WAV Action

The Jeff Show: Great Eats Around Frankfort

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 01:49:00 +0000

Between the launch of Microsoft's Surface 2, a meeting for Bankers Life, and Casualty, and a few other events, it's been super busy around Warner AV over the past few months.

My plan was to write about a place my family loves this month, Hawaii. But then I read an article about Chicago eats the other day that changed my mind.
Chicago is a great restaurant town. Since I live in the area I never seem to write about it. But this month we are staying close to home. Meaning my favorite restaurants in the Southwest Suburbs.

Courtwrights in Willow Springs announced that after 19 years they are closing on December 31. If you have never been there, a window is closing to eat at a great restaurant. It's located on Willow Springs Road and sits up against the forest preserve, making for a pretty view on of the back of the restaurant. It’s one of those foodie places that receives great reviews all the time, and the wine list is unreal. They have more fine wine than maybe any place I have been. And it’s not cheap.

Another great place that is tucked into an old building in downtown Lockport for over 15 years is Tallgrass. Now, anybody who knows the south suburbs is going to say: Lockport, really? Yes, really. The menu changes all the time, and they also offer a terrific wine list. They also give their customers a real fine dining experience, so be prepared to relax over a delectable dinner for at least 4 hours. It's also not cheap.

Hey, how about going to Frankfort? I go there pretty much every day. That’s Frankfort, IL by the way.

Dan McGee Restaurant is located in a strip mall on Route 30. It only has 10 tables, but what it lacks in size it makes up in menu. They change the menu often to keep things fresh. Be sure to try whatever they offer as the special. I promise you it will be great. And again, it’s not cheap.

What would Frankfort be without Chef Klaus’s Bier Stube. It’s been there for as long as I can remember. And that my friend is a long time. OK so it’s German; and go figure, it’s an institution. Harry loved it. And it’s not expensive.

I'm getting ready to head up to Canada. I imagine next month will be how to get to Saskatoon and what that's like. I get all the good stuff.

Jeff Warner on CEOIntroNet

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 01:52:00 +0000

"By the end of the event people are talking to each other, and I think that's why these corporations spend thousands of dollars on these meetings."

Jeff Warner had the pleasure of sharing his insights on trends in meetings and events, and how technology has changed in the audio visual industry for corporate meetings and trade shows over the last 30 years.

Click here to watch the entire interview.

Plan an Event that Generates Word-of-Mouth

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 16:34:00 +0000

We know that you want your next event to not only be memorable but to also create buzz.

While checking out 3 Ways to Hold More Remarkable Events on WordofMouth.org, we loved seeing "Make someone feel special" as one of the talking points. And read here how one of our favorite burger joints, Smashburger, pulled that off.

Let us know how we can help create buzz for your next event by creating a custom AV display by calling 815.469.1422 today.

WAV Helps to Launch Microsoft Surface 2

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 01:03:00 +0000

We were thrilled to assist Microsoft with their launch of the new Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro by providing audio and video for the press conference launch in New York, NY on September 24.

For audio, we used a Soundcraft Vi 1 audio console to drive a Meyer's Line Array. The inputs included 8 Shure UHF-R wireless microphones, various demo inputs from the new Surface 2(s) and video playback from two Turbo 2 HD's.

The projection screen for the press conference was a 16' x 9' daylight rear projection screen. We used two Christie HD 18K projectors (DLP) to give attendees a visual of the new Surface 2. Four Sony HXC100 camera chains connected to a Panasonic 450 Switcher that drove the satellite truck and the Vista Spyder Switcher for the projectors.

Look for our display by watching this video that was created at the press conference!

125 Tips for Meeting Planners

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 02:55:00 +0000

NACR Show in Las Vegas, NV

Meetings and trade shows are completely different than they were 20 years ago. With technology and trends constantly changing, it can feel like meetings are completely different over a couple months.

We found 125 Tips for Today's Meeting Planners on CollaborateMeetings.com to be very insightful. From RFP's to blocking rooms to making sure your client's brand has a big impact during the event, this post offers advice on all aspects of meeting planning.

