool
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, so it’s no surprise that video has become an essential component of corporate communication, event marketing and social media strategy. In this “Meeting technology 101” column, we’ll examine two new tools meeting planners can use to engage audiences, disseminate information and promote events.
The 2011 PYM Annual digital guide is here!
Bringing you “Motivation for Innovation,” the 2011 PYM Annual is designed to help you navigate new technologies, find solutions for current challenges and, hopefully, inspire you to create something big, bright, beautiful and business-friendly at your next meeting or event. But, like everything we do here at Plan Your Meetings, this was a group effort. […]
Cost-saving strategies and solutions to industry challenges
Despite reassurances that the recession is over, corporate purse strings aren’t getting any looser. And that, coupled with increasing hotel and transportation costs and short booking windows, is leaving meeting and event planners feeling pinched. On the meeting supply side, hotel and convention sales managers are having a hard time connecting with potential clients and […]
Does my AV team really need (or want) THAT? (Part Two)
Last month we explored some excellent ways your AV company might be able to save you time, hassle and/or money when you share key pieces of information with them. Here are a couple of other items that might help you do the same.
Does my AV team really need (or want) THAT? (Part I)
At a recent event, I was reminded of how easy it is to overlook certain pieces of key information or communication that could be vital to the success of an audiovisual solution. In particular, this information applies to small associations or smaller meetings where there often isn’t a formal production crew or Technical Director.
How to engage a remote audience
So, after last month’s instructions on DIY webcasting, you decided to take the plunge. You’ve decided that webcasting your event to a remote audience is the best way for you to gain additional exposure or to provide education to members or employees who cannot attend an event face-to-face. But, webcasting is just the beginning of […]
DIY: How to create a webcast from a live event
For many reasons, webcasting can be an excellent way to extend the effectiveness of your conference proceedings. With a little clever manipulation, you can use webcasting for marketing and promotion to the masses, for distance or e-learning purposes, or offer it as an additional benefit for members who simply don’t want to travel. The reasons […]
How to manage the (dreaded) AV RFP process
When it comes to the audiovisual for their meetings, most planners tell me it’s the worst part of their job. On a recent posting to the MiForum Google group, there was a long and extended conversation about how difficult it was for a planner in trying to navigate the bidding process for her AV needs. […]
Five ways to contain audiovisual and meeting technology costs
I’ve been involved in the corporate audiovisual production industry for over 20 years, and one of the most consistent issues I hear meeting planners and end clients complaining about is the cost of their technology spend, specifically “hidden” or unexpected AV expenses. Part of the problem lies in the fact that many meeting planners are […]
How efficient is your event registration process?
A successful meeting, conference or special event all rely on one major component — registration. That’s because almost every aspect of an event is determined by the number of attendees, including: Hotel guest rooms Food and beverage for all functions and breaks Meeting space for general session, breakouts and other functions Registration hand-out material Printed […]
Stuck with the bill, Part III
The question, “What’s the most outrageous thing a venue has attempted to bill you or a client for?”, provoked hundreds of responses across several LinkedIn groups. Part I told the planner’s perspective. Part II explored the issue from the supplier’s perspective. In this final installment, it’s time to take a look at some ways planners […]
Does my AV professional need to be a CMP, CSEP or…?
As meeting planners, you are probably quite familiar with the value of education and certification through a formal testing process. Whether the certification is CMP, CSEP, CMM, CEM or another designation, this is a symbol of professionalism and commitment to the industry. The same goes for membership in professional associations such as Meeting Professionals International, […]
Case study: Creating a 100 percent virtual event
A few years ago, Cisco Systems Inc. hosted about 20,000 employees at its Global Sales Experience meeting in Las Vegas and treated them to a private Aerosmith concert. This year, 20,000 employees went to work and attended the meeting by watching video screens as executives gave speeches and handed out year-end awards. Did Cisco get […]
Five cheap and easy tips for livestreaming conference content
If you want to expand your meeting’s audience, you need to understand how livestreaming content works. Here are some tips to get you started.
AV costs: ‘Do I really have to pay for that?’
In the AV industry we have lively conversations regarding the interesting tactics some companies will use to finagle every penny from your precious budget. And while many outlandish charges do exist, there are just as many that are justifiable. So, to clarify any confusion over what is real and what is not, here are some […]
Why you should treat your AV company like your hairstylist
Knowing how to evaluate and work with an AV service provider is no easy feat. Not knowing much about the company except for sort-of liking the smooth-talking sales representative can sometimes lead to a miserable experience rife with technical issues and lackluster service. Too often this critical decision is also based solely on whoever comes […]
AV Girl: Get to know your production team
Happy, happy new year everyone! As your friendly AVGirl, I hope you’re enjoying the columns and that I am fulfilling your needs of learning about the AV industry in a non-intimidating and informative manner. Let’s wrap up our discussion on who those people are in your AV neighborhood. In October we covered who should be […]
AVGirl: Who’s on your audiovisual team?
This month we resume enriching your relationship with your AV team by obtaining a better grasp of who does what and where they’re doing it. If you think about a factory, there is a definite order to an assembly line. Each worker has their position in the process for a reason. We’ve already examined two […]
Using in-house vs. independent AV professionals
Welcome back to month two from your friendly AVGirl, Midori. I know we are in the middle of discovering the various positions and responsibilities of our audiovisual (AV) crew; but I would like to address a reader letter I got last month that reflects a repeating source of concern and debate in the meetings industry […]
