A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to be invited to an industry conference on event technology. We were talking a lot about how technology can be integral to increasing engagement of delegates.
But as I was sat there, in a rather dark and wide room, I was struck by how easy it is for us to forget the basics of room set-up wrong.
Every session in every conference should have clear and crisp sound. This helps delegates increase their attention span and aid retention, even for the most boring and dry speaker. Or consider the opposite, how poor sound can detract from any carefully planned message.
The same applies to lighting. As a learning from the theatre, focused lighting helps the audience to concentrate on the stage, avoiding extraneous distractions. Visual aids should be bold and clear; easily viewable from anywhere in the auditorium.
These should not be considered added niceties, they are fundamental to the success of a professional conference.
As a test, the next time you’re attending one of your organisation’s events, take a seat in the worst place in the room (at the back, in the corner is usually a good shout) and see how you feel about the experience, because, unlike at the theatre, at a conference there’s no such thing as the “cheap seats”.
Brightelm helps you increase your delegate engagement. Contact us to find out more about our services.