Of course, our three favorite pieces of advice relates to AV:

Make sure your AV partners understand your meeting objectives—your audience, your priorities and your hot buttons. Always inform them of changes to your program and include them in meetings with your venue. —Kevin R. Johnston, PlanSmart

Ideally, people should sit no closer than twice the height of a screen and no farther away than eight times the height of a screen. So if a screen is 10 feet tall, the audience should sit no closer than 20 feet and no farther away than 80 feet from it. —Scott Reagles, Initial Production Group

Storytelling is another way to think about how to frame your meeting. Know your message. Then, develop the story with a plot, a beginning, middle and end. Communicate the story using multiple messages: Theme the scene, reinforce it with music to create the right moods and immerse your attendees every step of the way. —Lenn Millbower, Offbeat Training

As Warner AV, we keep all these tips in mind when creating an AV display for a meeting or trade show.

You can read the entire post CollaborateMeetings.com by clicking here.

And be sure to read our own AV tip How to Know Your Room for more tricks on making sure your next AV set-up goes smoothly before your next meeting.

AV 101: How to Wrap a Cable (the correct way)

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:00:00 +0000

If you've ever worked in A/V, the first thing you learn is how to wrap cords. When we saw this post and YouTube video on Wired.com, we laughed - especially at this quote:

Keeping your cables neat and tidy is a matter of nerd pride, with a side of OCD thrown in there just for fun. But, if you’re man-handling your cables by bunching them into random shapes or using some weirdo twisty knot method, you’re not just crossing a line in the sands of geek coolness, you’re destroying the precious connections between your gadgets.

Enjoy this video from the London School of Sound, but take note. This really is AV 101!

The Jeff Show: Denver Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 01:07:00 +0000

Vesta Dipping Grill

For those of you who know me well, know that I like to fly and am also a fountain of knowledge about American Airlines.

For example, did you know that the spare aircraft for planes that fly in and out of New York LaGuardia are parked in Newark? Last month I was headed to Denver for a gig. The plane to Chicago broke down in New York. It took four hours to get the plane to Chicago since the eleven minute flight for the spare plane took three hours because air traffic control held it in Newark. So, I sat at O’Hare Airport all day waiting for a plane. Did I mention that I love to fly? Not as much as before that day.

Speaking of Denver, here are a few tips:

First, let's talk food. The area around Coors Field is very cool and features many new restaurants. I was impressed by the Vesta Dipping Grill. Their hook is (go figure) they have dipping sauces for everything -- from barrel aged hot sauce to basil emulsion to crème anglaise -- I mean everything. However, they offer unique and delicious dinners on their menu like Colorado Striped Bass or Madras Grilled Venison, and a terrific drink menu to boot.
Now, let's talk about getting in, out, and around Denver. First, fly out of Denver early. Actually, try to fly out as early as you can to any destination.
Forget about pre-check. The line is longer then the regular lines. Just use the first class security line. The TSA people don’t care what class you are in. Everyone is cattle to them.
When driving to and from the airport, if they are not working on the interstate you are using , it means traffic is so heavy they forgot it’s a road. Take however long you think it’s going to take to drive to your destination and double the travel time.
Denver drivers have two speeds, up your butt or stopped. Sometimes that's the same thing.

I was going to write about Hawaii this month but decided to wait until I'm back again in November. Next month, I'll circle back to Indy, which was supposed to be this time. Oh well, until next time.

Three Apps for Managing Meetings

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 02:49:00 +0000

There are 11 million business meetings that take place each day in the US. Managing the details of your next meeting or event can be tough, and we were thrilled when Biz Bash featured the article "3 Mobile Apps for Managing Meetings." Our favorite app out of the three was Red Coat Direct by Marriott Hotels. A few days before your meeting, Marriott will send a customized version of the app to planners three days before their meetings. Planners can use it to adjust requests and preferences for anything from room temperature or to change a meal time.

Click here to read the entire article.

Click here to read more about Red Coat Direct.

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

The Jeff Show: Kansas City - Best of the Midwest Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Tue, 28 May 2013 01:28:00 +0000

The beginning of this year was a first in a long time for me. I went nowhere even remotely warm. I never set foot on an American Airlines aircraft, and I never went more than one state away from Illinois.

