The Role of Technology in Any Great Event: How to know if you’re doing

Let’s keep it real, right off the bat – technology can be intimidating.

It can also be a touchy subject! Especially in today’s day and age, when it feels like every other day there is a new tool, platform, or device to learn.

This leads most people to fall into one of two camps:

I love technology and am excited to learn all the new gizmos and gadgets!

I just want to keep things old school – why do we have to keep changing things up!?

Of course, there are a handful of us that fall somewhere in between - wondering how much new technology is really necessary, while embracing elements of tech that add value to our lives and businesses.

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When it comes to events, we’ll keep it real again - technology is IMPORTANT.

The right technology, used in the right way, at the right time, and with the right purpose, really can make or break the success and/or impact of an event.

In other words, no matter the TYPE, SIZE, or LOCATION of an event, incorporating the right technological elements can elevate the overall experience (see what we did there?) for attendees and organizers alike.

The events of 2020 and beyond have taken this to a whole new level, with Zoom meetings being a HUGE part of the way companies now operate, and even full-fledged events being held in a virtual (or at least hybrid) capacity.

However, knowing if you're leveraging technology effectively can be challenging. It’s easy to slip into overthinking how to incorporate technology into your event and leave you wondering, “Am I even doing this right!? What am I missing!?”

At the end of the day, the goal of technology at any event is to make everything feel smoother, more connected, and simply put, to make things BETTER.

Can we let you in on a secret? It doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems.

Below, we’ll explore a few key aspects to keep in mind when planning for technology at your event. Keep these in your back pocket - they’ll let you know if you’re on the right track!

Stay up to date. We can’t emphasize this one enough! In fact, we have stories from the early days of 2020 (when we were still figuring out how to produce a world-class event via Zoom) where we faced major issues simply because we didn’t have the most updated version of the software. Our expert recommendation here is to keep a list of all platforms, systems, and other technology-related items you use for events, and make sure they’re updated consistently. Of course, this includes doing a “triple-check” right before the event to make sure there are no surprises. PS - this also applies to your equipment!

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. We’re all familiar with a good ol’ mic check - and trust us - that will ALWAYS be important (even on a virtual event)! Similarly, be sure to do full run-throughs of your event, including the technological elements! Are the slides formatted correctly? Is the wiring plugged in correctly? Are the speakers clear? Be detailed and focused here - it really does matter!

Try new things, and trust the old. Like many things in life and business, it’s tempting to “go with what we know”. And that’s not always a bad thing! Keep a few tried and true technology pieces in the mix (like systems you know and trust), and also leave room to explore new options. There is room for both, and if you’re going to evolve with technology (we recommend you do) trying new things is inevitable.

Lean on the experts. Knowing the difference between what you CAN do and what you SHOULD be doing is essential. For example, our team CAN execute some baller Audio Visual setups. But when it comes to events of a certain size/with certain needs, we have trusted partners that we lean on to come in and help. Remind yourself that there are experts for a reason…and chances are, you’ll not only learn something from them, but partnering with them will make your event significantly more stress-free.

Embrace it. Technology isn’t going anywhere! Rather, it’s only going to grow and evolve in the years to come. So when you’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, take time to pause and remind yourself to simply EMBRACE it. There are so many technology benefits - so shift your focus to how things like iPhones have enhanced the way your team communicates, or how certain systems have contributed to increasing your bottom line.

If you rock it out on these key aspects, we promise you’ll be in a great position to utilize technology at your next event. Leveraging technology effectively will set your business apart, as you enhance the overall experience and leave a lasting impression on attendees!

If you’re looking for the support of an expert - click here to give us a shout! We’d love to help you ensure you have all the pieces in place.

The Role of Technology in Any Great Event: How to know if you’re doing it right

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