COMPANY OCCASIONS BLOG

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2010-10-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.companyoccasions.ie/blog/

Conference & Meeting Tips, Real ones...

2010-10-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

Normally when we see the word "tips" we get wary. Tips are normally sales tools disguised as tips, for example - Tip 1 - "Use an event management company to ensure that your event goes off well". Not a very subtle tip there but a common one.
Well over the last few months we have been "challenged" by circumstances outside our control in various events, of course we sorted it as always but things can be less stressful if you just put a few things in place.
Our top tips for any event.
1- Allow time for set-up when booking the venue. Yes there may be an extra charge but if you are looking for a wow factor for a conference or have any event that requires a reasonable set-up then let the hotel know and get it in writing.
2-Use a switcher - a great piece of equipment
A switcher (also goes under other names) is a great piece of Audio Visual equipment. In basic terms it lets you switch what you show on screen from one laptop to another with a nice seamless changeover. No more on screen fumbling and setting up, this piece of equipment can be hired from any AV company. It'll be standard equipment in any larger conference or set-up but for smaller meetings it makes everything look more professional.
3- Don't cram too much in
We have said it before but it still gets ignored. The human brain can only take so much in - by planning a 9 hour meeting with few breaks you are defeating the purpose. It's a fact!
4 - Book a room larger than you need
The extra cost is minimal and the benefits are obvious. If you decide to engage your audience more you have the space to do it but most of all a spacious room with the right ambient temperature is a much better working environment.
5 - Bring back ups and an extra extra laptop.
No there isn't a duplicate "extra" in the above, we did mean to put in two. You'll need a second laptop anyway now that you're using a switcher and then you need a back up. You might just use it to show a holding slide, play a DVD or maybe not at all but at least if you need it it's there. Oh and back up the presentations on to a few memory sticks.

Good luck with stress free smaller/internal meetings with the above in mind.

Presentations - Keeping the Punters Interested

2010-09-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Cast your mind back to your school days and the general advice was that you should take a ten minute break from study every hour or so. Now asking around the Company Occasions team it seems that those breaks seemed to stretch a little longer so maybe we're not the best to preach. Though the rule was generally accepted - your mind can only take in so much without what you are reading or hearing entering your brain as some sort of garbled facts. And yet people still stretch the conference time, remove guest speakers, cut back on coffee and lunch breaks - all to get more information across. But it defeats the purpose. There's only so much that anyone can take in, that's a fact not a Company Occasions invention.

So if you don't listen to us and go for one of the many options to make your conference interactive with energisers or team games then why not consider some even simpler ideas?
Get people to swap seats. Even looking at a speaker from a different location or sitting beside different people can make a big difference.
Spring something on them- an unplanned breakout, a guest speaker not on the agenda, a walk in the sun. Just something they're not expecting.
Involve them - Yes Q&A can add to the overall length but a simple show of hands or keypad vote keeps everyone on their toes.
Have Fun- It's not a bad word and has a place in even the most serious conference. Have a vote for who is choosing the music for during dinner that night (and play some) - what DVD will play on a coach transfer, Put up menus or restaurants and start a culinary argument on where to eat.

Try it - you'll be pleasantly surprised.