That’s right, Kansas City and Indianapolis. All on Southwest Airlines. Who knew they flew nonstop every afternoon from KCI to IND. The funny part was I got the exit row each leg and there was no one sitting next to me. See, it pays to go places where no one thinks they want to visit.

But both are great towns, and I forgot how much fun they were.

First, I have to tell you that the staff at the InterContinental in Kansas City are terrific. The hotel is located in the old Plaza/Ritz Carlton in Country Club Plaza. Surprisingly, they were just the best. Every morning when I left the hotel to drive over to the convention center, they had my car parked right in the front and all warmed up - all without having to ask them. They also had coffee ready for us every morning, and I really felt at home there. Plus, it’s in a great location - just steps from fun boutique shopping if you're into that.

The biggest restaurant I discovered in KC was Stroud's. It’s in a little strip mall just west of Country Club Plaza. I had the best pan-fried chicken. Also, they are some of the nicest staff I have met in a long time. One of the biggest surprises that comes with the meal (and the meals are huge) is homemade cinnamon buns. There was no way I could even think about eating an enormous cinnamon bun after dinner. And that’s saying something. As we got ready to leave, our waitress came to the table and gave us a cinnamon bun, butter, and knife to take back to the hotel.

The next morning, I told the front desk staff at the Country Club Plaza that I had a cinnamon bun from Stroud's in my room, and they made me bring it to them so they could heat it up. Wonderful.

Hey, how about that, I am out of space and will have to put off Indy until next month. Wow, a two-parter about the best of the Midwest.

So hold on to hear about the best of Indy next month. I plan on writing that one while I am on-site in Ames, IA. How did this happen? I used to go to more exotic places, honest.

National Restaurant Show is Sweet for WAV

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:23:00 +0000

We had the sweet opportunity to create a trade show booth for Sweet Street Desserts at the National Restaurant Show (NRA Show) a few weeks ago.

New for Sweet Streets this year, we used the Samsung 650ts touchscreen monitors to feature the entire delicious dessert lineup such as Lemonade Cake or New York Cheesecake for NRA Show attendees.

The Jeff Show: Hold Up in Cancun

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:24:00 +0000

I love international meetings. It’s always a challenge, but it’s fun.

During April's set up in Cancun, Mexico for Bankers Life & Casualty's annual meeting for their agents, I experienced a first in my thirty years of working in AV. After spending more than a month making sure all the paperwork was submitted correctly for Mexican customs (which by the way takes 10 days to clear) so the gear can be transported in a 40’ sea container, the big day arrived when it was supposed to be delivered to the hotel for set up. At 9am, with a crew of 14 on the dock ready to go, there’s no truck. It’s 9:30am, and there’s no truck.

I call the office. Margaret, our office manager, calls the freight people. Now comes the good part: it seems that customs lost power the day before, and the gear could not clear customs until power was restored. They tell us that the truck is being loaded in customs and should be on the road in an hour. And by the way, it’s a good five hour drive to the hotel.

Now, when I was in school I had some really good excuses on why I did not do my homework. But I believe that I just heard the freight version of “my dog ate my homework.” Good times.

Doing some quick math, I figure that I need to entertain the crew for about 6 hours. Since it’s Mexico that 5 hour drive will easily become 7 hours. I’m hoping the truck will arrive at 4:30pm at the earliest. I could do a stand-up comedy routine, but my crew speaks a little English, but their English is better than my Spanish. This will be a long week.

Long story short, got the truck at about 5:45pm and we spent a long night in a warm humid ballroom.

I do have a great tip on the food and drink front. Late one night we hit the bar for a drink before we went back to our rooms. OK, here it is: Bacardi Añejo on the rocks with a wedge of lime. Best rum ever.

Remote Monitoring Systems for Line Array Speakers

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 03:27:00 +0000

Line Array Speakers

I’d like to discuss the use of remote monitoring or sensing systems for usage with multiple box line array systems. Every year the use of multi-box line array systems grows a little bit deeper into the fabric of industrial theater. Rental houses and production support companies are updating their inventory with the latest technology. With this influx of multi-box systems, it's not just enough for a specialist to know that all the boxes are plugged in and are on, he needs to know that box three in the left mains hang has a blown woofer and needs to be replaced. And he needs to know it before the system flies out of reach.

