HOW TO
How to stop your tech from tanking your event
Did the venue throw in “free” AV? Sweet. Until the mic cuts out mid-keynote, the screen’s the wrong aspect ratio (yes, it makes a difference) and your big reveal looks like a VHS funeral.
We get it, budgets are real. But so are reputations.
Here’s how to dodge a budget-friendly disaster:
- Test before you trust: The venue might promise a projector that’s “state-of-the-art”, but these are the same people who promise there’s enough parking… Test the equipment. Twice. With your actual content.
- Know thy limits: In-house systems are designed for conferences and generic meetings, and even they don’t always work out. Don’t expect Beyoncé if it’s built for Boardroom Brian.
- Pick your battles: If it’s free or budget-friendly, by all means, use it. But only for the basics. Outsource what matters: sound, lighting and live streaming – the juicy bits.
- Budget like it matters: Bad tech can kill the vibe faster than dry chicken. If it helps, compare the budget items: Five dessert options and an awkward wait for the mic to work? Or two dessert options and a working mic?
- Partner-up: Let your organisers call the shots on what’s worth using and what’s worth outsourcing. It’s why you hired them.
In-house systems can work if they’re fit for purpose, but ONLY then. To quote the age-old Afrikaans idiom, “Goedkoop is duurkoop” (Cheap is [more] expensive).
#BallsOfSteel
Want 360° event advice? Contact us for more.
EYES ON
Talk about production royalty
If you think “local” can’t be legendary, Shaka iLembe would like a word.
From the stunning Zulu regalia to the world-class cinematography, this series proves that SA’s crew and creatives can produce content that competes globally.
But it isn’t a once-off. Shaka iLembe follows a growing list of locally made content that’s raising the bar (and the budget). Season 2 is out on Mzansi Magic and Showmax, continuing the epic rise of King Shaka with sweeping battle scenes, visuals, sets and storytelling.
So if you’re still thinking “local” means “lesser”, hit play – and stand corrected.
BY THE WAY
The ghosts with the most
This month’s riddle:
They don’t take to the stage, but they make the most noise. They don’t run the room, but they amplify it. They’re everywhere, but you usually can’t see them.
Social media community managers are the unseen engines behind your event’s online energy. They capture, post, track hashtags, handle trolls, boost live streams and keep the buzz going long after the coffee’s cold. They’re why your speaker’s best line becomes a viral LinkedIn post.
