Guarantee GREAT Audio at Trade Shows
Trade show audio bliss! Really, I’m not joking. It can happen.
Those working the trade show industry may think is an oxymoron as trade audio is never bliss. Generally, it’s quite the opposite. As a trade show magician and professional speaker I’ve seen industry trade shows of all types. Professional speakers, presenters and entertainers, along with countless sales and marketing personnel are doing trade show presentations in their booths using microphones of all types. Then, combine that with the main show announcer and their voice booming throughout the hall.
Am I going to complain about the noise volume? Nope. But I am going to talk about the shrinking range of frequencies to which wireless microphones are confined, and what that could mean at your next trade show if you are using one – so listen up.
The problem? You are speaking when suddenly you have some static enter the equation. Your audio drops in and out as does the engagement of any attendees you may have left hanging around.
Boring Meetings Suck Rule: If they can’t see you, you can still have a meaningful presentation. If they can’t hear you, then your presentation sucks and has meaningless impact on that attendee.
Why that static or dropping when it just works moments before? Batteries? Yeah, that sometimes CAN be the issue. But you just checked them and they’re new.
Then, likely someone else is using a wireless microphone frequency similar to yours, or the frequency is conflicting with a local broadcast station of some sort (that’s why you didn’t have the problem in the last city). The peak of the problem could be if you hear a voice from another booth (coming from their wireless mic transmitter) on your PA equipment. Oh, the possibilities, comedic opportunities and embarrassment that could present.
An encouraging solution:
I was just the trade show magician at WMWorld in Las Vegas. Within 100 feet of me there were at least 25 other presenters of some fashion also using wireless mics. Not to mention the additional hundreds of presenters on the entire show floor.
I was shocked (and so excitedly thankful) when an audio tech from Jack Morton (produced the event for WMWare) came to me during setup and wanted to see my mic.
1) He took note of the frequency and manufacturer
2) He communicated that back to the main sound booth for the floor.
3) The sound booth tuned in to my frequency and confirmed audio reception from my transmitter for clear communication. Confirmed it was solid.
4) Then, prevented anyone else from using that frequency going forward.
He walked away and I swear I heard the angelic sound effects in the background. (Just like when Chevy Chase finds the perfect Christmas tree…. http://youtu.be/gTKpKBzd7jg – 43 seconds in). I was in awe and now confident that we wouldn’t be playing frequency jockey once everyone got started.
Some ideas for what you can do:
Make sure you have a mics with adjustable frequencies. You never know when you’ll need it as different cities around the country and world will have different conflicts with what your mic may be using. Many mic packages now come with standard scanning devices that search for clean and open frequencies.
Maybe you’ll be lucky and other show coordinators will understand the importance of this and start monitoring and confirming frequencies before their shows as well.
Go ask those around you and see what they’re using.
Do a sound check of course, but also listen close at the start when everyone is presenting and be ready to change up the frequencies if needed. You never know when someone will turn their mic on or off and can impede the message you may be presenting at the trade show.
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