What is RMS"

A typical RMS system consists of a laptop computer running a manufactures’ proprietary software and a cable system that polls the speaker modules and reports status and control information in a real-time environment. Various manufacturers use different hardware to accomplish this information loop, here we are going to look at the Meyer Sound RMS system for use with their lines of active speakers. As stated the Meyer system starts with a Windows laptop running Windows 7 and Meyers RMS software.

The next element is a computer interface card that links the software with the reporting modules that are built in to the active speaker system. Meyer accomplishes this with the use of a simple 2-wire non-shielded twisted pair cable that connects from the computer interface to the first module and simply loops to additional units. Up to 50 modules can be connected in this manner, more with the use of a network repeater, up to a max of 100 units. Several hundred nodes can be connected when using an Ethernet based connections. Meyer has used an Echelon Corporation network platform, a longtime leader in sensing and remote control networks to accomplish this. The addition of an i.LON 10 Ethernet adaptor then connects to the 2-wire twisted pair network to the host computer and allows for a standard 10-base T cable run.

What Does RMS Do for Me?

Once the modules have been commissioned or registered in the system, the operator has the choice of 4 different views to manage the modules, small icon, large icon, meter view, and text view. The Small Icon view has status indicators for: Amplifier channels, Mute, Solo, Communication, Wink, and Information. The Icon view adds a graphic of the speaker layout so you can tell instantly if a component is working correctly, shorted or being limited etc. The Meter view uses a different graphic to represent power usage, voltage, fan speed, and temperature. It also gives you input level and polarity, but there is a trade off in loss of control of Mute, Solo, and Wink in this view.

The most complete control is provided in the Text view where values are displayed in text fields but control is retained for the Mute, Solo, and Wink function. Mute I’m sure is self-explanatory, but Solo in this case is very handy in trouble shooting speakers as it allows only one unit to work at a time, so you know that what your hearing is the speaker in question. The Wink function lets you identify the physical loudspeaker corresponding to a speaker icon in the RMS panel.

This system gives the Tech a complete overview of system components and operational values in real time. This means it’s easy to judge the sonic performance of a system because feedback data is telling you directly about component operation.

User Guide: RMS™ Remote Monitoring System 5.9.1

_______________________________________________________________________________
Craig Vlasic | Technical Director/Audio

Joining WAV in 1982, Craig has engineered over 700 meetings with audiences ranging from 20 to 35,000 people. While current in the latest audio techniques and theories, he brings knowledge in fundamental audio logic to every production from corporate talking heads to rock-n-roll bands.

The Jeff Show: Backstage Meals

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Between gigs for Toshiba, CASE IH, Siemens, Bankers Life & Casualty, and New Holland, we had one of our busiest starts to the year in a long time. I’m happy to report that everything went great, and we're settled down a bit.

I also want to thank Nicole for sitting in the captain’s chair by writing about her favorite places in France. And I must admit, I was a little jealous as I read her post about all that great French Champagne from my hotel room in Kansas City while munching on a club sandwich from hotel room service. Life is funny that way.

Speaking of room service, this month my travel advice runs a little different than most months. Rather than tell you about great places to find a meal in Kansas City (and there are some rather good ones). I want to talk about the food we experience in the ballroom or on the floor since that is what I experienced most of the past month.

Face it, backstage ballroom food is at best OK; and most of the time it’s not my favorite part of this job.

Ready, ok, here we go. Do not, and I repeat, do not under any circumstances accept the boxed cold sandwich lunch at the Kansas City Convention Center. And I have witnesses.

When they say cold they are not kidding. However, I think it would be ok to let lunch thaw out for a couple hours, don't you? The bread does not have to be 28 degrees along with the cookie and chips.

So this time, I really want to hear about your worst backstage meal. Think about it; I’m sure we’ll all have some entertaining stories.

Until next time…

Meeting Advice: Boomers vs Gen Y

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:56:00 +0000

Boomers vs Gen Y: these two generations will go into your next meeting or trade show with different expectations. On Meeting Planners International's website, Yvonne Nassar gives some advice on engaging both attendees at the same meeting in Meet Your New Visitor. We noticed a theme that will make your next meeting, trade show or event even more valuable and memorable: stories.

BOOMERS

Let them share their stories: Boomers have decades of real-world experience they are all to willing to share that are probably unique.

GEN Y

Provide true stories you won't find on the Internet: It's not a secret that Gen Y is Internet savvy and will probably look up information and tweet it during the event. Provide something unique that they won't be able to find.

As you're planning your next keynote speaker or break out session, remember to ask your speakers to include unique stories. Better yet, you might even want to pair up attendees in a formal break out session so they are able to share their stories.

Click here to read the entire article.

The Jeff Show: Places in Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:42:00 +0000

Moet & Chandon Cellars from Moet.com.

Between CES, Case IH, and the Bankers Life and Casualty meetings, Jeff's 2013 is off to such a busy start that he asked me to contribute a travel tip.

Now, I'm not nearly a seasoned traveler as Jeff; however, like any typical American, I find anything French intriguing. One of my favorite trips was a week in France. Here are a few of my highlights:

The Moët & Chandon Cellars (Epernay, Champagne): Roaming around this legendary Champagne's subterranean labyrinth is memorable, especially as Frenchman whip around the corners of the cellars on four-wheelers. The bubbly at the end of the tour is divine.

Père Lachaise Cemetery (Paris, France): The final resting place of over 70,000 people, famous residents include Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, and Jim Morrison to name a few. The monuments, famous stories and traditions range from impressive to zany to seductive. Unfortunately, I did not see any of the cemetery's fabled cats.

Le Quartier Latin (Paris, France): The Latin Quarter is an arrondissement (what Parisans call the different sections of the city) in Paris. Filled with affordable restaurants and shopping, it's fun to roam around or relax in one of the cafés. If you visit during dinnertime, you'll be able to practice your French with maitres d's who call you into the restaurants as you choose where to dine.

Jeff will be back next month with his usual savvy and humorous tips. In the meantime, what are your favorite places in France?

CES: Tech to Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:57:00 +0000

Photo of the uChair. By Time Hornyak/CNET.

This year has been off to a busy start! Dave Ripp, Craig Vlasic, Cory Wetzell, and Rob Romadka returned from CES and had a chance to tell us about cool technology they spotted at CES and is coming to a store near you:

Televisions: "In last week's post, we talked about LG's new OLED TV. One of the most noteworthy new products spotted CES were 4K televisions. All the big brands including another one of our clients, Toshiba, were showcasing these new monitors. The resolution is roughly 4000 x 2000 (as opposed to 1920 x 1080). No matter how closely you look, pixels can no longer be seen with the naked eye making images so clear and so vibrant. Prices for these impressive screens are a little expensive to make them readily available to the general public. Based on what I saw at CES, the future of television monitors are very bright indeed. -- Rob Romadka, Project Manager

Smart Appliances: "I was amazed that LG introduced a line of smart appliances called Thinq. These appliances, including a washing machine, dryer, a refrigerator, an oven and robotic vacuum cleaner, connect to a network and allow owners to start the machine by smart phone, the machine alerts owners of problems or even allows customer service to trouble shoot problems remotely." -- Cory Wetzell, Project Manager

And the the unique - The uChair: "We've heard of standing desks and even treadmill desks. I saw the exact opposite and the ultimate work space designed for comfort, the uChair. This is a recliner chair with a split keyboard in the armrests plus extra space for a mouse." -- Dave Ripp, Project Manager

WAV Helps Introduce LG's OLED at CES

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:24:00 +0000

WAV Project Managers, Cory Wetzell, Craig Vlasic and Dave Ripp, kicked off 2013 by assisting LG with the release of their latest state-of-the-art TV, OLED, at the CES Show in Las Vegas, NV.

Click here to watch video of the press conference

To make the press conference a success, we used three Sony HD cameras into a Panasonic HD 400 Switcher to feed CNET, Korea, and the big main screen you see in the above image. The main screen was ultimately switched by a Screen Pro II with the feed from the Panasonic HD 400, two Playback Pro computers, and two Powerpoint computers. All the equipment used HDSDI protocol so that the images were all in HD.

Now, you're probably wondering: what is an OLED TV? Named for the high tech material used in the screen, OLED means organic light-emitting diode. Unlike traditional, synthetic LEDs (light-emitting diodes), OLED uses an organic substance that glows when an electric current is introduced. This revolutionary material is part of new design approach that drastically reduces the thickness and weight of the TV. OLED is available for a cool $12K, and you can learn more about it here.

The Jeff Show: Thanks for Not Flying

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Warner) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:28:00 +0000

December has rolled around, and you probably want another travel tip. This month is easy. Under no circumstances do you want to get on an airplane towards the end of December. These weeks are for amateurs, folks. Unlike Thanksgiving, everyone is flying with about 4 boxes that are the size of a small bus. And God forbid there's a snow storm. Good times.

Actually, I really want to take a minute to say thanks to a few people.

I’d like to thank all our clients who send us through all those far flung cities to work for them. We appreciate your faith and trust in us, and without you we would be homeless.

A special thanks to my wife, Nancy, who keeps me straight...that's not an easy job.

And another special thanks to Margaret who really runs the company and keeps us all in line at the office...that's also not an easy job.

I also appreciate all our Project Managers and Technicians who work for us. Without all of them I would not be as grey or as old. Just kidding, they all do a great job keeping our clients happy.

So from me, my wife Nancy, my son Greg, and our puppy Hailey, we wish you a joyful holiday filled with love and peace...

...well maybe not Hailey, she is pretty busy trying to pull down the Christmas tree; but she should have it done by Christmas.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry of as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and Microsoft plan AV displays for meetings and events. Please e-mail Jeff you own travel tips to jwarner@warnerav.com, and your tip might be featured in our blog.

It's Magic! Remote Control of Consoles and Networking Applications

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:14:00 +0000

How would you like to roam around your event space and stand or sit anywhere you’d like and still be able to control the audio output? Does that sound like magic? Well, it’s not really; it’s just the application of wireless networking applications with digital audio consoles.

Today, we take remote control of consoles and speaker management devices for granted.

Twenty years ago, this wasn't available, and it certainly would have seemed like magic to any sound engineer. With our recent expansion of digital consoles from Soundcraft (both the Si and Vi series) it’s now possible to control the console via a wireless router and Apple device.

Available from Apple’s App Store, a virtual Soundcraft application will let you control input and output fader levels, turn input and outputs on and off, control groups and VCA’s and control EQ’s.

Although it’s possible that more features will be added in future releases, there are still plenty of control surface features that aren't reachable with the Soundcraft app. However, having the ability to move from behind the console and hear how the sound is projecting is a vast improvement.

Since this works with both Si compact and Vi series consoles even smaller shows can take advantage of this technology during system set up and live shows. Fold back which allows a single engineer to control levels from the stage lets you hear exactly what your performer is hearing.

The application also allows distribution of voice and audio to remote rooms. Imagine being able to go outside of the main room to the foyer or lobby and adjust the music and announcements with your own ears instead of relying on someone else’s judgment. Like many modern tools, these applications would have seemed magical to sound engineers 15 or even 20 years ago. Today, it’s just one more tool to help you make your event the best event your guests have ever attended in today’s modern age.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Craig Vlasic | Technical Director/Audio

Joining WAV in 1982, Craig was the first full-time employee. In 30+ years, Craig has engineered over 700 meetings with audiences ranging from 20 to 35,000 people. While current in the latest audio techniques and theories, he brings knowledge in fundamental audio logic to every production from corporate talking heads to rock-n-roll bands.

Celebrating 100th Anniversaries with BIG Events

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 03:34:00 +0000

Photo: Anna Sekula/BizBash

As 2012 comes to an end, we took a minute to reflect on all the amazing events that happened around the world.

Many companies and brands celebrated their 100th anniversary this year, and BizBash covered the top six centennial celebrations this year. While we weren't didn't provide AV services for any of them, we thought they were pretty great.

The most creative is L.L. Bean's event. At the beginning of the year, the company debuted out a 13 foot sized version of it's acclaimed "duck boot" in Maine. Throughout 2012, the boot toured in other major U.S cities. What a sight!

View other cool events, openings and the best event ideas of 2012 on BizBash.

The Jeff Show: Scary Travels

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Warner) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:34:00 +0000

Since it's the spookiest month of the year, Nicole, the glue that holds this newsletter together, suggested that we have a Halloween theme. “Do you have any scary travel tips?” she asked.

Let’s see, getting into Dallas 20 minutes late on gate A4 to find out that the connecting flight is on time and departing from C28 is pretty scary. Or, how about any story that involves Miami International airport? Because we all have heart pounding travel tales that involve MIA.

When I seriously think about it, New Orleans comes to mind. Visiting "the Big Easy" is a haunting experience you can't find anywhere else in this country. Not only for the famous drinking in the French Quarter (although, that can be a mind altering experience), but for the city itself. Walking through and around New Orleans is always a little scary to me. Sometimes it’s the people walking past me, but most times it’s catching an otherworldly glimpse out of the corner of my eye in one of courtyards that happen to be centuries old. Or, seeing one of those little dark shops off of Bourbon Street. To me, being able to purchase voodoo supplies for yourself or a loved one raises the little hair my neck. The look of the trees along the streets in the Garden district, seems a little ghostly.

But for a real trip, take a day tour of the bayou. Something is sure to scare you out there.

But, New Orleans is really about the food. Next time you visit there are two must-try places. The first is getting a muffuletta at CentralGrocery. It's located right on a sea wall of the Mississippi. The wait to get the sandwich is forever, and there is no good place to eat it. But it is the best, and try their root beer.

Right near the Westin, a popular ballroom in town called Mr. B’s Bistro. The barbeque shrimp for lunch is the real deal...and get extra bread. Trust me.

Next month I hear that we are doing Thanksgiving recipes. Yummy. I can’t wait.

The AV Gig from H$LL

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 03:15:00 +0000

Since Halloween is this week, we have ghouls, ghosts and goblins on our minds. We let Jeff handle that one. This week, we all reflected on gigs and events that could made out as a meeting planner's nightmare - the power went out, a piece of equipment broke or a wire went bad. But my experience from May 2010 is literally from a meeting planner's version of Halloween 13.

My day started late at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Our equipment was delayed due to inclement weather; and when it finally arrived, I was able to mount the two projectors, six lights and dimmers, three 40” LCD monitors, and one 32” monitor in record time.

Shortly after lunch, I was about to hang the last monitor when a man on a cart drove by me, and rudely said I had to stop setting up gear and evacuate. I thought he was crazy, and proceeded to hang the monitor. Several minutes later, the same gentleman plus two more men drove by me, and told me and my crew to evacuate the building. Wishing we could finish up the job, we grudgingly left the hotel.

For hours, we stood in the rain outside on the Opryland steps waiting for permission from show management to re-enter the building and get back to work. It was fruitless, and we decided to call it a day. My colleague and I decided grab dinner across the street and find out what was going on in the hotel. When we stepped out to leave, we saw this car parked next to the building.

At that point, we knew we were in trouble; and luckily, I was staying at the Country Inn and Suites on top of the hill opposite of the Opryland Hotel. We decided to wait out the storm at my hotel, and get to work the next morning to finish last minute preparations on the booth.

I awoke the next morning to one of the largest floods to take Nashville, TN. I headed back to the Opryland Hotel to assess the damage, and found that it was only accessible by row boat.

Scrambling to leave Nashville I stood at the main entrance of the hotel and frantically made phone calls. Of course, I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw a staple “Elvis” from the wax museum floating by me.

I arrived home safely, but never saw the gear again. It probably floated away with “Elvis” to a better place. Here are some more photos from employees at the Opryland Hotel:

Entrance to the Exhibit Hall where the booth was setup.

A lonely road case floating under the famous atrium.

From the ballroom looking down to the convention center.

So next time your event isn't going as you planned, just think back to my own AV Halloween 13 experience. Happy Halloween!

By Cory Wetzell, Project Manager

Event Advice: Managing Live Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Photo: Courtesy of Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee

Less than a decade ago, social media barely existed. Today, this communication revolution is hot, word of mouth travels quickly. It's important to welcome, manage and engage your event attendees. Not only will social media enable you to receive instant feedback, it also generates awareness for your event.

Rishi Dave the Executive Director of Online Marketing for Dell explains how other businesses are using social media to engage attendees in Social Media at Live Events: Who's Managing Real-Time Interaction for Target, Dell, and Other Brands, in BizBash magazine:

It's really important to have at least one social media expert present at the event to capture the activities, energy and what people are saying.

At last year's inaugural Dell World conference, Dave included a Twitter stream and Tumblr feed, but also created an app that encouraged live questions and win rewards

Big brands that have sub-brands (i.e. Target Baby or Target Style) need to have a separate community manager and should be attending events such as promotions and product launches to communication with customers and key influencers.

If you do not have a budget to hire an in-house social media team, look into companies like MKG that send out an external team to help drive engagement among attendees at your next event.

We can always work with you to make sure you are driving social engagement by setting up AV displays that include your Twitter feed and other social activities at your next event.

The Jeff Show: A Unique Haunt in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 01:55:00 +0000

The Buckhorrn Exchange: main dining room

Everyone always assumes I get to go to all the glamorous parts of the world for gigs. To put it all in the proper perspective for you, I am writing this month’s installment at a Holiday Inn Express in Grand Island, NE. The weather is beautiful here; the sun is shining, the birds are singing and it hasn't rained in about 200 days. But it's still the Holiday Inn Express in Grand Island, NE.

Since I'm this far west, I recall a unique but tasty restaurant in Denver that is off the beaten path. I haven't eaten there for about four years. Since the joint has been open since the late 1800’s, odds are it is still worth the trip if you find yourself in Denver.

The Buckhorn Exchange sits in Denver's oldest neighborhood. It’s not much to look at from the outside, but you'll find a one-of-a-kind restaurant. This haunt has the oldest liquor license in Denver, and it's the place to go for a different dinner...like wild game meat. You know, rattle snake, elk, bison, that kind of stuff. Their menu is the most interesting I have ever seen. For the less adventurous, I hear they also have a really great steak. Although, I have never tried it.

The only thing that is a little creepy is the stuffed heads of the animals hanging on the walls. You can see from the picture I've included for this post...the décor fits, trust me.

Now, Denver has a lot of really great places to eat. The 16th Street Mall is crawling with them. But, you will never experience a place like the Buckhorn Exchange anywhere else. So give it try.

Well now, it’s time for me to figure out where we are all going for dinner tonight in Grand Island, NE. We tried the Texas Road House last night. Great wine list -- I’m kidding.

Wow, they have an Olive Garden and a Red Lobster here. We're in luck.

Until next month...

Your Back-to-Meeting Season Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Wetzell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:42:00 +0000

Once the kids are back to school, meeting and convention season is right around the corner. We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing summer, but we were busy improving our AV inventory for you. We also created our back-to-meeting season supply list of new equipment we added this summer.

☐ Audio

Warner introduced three new digital consoles to our inventory. The Soundcraft Vi1, Soundcraft SI Compact 32, and the Soundcraft SI Compact 24. These consoles give flexibility on mixing large venue arenas to breakout room meetings in digital format. Digital consoles are self-contained with all of the processing built into the unit-- meaning there is less clutter at the front of house where meeting attendees are paying attention to your client's presentation.

☐ Video

This meeting season, take your presentation to the next level with a complete HD video package. Our newest inventory in the video department is the Eiki LC-HDT2000. The HDT2000 projector is a 15,000 ANSI lumens with full HD 1080p 2K Resolution. The Eiki has internal edge blending and image warping which means no screen is too big for us anymore.

☐ Lighting

We have not forgotten about lighting and neither should you. We introduce to you the ColorBlast TRX 32xLED-HB/RGBAW fixtures with the standard Red, Green, Blue, color scheme and offering the addition of Amber and White to make white light…whiter! These fixtures are small and versatile to accomplish any job.

Call one of our AV specialists at 815.469.1422 to discuss your next meeting,
and remember to check off all of the boxes to receive $500 off your quote.